Review on Optimized Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket by Eric Chapman

Seems to be a very good PFD. They say it's a Coast Guard-approved Level 3 lifejacket. According to the US Coast Guard, most people need at least 7-12 pounds of buoyancy from a buoyancy device to stay afloat. According to Onyx, the lift pressure is about 15 pounds, which is above standard for a Level 3. That's good to know. I will be using this PFD for kayaking and it will be perfect for every aspect of these adventures! I love all bags out there. I also really like the connection point with the elastic band on the left chest. This area can accommodate many different ideas and is therefore extremely flexible for me. This lifejacket even has a felt-lined pocket on either side. If like me you enjoy kayaking even in chilly weather, pockets are a good place to keep your toes warm. This pfd seems to be so versatile in its use that I couldn't imagine all the possibilities it offers, but there are a few downsides. It looks like the zippers are made of flexible plastic. When I zip up, I can feel the zip flex under slight pressure. This leads me to believe that it will break after a short while. Most disturbing is the fact that the actual component that connects the two sides of the zipper also appears to be made of this plastic. To me that is unacceptable and a corner that could not be cut. Never skimp on a zipper as we all have way too many problems with zippers. Also, for the price, it should have been some kind of durable aluminum or stainless steel, I don't know. If you try to tighten this guy, the zipper will pop open. I could be wrong and over the months I'll find out how well this holds up. I'm now a big fan of double stitching and all aspects of the pockets and compartments are single stitched. This may be perfectly normal, but it doesn't look like the zipper that takes pressure to keep the jacket taut DOES NOT have double stitching or I can't see it. However, as you can see from one of my photos, it looks like they went to great lengths to create a strong extra seam where all the nylon webbing is bonded to the vest. The vest can be a little bulky, about 2 inches thick in places, but then again, you REALLY want to stay afloat. The design is good because you can move freely while rowing, which is what I need. All in all it suits my needs. I wanted all pockets to be for accessories and I wanted the design to allow me to move freely. You have achieved it. I am concerned about the durability of the zipper and hope it will last longer than I expect. As it stands, I definitely recommend PFD!