[ricki]

Not that much perhaps around 11 to 15 lbs. for an adult Type III-like PFD or impact vest. This compared to the average adult head weight of about 8 lbs? A Type I with the neck flotation collar that will float you face up even if unconscious provides about 22 lbs. of buoyancy. The neck collar is great until it potentially contributes to cervical trauma in a powered wipeout. Then there is all that bulk and loss of movement that comes with a Type I PFD. If you are conscious and able to remain head up or on your back a Type III PFD or impact vest should keep you from drowning.

An impact vest is no substitute for good watermanship skills. I believe all kiters should have strong swimming skills to be able to act as competent, independent riders if necessary. The vest is just a supplement not a replacement. The last reason I wear an impact vest is for flotation, still in a crisis it is fine with me it it moves to first position. It also helps to keep you warm, gives you a place to keep your keys. I used them routinely for almost my entire time kiting, coming up on ten years next month.

I like long sessions as you've noticed, eight hours is good if the conditions are prime and I have the time. I like to ride a couple of miles offshore at times, accepting the need to come back under my own power if things go wrong. Not shy about swimming long distances but I've still always worn an impact vest. It helps if you have to fix something using both hands, relaunching kites in deep water with gnat sneeze breeze, it can make a difference if you have to help someone else in deep water, lots of stuff. For guys that throw powered tricks it may prevent or minimize rib damage on water impacts. I am surprised that guys that have fractured ribs in wipeouts don't use them routinely. I assume my vests have spared me some broken ribs several times. To each his own but the pluses far outweight the negatives in my mind. As with a helmet you forget you have it on in short order.