Another thread reminded me that I had meant to post on this:
There are many views on harnesses / life vests; this is not to start that discussion but to discuss some options. I singlehand on/near SF Bay, so rescue is not unrealistic and a vest is fine IMHO, but outside the Gate I want a harness. Spinlock and others make inflatables with integrated harnesses, but I was looking for something with foam too, in case the inflation did not work, or I wanted to maneuver in the water (hard to do with a big inflated vest). And because I like the back-padding when I lean against the pushpit
There are lots of inflatables, but few with any foam. Baltic makes one, but it now has only ~50N of foam floatation (I think the EU standard), which is barely enough to keep your nose at_ the waterline, and that in smooth water. 70N (the US standard I think) only keeps your nose a couple of inches above, so not really out of the water if the water isn't flat... but better than 50N.
After a lot of looking, over some years, I ran across the Crewsaver "Inshore 380N" Lifejacket. It's a rescue-swimmer jacket, designed for some mobility in the water if you don't inflate it. After a season or so, I like it a good bit (n.b.: I am OK with a somewhat bulky lifevest.) It is pretty vest-like (turbocharged kayaker vest form factor), but has:
- 90N foam (nose probably reasonably out of water, and you can still swim/move a bit if necessary).
- 380N floatation total after pulling the inflator (now your head will be way out of the water even in waves)
- Integrated harness with secure-feeling metal quick-connect (as opposed to a belt you have to thread, or a plastic buckle.)
- Integrated crotch straps (which are very nice / easily unclippable to doff vest and easy to adjust on the fly.) Without those straps, no vest will work well -- it'll ride up that crucial couple of inches and now your nose is under water...
- Built-in spray hood and light (but no inflatable little light-pole like Spinlock has)
- Nice system for stowing tether out of the way inside the vest.
Anyway, YMMV, but I am pretty happy with it. I thought it might be too heavy, but I have never minded it even after 8 ish hours of wear while moving about a lot. It is, obviously, bulkier than a Spinlock (or a bare harness) -- if you want that "barely there" feel, no hybrid jacket will do it for you.
FYI, as far as I know, Baltic makes one of the only other foam/inflatable vests (currently called the 'Hybrid 220'), in case you are looking for something like this and starting your search. The Baltic has ~ 55N floam, 165N inflation for 220N total, and a different form-factor (looks harder to swim in, but easier to maybe stow some stuff (PLB) in. Both Baltic and Crewsaver are, I think, used by sea-rescue personnel in their respective countries. I ended up going Crewsaver.
Crewsaver Inshore 380N: https://crewsaver.com/uk/9326/leisure/lifejackets/155/Inshore380N
Baltic Hybrid 220: https://baltic.se/en/produkt/hybrid-220-auto-flytvast/#!
There are many views on harnesses / life vests; this is not to start that discussion but to discuss some options. I singlehand on/near SF Bay, so rescue is not unrealistic and a vest is fine IMHO, but outside the Gate I want a harness. Spinlock and others make inflatables with integrated harnesses, but I was looking for something with foam too, in case the inflation did not work, or I wanted to maneuver in the water (hard to do with a big inflated vest). And because I like the back-padding when I lean against the pushpit
There are lots of inflatables, but few with any foam. Baltic makes one, but it now has only ~50N of foam floatation (I think the EU standard), which is barely enough to keep your nose at_ the waterline, and that in smooth water. 70N (the US standard I think) only keeps your nose a couple of inches above, so not really out of the water if the water isn't flat... but better than 50N.
After a lot of looking, over some years, I ran across the Crewsaver "Inshore 380N" Lifejacket. It's a rescue-swimmer jacket, designed for some mobility in the water if you don't inflate it. After a season or so, I like it a good bit (n.b.: I am OK with a somewhat bulky lifevest.) It is pretty vest-like (turbocharged kayaker vest form factor), but has:
- 90N foam (nose probably reasonably out of water, and you can still swim/move a bit if necessary).
- 380N floatation total after pulling the inflator (now your head will be way out of the water even in waves)
- Integrated harness with secure-feeling metal quick-connect (as opposed to a belt you have to thread, or a plastic buckle.)
- Integrated crotch straps (which are very nice / easily unclippable to doff vest and easy to adjust on the fly.) Without those straps, no vest will work well -- it'll ride up that crucial couple of inches and now your nose is under water...
- Built-in spray hood and light (but no inflatable little light-pole like Spinlock has)
- Nice system for stowing tether out of the way inside the vest.
Anyway, YMMV, but I am pretty happy with it. I thought it might be too heavy, but I have never minded it even after 8 ish hours of wear while moving about a lot. It is, obviously, bulkier than a Spinlock (or a bare harness) -- if you want that "barely there" feel, no hybrid jacket will do it for you.
FYI, as far as I know, Baltic makes one of the only other foam/inflatable vests (currently called the 'Hybrid 220'), in case you are looking for something like this and starting your search. The Baltic has ~ 55N floam, 165N inflation for 220N total, and a different form-factor (looks harder to swim in, but easier to maybe stow some stuff (PLB) in. Both Baltic and Crewsaver are, I think, used by sea-rescue personnel in their respective countries. I ended up going Crewsaver.
Crewsaver Inshore 380N: https://crewsaver.com/uk/9326/leisure/lifejackets/155/Inshore380N
Baltic Hybrid 220: https://baltic.se/en/produkt/hybrid-220-auto-flytvast/#!