My Review of ASTRAL BUOYANCY V-Eight Life Vest

Originally submitted at Eastern Mountain Sports

Perfect for hot days on the water, the Astral Bouyancy° V Eight with unique Airescape Technology that limits the PFD's contact surface with the body and allows air to flow out through ventilating ports in the front and back.

ASTRAL BUOYANCY V-Eight Life Vest

Quality Product but Bulky

By XtremeClimber from New Jersey on 5/22/2011

 

3out of 5

Chest Size: Feels too small

Pros: Adjustable, Lightweight, Good Ventilation

Cons: Hard to Adjust

Best Uses: Canoeing, Paddling, Boating

Describe Yourself: Beginner

Was this a gift?: No

I purchased this PFD because the construction definitely felt like it allowed better air circulation than the other, less expensive model I tried on. Used it in a kayak for about an hour on a calm lake on a humid 75F day and it was not hot at all.
What I didn't like was the thickness of the flotation which pressed into my kidney area when leaning against the seatback. In hindsight I should have gone somewhere else and bought one with a thinner flotation material that extended further down towards my tailbone so I had a more uniform surface on the back section. Although it appears to be a high quality product, you really don't need to spend this much for casual paddling.

(legalese)

Nothing but a memory...

Was able to catch an earlier flight for a $50 change fee and got home around 10:40 last night. As I emerged from the WTC Path station into the warm & humid NYC night, the events of the prior day were already starting to distort, my brain unconciously reorganizing memories to fit some pattern of rational behavior. Having reached the summit, all of the doubts and fears of the last few weeks at once seem so unnecessary. Yet common sense tells me that attempting this climb so late in the season with no mountaineering experience to speak of was an act of folly and I was lucky to escape with just a few blisters and sore knees.

Heading west on Vescey St, past the giant pit where the twin towers once stood, I decide to forego the shorter bike path route home and cut through the World Financial Center to the waterfront. As I hike the six blocks south along the Battery Park City esplanade on this clear and still evening, I contrast the gleaming outline of the Jersey City skyline across the Hudson with the spectacular vistas I experienced when I was 28 hours younger. I feel the need to make some kind of qualitative comparison. Fortunately my right brain takes charge, granting me permission to crown both as World Champs, like unbeaten heavyweights from two different eras.

Eddie the night doorman acknowledges my entrance with a twitch of his NY Post, a movement imperceptible to anyone who has lived in the building less than four years. Was that gesture a signal that now I am as I was? Did the Rutger Hauer replicant character in Blade Runner get it right when he tells Harrison Ford "those moments are lost forever, like tears in rain"?

Nahhhhh...., Ive got the photos to prove it!

Back at low altitude

Well, it turned out not to be a cakewalk after all.
We exceeded our estimated ascent time by three and a half hours and the Rapid Descent Vehicles were deemed far too dangerous to deploy on the upper half of the mountain as it was way too steep.
In fairness to the team, they apparently misread the info on the trail length as it was 6 miles, not the 3.6 they had prepared for.
The RDV's were still invaluable nevertheless. Our ankles, knees and quads were burning on the way down and the RDVs provided much needed relief as they were used to cover 20-25 percent of the total descent.
More details and pictures when I am back at a real computer.

Live from 11,278 FT!

The eXtreme team is on the summit!
The last 800 feet is up an almost vertical face; much, much tougher than we ever imagined.
Now for the descent....yipes!!

8000 ft

Live blogging from Mt Hood
Just a mere 3000 ft to go

We,ve Got Gear!

After overcoming some confusing off ramp signs, we made our way to REI Outdoor on NW Johnson. Then we confronted our biggest challange yet; how to work Portland's newfangled parking meters and how to get the receipt to stick to the curbside window. After some innovative brainstorming reminiscent of the Apollo 13 mission we finally got it to stay in place.
Inside at the rental counter there was a collective jaw drop when we spotted the enormous crampon equipped hiking boots.Once we tried them on they weren't as clumsy as they looked, but still hardly the thing to make fast time in. By the time we left we were outfitted with boots, crampons, helmets, hiking poles and an ice ax.
Yipes! I fear we have lost sight of our principles.

The eagle has landed

Just touched down at PDX. Got a great view of da' Hood as we made our descent. Looks like a lot of snow cover so the crampons should come in handy.
More live blogging when we pick up our gear and hit the downtown scene.