I saw this PFD being used at Cowboy Tuff multi-day adventure race put on by REV3 in July in Wyoming. I have been looking for a PFD that has a bladder in it to help with easy of hydrating while paddling. You would think this is easy but not really! I ordered this thru a dealer in the United States. This past weekend I was able to put the PFD to the test. benefits I notice right away, you can use any bladder you currently have as the pocket is adaptable for that, its very light weight and adjustable to fit, the large front pocket was able to hold 6 hours of food, two tow straps and my paddle gloves well. I did use a carabiner to attach my "larger" bladder to the PFD just encase we capsized it would not fall out. IF I had a smaller bladder then it would have closed just fine. This did not affect the fit of the PFD at all. Easy to paddle in and very comfortable. Down falls are that its very reflective, does NOT have a whistle integrated into the PFD for safety, The only way to put it the PFD on is over the head, once I got use to it that would be fine. If you have sunglasses on or even a helmet this can be time consuming to get it on and off quickly. I also wish the front pocket had a little more room for food or even small mandatory gear? Maybe another smaller pocket on top of that mesh pocket in front? You can see below, the front pocket is pretty good size, even for two Hammer Nutrition water bottles to fit just as an example. Just a thought.
Initial thoughts of the Mocke Racer PFD: "Overall, I think the Mocke fits well. It is a slip-on style PFD, so there are no zippers, only side straps for cinching it snug. This can be viewed as a drawback because in situations were you have to take the PFD on and off, like in adventure racing, it can add to transition times. Although, these times can be minimized overtime after you become accustom to using it. Plus, there are no worries about zippers breaking. One of the main features that this PFD provides is a reservoir pocket on the back. This coupled with a Velcro strap along the front, for attaching the reservoir drink tube, allows for hands-free drinking. This reduces the need to stop paddling, which allows for improved efficiency. There is a large pocket on the front of the PFD. It can hold quite a bit of extra gear or food. However, it is not the most convenient pocket due to its location. It runs a little high, so reaching into the pocket can be a little awkward. This is minor considering the ample space it provides. There is also a black with orange trim model available. I mainly went with the orange model since I thought it would keep me cooler, as black absorbs light. Additionally, the orange is highly visible, so it is nice safety feature. The Mocke weighed in at 1 lb 13 oz, which is similar to other PFDs I've owned that provide comparable buoyancy." Race test: Bought a Osprey 1/5l reservoir and affixed the magnet part to the velcro strap across the front. Wanted the house to stick out a little more because I thought it was falling too my chest. It's much easier to grab and suck with my mouth hands free.
Well I tested this during a long Adventure Race and it didnt work out so well. It kept falling off the magnet most of the time and not staying in one place. Maybe a velcro will just to do. We also had to carry the PFD during the race, I attached it to my pack with the two front straps. It tore up the reflective and destroyed the straps. Bummer.....not good. Need a better way to transport them attached to a pack while hiking in the outdoors to your paddle put in stops.
Purchased from www.stellarkayaksrivercity.com
Stelllar Kayaks River City LLC Taylorsville, KY 40071
248-417-4011 stellarkayaksrivercity@gmail.com
Patrick Dour
Give him a call or email and tell him Team Lupine Racing sent you!
Thank you to Lupine Lighting, Zeal, Suunto, Salomon, Hammer Nutrition and OutThere USA!
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