TeamO PFD with BackTow™ - Offshore Blue ProSensor Elite

Most PFDs have two big problems. First, they’re often uncomfortable enough that people take them off, leaving themselves unprotected. Second, if a tethered sailor goes overboard, the tether tows the person from the chest, keeping them face-down with no way to breathe. And that has led to tragic drownings caused by the very thing that was supposed to protect them. TeamO solves both problems.
 

Comfort

Let’s talk about comfort first. At a glance you may not notice the difference in cut, but you’ll feel it the moment you put it on. Check out the picture of the woman in the white shirt above. TeamO doesn’t ride on the back of your neck — it rests on your shoulders and upper back. That design makes it feel lighter and helps prevent the neck strain and headaches many sailors get from other PFDs.

But the cut isn’t the only difference. Most PFD instructions tell you to pull the straps until the vest is snug, but that often means chest pressure, digging at the neck, and chafing when you’re sweaty. And who wants to wear something “snug” on a hot day?

TeamO is built differently. Its integrated crotch straps keep the vest securely in place, so you don’t have to crank down the harness. Instead, it’s meant to be worn with a little room — enough to slip a fist between your chest and the band — making it more comfortable for women and men alike while still staying right where it should be.

It’s also one of the few PFDs with a truly wide size range — from very small sailors who struggle to find gear that fits, up to chest sizes of 56". That flexibility means you can wear it comfortably over foul weather gear, or adjust it down for a swimsuit or t-shirt. Whatever your build, it sits light and balanced so you’ll actually keep it on, whether you’re offshore in heavy weather or just daysailing close to home.

And because comfort and fit are so personal, every TeamO comes with a 30-day return policy. Try it on, make sure it feels right, and send it back if it doesn’t — as long as it’s still in as-new condition.

BackTow™ system

So, this is a PFD that you’ll actually wear. That’s a step in the right direction, but the real breakthrough is TeamO’s patented BackTow™ system — the only one of its kind in the world.

Here’s the danger: if you fall overboard while clipped on with a tether, the attachment point at your chest drags you face-down through the water. Until the boat fully stops, it can be impossible to get a breath of air. Until now, the only option was for the overboard person to release the tether and hope the boat could find them again. Otherwise, they’d drown before the boat stopped.

TeamO changes that. Once the vest inflates, a simple pull of the BackTow handle transfers the tether point from the front of the harness to the back. The wearer does need to be conscious and able to make that pull, but once activated it locks into place — you don’t need to keep holding it.

 
That single change flips you into a face-up position, allowing you to breathe and be towed safely until the boat can recover you. The BackTow strap also doubles as a strong lifting point, so even a smaller crewmember can use a winch to bring you back aboard. Combined with the crotch straps that prevent the vest from riding up, it transforms the odds should you go overboard.