A step up from the bare minimum for legal boating in price-range, The Obrien Flex V-back is a surprisingly comfortable PFD. Coast-Guard approved, it features a high quality front zipper and 2 straps for added security. The back features a V-shaped flex section and a single hinge, and the front has two well placed hinges that allow great movement through all of your paddling movements. The neoprene stretch and Glideskin outer are comfortable even against bare skin and I encountered no chafing on my outings.
These street for a mere hundo in the big box retailers and can be found for half that on a good sale, if your considering a new PFD I definitely recommend "auditioning" this great piece of gear. I found nothing to dock this on performance, comfort, or price so I'm giving this vest a solid 10.