Lifejacket recommendation

Just bought a couple of Kru XS auto from these guys

http://www.norwestmarine.co.uk/shop/Commercial_Life_Jacketsa.html

Although the jackets I bought are one of their cheaper products I was attracted by the 5 year warranty, integrated harness, 175 Newton rating, and comfort / ease of fitment.

If you want to spend more, the opportunity is available as most of their range appears to be for commercial use.

Norwest don't have a shop as such but I visited their warehouse / factory (I am fairly local) and they were happy to talk me through the various aspects of the jackets I bought including their construction, how to service them and also gave me good advice on how to test and service other makes of lifejackets I own!
 
Jetstream said:
Looking to buy a couple of very good quality lifejackets, need to be automatic, lightweight and be able to clip a harness line on

Any recommendations?
Need to get it right

Cheers
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Not sure what "need to get it right" means. All lifejackets on the market meet the basic standard in terms of volume of buoyancy, construction and basic operation. There are a number of different designs which vary in price substantially. The variation comes from 2 sources. The first is the level of additional equipment - harnesses, auto inflation, extra items such as sprayhood and lights and second design, usually aimed at comfort and ease of use.

So you have to decide what features you want and then go and look at the ones on your shortlist to determine which suit you, particularly in fit and ease of use. More expensive does not necessarily mean better as life savers but may provide additional features that you find valuable.

As with many well developed products you will find as many recommendations as there are products on the market.

The magazines regularly review these products and usually come to the conclusion that they are all functionally good and choice is mainly around subjective features.
 
Jetstream said:
Looking to buy a couple of very good quality lifejackets, need to be automatic, lightweight and be able to clip a harness line on

Any recommendations?
Need to get it right

Cheers
Click to expand...

Kru Sport Pro get recommended by lots of people, including me, but the only way is try them on and see what they feel like. Quite a few people say the Spinlock Deckvest is the most comfortable LJ they've ever worn but I find them really uncomfortable because the way they're packed means a hard collar around your neck. It's all down to personal preferences but I look for a very easily deployed hood as an essential. Baltic, Crewsaver, Spinlock and Kru (Ocean Safety) are the four most common I think.
 
We have been going through the process of finding a new LJ for Mrs DeepJoy, and first thoughts were the Kru Sport Pro, as I have had one for a number of years and found it good. However, for a woman's shape, the Kru isn't as comfortable as the Crewsaver Ergofit, which is a new LJ recently on the market. She found this was much more comfy around the chest than the Kru. The only downside is getting hold of one as they are like hens teeth. Both the Kru and Ergofit are designed to keep off the back of your neck and come with lights, spray hood and crotch straps.
 
DeepJoy said:
We have been going through the process of finding a new LJ for Mrs DeepJoy, and first thoughts were the Kru Sport Pro, as I have had one for a number of years and found it good. However, for a woman's shape, the Kru isn't as comfortable as the Crewsaver Ergofit, which is a new LJ recently on the market. She found this was much more comfy around the chest than the Kru. The only downside is getting hold of one as they are like hens teeth. Both the Kru and Ergofit are designed to keep off the back of your neck and come with lights, spray hood and crotch straps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the advice guys
I think we have settled on the Baltic, being the one that ticks all the boxes
The current ones we have (i think crew saver) are just uncomfortable due to the arrangement behind the neck

Shopping time!
 
DeepJoy said:
We have been going through the process of finding a new LJ for Mrs DeepJoy, and first thoughts were the Kru Sport Pro, as I have had one for a number of years and found it good. However, for a woman's shape, the Kru isn't as comfortable as the Crewsaver Ergofit, which is a new LJ recently on the market. She found this was much more comfy around the chest than the Kru. The only downside is getting hold of one as they are like hens teeth. Both the Kru and Ergofit are designed to keep off the back of your neck and come with lights, spray hood and crotch straps.
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just bought a Crewsaver ergofit worn several times now and find it well worth it auto hood and crutch straps very comfortable
 
baltic said:
just bought a Crewsaver ergofit worn several times now and find it well worth it auto hood and crutch straps very comfortable
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Have you actually inflated it yet?
My wife's one had a rusty cylinder so we changed it
But rather than just chuck the old one out my son & i decided she should try inflating it whilst wearing it.
She would not strip off & get in the bath so we tried it out in the lounge
It inflated with so much force it hurt her neck for some time
I did the same with my Spinnlock & it curls round the chin
It really gave me a punch in the mouth( made worse by the position of a seam) & if in the water the shock would probably make me gulp in water accidentally
It is worth using old cylinders to actually try out whilst wearing them
You may get a surprise
 
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Daydream believer said:
Have you actually inflated it yet?
My wife's one had a rusty cylinder so we changed it
But rather than just chuck the old one out my son & i decided she should try inflating it whilst wearing it.
She would not strip off & get in the bath so we tried it out in the lounge
It inflated with so much force it hurt her neck for some time
I did the same with my Spinnlock & it curls round the chin
It really gave me a punch in the mouth( made worse by the position of a seam) & if in the water the shock would probably make me gulp in water accidentally
It is worth using old cylinders to actually try out whilst wearing them
You may get a surprise
Click to expand...
no I hav'nt tried it out yet but I have checked the bottle I understand there was some problems with the early ones but there were some design changes on the later ones but I will try it looking at it though there seems plenty of room and is comfortable enough to wear all the time I must admit I was the worst offender for not wearing one until a friend of mine went over board and needed lifeboat and helicopter he wouldn't be here today if he wasn't wearing one so I'm converted remember you get what you pay for and check which is best for you i'm a big bloke so some don't fit right others do I buy from a chandlers shop where I can try them on and pick which I think is best for me
 
We use Secumar Ultra AX jackets. Not at all common in the UK but poplar in the Baltic. They are a traditional design and very small and flat, a lot less bother than spin lock which I find very cumbersome. Kru are always spoken of well and as the OP says Baltic are a very good make too. I would say buy whatever feels good for you but if you are going seriously offshore or into serious seas buy one with a light and sprayhood. Integral harness and crotch strap these days goes without saying. These considerations are more important than the make or fit which is all personal choice.

Cheers
 
DeepJoy said:
Both the Kru and Ergofit are designed to keep off the back of your neck and come with lights, spray hood and crotch straps.
Click to expand...

Point of order - the Kru Sport Pro has a crotch strap and an excellent spray hood system, but for some reason does not come with a light as standard. Force 4 in Bursledon have a particular light which they automatically offer (not at a discount though :) ) to anyone buying the jacket.

(Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the light; it's very small with a built-in lithium battery and has both an on/off button and a dangling seawater sensor, and clips neatly onto a purpose-made patch on the jacket bladder.)

Pete
 
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