This is an interesting subject, since I've taken big falls right at the wake and after the second wake as well, OTF.

I'm always looking into buying a non approved vest (cool looking, not bulking,etc) but as I look into those vests they're so thin with barely any padding.... that makes me wonder how safe am I in these situations??
I also noticed that the USCG vests varies in thickness, I looked around a lot before I commited to my last vest (1years ago) I bought the thinnest vest I could find but USCG approved.

Is your vest USCG approved or not?

Just wondering if the thicker padding provides us with a better protection.

What are your thoughts?

I hear you, the non-USCG vests are very nice looking but very flimsy. Have you seen the new HO vests with no zippers that you slip over your head, barely any padding, but looks cool!

I've a Body Glove USCG approved but padded all the way throught even the sides but like I said before this particular vest is thinner and very different than the regular USCG vests out there, at least from what I compared when I was looking for one to buy.
I've experienced thousands of falls, at the wake and after the second wake, OTF'S, slammed on the side of my face, etc. Maybe is just luck......

This is keeping me from buying a non-USCG vest.

I know exactly what you're refering too, the USCG vests are so bulk in the front, but look out there I was able to find mine to be in between.

I know this will sound like a bunch of hog wash... But, I went to a very thin/light Non USCG that does have "some" pads. -Like a flak jacket and it has 1 strap. Because the typical HVY. padded  vest that I had,  fit very tight and did not save me from some bruised and separated ribs last summer...

The "hog wash" part is that I later realized;  -That my injuries were the result of NOT Enough upper body flexabilty due to the HVY. padding and the tight fit and something had to give... Unfortunately it was my ribs that were stretched and compremised...

For me, I'd rather have a lot of flexability and less padding. -So I can float like a butterfly and flop like a bee!


p.s. No more arm rashes either!

OTF is falling over the front of your ski. Not a pleasant fall.
Did many of those after the second wake.
Cracked/bruise ribs and busted ear drums are common......

I forgot: exactly which body glove model are you using? You didn't get hurt since using that one?

johannesheine wrote:

Yeah - with all due respect, that sounds to me more like magical thinking.
Imagine getting hit on the chest with a baseball bat (with is about the same experience as slamming on the surface after the 2nd wake):
what would protect you better - good padding with less flex, or flimsy padding with lots of flex?
But to each his own, whatever works for you.
After lying in the water for 30 seconds not being able to breathe I definitely opt for good padding.

Pleeeeze keep us posted if you can find a silver bullet vest that does it all!!!

I had 2 hard falls both resulting in rib injuries with the HVY. padded vest and so far, 0 injuries or even slight soreness with the non USCG flak...

Those 2 falls gave me about 6 wk's a piece to think "magically" about it.

I hear you, I broke 3 ribs 2 years in a row with coat guard apporoved vest. I bought a o'neil vapor and i have take a worst fall a couple weeks ago with no injury....and beleive me it was a good hard one. The flexibility issue is right on,  my vest has rib protection and fits tight but is very flexible and follows my body in a crash. My old vest looks well padded but the pads were so rigid and bulky that it compress more my ribs than protect them in a fall. I don't know if they still make  it but it is a good vest. I think they make a new one with a zipper now .

I believe the ribs are meant to be very flexable and expansive. (this fact is exploited with a typical rib injury, -sneezing and coughing...) I'm thinking that during a hard fall, although the "impact" is certainly the main factor. The impact can also be inhanced by an Elbow or forearm that gets jacked into the rib upon impact or as in my case the body's inability to twist/bend in a natural manner upon impact. As, the ribs are flexable and expansive and naturally allow for the body to be contorted. I believe my old vest actually prohibited my body's natural movement...

My tipping point was one time I was sitting sideways on my Sea Doo with my old vest on and I simply leaned over fwd. to pick something up down by my feet. Because of the bulk of the vest it was just a little bit farther then I could comfortly reach. So, I stretched down just a tiny bit more and felt a weird twenge in my rib and then got some strange spasm type pain that lasted about 3 hrs... -By that point, I had already suspected the vest anyway so, that was it for me!!!

I would think that if a vest did not allow one to bend over fairly easily or allow one to do a sit up or hanging leg raise. Then it probably wounldn't allow the body to contort naturally either...

I can sure sympathize with anyone having a rib type injury...

Last edited by h20dawg79 (Sun, Aug 16, 2009 1:04 PM)