Purchasing a life vest

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

Hey guys - I'm a new boarder, and I'm looking to get myself a life vest for this summer. I was thinking of keeping my budget to around $40 -- not sure if it's even possible to get a vest for somewhere about there, but I'm open to any suggestions.

Thanks!

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

Go to various wakeboard websites and look at the closeout sections. You should be able to get a good vest from last year or the year before in your price range. Try boardstop.com, evo.com, buywake.com or ebay.com.

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

Thanks for the reply.

What do you guys think of this vest?
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Overtons-Mens-4-Buckle-Nylon-Vest&i=16473&aID=600H1C&merchID=4006

Or any of the vets listed on this page?
http://search.overtons.com/?Ns=p_image_sort|1||p_purchased|1&Ne=1000&N=2020&cname=Life-Vests

There's free shipping during this time, seems like it might be a good time to buy even though I won't be on the river/lake for a while...

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

What are you looking for in a jacket? Do you want coast guard approved (CGA) or are you looking for a non approved vest? How long do you plan on keeping the vest? Do you want a wakeboard specific vest or will any water sport vest work? The one you picked out will work fine, but if you want a wake specific/more stylish vest, you may need to spend a little more or shop around a bit. But that vest will work fine for wakeboarding.

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

I'm really not picky at all. Basically the situation I'm in right now is that I don't actually own my own life vest ... my family and I Just share the ones we have so I end up getting whichever one fits.

I'm not familiar with what CGA approved really means, but I don't do any competition riding or anythign - just casual.

ToPHeR31 · Newbie Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 34 City: Chicago/Miami

CGA are approved by the Coast Guard. They are more bulky by design because they must float according to Coast Guard standards.

Comp vest/non-CGA have much less padding and are designed to be lighter and used for competitions...

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

Thanks for the replies, guys -- unless anyone has an objection to the vest that I linked to earlier, I might just go with that one.

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

Would you guys recommend one of these over the other?

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Overtons-Mens-4-Buckle-Nylon-Vest&i=16473&aID=600H1C&merchID=4006

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Mens-Overtons-Nylon-Neo-Vest-with-Big-Tall-Sizes&i=16698&aID=600H1C&merchID=4006

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

I would stay away from the Nylon vests. you can find a nice neo vest on closeout sometimes in your price range.

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

What is your chest circumference? What is you price range?

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

Thanks for the replies. My budget is right around 40-50 bucks...I know I won't be riding anytime soon since the water needs to warm up a bit first, but I'd like to order a vest relatively soon.

I'm not exactly sure what my chest size is... I'll measure it tomorrow though. If I remember right, the last time I measured I was right around 32-40" range (according to Overton's charts).

joshft91 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 17

I hate to start a new thread...is there a big reason i should avoid the Nylon vests? I'm not sure of a lot of other places to look for vests, but I know I'd like to order one sooner rather than later.

Thanks!

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

I'm not sure why flix told you to avoid nylon. In my personal experience with nylon vests I did not mind them. I started skiing and riding with nylon and then moved into neoprene.

If that is the best vest for your budget, I would buy that vest. Then in a year or two or whenever you can upgrade to a more expensive vest.