Stohlquist Cruiser Women’s PFD Review

I got the Stohlquist Cruiser PFD a while back and wanted to really wear it in a few different water and weather conditions before writing my review.

Fast forward several years later and I still use this PFD and after literally hundreds of uses it is still in near new conditon.

The Cruiser PFD is a well fitted and comfortable lifejacket that is designed to suit most women’s bodies.

I feel very confident in this lifejacket and it has certainly served me well over the years.

I initially chose the Stohlquist Cruiser for several reasons:

• The biggest reason was that I wanted a PFD made for me and not a unisex model.
• This particular lifejacket has mesh on the side panels as well as on the lower half back area which makes it ideal for hot weather
• There are two big pockets on the front that can fit my camera and other things I want to keep close by.
• It has extra wide armholes – there is nothing worse than a PFD that is tight around the arms and restricts movement.
• It is made with hand-scupted PVC-free front foam with supportive inner cups – no PVC means better for the environment.
• It has several great colours to choose from.

The Fit of the Stohlquist Cruiser

I was really impressed with the fit.  It is the first PFD I have worn that did not feel really bulky.

It is easy to put on with the zippered front and it was very comfortable and easily adjustable.

I found that it did conform to my body far better than any PFD I had every worn prior and it felt good when sitting in my kayak seat.

I did find that I had to pull the back down once while I was paddling as it had ridden up slightly but that also likely had to do with the back of my seat and my shifting around… so wasn’t a big deal.

Also the padded shoulders and waist belt were really comfortable.  The armholes were large enough that I didn’t feel restricted at all and it did not rub or irritate my skin which was my main concern.

The mesh siding is fantastic.  I am notorious for complaining about being too hot in my PFD.  I hate the feeling of sweating in my lifejacket while out paddling in hot weather.

It was a really nice change to actually be able to ‘breathe’ in my lifejacket with the mesh siding and back.

I got the Cruiser in two different colours, the pink and the blue although you’ll need to check Outdoorplay.com for the updated colour options.

I have lent out my second one to a couple of different friends and they also found that the PFD was very comfortable.  Although my PFD is a small I found that it can be adjusted quite a bit at the shoulders, chest and waist to suit different body shapes.

The Pockets

I was very pleased that the pockets were as big as they looked in the pictures.  I could easily fit my camera in one and my snacks in the other.

You would also easily be able to fit your cell phone, keys, or other necessities if you needed to.  I have used these pockets each time I have gone out so I think they are very handy.

Important Features

• Buoyancy 16 lbs. 12 oz.
• 500 denier Cordura shell
• 200 denier oxford liner
• Front zipper entry with #5 YKK non-corroding slider
• Hand sculpted front foam with supportive inner cups
• Extra wide armholes and cool mesh side panels
• Adjustable neoprene-padded shoulders
• Cinch harness system
• 1.5” webbing waist belt with forward pulls
• Zippered bellows pockets with drainage
• High waistline cut
• #10 YKK Vision front zip entry
• 4-way accessory lash tab
• 3M reflective trim front and back
• PVC-free Gaia foam
• US Coast Guard and Transport Canada approved

Although I have only used this PFD for kayaking, I would imagine that it would be fine for many different types of water activity.

However if you are paddling it is best suited for ocean or lakes… not whitewater.

The Stohlquist Cruiser is Available at:

The best deal for the Stohlquist Cruiser can be found at Outdoorplay.com.

I love this company and have shopped there often. Plus if you have any questions their customer service is top notch.

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