Restube: the pocket-sized swimming aid

You can fall into the water faster than you might think – even if you’re an experienced stand-up paddler. It’s usually not a problem, because the ankle leash keeps you connected to the board – aka your life raft – while you’re in the lake. (Note: you shouldn’t wear one on rivers, as the situation can quickly become very dangerous if you get stuck.)

But things can go wrong on lakes too; the leash could break or you could forget to put it on. If it’s windy, the board will quickly drift out of reach with the resulting surface current, and even strong swimmers will struggle to keep up. That’s why additional safety equipment is advisable. Otherwise, a small issue can quickly turn into something serious.

It’s best to wear a solid foam life vest. Then you won’t sink as deep if you fall into the water and you can catch your breath on the surface before getting back on your board, or – if the leash has broken – waiting for help or swimming towards the shore.

Who it’s designed for

Since stand-up paddling started out as a competitive sport and some racers quickly get too hot wearing a conventional life vest, Restube has developed a buoyancy aid – known as a personal flotation device (PFD) – that you can wear around your waist. So, even if you’re working up a sweat paddling, you won’t get too hot.

The PFD shouldn’t be confused with Restube’s buoys, such as the Restube Active, which is also packed up in a small hip bag. They don’t have CE certification and aren’t considered a full PFD. This means that they don’t meet the regulations that apply 300 metres out from the shore on Swiss lakes.

The Restube PFD, however, is certified and offers the required minimum buoyancy of 50 newtons (it actually has 75 newtons, but is certified in the 50 newton category and meets the EN ISO 12402-5 standard for life vests).

How it works

But what’s the Restube like? How easy is it to release? And will it help me get back on my SUP board, assuming it’s not too far away? I ran a test to find out.

I attach the Restube with a hip belt. I also have to loop a strap around one leg to keep it in place and stop it sliding up past my face once it’s activated. Unlike the hip belt – which I can hardly feel – the leg strap isn’t very comfortable. If I pull it too tight, it rubs. If it’s too loose, it flaps around my legs.

So, I paddled out onto the lake wearing the Restube without a leash around my ankle, then I threw myself off the board to test it out. You can see how I triggered the PFD and what happened next in the video:

It’s actually pretty straightforward. The red plastic toggle at the end of the trigger makes it easy to grip the strap. And one strong pull activates the trigger mechanism, which perforates the CO₂ cartridge and fills the yellow buoy with carbon dioxide, causing it to automatically float upwards. If the mechanism fails, you can also inflate it with your breath. But that requires a fair amount of calm and stamina after falling into the water, because it doesn’t work if you’re gasping for breath.

Once the Restube has reached the surface, you can secure it to your upper body by pulling the neck strap over your head. This gives you enough buoyancy to calm your breathing and wait for help if needed.

If your board’s very nearby and not drifting away, you can also swim to it with the PFD in front of your chest. If it’s really warm, you’re experienced and know that you can easily cover the distance, you could loosen the neck strap and use it like a swimming buoy. You need to carefully assess the situation here, because if you exhaust yourself by unsuccessfully swimming after your board, things can quickly become more serious. However, if you can easily reach it, you can climb back on and paddle to the shore.

After it’s triggered

Once you’re safely back on dry land, you might be wondering: what now? To reuse the Restube, you have to let the air out and replace the CO₂ cartridge. These are easy to reorder. Thanks to its detailed instructions, the PFD is easy to fold up again and pack in the hip bag.

How much security does an inflatable PFD provide?

The Restube PFD meets the legal requirements and worked well on the first attempt in my test. So, I’d recommend it on small to medium-sized lakes with warm water and air temperatures – and at events such as competitions and group events for experienced water sports enthusiasts.

You should also practice triggering the device in the water at least once so you have some experience in case of an emergency.

However, the PFD offers no protection if you faint or lose consciousness in the water or in any other situation where you can’t trigger the mechanism. These are definitely rare occurrences, but a solid buoyancy aid – ideally with a neck support – can provide better protection.

Swiss inland water transport regulations (in German) stipulate that a buoyancy aid or life vest must be carried if more than 300 metres from shore. This tempts some paddlers to clamp a life jacket under the luggage net at the front of their SUP board. Unfortunately, it’s no use there. In situations where a life vest is needed because the board has floated away, it’s not to hand.

This is where the Restube PFD has its pluses, because it’s small and worn on the body. If you get into trouble, you at least have some assurance with you.