Wavesport Proteus PFD ($89):
A personal flotation device for canyoneering? In the desert? Don't laugh, because more than a few poor souls caught off-guard could have used a PFD rather than those cheap drugstore rafts that once upon a time found their way into the sport. It's not so much for flashflood-prone canyons—you wanna avoid that scenario at ALL costs. No, what we're talking about is a buoyancy item like the Proteus for those what-ifs, where pools, meandering streams, and big ol' potholes can nix forward progress. This svelte floater is tuned for kayakers who count on mobility as much as essential flotation, the reason this PFD is rated at 15.5 pounds of flotation—not what an adult would want at sea, but just enough in canyon country. The simple, low-profile design is perfect for freedom of movement, and the overhead entry design allows for easy on-and-off. Another plus is the InterLoc design, a system of Velcro laminate neoprene patches on key areas that prevents the PFD from riding up on your face. Contact 800-311-7245, www.wavesport.com.
