The Gear Shed - NRS Zen PFD

• Entry System: Side Buckle

• PFD Type: V (Whitewater Rescue PFD)

• Ratings: USCG, CE EN393

• Flotation: 17.5 LBS

• Weight: 3 LBS

• MSRP: $219.95

NRS Zen Review

I feel like NRS did a decent job with this PFD. The overall design is good, mobility is good, the fit feels nice on the water, and they tried to pack a lot into the PFD. If you prefer a front entry, like I do, this is not a difficult transition to use this PFD. Likewise people who prefer pullovers might enjoy the ease of entry of this PFD.

The pocket space is pretty generous and easy to access. I don’t like keeping my rescue gear in my PFD, but if you like keeping your gear in the PFD pockets there is plenty of space. I felt the lash tab is in a bit of an awkward spot and it doesn’t take advantage of the 4 way design of other tabs, but that’s just me being picky.

All that being said I feel like there are definitely ways the design can be improved, but for an entry level rescue PFD it definitely checks all the boxes for what you will need.

Best Parts of the NRS Zen

If you are a private boater who gets on the water less than 30 days a year or you are a guide looking to do swift water training for the first time this is a solid economical option for you. It has plenty of flotation for most situations and boaters, but if you are unclear on exactly how much flotation you need, take a look at this article.

The combination of features makes this a solid all around PFD for many boaters in several different regions, new guides, or casual boaters. The main pocket opens like a tray similar to the Astral Green Jacket so it makes a handy place to put a sandwich too.

How is The Zen PFD in the water?

I have taken some bigger swims in this PFD and I found that it is remarkably easy to swim in. I started with swimming some larger class III and IV rapids and it was easy to move as well as had a ton of mobility. The floating front panel worked well, but it was a little stiff and I felt it was a little bulky in a swim. Remounting the raft was a little more difficult than I am used to.

I’m 6’ 2”, have long arms, and I felt the front panel interfered a bit in the remounting process. Kailee mentioned it was much harder for her, at 5’4”, to remount the raft. I have also taken a couple class V swims in this PFD and was generally satisfied with the performance of the PFD.

I felt there was enough freedom of movement to allow me to push past the bulk of the front of the PFD. I did take a hit to the shoulder on my back from a rock and I feel it has a bit less coverage than other PFDs in this class. I also took several rib hits while IKing which were fine, and only one rib shot got past the side panel to actually connect with my body. For me the under arm coverage is about 50% from the side panels and for Kailee it was 100%.

Kailee: The flotation is great and I love the multiple gear compartments. The panels are one size regardless of the size of the PFD and the panels were a little large for my body type, the plastic quick release sits low and to the right. When I paddle on the right or I’m R2ing, the quick release dug into my leg, and left some bruises on my thigh. This was not an issue when I was stern guiding.

How tough is the NRS Zen?

I have been giving this PFD a beating and it seems to be holding up well to abrasion. The Cordura reinforcement points seem to be in good locations covering a lot of the wear points. The buckles are solid and easy to replace if needed and at several points the plastic lash points are backed up by a small metal piece which should add durability in the long term.

It does get dirt and mud ground into it very easily though so in the long term that could reduce durability if microscopic mud particles work their way into the fabric. Also the stomach and shoulder bands are a bit of an open mesh foam combination backing up the webbing straps. This has the potential over time to suck up a lot of sand and dirt if you are in muddy or dirty water a lot.

Important considerations before you get the Zen

• The only sizing difference is in the strap length, so even a very small person could wear an XXL (but you would have a ton of dangly straps). The coverage issue under the arms and the shoulders might not be an issue if you are a smaller paddler, but bigger paddlers might like to see more side coverage.

• The buckles and cinch down points are all in locations on the PFD that are not easy to see by most wearers so it is important to get comfortable adjusting it by feel rather than sight.

• Color Selection is limited to Red, Black, and Charcoal with Lime or Teal Highlights. Of these colors red is your only high visibility option. If you are in environments with low visibility consider sewing in reflective tabs or adding other high visibility modifications. If you boat in hot desert environments the 2 black color options might keep you a bit hotter in the warm summer months.

• The center pocket goes all the way through so if you store anything in there you can access it from both sides. On the flip side if you forget to zip one side then you will lose some things. It is listed as 2 side pockets, but in reality it is just one pocket with 2 access points.

• It has a front tow tether/skirt attachment, but if you are rafting you will probably never use it.

• The straps can be a bit long on some of the PFD sizes to accommodate for customization. You may wish to cut your straps to a shorter length to eliminate potential snags. That being said, if you do decide to cut them make sure you leave enough for additional layers and so the buckles have enough purchase on the webbing.

• The side entry can be much easier to take on and off than a full pull-over, especially when boating with more bulky gear on like a dry-suit, but it does require un-cinching multiple points, so it’s not the quickest on/off system; however, multiple cinch / buckle points allow for a more snug-fit.

Concerns for Female Paddlers from Kailee

This PFD is not really designed for women with medium to larger chests in mind. It is a bit of a lift and separate system, and the front panel does not accommodate most women’s chests well. Additionally the front panel is somewhat flat rather than ergonomically designed for the women’s chests, which put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on my sternum. If you have a flatter chest this should be no problem for you (B cup and smaller generally).

Is the NRS Zen worth the cost?

At just over a $200 price point this PFD is one of the least expensive rescue PFDs on the market. If you are a casual boater or living on a guide’s salary or this is your first swift water PFD this one is a good choice.

Any USCG rated PFD will surely hold up to almost anything a boater can expect to throw at it. The side entry is a nice touch if you are not a fan of over pull over designs. I have so far paddled with this PFD on expedition trips on 3 continents and it has held up pretty well to all of the abuse I have thrown at it.

If you are looking for something with a lot of micro adjustments to help specifically fit to your body type you may want to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a no nonsense rescue PFD at a good price this will probably work well for you.  NRS packed a lot of value for the price in here.