The velcro up near the shoulder strap is for holding your rod in place while retying or replacing your bait. It is used with the loop at the bottom to stick the butt of your rod in and wrap the upper part of your rod around the velcro for hands free retying or re-baiting your hook. I mentioned it because it is such a cool feature which is swaying me in this direction for my purchase.
Hah yea! You are absolutely right! NRS actually sent me a message and clarified it for me on instagram so I added their response to the description! Obviously it was too late for me to correct myself in the video 🙄
This was one of the features that got me to spend the extra money on this pfd too. Another one was the location of the shoulder adjustments. I tried on the Mustang and it was impossible to adjust while wearing it. And this one was a simple pull. That's a big deal because I'm always changing layers as the day gets warmer and need to adjust every time. I went with the Chinook because it fit just right on my seatback without being bumped up
Thanks for the review. I was torn between the two PFDs for sure. I also own a jackson kayak (Mayfly) with the same seat and lumbar pad. You made some good points that I believe are in favor of the Raku for my application. Much appreciated - Raku it is!
Hey thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it could help you make a decision! I'm confident you won't regret the decision on the Raku. In addition to the kayak, I use mine in my boat, and while I'm ice fishing on unfamiliar ice!
Interesting comparison. First: this is, primarily, a piece of life-saving safety gear. The “padding” is floatation foam and it’s placement will have an effect on how it does it’s job. I’ve been using a Chinook for a few years before the Raku came out, and given a choice? I’d still go with a Chinook. I think the placement of the larger piece of foam higher up means it will help keep my head out of the water if I’m injured. Great vid, keep em coming!
Good points! I think the idea behind the Raku is that the float pad on the back, while thinner, is substantially larger to compensate, which in theory would give close to, if not the same floatation capability while providing additional comfort over the single large block of the Chinook.
@@jeffdicks Neither one of these will save you if your unconscious as appose to a Lifejacket , these are just more of a custom made PFD for comfort and fit but still pass all the guide lines and regulations. Myself being on the shorter side went with the Raku as i do have a really highback seat.
Just ordered the raku can't till it comes in to put it to use. What is the appealing to me was the back of the vest. My boat seat is a mid back rest seat, so the chinnook would not been a good fit for me. In the the past i used just a regular fishing vest but last fishing trip i ran into rough waters high winds and that changed my mind about wearing a pfd full time on my little 9.5 foot jon boat. Thank you for making this video it was very informative.
Hey glad I could help you out! I still use my Raku on my boat and Kayak since making this video. I'm pretty tough on most of my gear and it's held up great, which speaks to the quality of NRS gear
Great Review!! I too have owed them both. I bought the Raku first, then the Chinook. I preferred the Chinook As you mentioned. It comes down to your height versus the seat height. They BOTH, are the best of the best !!!! They are soooo comfortable??? I bought them because I wanted to Best there was while using my kayaks, but they are so comfortable, I take my best and wear all day while on my boat. Sort of kinda becomes part of your body and everything fits in place naturally. Thanks again for your great honest review, everything you said I agree with
Hey thanks! They're both definately great PFD's! I do prefer the Raku though, for the reasons I mentioned in the video. Since making this video I've bought a boat, and the Raku with the full back is also very comfy to wear while ripping around on that too!
Jeff, Great review of the pfd's. I'm looking at purchasing the Chinook. I noticed in the background your kayak hanging racks. Could you let me know what brand they are. Tightened from Milton, Ontario
What would you recommend for somebody who is around 6’2 and somewhat bigger guy. Used mostly for bass fish boat fishing but also likely will get a kayak down the road and use it for that also?
I use my Raku on my kayak and my boat and I love it. I'm 5'9 ~220lbs. I'm always wearing it if I'm on my kayak and the front pockets are very handy for tool, phone and other accessory storage. In the boat, I generally hang it on my seat back unless I'm out in less than ideal conditions, but when I am wearing it in the boat its comfy and doesn't get in my way. It's very adjustable both wider and taller people too, and even with it adjusted to my current size (which is fluffier than I would like to admit) there's still lots of room with the straps to go bigger and the shoulder straps are easily adjustable for longer or shorter torsos The Flat full back of the raku makes it a better option for both, in my opinion. The bulkier high back floatation of the Chinook was designed for a kayak seat and that would bother me sitting in a high back boat seat.
@@jeffdicks thank you for your feedback! I was leaning towards the raku thinking that it might be more versatile. Thank you for your thoughtful reply. You’ve gained a sub in me 👍🏼
Neither of them is "better" than the other. They are, for the most part identical with the only difference being the design of the floatation on the back. For me, the Raku suited my needs better with the full back design than the Chinook's half back. It's all about your preference!
It definately comes down to personal preference. For the seat on my Liska, I find the Raku more comfortable, for my old kayak, the seat back wasn't as high so i think the Chinook would be the way to go with that one.
PFD preference is certainly very subjective and everyone has there own needs when it comes to which one they choose! I haven't tried the bass pro one you're talking about, but my preference between all the PFD's I have tried is the Raku. Thanks for watching!
The velcro up near the shoulder strap is for holding your rod in place while retying or replacing your bait. It is used with the loop at the bottom to stick the butt of your rod in and wrap the upper part of your rod around the velcro for hands free retying or re-baiting your hook. I mentioned it because it is such a cool feature which is swaying me in this direction for my purchase.
Hah yea! You are absolutely right! NRS actually sent me a message and clarified it for me on instagram so I added their response to the description! Obviously it was too late for me to correct myself in the video 🙄
This was one of the features that got me to spend the extra money on this pfd too. Another one was the location of the shoulder adjustments. I tried on the Mustang and it was impossible to adjust while wearing it. And this one was a simple pull. That's a big deal because I'm always changing layers as the day gets warmer and need to adjust every time. I went with the Chinook because it fit just right on my seatback without being bumped up
Great review. I am going with the raku. I like the idea of the full back.
I'm glad I could help you make a decision!
Thanks for the review. I was torn between the two PFDs for sure. I also own a jackson kayak (Mayfly) with the same seat and lumbar pad. You made some good points that I believe are in favor of the Raku for my application. Much appreciated - Raku it is!
Hey thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it could help you make a decision! I'm confident you won't regret the decision on the Raku. In addition to the kayak, I use mine in my boat, and while I'm ice fishing on unfamiliar ice!
Interesting comparison. First: this is, primarily, a piece of life-saving safety gear. The “padding” is floatation foam and it’s placement will have an effect on how it does it’s job. I’ve been using a Chinook for a few years before the Raku came out, and given a choice? I’d still go with a Chinook. I think the placement of the larger piece of foam higher up means it will help keep my head out of the water if I’m injured. Great vid, keep em coming!
Good points! I think the idea behind the Raku is that the float pad on the back, while thinner, is substantially larger to compensate, which in theory would give close to, if not the same floatation capability while providing additional comfort over the single large block of the Chinook.
@@jeffdicks Neither one of these will save you if your unconscious as appose to a Lifejacket , these are just more of a custom made PFD for comfort and fit but still pass all the guide lines and regulations. Myself being on the shorter side went with the Raku as i do have a really highback seat.
Just ordered the raku can't till it comes in to put it to use. What is the appealing to me was the back of the vest. My boat seat is a mid back rest seat, so the chinnook would not been a good fit for me. In the the past i used just a regular fishing vest but last fishing trip i ran into rough waters high winds and that changed my mind about wearing a pfd full time on my little 9.5 foot jon boat. Thank you for making this video it was very informative.
Hey glad I could help you out! I still use my Raku on my boat and Kayak since making this video. I'm pretty tough on most of my gear and it's held up great, which speaks to the quality of NRS gear
Great Review!!
I too have owed them both.
I bought the Raku first, then the Chinook.
I preferred the Chinook
As you mentioned. It comes down to your height versus the seat height.
They BOTH, are the best of the best !!!!
They are soooo comfortable???
I bought them because I wanted to Best there was while using my kayaks, but they are so comfortable, I take my best and wear all day while on my boat. Sort of kinda becomes part of your body and everything fits in place naturally.
Thanks again for your great honest review, everything you said I agree with
Nice job, I looked at the chinook but went with the Stohlquist Fisherman
Those ones are pretty nice too, definately very similar in features.
Also I am leaning towards the Raku, my kayak seat is not too comfortable and this will give me added cushioning. Nice job on the video!
Hey thanks! They're both definately great PFD's! I do prefer the Raku though, for the reasons I mentioned in the video. Since making this video I've bought a boat, and the Raku with the full back is also very comfy to wear while ripping around on that too!
Great review Jeff! 👍
Thanks so much, Ben!
Jeff, Great review of the pfd's. I'm looking at purchasing the Chinook. I noticed in the background your kayak hanging racks. Could you let me know what brand they are. Tightened from Milton, Ontario
www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/kayak-storage-mounts-0798295p.html
Been using them for 3 years now and no issues.
@@jeffdicks Thanks, greatly appreciated. Would they hold a Feel Free Lure 11.5?
Jeff, do you also attach bundgees to stop the kayak from falling out?
I'm pretty sure it would hold up most kayaks. Just make sure you drill the j hook mounts into studs and not just drywall
My Liska is pretty stable on it, but I do have one bungee that I loop over it for good measure.
What would you recommend for somebody who is around 6’2 and somewhat bigger guy. Used mostly for bass fish boat fishing but also likely will get a kayak down the road and use it for that also?
I use my Raku on my kayak and my boat and I love it. I'm 5'9 ~220lbs. I'm always wearing it if I'm on my kayak and the front pockets are very handy for tool, phone and other accessory storage. In the boat, I generally hang it on my seat back unless I'm out in less than ideal conditions, but when I am wearing it in the boat its comfy and doesn't get in my way. It's very adjustable both wider and taller people too, and even with it adjusted to my current size (which is fluffier than I would like to admit) there's still lots of room with the straps to go bigger and the shoulder straps are easily adjustable for longer or shorter torsos
The Flat full back of the raku makes it a better option for both, in my opinion. The bulkier high back floatation of the Chinook was designed for a kayak seat and that would bother me sitting in a high back boat seat.
@@jeffdicks thank you for your feedback! I was leaning towards the raku thinking that it might be more versatile. Thank you for your thoughtful reply. You’ve gained a sub in me 👍🏼
Good info! It’s greats! Thanks
What brand is that wall storage rack that you used for your kayak storage
www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/kayak-storage-mounts-0798295p.html
Thanks
My pleasure! I hope the video was able to help you out!!
Good reviews bro
Can we expect another giveaway bro.
Thanks! More giveaways are coming soon :)
@@jeffdicks waiting for the next giveaway bro.
In the summer heat the chinook is hot to wear. So you just dip your hat in and get damp.
so you never decided which one was better???
Neither of them is "better" than the other. They are, for the most part identical with the only difference being the design of the floatation on the back. For me, the Raku suited my needs better with the full back design than the Chinook's half back.
It's all about your preference!
Price on these
Chinook is 179 and the Raku is 189 from Frontenac Outfitters. Links to each of them are in the description.
Great review! Very thorough! 👍🏼👍🏼
Perfect think next weekend ill be grabing the ruku on your review
You won't regret it. It's a sweet PFD :)
I’ve got both and I’ll say clearly chinook is most comfortable.
It definately comes down to personal preference. For the seat on my Liska, I find the Raku more comfortable, for my old kayak, the seat back wasn't as high so i think the Chinook would be the way to go with that one.
I tried them both and in the end I stuck with my bass pro pfd. I don't like how bulky and far it sticks out in the front.
PFD preference is certainly very subjective and everyone has there own needs when it comes to which one they choose! I haven't tried the bass pro one you're talking about, but my preference between all the PFD's I have tried is the Raku. Thanks for watching!