Not USCGA Approved... Are they safe?

[Capix]

So as I get more involved into the sport I have decided to drop the Newby look(not that I am not one, but still you know ). Any way I don't feel like renting those ugly yellow flourecent helmets or the purple life vest at the park any more. So I decided on the helmet already, but I have a question about the vest.

All the cool looking vest say this "Not USCGA Approved" and the ugly looking ones say "Approved". This is my question the not approved one are they going to save my life or not, do they float enough to keep up floating in case I passed out or something?

Looks are one thing but if they are going to affect me then I will buy the normal ones.

I also noticed that of the not approved ones, some of them have more floating material than others "thicker", I am guessing those are much better for keeping up.

[IrideLITE]

I am pretty sure that the USCGA not approved ones will still help you float, but aren't as buoyant. I think it depends on how comfortable with your swimming ability you are for your jacket.

Your right, the coolest looking jackets aren't approved.

[brichter14]

i think they all float the same, but the non approved dont have buckles. most of the non approved just have a zipper on the side or something.

[vette74]

brichter14, Doesn't know what he is talking about. Do a search there are a lot of info on this site but the bottom line is that the USCGA vests are tested by the Coast Guard and will float you if you do not have air in your lungs. The non Coast Guard vests will not guarantee you will float without air in your lungs and I will say that most of them won't. Personally I won't wear a vest that is non-coast guard approved. Just this last weekend I took a hard fall on a backroll that knocked the wind out of me but didn't make the board come off of my feet. But I was still able to roll over and catch my breath if I had a thin jacket on I probablly couldn't have been able to do that. Check out helium they make good vests that are approved

http://www.heliumwake.com/dyn_prodlist.php?k=83968

[Wakebrad]

vette has it right. The vast majority of non-cga vests will not float you with your lungs full. Which means if you get knocked out you will sink and die. You can do a test yourself if you want. Take your board off and exhale all of the air out of your lungs.. like all of it. Then see if you sink. If so, you're dead if you get knocked out.

I still use a very old LF vest that is not approved. It has enough buoyancy to keep me up without air in my lungs but it is by far the thickest unapproved vest I have seen. I plan to get a CGA vest this season though. I'm not sure what's taking me so long.

[Capix]

Just like I expected, I will have to look into it. I found a really thick one, but still looks pretty good I am not sure if it's approved or not. I am definitely not getting one of those mega thin ones, they have death written all over them.

I will stop by the store and look into again, I was in a rush last time I was there.

------------------------EDIT--------------------------

I was just thinking, in the cable park I go there a whole bunch of kids and they all have non approved vests. Half of the time they are falling pretty hard and as far as I know they just come back up. I am sure half of them get the wind knocked out of them all the time. Another thing is that most of the damn vests they sell around here are not approved, its hard to find the regular ones. I am also not sure about the sizes, just in case I want to buy over the internet, like the ones that I don't see in the stands here.

How do the sizes work? My chest is a 36-37", I am asuming my size is a medium, not sure though.

I have been searching this site http://www.buywake.com/catalog/ridingEssentials/WakeVests/Ambush
they range them by small/medium/large/ect..


on the other hand I am pretty light for my height 5'9 and 140lbs.

[Wakebrad]

At a cable I'm pretty sure they won't allow non-approved vests. Those kids might be sneaking by. There's also a big difference between getting the wind knocked out of you and going unconscious.

[Brit Rider]

Ask anyone thats had the wind knocked out of them and found themselves disorientated underwater. One instinct will rule over all others - you will breath in whatever substance you're in.

The purchasing decision then plays a big role in whether you live or die that day.

I get so angry about vest companys spending al this time and money on making things look cool but little thought for keeping the occupant alive. kind of funny that these days a great vest is judged by its cool factor over its functionality.

[Capix]

[Wakebrad]

Capix, I bet the Cable's insurance company would love to know they're supporting the use of non-approved vests.

[ramos777]

The other issue behind approved jackets is that they will "upright" you if you become unconcious. Non-approved may float you but they may not roll you over on your back with your head up like the approved jackets will.

[vette74]

ramos777, That is untrue the vests we ride with will not spin you over try it one day you will stay facing down. However, there are coast guard vest that will turn you over like a type 1 and 2 (the orange vests).

[ramos777]

Geez... this whole time I tought this was true! Maybe it was the orange vest's that people told me about this...

I guess I'll start riding w/ one of those...

[Capix]

So today I hit the park and I went to the store to get a vest. To my surprise there was not a single CGA vest in stock, that is Bubb Rubbing stuff. I asked the owner of the store and his responce was most of the lake is shallow enough to stand on.

WTF most of it is not all, I would say that about 60% but the other 40% is pretty deep plus dark waters would make your body untraceable if you sink. So now I am forced to buy the vest online and risk getting the wrong size.

I tried a Helium gypsy and the small size fit me best, but I still think I am going to get the medium size helium inmate, since the buckles can be tightened for extra support.

[DS3]

Liquid Force makes a CGA Watson vest that is side entry and pretty cool. Also Jet Pilot Cell Block is a cool CGA vest. I know that Helium makes good stuff too though.

[alfromscotland]

ive been using non approved vests for over 10 years and im not dead.

at the end of the day neither of these type of vests will guarantee to float you on your back. You need an full 'life jacket' for that. So an approved vest will not help if you are knocked out and lying on your front. The impact protection is also a big factor i find. I rode an approved vest (crappy one) last time i was out as i had left my proper vest (A-10 JP vest) at home, I took a crash that would normally have been no biggy, but the lack of protection made me winded. I cant say for sure that it was worse than it would have been with my vest on, obviously, but i think it was.

If you are paranoid about dying when falling, then i would advise using one of those life jackets that you get on boats/ offshore installations with a big cushion round the back of your neck, cos those are the only ones that will DEFINITELY float you upright.

I think most of the serious injury's and deaths in the sport stem from people not wearing vests at all - and im not sure when wakeskating seems to convey this - "no vest is cool" - image. Wear a vest and you'll be alright. And keep the people in the boat vigilant.

[Capix]

Well I ride cable park not boats, but either way I rather be extra safe. I bought a CGA swat vest for a good price, I should get it tomorrow.

[smwill214]

The Rip curl stealth vest is non cga but it was really good, kept me afloat very well. much better than my jet pilot a 10

[boardordie]

[flounderbout]

Make your own choices - but worth reading this...
http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=72277&highlight=vest