Best value and option life jacket

[angry john]

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/recreati ... country=25
This seems to be the best option for on the water saftey, with the inportant options. There are jackets with more frills i guess, but not better. Does anyone use this vest?

[steve1206]

I have a version of that one..it's the Mustang thats Bass Pro labeled (co-op version) and will be on sale at the spring fishing classic.

Is the the "best option??" I'm Not sure and ill tell you why. I had been wearing mine for an undetermined amount of time "unarmed" The o-ring where the CO2 cylinder attaches, had broken (probably stepped on) and my life jacket was was not functional. My brother in law pointed it out when we were sitting in the boat. The scary part was, I don't know how long it had been like that. I now check the indicator before each day. I love this jacket but I would say the safest option is a standard/non inflatable.

[angry john]

Well i would have to agree the safest would be a USGS type 1, but in reality no one would ever ware that type of vest, or not for long. I should have said safest auto inflate. I just ordered one so i hope i dont find any seriously bad reviews. Was the indicator green or red when you had that o-ring issue?????

[cndbasshunter]

I recommend the hit series for auto inflate.

[steve1206]

Well i would have to agree the safest would be a USGS type 1, but in reality no one would ever ware that type of vest, or not for long. I should have said safest auto inflate. I just ordered one so i hope i dont find any seriously bad reviews. Was the indicator green or red when you had that o-ring issue?????

It was red but if you don't look directly at the status window, you'd never know. The cylinder was loosened up barely staying attached,, but once agin without checking you'd never know. I check all the time now, after that incident.

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/wear/968

Holds tackle too

[angry john]

I did see some of those type of vests. One of the issues i was trying to avoid is bulk. When its cold outside and you already are layering to stay warm, you may be hindered even more by a large vest like that. If your a bass guy, it would get very heavy loaded with jigs and weights. I am hoping to forget i am wearing the protection and focus on the task at hand. If it gets in the way and is taken off it does no good. I was also looking for a type II vest and was willing to pay more than the type III. My fear was being knocked out and needing the vest to prevent drowning. In reality a foam vest would be best for that situation, but the one i own never comes out from under my seat.

[cndbasshunter]

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/wear/968

Holds tackle too

wow....nice.

but it wou;d be pretty hot during the summer.

[jeb]

I did see some of those type of vests. One of the issues i was trying to avoid is bulk. When its cold outside and you already are layering to stay warm, you may be hindered even more by a large vest like that. If your a bass guy, it would get very heavy loaded with jigs and weights. I am hoping to forget i am wearing the protection and focus on the task at hand. If it gets in the way and is taken off it does no good.

Agreed. I have the HIT Mustang vest you're buying. Had it 3 years or so now, I guess. I wear it 100% of the time I'm fishing. 100 degree day or 20 degree day. I never notice it. I feel it's far safer to have a PFD on all the time. Only wearing a PFD when the big motor is running covers such a small amount of the exposure to going in the water!

Anyway, it's been completely reliable and trouble free. A lot of the deck hands on the Deadliest Catch show wear them too, and those guys are constantly soaked. So not much worry about it going off accidentally. The HIT model has a very comfortable neoprene collar that most other PFD don't have.

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/wear/968

Holds tackle too

wow....nice.

but it wou;d be pretty hot during the summer.

Guys also wear the vest rocking hopping for sea bass in Japan. And a similar one for ISO fishing.

They wear it both In summer and cold months.


Watch the video


http://youtu.be/riqyYOEy0AY


http://youtu.be/Ux9qYoZSbWs




http://youtu.be/Z9L6Kj6TbF0


http://youtu.be/cCpd6kPkTgg

[jeb]

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/wear/968

Holds tackle too

wow....nice.

but it wou;d be pretty hot during the summer.

Agreed. We also have this Mustang vest, and even it is uncomfortable on anything resembling a warm day:
http://www.mustangsurvival.com/professi ... country=25

[steve1206]

I did see some of those type of vests. One of the issues i was trying to avoid is bulk. When its cold outside and you already are layering to stay warm, you may be hindered even more by a large vest like that. If your a bass guy, it would get very heavy loaded with jigs and weights. I am hoping to forget i am wearing the protection and focus on the task at hand. If it gets in the way and is taken off it does no good.

Agreed. I have the HIT Mustang vest you're buying. Had it 3 years or so now, I guess. I wear it 100% of the time I'm fishing. 100 degree day or 20 degree day. I never notice it. I feel it's far safer to have a PFD on all the time. Only wearing a PFD when the big motor is running covers such a small amount of the exposure to going in the water!

Anyway, it's been completely reliable and trouble free. A lot of the deck hands on the Deadliest Catch show wear them too, and those guys are constantly soaked. So not much worry about it going off accidentally. The HIT model has a very comfortable neoprene collar that most other PFD don't have.

...unless you are tearing clothes off as fast as you can becuase you took a break from fishing to get on your conference call for work and accidentially pull the cord....gets your attention really fast!!

[angry john]

I think i would love to have those type of problems. Dedication is the only way to land the big fish. Thanks for the laugh!!!

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

I call BS with out pictures of the tan line after take off your PDF.

[q1w2e3_89]

http://www.evergreen-fishing.com/goods_ ... 601_2.html

IMO flotation belts are the best. They don't obstruct your range of motion and you don't even notice you have them on.