So how many here wear em?
One, the other or both?

Vest yes
skid lid no

none but use to wear both. still got em but they serve zero purpose.

Vest - since I broke my ribs

Yep wear both.Must be a Ol fart.

I used to wear a vest on big days.
Thought it would protect me if i got pounded by a big wave.

Turns out i got even more pounded because i couldn't duck dive under a set when my kite had crashed.

No more vest.

I rock vest and helmet and have done since day 1, It doesn't feel the same kiting without them.

I bought an Impact vest after breaking a rib from boosting huge and crashing hard - But Ive found that its a PITA to wear with a waist harness - it just doesn't fit without riding up under my chin despite the 'cutout' for the harness hook - so I have a near new vest sitting gathering dust - As for the helmet - I have a Gath which I wear if I want my gopro for the session (rarely now cuz I just can be bothered editing all of the crap out!! ) - or when the surf is big as wearing the board in the head in a wipeout is a real possibility !
Oh and I should mention yes almost all impact vests add a degree of flotation which can be handy - unless you are trying to duckdive under a wave !! But to my knowledge non of them are rated to cover off the 'legal requirement' for a flotation device if you are kiting off the beach....

Both.

Yup a helmet for sure ..

I started learning without a helmet a few years ago but I have had so many near misses with kites/lines & boards and just plain lucky I didnt get hit that after the first season I got a helmet and have wore it ever since ... Plus when kiting on reef or shallow water or with a surfboard I cant go past it... I wear a bball cap under and voila better sun protection so I don't need the sunnies anymore ...

still researching vests and want to get one that wont ride up or get in the way of the harness .. more for impact than float..

my 2c..

Make sure you put a go pro on your helmut

Not all impact vests are safety flotation devices, and vice versa.

If shopping around, for WA rules it must be at least be 50S PFD

www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC-B-KiteWindsurfingSafetyEquipC.pdf


For the likes of foiling/boosting... make sure the impact vest has side impact protection as well.. Many impact vest do front & back but not enough padding on the side were we typically need it.

All these are impact/50S PFDS
prowake.com.au/collections/vests

Good example is the Ripcurl E-bomb/Dawn Patrol models have almost no side impact protection where the Flashbomb has heaps.
Quite a few WA foilers use the Flashbomb,

Both, most of the time. I've had near misses in 14kn as well as 25kn. Helmet only comes off for the occasional photo :-)

bigtone667 said..
Vest all the time, Helmet when foiling.

+1

Yes, quite strange when you hold your nose and blow air out of your ear.
I perforated my right ear drum 30 years ago and within a few days it had sealed.

Vest yes! But mostly for flotation when kiting a ways offshore. If something is to ever go down, having enough float on your body can make life sooo much easier while your sorting things out. It could save your life.

In terms of floatation, nothing too extreme is needed. Some impact vests are better than others for this.