Spinlock lifejackets

[Iain C]

I have one and I really like it. Compared to the Wetline ones I have on board the plus points are:

-Sprayhood and light built in rather than retrofitted
-Far more comfortable and less likely to snag on anything
-Manual ripcord that is always in the same place and visible (black is a daft colour for it though)
-Plastic buckle that's less fiddly than metal and far easier to do up in the dark with cold hands
-D ring that's made of fibres not metal, far less clanky
-Better fit that concentrates the body of the lifejacket away from where your hands tend to be working
-Waistcoat style makes it super quick to throw on in a hurry.

Big minus for me is that daft crotch strap arrangement. I'll be honest, I've taken mine off, until I modify it as just a simple, single strap. Not ideal, I know, but having got it snagged around just about everything as well as making a trip to the heads a bloody nightmare, it had to go.

As an aside, if you are an RYA instructor (of anything) you can get one almost half price. That's what I did and it's well worth it, but probably not worth paying full whack for.

 

[mattnj]

i have one, i like it but dont think its worth the price (it was a present so not going to complain)

doing it again, i would rather spend the money on some other bit of safety kit that you dont have, like AIS, plb, big bilge pump, whatever...

 

[matt1]

Fantastic piece of kit imho. Best lifejacket I have ever bought and in a league of its own. I simply don't recognise the crotch strap comments - I think they are very comfortable

 

[Resolution]

I have two Spinlocks (three years old) and six cheaper Baltics of the same vintage. The Spinlock is more of a struggle to put on over a heavy oilie top, but very much more comfortable once on. The thigh straps are superb - how can you guys be having trouble with them?
My one complaint is that re-packing after inflation is a bit of a fiddle.

 

[LittleSister]

Spinlock life jacket

'Santa Claus' (or was it the Birthday Fairy?) bought the First Mate a Spinlock lifejacket a year or two ago. She loves it, finds it comfortable to wear and 'nice looking', neither of which applied to the run of the mill one she had previously and often complained about.

Seems well made. Good to have the light and hood built in rather than poorly fitting after-thoughts at extra cost. Thigh straps took a bit of initial sorting out (adjusting and familiarisation) but are good, except slow to adjust to accommodate oilies or not. Can't remember any particular difficulty in re-packing after test inflation, but it was a while ago now. My only real criticism is I find the fabric clip-on ring difficult to manage and see, compared to the standard steel item, and have worried about how difficult it would be for someone else (e.g. me) to attach a line to, should she end up in the water in the dark.

I'd be tempted to get one myself (though I'd try the others on the market first), but my trusty Musto is only 18 years old and in good shape, so I'll have to put up with the permanent crick in the neck it gives me for a few more years!