White Water
All the buoyancy aids in this section are aimed towards white water river paddling, whether in Kayaks or Canoes.
Whitewater PFDs tend to be vest style, over the head entry, meaning less can go wrong in an emergency. Having said that, you can find front opening river BA's, generally designed with no zips, which can be easier to put on with rear entry drysuits.
Those designed mainly for river running will have a lot more buoyancy than the minimum required - aerated white water is less dense and you sink further. The foam will can also wrap around the torso more to give protection against hitting rocks. The BA generally have the ability to use a chest harness, either fitted or as an optional extra (you should attend a WWSR course before using one), as well as pockets to hold slings and karabiners.
The BA's designed for playing at the local playspot, or for slalom, will have some of these features removed, meaning these vests are less bulky and restricted - thats not to say the river running BA's are cramped - they are all designed and cut with high degrees of freedom of movement and flexibility.
