Inflatable Life Belt
- Thread starter TA Smith
- Start date
Rick L
Well-known member
My duck hunting partner and I have the cabela's inflatable vests. Mine is going on 3 years old, but I have never fallen in so no idea how well they work
We were actually doing spring cleaning in the storage shed yesterday. When I rehung it on the shelf I said it might be a good idea to see if it works then put a new CO2 cartridge in it.
Maybe when the water warms up
We were actually doing spring cleaning in the storage shed yesterday. When I rehung it on the shelf I said it might be a good idea to see if it works then put a new CO2 cartridge in it.
Maybe when the water warms up
Last edited:
TA Smith said:
Tom, I have no personal experience using one of the belt style products. Reason for this is simply because I believe an auto/manual inflate JACKET/VEST style to be far superior. I have worn the vest style inflatables for many years now. They can be purchased at a variety of price points. Just like picking a hat, find a vest which sits on your frame comfortably and you will forget it is there.
I suppose wearing a belt type devise is better than nothing but for me a belt type is not an option. JMHO I have intentionally tested my vest style a few times and have total confidence it will do what it is intended to do. I have not tested a belt type. There may be a YouTube video out there comparing the two styles? I didn't do a search.
NickR
Well-known member
All inflatable vest/belt users should check their device for temperature ratings. The majority advise against wearing in temps below freezing due to pressure loss in the CO2 cartridge. You may gamble by keeping the vest warm in the house before using. And the manual inflator only works if you?re conscious with good lung power.
T Entwistle
Member
Nick ,
Great information about inflatable life jackets and cold weather. I found this on the website of my life jacket manufacturer. I thought I read all the warning labels but don?t remember seeing this.
Can I wear my inflatable life jacket (PFD) when ice fishing?
We DO NOT recommend wearing inflatable life jackets for ice fishing or on open water when the temperatures are below 40?F (4?C).
Oral inflation may be required in addition to manual inflation if chamber is not firm due to cold temperatures at or below 40?F (4?C). Inflation time using CO2 will be longer at these temperatures.
Never use in below freezing temperatures unless worn partially inflated. At or below 40?F (4?C) inflation time with CO2 gas will be longer. Wearing a partially inflated PFD under these conditions will provide some initial buoyancy while the PFD fully inflates.
CAUTION: Do not fully inflate the PFD orally and then inflate with the CO2 cylinder. Repeated CO2 inflation after oral inflation will damage the PFD to the point that it will not hold air or float. Never inflate an inflatable PFD with a pump or air compressor.
Great information about inflatable life jackets and cold weather. I found this on the website of my life jacket manufacturer. I thought I read all the warning labels but don?t remember seeing this.
Can I wear my inflatable life jacket (PFD) when ice fishing?
We DO NOT recommend wearing inflatable life jackets for ice fishing or on open water when the temperatures are below 40?F (4?C).
Oral inflation may be required in addition to manual inflation if chamber is not firm due to cold temperatures at or below 40?F (4?C). Inflation time using CO2 will be longer at these temperatures.
Never use in below freezing temperatures unless worn partially inflated. At or below 40?F (4?C) inflation time with CO2 gas will be longer. Wearing a partially inflated PFD under these conditions will provide some initial buoyancy while the PFD fully inflates.
CAUTION: Do not fully inflate the PFD orally and then inflate with the CO2 cylinder. Repeated CO2 inflation after oral inflation will damage the PFD to the point that it will not hold air or float. Never inflate an inflatable PFD with a pump or air compressor.
Last edited:
Capt Rich Geminski
Well-known member
Tom, I purchased a auto inflation vest when I worked for Tow Boat. We worked single handed and didn't want to work in a full sized vest. I wore it when I stepped on the boat. I still wear one when I go out in any boat [fat and old now].
Bought a new one for duck hunting and wear it underway. Get a really large one to wear over your camo jacket. I tried shooting with it on, but wasn't comfortable. Never thought about inflation in freezing weather. May have to do research on that.
Life vests saves lives, it may be yours... ps try your inflatable this summer
Bought a new one for duck hunting and wear it underway. Get a really large one to wear over your camo jacket. I tried shooting with it on, but wasn't comfortable. Never thought about inflation in freezing weather. May have to do research on that.
Life vests saves lives, it may be yours... ps try your inflatable this summer
Mark W
Well-known member
Great timing. I had two inflatables until after the duck season last year. When putting away my stuff I had lost one somewhere. There was only a few places it could be and I went and checked all of them more than then once. No luck. I had resigned myself that one was lost.
Last weekend I was moving stuff out of the garage at the cabin And found it buried behind stuff. Good deal.
I bought Mustang brand manual inflate. I spoke with the owner and told him my intended purpose. He said no belt, no auto inflate And get the one with the bigger CO2 cartridge. Glad I listened to him.
I wear mine the minute I get into the boat and take it off after the decoys are set. Many times while putting out decoys the bottom of the vest has been in the water. With the auto inflate feature the vest would have gone off and scared the crapola out of me. I know I risk falling in the water unconscious and not having the vest go off but I guess I?ll take that chance verses it going off while setting up or taking out the dekes. Personal choice.
Do stay away from the belt. It is harder to get to it if you are in trouble, doesn?t have the same amount of buoyancy, and I don?t think you can manually inflate it with a blow tube as I don?t think they have one.
Last weekend I was moving stuff out of the garage at the cabin And found it buried behind stuff. Good deal.
I bought Mustang brand manual inflate. I spoke with the owner and told him my intended purpose. He said no belt, no auto inflate And get the one with the bigger CO2 cartridge. Glad I listened to him.
I wear mine the minute I get into the boat and take it off after the decoys are set. Many times while putting out decoys the bottom of the vest has been in the water. With the auto inflate feature the vest would have gone off and scared the crapola out of me. I know I risk falling in the water unconscious and not having the vest go off but I guess I?ll take that chance verses it going off while setting up or taking out the dekes. Personal choice.
Do stay away from the belt. It is harder to get to it if you are in trouble, doesn?t have the same amount of buoyancy, and I don?t think you can manually inflate it with a blow tube as I don?t think they have one.
Michael McCord
Active member
Keep in mind with any of these that a manual vest/belt requires you to be conscious to activate it- traditional PFDs don't.
This may be known by everyone, but they aren?t ready to use right out of the box either. You have to charge/load them- we had some kayakers get in a bad way over this last winter.
This may be known by everyone, but they aren?t ready to use right out of the box either. You have to charge/load them- we had some kayakers get in a bad way over this last winter.
NickR
Well-known member
Apologies for sounding like Debbie Downer here... don?t get me wrong, I?m a fan of my inflatable but I?ve also weighed the pros and cons and read quite a bit on them.
The last downside I recall was a guy saying he couldn?t climb back in his boat with the inflatable inflated so he was very much against auto inflate and said he would continue to wear his, but only on manual function.
Hard to predict how and when you might need a pfd so these scenarios might never come up for the vast majority of us.
The last downside I recall was a guy saying he couldn?t climb back in his boat with the inflatable inflated so he was very much against auto inflate and said he would continue to wear his, but only on manual function.
Hard to predict how and when you might need a pfd so these scenarios might never come up for the vast majority of us.
I have considered one, but I'm working on a boat with rain bibs on, a belt won't do , I'd like something that substitutes for the bib suspenders, I'm not interested in a inflatable vest, suspenders as I'm concerned lines or nets would snag on them and possibly drag me over, which kinda negates their function....
Not interested in auto inflate, they go off with high humidity, saw that personally, and I don't care if its not Coast Guard certified, A company called Stormy Seas supposedly had exactly what I;m looking for, but can't find an internet presence for them. If anyone knows of something like this I'd appreciate it.
Not interested in auto inflate, they go off with high humidity, saw that personally, and I don't care if its not Coast Guard certified, A company called Stormy Seas supposedly had exactly what I;m looking for, but can't find an internet presence for them. If anyone knows of something like this I'd appreciate it.