NRS Vapor Review

The NRS Vapor is a unisex vest that comes in three sizes. It's a Type III PFD made of 400D urethane-coated ripstop nylon with a side entry buckle system.

Performance Comparison

Fit

The Vapor is available in three sizes, designed to fit paddlers with chest measurements from 30 to 56 inches. Each offered size spans a fairly wide range of chest circumferences. This life jacket can be adjusted at the shoulders, lower torso, and waist, helping to contour the foam around different body shapes. Smaller paddlers were particularly fond of the Vapor as it gave them a tighter fit that's hard to find with some other jackets. Teens who have grown out of youth-specific life jackets may find that the smallest size accommodates them.

While our male and smaller busted female testers love the fit of the Vapor, those with larger busts were slightly less impressed. The foam panels on this jacket are not quite as flexible or conforming as some other jackets, and, as a result, some users had issues getting a secure fit.

Comfort and Mobility

Like many other NRS life vests we tested, the Vapor is pretty universally comfortable. The interior is a softer material than the exterior, making it pleasant to wear against the skin all day, wet or dry. Rather than concentrating flotation in specific areas, the Vapor's padding is spread more evenly around the jacket, keeping it thinner and avoiding excessively bulky areas like some other vests. These thinner panels are also more flexible and easier to wear comfortably. Our women testers appreciated this, though there is a limit to the body proportions that this unisex PFD can easily accommodate.

The extended coverage of this jacket is compatible with seatbacks of any height. With its side entry system, any discomfort from a zipper is also eliminated. The two adjustment points on either side are located low on the jacket, helping to provide a secure fit that won't inhibit your breathing.

The shoulder straps on the Vapor are elongated to help pull it on and off more easily. However, there are no loops, tabs, pockets, or other ways to manage these loose tails once the vest is on, and they dangle awkwardly in the front. And as you'd expect, the full coverage is also less breathable than options with mesh back panels. Though the sides are open, and the shoulders are fairly exposed as well, both of which help mitigate the lack of breathable panels. Overall, this jacket is a comfortable option but lacks some of the thoughtful extra details found on several other models.

The Vapor features “action cut” armholes perfect for expertly wielding a paddle. To add to that, they've included softer material on the front of the arm cutouts to make it more enjoyable if your bare biceps touch the sides of the jacket during your paddle stroke. It's not quite as low profile as a few other vests and inflatable belts we tested, but it does a great job of staying out of your way on the water. Like so many other NRS vests, the Vapor also features a 6-panel design to help facilitate motion. Unlike many other life jackets, the Vapor's front and back panels are each made of three separate internal foam flotation pads. This helps eliminate the feeling of wearing a stiff styrofoam shield and makes it much easier to flex, move, and enjoy your paddling adventure.

The adjustable, secure straps are lower on the vest, letting you find your perfect fit without compromising your ability to move and breathe. This also helps hold this vest in place even when you jump off your SUP or tip your kayak. Some paddle jackets pile the back flotation behind your head to keep the foam line above the seat; however, the Vapor maintains full coverage across the back, keeping the padding low and out of your way if you do find yourself swimming. Though no vest can match the freedom of an inflatable belt option, the combination of security and mobility the Vapor provides are among the best.

Quality of Construction

The Vapor is high-quality with hidden seams and sturdy materials, and it both looks and feels robust. While some cheap life jackets skimp on construction, including scratchy materials and sloppy seams, this is not the case with the Vapor.

This PFD is easy to clean after use, and the total lack of features and pockets aids this process and avoids the inevitable zip failure. It's also easier to hang a side entry PFD on a hanger without needing to close it, or the loop on the back lets you quickly rest it on a hook.

Features and Versatility

A no-nonsense paddle jacket, the Vapor fits the bill without the frill. It's a great jacket to wear for paddling and even a comfortable option for spending all day on your friend's speedboat. However, it lacks any extra features. It has no pockets, knife tab, or extra loops to clip a whistle. It does have a single loop on the top of the back panel for hanging, but that's it. And unlike many of its competitors, the Vapor has no strap management tabs or loops to hold loose tails out of your way.

While most of us are used to the comfortable feeling of putting on a front-zip vest, a side entry PFD can take some getting used to. Once you are, though, it quickly becomes fairly convenient. The Vapor is more comfortable to wear tightened than hanging loose — a great way to make staying safe an unconscious habit. This is an asset to an otherwise quite plain — but effective — paddle jacket.

Flotation

The Vapor is designed to provide 16.3 pounds of buoyancy, surpassing US Coast Guard Type III certification requirements.

The flotation on the Vapor is spread out evenly across the PFD and is not concentrated in one area like some other designs. The secure fit means that if you find yourself in the water, you will have adequate flotation, and the jacket won't tend to float up by your ears, unlike some models tested.

Should You Buy the NRS Vapor?

The NRS Vapor is a straightforward paddling life jacket that takes away the frills and features to lower its price. This option is comfortable and easy to wear without inhibiting your paddling. It's not the fanciest vest we tested, but it's a simple solution that offers great performance for a lower price than many others.

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