inflatable life vests

[goose]

I am looking for advice about inflatable life vests. I don't/won't keep the old foam style ones on and neither does my partner. I have looked at the Mustangs and Stearns/Sospenders and it seems that there are so many to choose from. I assume that I would want one that would inflate automatically in case I hit my head falling out of the boat. I guess that the automatic ones allow you to pull the cord to inflate it manually also? It seems a little too confusing with some of them having LIFT and some of them are HIT models, not to mention other styles. Several hundred bucks seems sort of steep for a life jacket, but I know lives are valuable. Does anyone have a suggestion as to which of these products you prefer? I want to get the job done, but I hate to spend any more than necessary. Thanks.

[fingerlicken]

I caught mine on sale at Cabelas for around 100.00 bucks, and it self inflates as well as having a rope I can pull to inflate it. Its all in what you want to spend I think. They all have to meet coast guard safety requirerments.

[rockmike]

I have the Mustang hydrostatic, and I wear it whenever I'm on the water. I'm getting old and more clumsy, and I fish alone a lot. Pretty cheap insurance.

[the crappie soldier]

I've got the Onyx belt pack from BPS. Mines manual only but they have an auto model too--but you have to be conscious to pull it over your head once it inflates. Don't know your wearing it though.

Got a regular automatic Stearns model (horse collar type). Its ok and was pretty cheap at Gander Mtn.

Whatever you get, don't store them wet or store them in a box with any moisture in it. Stored mine in the dry box with a wet tournament bag and it activated after a few days.

I guess the most important thing is just to buy one and wear it.

[CatFan]

Mustang hydrostatic is the way to go.

[LBM]

I got mine, a auto one, at Cabelas on sale for around 100 dollars and left it in a compartment for months never using it. Finally one day when fishing with someone else I planned on using it for the first time and found it had discharged in the compartment. :o After rearming it and starting to use it I found that they were really very unnoticeable while wearing them even with bulky winter garb and now use mine all the time and really like it.
It did discharge one day while lying in the bottom of the boat on a hot summer day and I saw another one on another boat discharge on a hot summer day that was under his console. It kind of makes me think that heat also might have a deleterious effect on the bobbin/pellet holding the CO2 cartridge trigger mechanism.

[crappieseeker]

Does anyone know the weight limits on these auto inflatables? The reason I ask is because I weigh about 210 and in the winter I wear a lot of thick clothing. I was just wondering if one of these would hold me up when water gets in my clothes with the added weight and my big butt.

[rocket rich]

good question I'm 235 ? how do you know what to buy

[kycreek]

I've recently bought the Stearns 0340 manually inflated belt.

[jimfish]

I have the Sospenders auto / man. Only prob i have with them is if you get them damp and then stow them they will deploy. Keep em dry and they are all right,and also if you get caught in a heavy rain they will inflate.