I had a close call in our drift boat out on the coast this weekend and am now actively looking into purchasing a few new life jackets. I have floating devices in the boat already, but they're store under the front seat and not comfortable to wear for a full day and/or when I'm on the sticks.

Does anyone have suggestions?

I have a Mustang HIT and find it the least obtrusive PFD to wear all day.

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/recreational/md3183?country=25

Stormyseas .com
North Pacific jacket...better than being found dead...and they are comfortable... Sue n I each have one

This has my stamp of approval based upon personal experience. Comfortable to wear, the hydrostatic technology not affected by rain, and they work.

One thing, anyone in the market needs to be aware that the hydrostatic activation unit has an expiration date. I think the maximum life is five years and the replacement kit is regularly priced at about $70. I picked up a kit at a boat show special for mid-$50s and just changed it out on one of my PFDs.

So, be sure to check the expiration date on any unit you might be purchasing and if you own one be sure to check the expiration date.

What Fish F4B said.Good luck,

SZ

+1 on the Mustang's.

A heads up though, the inflatables are not the easiest life jacket to swim in. Testing them out to understand how they work (and don't work) is highly recommended though it will cost you a recharge kit. Small price to pay for an increased chance at surviving the swim in my mind.

Despite the difficulties and risks these inflatables introduce in a technical swimming situation, they are still much, much better than no life jacket at all which tends to be my choice when the only options are bulky paddling type PFD's. In the end I compromise and wear the inflatables when rowing tricky water in the drifter. If I expect to swim or think that there is a reasonably good chance of going into the drink, I'll go for my paddling PFD.

Having been in the water twice while wearing life jackets, I can only say that wearing them is far better than storing them in a compartment. Accidents happen in a split second, there is seldom time to get a PFD out of a boat's storage locker.

I tend to use inflatable PFD's most of the time, but a well fitting jacket type PFD is perhaps better. The alternative float coat can certainly be an option.

It is not a bad idea to test each in the summer months when local lakes are warmer in the PNW.

There are those that have, and those that will have to swim. I wear a Mustang Auto, but still worry about floating bye the logjams.

All life jackets are designed to float the wearer face up. The difference between these inflatables and say a paddling style PFD is that all of the flotation in the inflatables is on the upper chest and around the neck. Combine the location of this flotation with the substantially larger mass of the airbag as compared to foam, and these inflatables make it difficult to achieve a face down, function swimming orientation even for strong swimmers in dry suits in flat water.

My testing experiences have also shown that the inflated PFD's also limited arm movements, particularly my ability to raise my arms high enough to make strong, efficient swimming strokes.

The paddling style PFD's carry more of their flotation lower on the torso and even on the back. They are also designed with low or no bulk near the shoulders and neck, making them much more functional for arm movements and/or swimming in.

Just stuff to think about and again ideally test out in person before your life depends on it.