Marek Rowninski sr.

Master Mariner, former Vice-President of the Polish Kiteboarding Association PZKite.     My results of testing. I've been using BoVest for a couple of days. Initially I was testing it out of curiosity, but now I've gotten into a habit of putting it on over my wetsuit. For a number of reasons.

1. It does not get in the way. Even when fully inflated. I initially though it might impede movement - I was wrong. Even the underarm chambers don't bother at all.
2. It's going to be there when you really are up the creek: a few blow into the mouthpiece and you are safelyfloting in the water.
3. Inflated - even partly - improves thermal comfort. While in the water, it certainly doesn't drain your heat reserves as other lycras do. On shore it feels nice and snug. Kolobrzeg in May is a perfect thermal training ground - water temperature of 10 degrees and the air temperature comparable. I usually start shaking 10 minutes after leaving the water. With Bo Vest I could stay on shore for longer breaks  and feel comfortable.
4. Impact protection - it acts in a way like car air bag.  One day I crashed at the water surface from 7 meters. I only got wet.

You should wear your BoVest under the harness, definitely not over it. On the first day on my test I didn't realize it and it resulted with the vest under my neck.      

Piotr „Globus” Golba

VDWS International Instructor I first heard about Bo Vest in spring of 2014. Maciek Boszko mentioned something about an inflatable floatation vest for water sports. That got me interested, as both my passion and profession are windsurfing and kitesurfing connected. In April 2015 I was about to take part in rescue training organised by VDWS International Association of Water Sports Schools and I suddenly recalled the vest. The 3-day training was to be held in The Netherlands, in hellishly cold waters of the North Sea. BoVest, with it's aditional feature of air insulation made there a real difference.   Bo Vest test: Venue: VDWS Lifeguard Workshop – The Netherlands, Brouwersdamm (The North Sea) When: 20 – 21 April 2015 Air temperature: approx. 10 C degrees Water temperature: approx. 8  C degrees Wind: 15 – 18 knots Training objectives: How to deal in practice with difficult and complex rescue situations in the sea, subject to maximum realism of the scenarios played out. The training: When we were playing the "victims", we were thrown out of a motor boat into the ice-cold water approx. 500 - 700 meters from the shore and we had to wait until our friends from the "rescuers" team would find us and bring back to the shore :-) In some  cases it took up to 20 minutes to be rescued. Impressions / observations: Worn over a wet suit the deflated vest looks just like ordinary lycra and does not impede movement in any way whatsoever. I had a windstopper jacket on top as well. Inflation is quick and effortless. The vest provides excellent buoyancy once the front and rear chambers are inflated. You don't have to move at all to stay on top of the water. The body remains in a comfortable position and your head is not submerged. I also enjoyed the fact that when inflated the vest kept providing extra insulation and I felt much warmer in the water. Summary: In my opinion, BoVest is an interesting option for those doing the water sports. It is very simple to use. When fully inflated it gives a safe buoyancy and keeps your body in the safe position in the water, yet it feels just like an ordinary lycra when deflated.  

Jurek " KAMIENNY" Makowiecki

  We tested Bovest with my 13-year old son. He is just moving from a twintip to a directional board - thus he knows what waves and breakers are, he's been worked and underwater for a bit too long too. The vest helped him to become familiar with the environment in a stress-free way. Usually it was inflated just a little bit, we really just wanted him to get the feeling that there is "something" there which will help if things go awry, he knew that at any pointy he'll be able to further inflate the vest and unclip from his equipment if he really needs to. After training for 2 weeks at Cabo Verde, the boy is not shy of any surf, and he handles them quite well. I think that BoVest gives my son and me feeling of safety. Apart from the safety features, the Bovest inflatable flotation vest has one major advantage - when "at rest" it is just an ordinary lycra - a t-shirt far from uncool. And for many, particularity younger riders, this is of paramount importance... as you can look cool on the beach with the vest deflated and only inflate it where no one can see you. ☺ As an experienced wave rider, I can honestly say that BoVest is simply sensational. Once partly inflated it does provide enough buoyancy to keep me afloat in a shore break and at the same time it does not restrict freedom of my moves.   ... and you don't have to look like a gorilla on steroids ☺