For serious watersport’s enthusiasts, especially those pushing the limits in foiling, kitesurfing, or high-performance dinghy sailing, the choice of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is a perpetual compromise. You need safety and buoyancy, but you also need minimal bulk, maximum mobility, and perfect compatibility with a harness. For years, the market has offered either thin impact vests with minimal floatation or certified PFDs that feel like wearing a bulky life raft. Forward WIP, with their extensive experience in high-octane water protection, claims to have found the sweet spot with their Forward WIP Kompact Vest 50N. We put this low-profile piece of safety gear to the test.
A Design Revolution in Compactness
The most striking feature of the Kompact 50N is its genuinely low-profile design. It manages to achieve an ISO 12402-5 certified 50 Newtons of buoyancy while retaining a streamlined, impact-vest silhouette. This is a game-changer for foilers, where every ounce of drag and every restricted movement can translate into a loss of speed and control. The secret lies in the strategic use of high-density thermoformed foam, concentrating the floatation where it’s most needed, without creating a restrictive “turtle shell” feel.
The vest is constructed from super-stretch neoprene, which feels immediately comfortable—less like a piece of mandatory safety gear and more like an extension of your wetsuit. The fit is close to the body, almost like a second skin. Forward WIP has also cleverly included two internal neoprene anti-slip strips, a small but genius addition designed to grip your wetsuit and prevent the all-too-common issue of the vest riding up over your head during a high-speed tumble. This anti-ride-up feature alone is a huge win for performance sailors and board riders.
Seamless Integration with a Harness
One of the biggest obstacles for competitive sailors and boarders wearing a PFD is harness integration. Most vests bunch up uncomfortably under a waist harness, or the foam panels interfere with the harness hook’s position. The Forward WIP Kompact Vest 50N addresses this head-on with a dedicated “Harness Zone Design.”
This zone, located around the waist, is purposefully left free of the high-density foam panels. The result is a vest that integrates seamlessly with both waist and seat harnesses, allowing the harness to sit flush against your body for maximum comfort and load distribution. During testing, the vest never felt restrictive, even during aggressive hiking or deep carve gybes on the foil. This commitment to maintaining the feel and efficiency of your harness is a major selling point for the Forward WIP Kompact Vest 50N.
Beyond Buoyancy: Impact Protection
While certified 50N buoyancy is the legal and safety baseline, the Kompact 50N also functions as a highly effective impact vest. The thermoformed foam panels offer substantial shock absorption, a crucial benefit for anyone tackling high-speed watersports where crashes are inevitable. Hitting the water at foiling speeds can be equivalent to hitting concrete, and the high-density padding, including side pads for rib protection, provides peace of mind that a standard PFD often lacks.
Durability is also key. Features like a robust YKK side zip, double adjustment straps for a precise fit, and multiple easy-access pockets (including a dedicated knife pocket) demonstrate that this vest was designed by people who genuinely understand the demands of serious watersports. The overall quality suggests this PFD will withstand the harsh marine environment and high-impact use.
The Verdict
The question remains: Is the Forward WIP Kompact Vest 50N the ultimate low-profile PFD? Based on our testing, the answer is a resounding yes. It successfully navigates the safety-versus-performance dilemma that has long plagued the industry. By combining certified 50N buoyancy with a truly compact, harness-compatible, and impact-protected design, Forward WIP has created a piece of gear that doesn’t just meet the requirements—it elevates the user’s experience.…






