I'm askin for this badboy for Christmas. Cabela's: ColumbiaŽ Monarch Pass Jacket
What float coat do you use for winter fishing? Lots of brands out there, what is the good, bad, warmest, better, or best in your opinion and why?
I'm askin for this badboy for Christmas. Cabela's: ColumbiaŽ Monarch Pass Jacket
Although they're not shown to be life preservers, I like my Arctic Armor bibs and coat. Very warm, and they will float you if you fall in.
sterns used to make "float coats" but don't know if they still do. i used one during duck season several years ago. wind will not penatrate them and they are warm but the one i had was bulky. way back then it was over 100.00. i have no idea what one would cost now but what price can you put on your life?
I don't think so but I still have one of their sets (bibs+coat). Unfortunately over the past 30 years they started to shrink and I can't wear them any more. Back about 1980, I was wearing them when I fell into Truman lake when it was cold. I managed to get back in the boat and miraculously my underwear and shirt were still dry.
Today, I wear lined but uninsulated Gore Tex over layers of clothes that vary with the temp. I use a Mustang vest that is supposed to inflate automatically. I love cold weather fishing. My very best crappie day ever was when the air temp was 25F and the live wells were frozen. I am an old fat fart and only have a few years left. If I die in cold water, burn my body and feed it to the fish but I will winter fish until then and love every minute of it.
I still wear my stearns that i bought 20 years ago for $150
I have a set of Arctic Armor. Very warm, Wind proof & they will float you, though they're not USCG approved as a PFD. Strike Ice also has a similar suit but with a few more bells & whistles. It also has more ventilation from what I have read. Don't think you'd go wrong with either one. That's the only 2 companies I know of that has them for winter wear. I am drooling to get one of the Striker Ice climate 3 in 1 parkas. Hopefully Ms Santa Clause takes hints & read her mail.
The sweetest of all sounds is (Get the nets that's a 3 lb'er)
Stearns, Mustang, Onyx, Arctic Armor does anybody know about the mustang or onyx? I have heard the mustang auto inflatable stuff is some of the best on the market but not much about the float coats. Onyx is the other CG approved coat that is out there. I have seen the video of Arctic armor, wow that looks like a good product.
Anything Mustang is going to be top quality and price will usually reflect that. We use their stuff when we fish offshore in Alabama.