Inflatable PFD

Need a new PFD. Apparently the Cabelas model I have has been discontinued. No re-arming availabe for it. Guess Mustang must be the best brand, but not sure which one I need. I don't swim a stroke. Fish mostly bymyself. Need self inflatable if I go over. So far have been able to stay in the boat but who knows what tomorrow may bring. Getting older and not as steady on my feet as I was when younger.

Which model do your reccomend? Best place to buy. Can't put a price on your life. At least I would not want to put a price on it but my wife might have an interest.

Onyx and Mustang make some awesome lightweight inflatable PFD. Personally I own two Mustangs because I for a great deal on them. Changing the rearming cartridge is easy and costs around 50 dollars annually to change both vests. Mine is so comfortable I can fish all day in them without it getting in the way or bothering me.

Best Inflatable Life Vests

Mustang. It wont inflate during the rain, in a wet storage locker, or high humidity. It's a pressure actuated system that requires 4" of water to inflate. They're expensive but worth it IMO. I just got one for Christmas, and have worn it 4 days so far since then, and one day was an absolute deluge down pour of a day. No issues.

I have been using the same Mustang for 10 years and often forget I'm even wearing it. Scared me straight a few years ago as it inflated automatically while wearing it due to age of arming unit. I have other brands, newer units I give to guests I take fishing but that old Mustang is my favorite. When it inflated I left it in the house for a week before deflating to see if it had any leaks. There was none. Mustang is my vote.

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Changing the rearming cartridge is easy and costs around 50 dollars annually to change both vests.

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You need to rearm every year?

I have both Onyx and Mustang. I had one of the Onyx inflate in the locker. I bought the Mustang to prevent that problem. I have loaded the boat, then got in the truck to drive home and realized I was still wearing it

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Originally Posted by keeferfish

You need to rearm every year?

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No but you do when it inflates on it's own or you use it to keep yourself from drowning.

Had this one for 8 years. Rearm every 3 years. This model can be used in pouring down rain...will not go off due to humidity. Just bought new one for wife with the new boat. Check around for best price.

Elite™ 28 Inflatable PFD (Auto Hydrostatic) | Mustang Survival
– Mustang Survival USA


Regards

Yes on the Mustang for me also. Very comfortable and like Jack said I have worn mine all the way home and not realized it until putting the boat in the shed. Lol


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I have Mustang. They make more than one type of the auto inflate. The HIT is hydrostatic, has to be submerged to auto inflate. The other type is the pill type that dissolves with water.

The pill type technology is the type that can go off due to humidity or getting soaked.

I have both types from mustang. I originally bought the HIT type, I find it fairly comfortable but it rubs on my neck a little. This past fall I was at a surplus store that bought a truck load of surplus from Bass pro/cabelas they had over 100 of the inflatable vest that all needed rearmed. All the vest still had price tags on them from the store. I found the pill style vest laid flater than the HIT style. I bought one of each (very good deal). I already had a HIT recharge kit ($90) that still had 2 years left till expiration. Bought a pill kit($30 apx) from Amazon.

I did blow up the vest to make sure the bladders were good before I bought them and put the new kits in.

Both of the vest can also be deployed manually by pulling a string. From the number of vest they had I think people at the store must pull the string more often than you would think. They pill type still had a good pill but the CO2 was empty. I tested the pill it took a couple seconds to dissolve when I put it in water.

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Originally Posted by zekepa

I have Mustang. They make more than one type of the auto inflate. The HIT is hydrostatic, has to be submerged to auto inflate. The other type is the pill type that dissolves with water.

The pill type technology is the type that can go off due to humidity or getting soaked.

I have both types from mustang. I originally bought the HIT type, I find it fairly comfortable but it rubs on my neck a little. This past fall I was at a surplus store that bought a truck load of surplus from Bass pro/cabelas they had over 100 of the inflatable vest that all needed rearmed. All the vest still had price tags on them from the store. I found the pill style vest laid flater than the HIT style. I bought one of each (very good deal). I already had a HIT recharge kit ($90) that still had 2 years left till expiration. Bought a pill kit($30 apx) from Amazon.

I did blow up the vest to make sure the bladders were good before I bought them and put the new kits in.

Both of the vest can also be deployed manually by pulling a string. From the number of vest they had I think people at the store must pull the string more often than you would think. They pill type still had a good pill but the CO2 was empty. I tested the pill it took a couple seconds to dissolve when I put it in water.

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Could have been vandalism that got those vest pulled in the store

Used to run mustang hit vest. They are probably the best but the cost to rearm is not cheap. Looking at about ninety bucks for the rearm kit.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Could have been vandalism that got those vest pulled in the store

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Could have been.

I haven't had one go off while wearing it, I would think with the rapid inflation that it would give you quite the wake up call if your not expecting it, maybe even if you are.

I've watched a couple video's of people testing them out when the HIT inflators are due replacement. I'll have to check the dates on mine, I kind of want to jump in the water to try it out when it's time to replace them. I think I'm good till the end of 2024.

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Originally Posted by zekepa

Could have been.

I haven't had one go off while wearing it, I would think with the rapid inflation that it would give you quite the wake up call if your not expecting it, maybe even if you are.

I've watched a couple video's of people testing them out when the HIT inflators are due replacement. I'll have to check the dates on mine, I kind of want to jump in the water to try it out when it's time to replace them. I think I'm good till the end of 2024.

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I almost scared the :yikesout of Me. The inflation rate is instantaneous!

Since I need multiple PFDs in my boat(6!), I’ve used Onyx for years. I’ve had a couple go off, one in rain and one wet one in my truck. For the price difference and how many days a year mine are used, I can live with those.


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I have a Onyx also and it works great. I am able to find one on clearance at Academy every years during the clearance sale they have every February.

My Onyx went off in the storage hatch last summer- now I know why! :banghead If the Mustangs only had to be re-armed every 5 years, I would buy one of those. Guess I'll just have to get a kit to fix my Onyx and keep it in the garage.

Not sure about your state but here in Wisconsin if all you have in your boat are inflatables they must be warn at all times to be legal. Where as regular life jackets just have to be in the boat and out of storage areas.

I have a Mustang that is at least 10-12 years old, it did self-inflate in the storage locker of my boat last year. Honestly it should've been rearmed a few years ago. Unless they have changed them not all Mustangs inflate by hydro pressure, mine has a little disc that dissolves and also a rip cord to activate it, there is also a tube that you can add air if you're in the water for a long time and the bladder loses pressure. I too have walked to the truck several times after a day of fishing before I realized I still had the Mustang on.

I'll be 63 in March and fish alone 99.9% of the time, also most of my fishing is done in the winter. Recently I purchased a Norfin Element float suit, I still wear the Mustang because I'm not sure if I bumped my head going in the suit would roll me over on my back, the Mustang will.

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Originally Posted by justinp61

I have a Mustang that is at least 10-12 years old, it did self-inflate in the storage locker of my boat last year. Honestly it should've been rearmed a few years ago. Unless they have changed them not all Mustangs inflate by hydro pressure, mine has a little disc that dissolves and also a rip cord to activate it, there is also a tube that you can add air if you're in the water for a long time and the bladder loses pressure. I too have walked to the truck several times after a day of fishing before I realized I still had the Mustang on.

I'll be 63 in March and fish alone 99.9% of the time, also most of my fishing is done in the winter. Recently I purchased a Norfin Element float suit, I still wear the Mustang because I'm not sure if I bumped my head going in the suit would roll me over on my back, the Mustang will.

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A Type 1 rated PFD is the only one going to roll you over. Inflatables are Type V and may or may not roll you over. No one fishing fresh water is going to wear a Type1 as it is just too bulky.


Regards

Did find a rearm kit for my Cabelas Guidewear PFD. Had't been changed out since I bought it. Still showed the green stripe on the actuator, and I suspect the thing would have worked but, I don't want to bet my life on it. The Cabelas was made by Halkey-Roberts. Found the rearm kit number on the inside of the PFD. Says should be rearmed every 3 years.

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Originally Posted by Rojo

I almost scared the :yikesout of Me. The inflation rate is instantaneous!

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For example while in a sit in Kayak.......can pin your arms to the sides.....