I have gotten to where I fish alot by myself and I am getting older. I have fallen in the lake even in the wintertime. I noticed that the Bass Pro Shop has inflatable life vests on sale in their spring sale flyer....all different prices. For the people that have or know about inflatable vests..which vest is the best for your money?? Thanks!
Do you have a problem with these things going off if they get damp? I have heard that if they decide to inflate they get with it. I do wear my life jacket anytime I am running down the lake.

H.I.T. is the one to go with. It has to be dunked underwater to go off...I think it's 4" of water that sets it off.

Water spray, rain, nor wet rod locker will set it off.

I got me a Mustang. LOVE it

Both of mine has gone off while in storage... twice. Both times, it had rained, and I stowed the vest inside one of the boat storage compartments. Although the vest itself never got wet, all the humidity from the rain water still made the tablet dissolve after a few days. I don't use them anymore because I can't afford to keep replacing the cartridge and tablet mechanisms. Mine are Stearns.

Thanks Super Dave. That is what I had heard and that to recharge them is expensive.

Justbreezin: It looks like there are a bunch of Mustang vests...which one is the best for your money or which one should you get? Have you ever fallen overboard?

Bass-Bustin_Texan: I didn't see any H.I.T. on the Bass Pro Sale sheet or that they even handle them...thanks anyway.

Watch!

Little more info in this video.

I went the cheaper route and after it going off in the rod box a few times and paying the high cost of rearming, I went with the HIT. It saves money in the long run.

Best of luck in your search!

http://www.machovec.com/
I ordered the MD3183, for $188, $200 delivered
best on the market...best price.
They don't have the orange/black in stock.

jim

Great items and comfortable, however, the game warden says you have to wear it at all times or have a regular PFD in the boat available.

Go for the HIT vest by mustang. BPS sells them for nearly $300 but they can be had for $200 on the net. This is where I got mine just a few weeks ago: http://www.imarineusa.com/mustangdeluxeautomaticinflatablewhammarinflatormd3183-u-rdbk.aspx

You won't have to worry about this one inflating in storage due to humidity, it MUST be submerged in 4" of water to inflate.

According to our game wardens called on to investigate a couple of men's drowning accidents, its common the fishermen are recovered with their 'zipper flys' down having accidently fallen over the side of their boats.

The typical fishing tournament rules about wearing a vest only with the motor running is not helping much at all to avoid the most common drownings....vests need to be worn all times.

The inflatable Mustang HIT vest is the current way to go and you will keep it on all day on the water without hardly noticing it.

TMI

I highly recommend a self inflating inflatable, but I would be remiss if I didn't warn you that per TPWD, the vest does not count toward the total number of life vests in the boat, if it is not being worn. So, if you and your bud are in the boat, and you only have two vests, one of which is an inflatable, if you take it off for any reason and the GW comes up on you, if you are not wearing it, it does not count toward the 2 vests that you legally need in the boat.

Hey Texas I too I just recently thought about this same thing and about 3 months ago I purchased the Mustang Hydrostatic. I have started fishing more by myself and am approaching 60 and peeing more . I went with this unit because of auto-inflation and the hydrostatic aspect. My life is worth the extra dollars involved and if you are unconcious then you can't self inflate.

I do not know why people keep saying you have to have another vest. If you buy the one with the HIT you do not have to have another vest. It is Type II approved and does not have to be worn to count as a vest. The other models do have to be worn.