someone back then suggested this pfd
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product/index/1917j/. It has a more classic look, but like you said, it has a lot more flotation, and I wonder if its bulk would get in the way of paddling.
Dagger, that's a specialized PFD used in very heavy whitewater. I have one of the originals, called the HiFloat, which was designed by Charlie Waldbridge back in the early '80's and originally sold as a sew-it-yourself kit before the design was purchased by Extrasport. Its concept was to provide much more than the minimum Coast Guard required flotation of 15.5 pounds, so that swimming paddlers could avoid flush drowning in giant holes and waves in heavy whitewater. It now apparently contains 27 pounds of foam flotation.
It was popular among whitewater paddlers in the 80's, and is still used by whitewater guides and commercial raft customers, but even most whitewater paddlers have now dropped it because of its bulk and arguably excessive flotation. In my opinion, it's far too bulky a PFD for a flatwater paddler.
Fit and comfort are the primary factors. Exterior pockets are also conveniences to hold crucial "bail out" gear such as waterproofed cell phones, PLB's, marine radios, cameras, knives, etc.
I've had many trendy PFD's over the past 40 years, and for the past 10 years I've used a very lightweight hybrid (foam + inflatable) PFD, the Kokatat SeaO2, which is rather expensive now. Many "name brands" are now wildly overpriced, in my opinion, unless you can get them on sale. I also have very serviceable and reasonably comfortable 15.5 lb. PFD's that I've purchased for $20-$40, often on sale, from places such as sierratradingpost.com, sportsmansguide.com, the REI Outlet (now Garage), and local discount stores such as Walmart.
In hot climates just for flatwater, I'd now consider a fully inflatable PFD, although they tend to be expensive too.
. The newer version has a zipper pocket instead of the velcro flap closure. My old Stearns PFD was the most comfortable and easily adjustable that I have used or tried.
