Every time I remove mine from my vest, I need it. I know you’ve been against this particular piece of equipment for a long time, but I find it very valuable. I used it in my all swift water courses including my fire service, and the quick release works. I do agree that cleaning up ALL of the loops and such that do not break away or quick release is a real safety goal.
I was taught in advanced swift water rescue that this was never meant to be a tow tether for towing kayaks; it's meant for live bait rescues, pins, and wading scenarios to keep positive control of the person wearing it. It's super fast and reachable for the paddler wearing it in those scenarios.
Agree i don’t think it should be marketed as a towing device definitely someone like yourself has proper knowledge on how to use these is the only ones that should be wearing them in my opinion
@wadeharrison Yes, agreed, it's great for quick, one handed access. Helpful if you need one hand to hold a victim in current while clipping into a throw rope with the other. But I completely agree that these things come unclipped all the time, especially during swims or climbing onto shore during swiftwater rescue. I hate swimming with something that could chock into rocks in the river, even if it's releasable. So I'm on the fence about wearing one of these. I like the sling described here.
I keep mine on pfd at all times now. I have the shorter NRS tether with a non locker on it and it keeps it pretty snug and low profile. It is annoying towing a creek boat with a creek with the shorter tether but I prefer less slack when I’m not using it. I also always have it going through the outer portion of my tri-glide. I used to take it off for harder runs but it just kinda stays on pfd and is useful when needed. I do paddle different styles of river in MT than the southeast (wider and deeper) and think the types of rivers people paddle definitely affects the risk vs reward scale. My main concern which I haven’t tested is how hard it would be to cut through if I ever needed to do that because I’ve heard a story about one of the longer ones getting wrapped around a neck. (They were fine) Also if you get a chance listen to the “tales from the cripp” with Abe Herrera. He has some pretty crazy stories about times they were useful and you can skip to just the part where he talks about tethers. As always appreciate the discussion and all your videos wade!
I use mine a lot. Like all the time… towing kayaks. But it’s always on easy rivers. Class 3 or less when I’m with kids or beginners. On hard water I tend not to use it much - certainly not in the rapid - but I have clipped into a boat at the end of a rapid to get it to shore. It’s a useful tool but needs to be used with caution.
Exactly 100% the perfect usage of those. You have been around kayaking for a while have you ever seen anyone clip one of these to a none release point on the vest before?
@@corran-soul same here. But I use mine on class V often enough and I used it just last week on the nf payette. My girlfriend is driving into me the use of these for an unconscious victim. But safe use as Wade said is very important. After one of our conversations, I've noticed someone wearing one clipped into the wrong place and I made sure to correct that for him
I agree with corran. Teaching on water up to class 3 this is the my most useful tool and used regularly. I have it in two quick release points full front and back. Split d-ring on the front and quick release tab on the back. Also very helpful in managing my boat while I'm out helping reset a swimmer into their kayak or collect gear that's been strewn all over the river. I don't advocate people using these unless they've had extensive swift water rescue training and lots of practice and controlled scenarios.
Only reason I can think of to keep using it is it's quick access if you want to clip to an unresponsive paddler. I don't run one, but there's a bunch of them (and solid class V paddlers at that) that run them on the Potomac.
Agreed that would be one very rare case that might come in handy to have that on your vest but I feel i could get to my sling just as quickly to hook on to someone if needed but glad never had to text that theory
For the record I had a quick release belt on a tensile testing load bed, the cam buckle alone, without the metal adding extra friction, consistently let go at 4 kN. We used to practice rolling and releasing the buckle and manually freeing the cowstail then rolling back up when I was sea kayak guiding and towing off the chest harness a lot - but it's a skill that needs composure and practice. These days I just run a DMM anchor ring on the belt without a cowstail - I can add one if I need it, but in 25 years I have only had to live bait in anger twice.
@@gemmawatson6100 I end up doing a fair bit of towing sea kayak guiding but it's never in anything extreme because trips just don't run on those types of days. I do find that the higher tow point of the harness stops the towline from catching on the stern of the kayak better than a waist bag. I have been using the Northwater PFD Sea Link for the past few years and like it a lot. I have tried other options with, and without the bungee part and I think it's better with it. I do like your DMM idea though. The empty bag of the Sea Link does add weight right where I don't want it when towing. Stowed it tucks inside my PFD.
I recently just got a rescue vest and was using the tow loop to drag boats across the river. Was very helpful in like class 2 situation with a super wide river. I also did keep it in my front pocket tho. I was using 60 cm climbing slings tho. Worked fine for a tether but what do you think a good length is for portages and everything else? I keep 15ft of webbing with me but it’s just loose with no biners on it
Nice thanks for the feedback I carry 50’ para cord for that’s drop in portages it’s rated over 500lbs I feel it’s fine for lower and lifting kayaks and it’s so small can fit in a pocket
I have a cow tail somewhere but I have not used it for years. It creates unnecessary risks. I use a sling which I keep in my BA. It has multiple uses, including towing boats.
I only have my cowtail in some situations. Class 2 trips with likely swimmers, bigwater class 3/4, or class 3/4 that has only mid size pools between rapids. I take it off and use slings on anything tight + rocky, or continuous class 3 or more, or when I'm having to do any bank climbing/ rocky portages. In those situations a tether sling is better. Sidenote- all tow systems are useless on supernova's/nova's. They don't have handles in the right place for any towing. Don't put people in them who are likely to swim 😊. Don't ask how far down a river I had to bulldoze one to get it eventually to the side.
Very excellent points 100% agree that’s the use for this easy whitewater or instructional uses or yes even big water type rivers could make a case and the entire point of this video was to show the proper placement and to never clip into a non release point like a vest strap I have seriously seen that being done
The harness on the pfd was never designed as a towing device, despite it being adopted for a this use by many. The quick release system is dependant on a pulling force from behind. There are many situations where this force won't be present and the harness will have to be released manually. After extensive testing by "Palm equipment" they found that 1 out of every 4 quick release harnesses didn't release even with a strong pulling force from behind. It's advantage as a towing device is that it is very quick and easy to apply and very comfortable. The down side is as I have already mentioned. It is also a one hit wonder. If you have to let go, then that is the end of the tow. You can't pick it up again.There are alternative quick release re-useable tow systems. The emphasis should always be on your own personal safety first especially as a leader. If your safety is compromised then so is the safety of your group. There are documented deaths from quick release belts not releasing, including instructors/leaders with many years of experience. Prevention is always better than the cure. If you have to frequently use a towing device then you are probably in the wrong place where the skill and experience doesn't match the grade of water.
The only time I take mine out of the gear bin is if I'm assisting in a level 1 course - useful for picking up the inevitable yard sales, and not in an environment where it could become a danger to me.
Hello. I think it's a to big focus on the risk with this. I had a 1km swim recently in a class 4 canyon because nobody can rescue anymore. The modern alternative methods with pushing, sling etc is not effective enough. It was no option to walk and the swimming excercise was the only way to get the kajak. Steep sides made walk no option. I was the only in the group with a cow tail. I have a long one packed in a little bag but still fixed to the release belt. It's wery fast to rescue boats with this and I do it between sections. This prevents long swims to get gear like I had. Its the fastest and most effective way to rescue. And you have the bungee effect. If connected to the right end it's easy to tow a capsised boat half filled with water. I only c onnect in calmer sections, and I release If something doesn't feels right. I think the hazards with this is not greater than getting spraydeck stuck to logs or rocks. I have seen that two times. Even a log into the loop. If an accident has happened with anything, it's easy to draw to radical conclusions, like this case. The downside is more and longer swim like my nasty canyon swim. My question is. What can happen if carabineer is in right place? How can this stuck if you release? If it's still dangerous somehow, I have a suggestion. In kite surf we use similar with integrated release. Unhooked long leach This might provide redundance for releasing. If that's what's the problem? Hovever, I have never heard about a non releasing belt, unless you use it wrong?
I have a sling inside vest, I gave you a model I designed, my goes over the shoulder, if I get to a place I think might be an issue, I let it just slide down and off, my concern is the person, everything else is replaceable
Only time I see a good usage for this is when you learn bunch of new pople to the sport at an artifical slalom course, where a lot of people swim. You know, chance of you accidentaly hooking somewhere is minimal and there is a lot of time to care about a swimmers boat. But I would still rather use a sling, but I understand, that someone would like this.
Hahah well if you’re talking about the one on the green vest I’m wearing? Not a patch it is on every green vest sold “go ahead look up astral green vest” and fyi i don’t think it even represents first aid I think it’s just a reflection symbol on the vest😉 guess nothing screams I’m a know it all that goes around dropping passive aggressive comments on peoples videos having no idea on the insult they trying to throw 😇 thanks for watching
