PFDs

ILfishinman · 03-20-07, 10:47 PM

what do you guys have any recommendations on comfortable life vests that wont run me an arm and a leg like the s.o.s. penders, dam those are expensive, cause in my jr. tournaments we have to wear the PFDs the whole time

last year i got in late and only got to fish one tourney and had to borrow a vest, dont wanna be the guy to borrow one all year lol

revrat · 03-21-07, 03:06 PM

OK, so check this out. You get a SOSpender auto inflate version, and you're riding down the lake at 67 mph in 55 degree water, and the lower unit grenades, causing the boat to spin out. When the front end catches you and your partner are ejected. One person has the old school uncomfortable foam filled vest, and one has SOSpender auto inflate. Guess which one failed? My buddy said his SOSpender vest did not inflate when he hit the water, and when it did eventually trigger, it only inflated partially. His partner had no issue with the old school foam filled vest. Luckily neither of them were hurt in the accident, but if my buddy had been rendered unconcious by the impact to the water, he could have drowned due the SOSpenders not inflating properly.

If you want the comfort of the inflatable, don't go cheap. Save some pennies and get the Mustang with the hydrostatic inflator. It is a much better design for an auto inflator than the SOSpenders. The money you save by buying an inferior product, whose only function is to SAVE YOUR LIFE, is awfully small when you consider the consequences of a possible failure. In other words, would you bet your life against the $70 or so you save by getting the cheaper auto-inflator? Not me.

If you want to sacrifice the comfort and go cheap, the old school vest will NOT fail if properly worn and buckled up. The vest is not all that uncomfortable if it fits properly, but I would not want to wear it all day. I don't know about where you live, but a lot of states require under a certain age to wear a PFD at all times in the boat. If that's the case for you, I would definitely save up for the inflatable.

I have the Mustang and have every confidence in it's operation, and could not be happier with it. It goes on and off easy, and takes up very little space in the boat. I also keep the old school vest in the boat.

zooker · 03-21-07, 06:03 PM

for a vest system i use a excellerater 4 buckle with zipper..but they are hot..

i have a suspend system. but the mustang looks good also..

zooker

Raul · 03-21-07, 08:34 PM

comfortable life vests that wont run me an arm and a leg like the s.o.s. penders, dam those are expensive

How valuable is your life ?

pig n jig · 03-21-07, 08:35 PM

I have the S.O.S.pender vest after I nearly drowned in a river while fishing a few years back.Cost should not be part of the equasion, your life should be worth more than paying the price to be tallied up as a drowned victim statistic ?

P N J

ILfishinman · 03-21-07, 09:56 PM

well like one of those foam pvc ones, know what im sayin? plus those dont gotta blow up

Snake2715 · 03-22-07, 10:19 AM

Whats a good vest with a few pockets but will give you some good free arm motion?

I am not necessarily into the auto inflate ones.

ILfishinman · 03-22-07, 02:20 PM

^^ yea just more thing that can go wrong, the foam ones cant go wrong unless you dont have it on right

KenDammit · 03-22-07, 02:21 PM

your best bet for getting one that isn't inflatable and stuff would probably be a jacket designed for skiing or wakeboarding, something for "watersports".

this one might not be too bad

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...earchId=717576

there are also suspender topped ones that still have foam around the waist.

Snake2715 · 03-22-07, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenDammit

your best bet for getting one that isn't inflatable and stuff would probably be a jacket designed for skiing or wakeboarding, something for "watersports".

this one might not be too bad

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...earchId=717576

there are also suspender topped ones that still have foam around the waist.

That Dicks one was on sale today for $25. Figure you cant beat that.

Thanks

HOG Ranger · 03-22-07, 07:09 PM

Mustang manual inflate unless I am making a long high speed run and then I put on the "old school".

I wear my Mustang all the time when I am fishing because I mostly fish by myself. And yes I can swim but safety is a priority with me. Same reason I wear a helmet on the Harley when State law does not madate it.

thebus71h · 03-22-07, 08:48 PM

We go through this very often in racing. People buy proban suits, and old helmets, and think they're safe. I wear double layer nomex underwear, and then a three layer nomex driving suit (and on real hot days two layer carbon fiber), along with neckbraces, the best helmet I can buy, nomex shoes, gloves, and arm restraints. How much did all this run me? If I added it all up, close to 3,500 dollars. Much cheaper than a trip to the burn unit, and my life is much more important to that. Get the best vest you can, for the money, which is definately something I need to have here shortly for tournaments as a no-boater.

HOG Ranger · 03-23-07, 08:29 AM

Yep, the old saying is true in motorcycles. If you buy a $40 helmet you are thinking your head is worth 40 bucks. Same holds true on PFD's but that is only my opinion.

If they are not comfortable you will not wear them. Most of the cheap ones are not very comfortable and that is where the slim line inflatables come into play. You don't even know you are wearing one.

FlyRod · 03-23-07, 12:12 PM

Related thread in "Tips, Tricks, Techniques" forum. Started by "Scrap".
Features a scholarly and entertaining post

by Professor F. "Just Ask ME" Rod

.

F.Rod
What a coincidence!

Vabass22 · 03-23-07, 05:27 PM

I have one for fishing my jr bass tournaments, it is made by Stearns, and it is mesh at the top, comfortable, and ran me about 30 bucks!

KenDammit · 03-24-07, 08:31 AM

I forgot to say this but this will hold true always, no matter what.

Any life vest, no matter how much the cost, is better than no life vest at all.

Echoing that with what others have said..the price of preserving human life is not cheap.

HOG Ranger · 03-24-07, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenDammit

Any life vest, no matter how much the cost, is better than no life vest at all.

Good point and very true. Like you mentioned, by law the life jackets have to suspend a certain amount of weight regardless of what it costs.

Once you step up into a more expensive unit there is less bulk and more comfort. That is what you are paying the extra money for.

03-20-07, 10:47 PM	#1
ILfishinman BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 706	PFDs what do you guys have any recommendations on comfortable life vests that wont run me an arm and a leg like the s.o.s. penders, dam those are expensive, cause in my jr. tournaments we have to wear the PFDs the whole time last year i got in late and only got to fish one tourney and had to borrow a vest, dont wanna be the guy to borrow one all year lol __________________ If light moves at 670616629 MPH, how fast is Dark? Bass count 07: lost count

03-21-07, 06:03 PM	#3
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	for a vest system i use a excellerater 4 buckle with zipper..but they are hot.. i have a suspend system. but the mustang looks good also.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

03-21-07, 09:56 PM	#6
ILfishinman BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 706	well like one of those foam pvc ones, know what im sayin? plus those dont gotta blow up __________________ If light moves at 670616629 MPH, how fast is Dark? Bass count 07: lost count

03-22-07, 10:19 AM	#7
Snake2715 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 249	Whats a good vest with a few pockets but will give you some good free arm motion? I am not necessarily into the auto inflate ones. __________________ -Josh

03-22-07, 02:20 PM	#8
ILfishinman BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 706	^^ yea just more thing that can go wrong, the foam ones cant go wrong unless you dont have it on right __________________ If light moves at 670616629 MPH, how fast is Dark? Bass count 07: lost count

03-21-07, 03:06 PM	#2
revrat BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 62	OK, so check this out. You get a SOSpender auto inflate version, and you're riding down the lake at 67 mph in 55 degree water, and the lower unit grenades, causing the boat to spin out. When the front end catches you and your partner are ejected. One person has the old school uncomfortable foam filled vest, and one has SOSpender auto inflate. Guess which one failed? My buddy said his SOSpender vest did not inflate when he hit the water, and when it did eventually trigger, it only inflated partially. His partner had no issue with the old school foam filled vest. Luckily neither of them were hurt in the accident, but if my buddy had been rendered unconcious by the impact to the water, he could have drowned due the SOSpenders not inflating properly. If you want the comfort of the inflatable, don't go cheap. Save some pennies and get the Mustang with the hydrostatic inflator. It is a much better design for an auto inflator than the SOSpenders. The money you save by buying an inferior product, whose only function is to SAVE YOUR LIFE, is awfully small when you consider the consequences of a possible failure. In other words, would you bet your life against the $70 or so you save by getting the cheaper auto-inflator? Not me. If you want to sacrifice the comfort and go cheap, the old school vest will NOT fail if properly worn and buckled up. The vest is not all that uncomfortable if it fits properly, but I would not want to wear it all day. I don't know about where you live, but a lot of states require under a certain age to wear a PFD at all times in the boat. If that's the case for you, I would definitely save up for the inflatable. I have the Mustang and have every confidence in it's operation, and could not be happier with it. It goes on and off easy, and takes up very little space in the boat. I also keep the old school vest in the boat.

03-21-07, 08:34 PM	#4
Raul BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,030	comfortable life vests that wont run me an arm and a leg like the s.o.s. penders, dam those are expensive How valuable is your life ?

03-21-07, 08:35 PM	#5
pig n jig BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Avoca, NY Posts: 3,508	I have the S.O.S.pender vest after I nearly drowned in a river while fishing a few years back.Cost should not be part of the equasion, your life should be worth more than paying the price to be tallied up as a drowned victim statistic ? P N J

03-22-07, 02:21 PM	#9
KenDammit BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 691	your best bet for getting one that isn't inflatable and stuff would probably be a jacket designed for skiing or wakeboarding, something for "watersports". this one might not be too bad http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...earchId=717576 there are also suspender topped ones that still have foam around the waist.

03-22-07, 07:09 PM	#11
HOG Ranger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 306	Mustang manual inflate unless I am making a long high speed run and then I put on the "old school". I wear my Mustang all the time when I am fishing because I mostly fish by myself. And yes I can swim but safety is a priority with me. Same reason I wear a helmet on the Harley when State law does not madate it. __________________ Mike

03-22-07, 08:48 PM	#12
thebus71h BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Liberty, IN Posts: 135	We go through this very often in racing. People buy proban suits, and old helmets, and think they're safe. I wear double layer nomex underwear, and then a three layer nomex driving suit (and on real hot days two layer carbon fiber), along with neckbraces, the best helmet I can buy, nomex shoes, gloves, and arm restraints. How much did all this run me? If I added it all up, close to 3,500 dollars. Much cheaper than a trip to the burn unit, and my life is much more important to that. Get the best vest you can, for the money, which is definately something I need to have here shortly for tournaments as a no-boater. __________________ Billy Rowlee #71h

03-23-07, 08:29 AM	#13
HOG Ranger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 306	Yep, the old saying is true in motorcycles. If you buy a $40 helmet you are thinking your head is worth 40 bucks. Same holds true on PFD's but that is only my opinion. If they are not comfortable you will not wear them. Most of the cheap ones are not very comfortable and that is where the slim line inflatables come into play. You don't even know you are wearing one. __________________ Mike

03-23-07, 12:12 PM	#14
FlyRod BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,270	Related thread in "Tips, Tricks, Techniques" forum. Started by "Scrap". Features a scholarly and entertaining post by Professor F. "Just Ask ME" Rod. F.Rod What a coincidence!

03-23-07, 05:27 PM	#15
Vabass22 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,120	I have one for fishing my jr bass tournaments, it is made by Stearns, and it is mesh at the top, comfortable, and ran me about 30 bucks! __________________ Hit that water awful hard! olddominionsports..com

03-24-07, 08:31 AM	#16
KenDammit BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 691	I forgot to say this but this will hold true always, no matter what. Any life vest, no matter how much the cost, is better than no life vest at all. Echoing that with what others have said..the price of preserving human life is not cheap.

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