Best high performance life vests?
 

Guys, I'd like to participate in a Poker Run or two this summer and need some solid, high performance life vests. From my research, it seems like Lifelines are the best. However, I'd like to buy five and would like to avoid dropping $2,500 on these, if possible. Exactly why are lifelines so much better than standard jackets, and are they worth it? Are there any other alternatives?

Funny that you should post this as I've been researching this for the past week or so myself and for the exact same reasons, particularly the cost of the Lifelines. I was looking at inflatables, neoprene water sport vests and the Life Lines or similar products. I finally decided on the Lifelines and here's why. They offer the impact protection and that IMO is the biggest risk, not necessarily being ejected, but getting thrown around in the boat from a rogue wave or other miscalculation. An inflatable will keep you afloat, but it won't protect your body if you bang into something in the boat or get tossed out. Personally, I don't think I will ever need this protection but you don't want to need it and not have it. My poker run first mate is my oldest son; there's no pricetag I could put on his safety. I just bit the bullet and bought them today. I bought them from Teague for $350 each.

You can't go wrong with the inflatable ones from west marine at $85 a pop. They leave you with good range of movement while wearing them too

http://www.machovec.com/catalog/mv5600.htm I got this for poker runs, and just running hard in the ocean, I like it

Jet pilot makes a nice setup if you don't feel like spending $350 on life lines. 100ph rating I have 2 of these on my boat. They are a bit bulky compared to just ski vest.

https://store.jetpilot.com/jetpilot/...=47&prodID=563

I have lifelines for the wife and myself and I also recently got a few of these jetpilots for passengers since the lifelines are usually made based upon specific individual measurements and the jetpilots are a bit more adjustable. I did reach out to them about their jackets and this was the official response from Sport Dimension who makes them.


"The two vest that we currently carry inline that have a 100mph rating are the #JP3212 Apex S/E Approved Nylon PFD and the #JP3214 Strike Nylon Approved PFD. Please know that even though these vests do carry a 100mph rating, they will not prevent injury or death at high speeds. "

I love my Lifeline Poker Run jacket. Wouldn't do a run without it on.

Did you see this one? http://www.mustangsurvival.com/recre...601?country=25

lifeline...light comfortable...and the safest vest out there. they will do there best to match your boat too.

LifeLine. There's a reason its the only vest allowed in Offshore Racing. Can be a tad bulky, but very safe.

The inflatables are designed for drunk fishermen falling off their boats. Do not forget the impact of hitting the water at 70+ mph. I have heard horror stories of what the inflatable belt can do to a body in a high speed impact. Ask yourself one simple question. How much is your life worth? Get the Lifelines.

Hey all…1st post..longtime lurker etc etc etc

1st - keep in mind that Lifeline jackets aren't USCG approved (or didn't used to be) so you'll still need the "correct" stuff in the boat to be legal.

2nd - I still have Lifeline chute jackets that I used in another life. Hold a Lifeline jacket next to an Americas Cup or other "100 mph" jacket and tell me which one you'd rather be wearing if the feces hit the rotary impeller and you got out of - or got bounced around in - the boat at high speed.

Security Race Products (SRP) also makes a similar product but I don't know anything about them.

We throw a ton of $$'s chasing that last few mph, don't skimp on safety stuff…the difference in price between them doesn't even add up to a good weekend's worth of fuel.

Just my .02 & your mileage may vary.

Cheers

S

We live in an area where we get inspected all the time by Coast Guard and Sheriff's dept. If you are wearing a Lifeline (or SRP) they do not ask about other jackets. In fact they applaud us for wearing jackets. I would carry the orange five dollar versions in storage just in case.

Agreed...it would take the wrong cop / wrong day / wrong location to hassle you about the Lifeline you're wearing not being USCG...but...it can happen.

Grand Haven Mi is notorious for "nitpicky" stuff ESPECIALLY if you aren't driving a fisher or cruiser.

I had customers with me in Grand Haven and was stopped and safety checked while we were demonstrating the boat to them. We were good, but the cop - sheriff, not USCG - was giving us a hard time about how we had our dealer tags mounted to the boat. It finally got to the point that I told him "Write your ticket. I can find the courthouse and we'll let the judge give us his interpretation of permanently affixed". No ticket written but he definitely was looking for an excuse to hassle someone & there's not a doubt in my mind that he would ticket you for not having a USCG approved vest aboard even if you were wearing a LIfeline.

I went with 6 Lifeline Jackets, my passengers safety and mine to me is well worth spending the money. And if I ever did get stopped I do have 6 West Marine inflatables.

I would be interested to see lifelines answer to " will your vest prevent injury or death at high speeds. I'm not saying they are not the best, but any company that will tell you they will stop injury or death is just waiting to be sued!!

Thats exactly how I looked at it. The difference in price as someone else said, is a tank or two of gas. We spend truckloads of $$ chasing performance... your safety and that of your passengers should be worth it. I carry the USCG approved vests as well..

I have Lifeline's also....carry the orange cheapies just in case.

Lifelines are only way to go if your running Poker Runs. Spend the $ you'll be glad you did.

When I raced P4 we wore the orange race Lifeines. Agree it is worth every penny! The Lifeline poker run personel jacket is a nice life jacket but no where the impact protection of the race jacket and I think way overpriced.

Lifelines for sure. I have 6 onboard as well as inflatables and jackets for the man if they question the lifelines. I love them and always wear them if running hard.

Don't the inflatable vests have to be on to be considered a USCG life jacket?

Yep - you're right.

Why aren't Lifeline's USCG approved? I ended up getting the Mustang 100mph rated (MV4600 I think) as they were USCG approved (and I don't go that fast anyway - not by choice though!)

Did not know that, you can learn something every day, thank you. I'll buy six orange vest and put them up front, just in case.

Because they are made to your size. So they would have to certify every one they sew up. If it was a small medium large deal they could do it and it would be more affordable.

This is what Ken told me.

I have a 5600, and several 4600's. They seem to be quality items.

I'd really like to see some real world test results of these vs. Lifelines at 3X the cost.

Regardless of whether you are going 50 MPH or 100 MPH, I think there are a lot of other factors that will determine whether you survive or not.

Funny you say this, because I boat out of Grand Haven all summer. I was 'safety checked' four times last year, and three of the times they were great. The other time it seemed like they didn't care to see the go-fast types out on the water and were pretty pushy.

Great info! I never really doubted the quality of lifelines, but didn't want to drop that much cash if there was something else of comparable quality on the market for less dollars. The money is definitely worth the added protection!

We're just north of Grand Rapids, not far from Hardy Dam. We used to boat at Grand Haven fairly often; if we were on my dad's Tiara we never got hassled. If we were in any kind of hot rod it was another story, so we quit spending our money there…way too many nice places in Mi where as long as you're not acting like an azz-hat you don't have any problems.

It's really a shame - GR Haven is a great town but the sheriff patrol seemed to really have it out for anything resembling a hot rod.

In all fairness that was 20 years ago & things may have changed…..but based on my previous experience & what I've heard/read we won't try it with the new boat…I know it won't pass a db meter and it has no rub rail…I don't need a big repair bill from some overzealous deputy trying to put another "notch" on his ticket pad.

s

First off, the lower end lifelines are NOT custom made. They will ask your measurements and send the appropriate size off the shelf. Second, while I do carry a range of sizes in neoprenes, the Coast Guard has never given me any trouble regarding my lifeline not being approved. If I'm wearing it I am already on their good side. They want to see people wearing life vests!

Another observation: my lifeline does not always turn me onto my back. I've tried it several times and I stay face down.

I am looking to get 5 Lifeline Sport jackets. Does anyone have a hookup for a discount?

I bought my Lifelines from Tres Martin after the class. He will give you a deal and give you some good info for the switch from vee to a very fast cat! Good luck. Doug

thanks

Those nice looking mustang jackets are no longer available. What are people using these days in that range

It's my understanding that a high speed impact w/ the water in any vest (like many of those shown throughout this thread) that doesn't incorporate thru the leg straps (like a Lifeline) is virtually useless b/c most likely upon impact it will be pulled right off over your head dislocating both shoulders leaving you unable to tread water (assuming your actually conscious) & without any flotation.

I too own Lifelines.

While clearly more comfortable & convenient I don't think inflatables are anything more than a way to satisfy USCG or fulfill Poker Run requirements. Upwards of 50mph I'm thinking they'll be torn off your body as well. Certainly NO impact protection. There's always the risk they may not inflate too. No guarantee much like a parachute, all you can do is hope it deploys when you need it. I can see the attraction to the inflatable, less expensive, more comfortable, cooler looking & probably a fan favorite of the "it will never happen to me performance boater"

Just my $.02

I do use a yellow lifeline jacket that matches my boat. The jacket is not CG approved so I have to carry neoprenes anyway. The jacket does NOT turn me over onto my back when I go limp. The material is already fraying on the collar. The plastic leg strap connectors seem cheap but maybe they are sufficient. The jacket is stiff and not very comfortable. I use it but I'm sure not going to rave about how great it is.

Old thread. I just realized that I posted on it a year ago!

As long as your posts are consistent there will not be any repercussions for re-posting! :party-smiley-004: