Life jacket
Also: buoyancy aid, PFD, paddling vest
A PFD (buoyancy aid) is always part of packrafting. It keeps you afloat if you capsize.
Foam vests (buoyancy aids, PFDs) suit paddlers. They leave your arms free, have pockets and work instantly. Luc Mehl recommends, for example, the Astral Camino for a good weight-to-buoyancy ratio, and a rescue vest with quick-release harness in serious whitewater. We paddle with vests from Hiko.
Fit is what matters: the vest must not ride up over your face when pulled up by the shoulders.
Matching gear
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Hiko Mikmaq* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)Hiko Player* (advertising, external link, opens in a new window)
Sources and further reading
Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.