I bought this in size medium last week. It arrived promptly and was beautifully packaged. I was impatient and wriggled into it over my usual daytime clothes - a cotton long sleeve shirt and a lightweight fleece. My initial impression was disappointment. It simply felt too tight. (I’m slightly built, about 5ft 9in, 36in chest and weigh 66kg). So how did I get it wrong? Well actually, it all worked out fine… I tried it again on Sunday morning over a pair of Rooster hikers, polypro top and Aquafleece. After only a few moments I was reassured that it was in fact a very good fit. It’s very snug (a lot different to a standard buoyancy aid; and needs a bit of getting used to), it’s a bit like being hugged all day! I wore it for racing both morning and afternoon and found it to be very sleek with a low profile. It’s nicely flexible and comfortable too, but an added benefit for me was that the close fit gave slightly greater thermal insulation, keeping my torso warm and comfortable. I’m not sure how it will age with continuous use, as the material is softer and more flexible than a regular buoyancy aid (time will tell). But it is very well made and has the typical Rooster feeling of quality and robustness, so I’m optimistic it will give good service.
