I thought their purpose was   (You need to Login or Register! (Green Sterns under the conveniently placed, spare paddle.) Yeah, I'm not that bad anymore. I at least keep it handy and not bungied down.  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

I have always worn my seat belt. In MY car, seat belts are mandatory for everyone. It keeps me in place on the corners and I feel naked and vulnerable w/o it.

In a canoe however, it's a personal preference. The PFD goes on only when waves warrant it. If I'm wearing it I probably also have a painter tied to myself so the canoe can't blow away from me.

I might float these days but when I bought mine I sank like a rock and I got a bright yellow one to make it easy to spot my body - saving retrieval costs. It's comfy but does interfere with other things I may have in my shirt pockets plus, to me, it's a "feel good" false sense of security. It does have my ditch kit in it though so....

You like wearing yours - good for you! If not, that's fine too. Like I'd notice or care. There was one day when I overheard the very young son of a father and son team say: "He's not wearing his...." I put down the paddle and put it on. I then waved hello as in thanks for the reminder. I get the example thing but I took it off again when the kid was out of sight.

If I had to choose one or the other, I feel a lot "safer" with the painter tied to me than the with PFD - on, buckled, zipped and cinched tight. Within easy reach works for both most of the time.