Best life jackets

[big 8s in Weakley county]

What's the best life jackets to buy traditional, the inflatable vest, or the Fanny pack style? What does everyone recommend. Want something comfortable enough you will wear it. Also what's best one for a 9 year old. Want something he will be able to wear and hopefully not complain to bad about being uncomfortable or hot.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

The inflatables are by far the most comfortable… but if you intend on hopping in the water to cool off they're terribe

 

[Redfox]

During warm months, I would recommend the inflatable type with all the safety features and not just manual inflation. They do require additional maintenance and care. I wear traditional styles but remove them when I shut the boat down. You maybe aware but kids have to be 16 years old to wear any of the inflatable type life jackets.

 

[Tenntrapper]

Also. An inflatable only counts as a life jacket, in the boat, while it's being worn. If you get checked by twra,etc while not wearing it, it will NOT count as a life jacket.

 

[RUGER]

Also. An inflatable only counts as a life jacket, in the boat, while it's being worn. If you get checked by twra,etc while not wearing it, it will NOT count as a life jacket.

I very well could be wrong but I don't think this applies to ALL inflatables.
Can't remember the type numbers and what have you though.
Pretty sure it's just the ones that go around your waist that must be worn at all times.

 

[Tenntrapper]

I very well could be wrong but I don't think this applies to ALL inflatables.
Can't remember the type numbers and what have you though.
Pretty sure it's just the ones that go around your waist that must be worn at all times.

You may be correct..Im not sure. I keep enough regular kind in the boat just in case, but then wear the fanny pack kind... usually in the winter.

 

[Tenntrapper]

I very well could be wrong but I don't think this applies to ALL inflatables.
Can't remember the type numbers and what have you though.
Pretty sure it's just the ones that go around your waist that must be worn at all times.

Here ya go....type V has to be worn. What is a type V? Don't know.

 

[Sam Davis]

Inflatable life jackets are not recommended for people who can't swim. A friend of mine who is a game warden pulled a man who drowned out of center hill lake because his didn't inflate. His family said he couldn't swim. I can't swim so I don't wear them.
We bought my sons the bass pro shop life jackets with the mesh on the top part to wear . They are not to terribly hot in the summer. I like mustang life jackets the best.
Best to be safe and wear one.

 

[Doecrusher]

I have a mustang hydrostatic inflatable that I wear spring,summer, and fall but have a mustang accel 100 foam pfd for winter time.

 

[WTM]

they make type 1,2,3 inflatables but you have to look at the tag if it has "must wear to be compliant" then it doesnt count as carriage.

when i was a kid i had to wear one of thesea tupe 1, if i whined about it i got a whooping or i didnt go on the boat. my kids where the same and my grandkids will wear the same.

 

[big 8s in Weakley county]

The inflatables are by far the most comfortable… but if you intend on hopping in the water to cool off they're terribe

I don't plan to be in the water at all

 

[7mm08]

My old buddy in Maine called the Fanny pack ones ….. " body markers ".

 

[RobDooley]

I fish a lot on Chickamauga. I will not trust my life to an inflatable.

 

[Gravey]

Forgive my ignorance but don't you have to pull something on the inflatables before they deploy? Maybe it's just some but the problem is if you get knocked out while going overboard it's not gonna work. Correct me if I'm way off on them.

 

[7mm08]

Forgive my ignorance but don't you have to pull something on the inflatables before they deploy? Maybe it's just some but the problem is if you get knocked out while going overboard it's not gonna work. Correct me if I'm way off on them.

There are auto ones that deploy when you fall overboard and are unconscious. They have a pull chord as well.

Some have reported the autos going off in heavy rains too….

 

[scn]

The best life jacket is one that you will wear.

It can be the best in the world, but isn't going to much good if it is shut up in a hatch when you hit the water. Most of the inflatables will actually float you higher than the stearns vest types. But, again, whatever is comfortable enough to wear where it is on your person when you hit the water.

 

[Canyonfish]

Forgive my ignorance but don't you have to pull something on the inflatables before they deploy? Maybe it's just some but the problem is if you get knocked out while going overboard it's not gonna work. Correct me if I'm way off on them.

The pull cord is for backup to manually deploy. Most deploy automatically when coming in contact with water either by a swelling pill bobbin or the better hydrostatic inflator. Inflatables are so comfortable, there is no reason not to always wear one. Mustangs make very good ones.

 

[7mm08]

On the other hand 90% of men that drown are found with their fly open ! Carry a urinal, WIDE mouth plastic bottle or something. Then you reduce the chance of falling out of the boat.

 

[RobDooley]

On the other hand 90% of men that drown are found with their fly open ! Carry a urinal, WIDE mouth plastic bottle or something. Then you reduce the chance of falling out of the boat.

dang skippy. I carry a big Gatorade bottle

 

[7mm08]

dang skippy. I carry a big Gatorade bottle

I did say WIDE mouthed bottle…. But the old prostate won't hold a quart !!! I'm a frequent flyer! Ha!!!

 

[TNReb]

Forgive my ignorance but don't you have to pull something on the inflatables before they deploy? Maybe it's just some but the problem is if you get knocked out while going overboard it's not gonna work. Correct me if I'm way off on them.

There are three types of inflatables.

a. one you manually pull a cord to inflate
b. one that senses water (wetness) and inflates (rain can cause these to inflate).. these also have a manual cord
c. one that senses water pressure and inflates (rain cannot cause these to inflate) - hydrostatic... these also have a manual cord

I use a Mustang Elite 28 Hydrostatic. Small, lightweight, and Type 3.

After having cheaper non-hydrostatic ones inflate on me from rain, the Mustang Elite 28 was worth the extra money.

Several people (on other message boards) point out that the Mustang Elite 28 is either black or red and not ideal for a rescue scenario. Once inflated, the material that pops out is lime green. They're fine.

 

[agelessssone]

I don't plan to be in the water at all

You may not PLAN to be in the water, that doesn't mean you won't BE in the water.
Throwing a castnet last summer, I slipped and found myself in the water with no life jacket on and an 8 lb castnet attached to my wrist.
Everything worked out though, swam to the back of the boat, pulled down the ladder, just to find that, in my wet clothes, I couldn't reach the bottom rung of the ladder!
Pulled the lower unit over, stepped on it, got on the ladder and got on the boat.
80° water, 80° air temperature, no problem. Make that 45° water and 45° air temps, big difference.
Next day, bought a 5 rung ladder for the boat and a Mustang flotation jacket!
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
Seems we lose one or two old guys every winter because they somehow wind up in the water, can't get back in the boat and succomb to hypothermia or drown.
DONT BE THAT NEXT OLD GUY!!

 

[Sam Davis]

There is no reason not to wear a life jacket these days. I have been hesitant for years about using inflatable vests/ jacket. Always wear hot foam ones. Been researching inflatable & mustang HIT hydrostatic is the best. Just ordered one they had them on sale for $224. On all inflatable they say not to use them in freezing temperatures. Cold weather can cause the co2 canister to fail.

 

[holstonangler]

Inflatables have failed numerous times with personal friends being ejected out of the boat. One if not both of them was an onyx brand.