Lifejacket recommendations

Bobc

Bobc

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I am going to buy myself and SWMBO new lifejackets, mainly because the ones we currently have (the old square KRU ones) aren't that comfortable to wear (especially over just a t shirt on a warm day).

I currently have a shortlist of the following models (don't want to spent any more than £100 each on them), and would value the views of anyone else who's tried these, or has any other model that they find comfortable to wear.

I want auto with harness, and can transfer the lights from the current lifejackets.

Current shortlist is:-

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport

Kru Sport 170

Seago Activ 190
 
Bobc said:
I am going to buy myself and SWMBO new lifejackets, mainly because the ones we currently have (the old square KRU ones) aren't that comfortable to wear (especially over just a t shirt on a warm day).

I currently have a shortlist of the following models (don't want to spent any more than £100 each on them), and would value the views of anyone else who's tried these, or has any other model that they find comfortable to wear.

I want auto with harness, and can transfer the lights from the current lifejackets.

Current shortlist is:-

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport

Kru Sport 170

Seago Activ 190
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IMO you'll be moving away from the best type. The square type are the quickest to test inflate and repack so you can do it frequently without it seeming any hassle at all. Also more room to add a light/hood/PLB.
 
Athomson said:
IMO you'll be moving away from the best type. The square type are the quickest to test inflate and repack so you can do it frequently without it seeming any hassle at all. Also more room to add a light/hood/PLB.
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All very well, but we tend not to wear them because they're not very comfortable. Better to have something that's comfortable and that you actually wear than something that spends its life sat in a cupboard surely?
 
We have been very satisfied with our Kru automatic, lifejackets.

Comfortable, compact, easy to put on, and they work; as I found out the hard way a couple of years ago!
 
Bobc said:
All very well, but we tend not to wear them because they're not very comfortable. Better to have something that's comfortable and that you actually wear than something that spends its life sat in a cupboard surely?
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maybe. But if you are happy to go without i expect you'll end up going without with any of them. The comfort difference isn't all that much, still pretty crappy to wear compared to nothing. But when the weather turns and you grab it better to have something you can test in a few minutes before each trip. I spent a whole summer wearing a crewfit origami job that i later found had a hole in it. Could have kept warm by treading water while topping up the inflation i guess. Now its test before each trip. And I'm not naturally a mr health and safety so it needs to be quick and easy. Thats just my vote anyway
 
Bobc said:
I am going to buy myself and SWMBO new lifejackets, mainly because the ones we currently have (the old square KRU ones) aren't that comfortable to wear (especially over just a t shirt on a warm day).

I currently have a shortlist of the following models (don't want to spent any more than £100 each on them), and would value the views of anyone else who's tried these, or has any other model that they find comfortable to wear.

I want auto with harness, and can transfer the lights from the current lifejackets.

Current shortlist is:-

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport

Kru Sport 170

Seago Activ 190
Click to expand...
Something to bear in mind, Kru have a policy of not providing repacking instructions to customers.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Plum said:
Something to bear in mind, Kru have a policy of not providing repacking instructions to customers.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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That is very bad.

Not just because of the high cost of having it repacked at a service centre but much worse is that you could be a long way from one and find yourself without a functioning life jacket until you made port.
 
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Bobc said:
I am going to buy myself and SWMBO new lifejackets, mainly because the ones we currently have (the old square KRU ones) aren't that comfortable to wear (especially over just a t shirt on a warm day).

I currently have a shortlist of the following models (don't want to spent any more than £100 each on them), and would value the views of anyone else who's tried these, or has any other model that they find comfortable to wear.

I want auto with harness, and can transfer the lights from the current lifejackets.

Current shortlist is:-

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport

Kru Sport 170

Seago Activ 190
Click to expand...
I have the Seagos, and the reasons that I chose them was that a) they came out top in a review (PBO I think), and b) their cunning waveguide that helps deflect water away from the face. Well, that and they had all the useful bits, sprayhood, crotch straps, light etc...
 
Go to shop that sells life jackets and spend a few hours trying them on. In a tee shirt and in full oilskins and buy one that fits you best. Your wife may select a different model as it will fit her better. Ignore the budget, I am sure it will be the last thing on your mind as you wait for rescue.
 
Sandy said:
Go to shop that sells life jackets and spend a few hours trying them on. In a tee shirt and in full oilskins and buy one that fits you best. Your wife may select a different model as it will fit her better. Ignore the budget, I am sure it will be the last thing on your mind as you wait for rescue.
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We are 2 hours drive from the big chandleries, so not practical, which is why I have asked on here.
 
Bought a couple of Seago LJ's , bit disappointed TBH.
They are quite fiddly to adjust.
I wouldn't want to be donning one in a hurry if it hadn't been adjusted already.
Or finding it didn't go over an extra layer.

Half the people I see wearing LJs have them adjusted very slack with no crutch straps.
In the old days, I had a Baltic LJ which actually worked without crutch straps, but these days AIUI, the straps have to go around your rib cage not your waist, so they rely on the crutch straps for it to be any use.
 
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