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Posts: 7123
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Has anyone had a chance to wear one of these while fishing? Boro happened to mention that if either of us had fallen in this weekend, there was a good chance that we might NOT bob up to the surface....he's a father of 3, and I'm.....well lets just say I have a really nice Diamondback rod that I need to catch a fish on before its my time.
I know they will help you float if you go in, I know they're expensive, but a few questions:
*are they warm?
*are they durable over time?
*how restrictive are they when you try to walk in them?
Thanks in advance! |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | We use them at work and I recommend them (I work on the Great Salt Lake where water is still liquid at 28 degrees F and cooler). Obviously, you give up a certain degree of mobility as they are somewhat thick and a bit heavy (kind of like the old snowmoblie suits, but thicker), but they are warm and after wearing them a while, you grow accustomed to them. The most important thing I can stress is get one that fits. Decide ahead of time what thickness you plan on wearing under them, and try them on (if possible) while wearing it. Proper armpit and crotch fit is essential for comfort and mobility. You don't want to be wearing a suit that makes you far more clumsy just because it will float you. Bottom line - they work, and with a minimum of getting used to, they are reasonably comfortable. Hope this helps.
K. |
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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | I own a Buoy o' Buoy survival suit. I've had it for years. I wear it every spring and fall. It keeps you amazingly warm (with appropriate under layers) and can save your life if you fall in. My lake was 34 degrees on Saturday and you can bet I had my suit on. You can have all the goretex and the like, but for warmth, dryness and the added insurance of a survival suit (one piece boys...no separate jacket and pants) should you fall in, it was single handedly the best money I've EVER spent. |
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Posts: 7123
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | But are they warm? If I want to fish in sub-zero or near zero temps, how many layers am I going to wear so that I dont freeze the bajoobies off?
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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | Like with any outdoor clothing strategies, layering is the answer. On their own they are very warm, but as temps plummet the number and type of layers should increase.
I went out on Saturday (very close to freezing temps) and didn't layer properly (ie. no long johns or heavy socks, etc) but I was only planning on being out for an hour or so - I have a 16 month at home...enough said. I was howver still quite warm, although my feet were cold because I didn't have my winter boots on.
I've had my suit for about 10 years now and it is only now needing a coat of DWR to help make the water bead off. It's got one small hole in the fabric and that's it. When this one finally wears out I WILL buy another one. I wouldn't fish in cold weather/water conditions without one. I paid $300 CDN about 10 years ago. I think they're down to $200 CDN now. Just make sure you buy one oversize so you layer underneath. Yes, you'll feel a little like the michelin man, but you'll be warm, dry and confident you might live should you fall overboard. |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | out2..what model do you have??
if discontinued after 10 years, what would be the one you would get next?
thx much. |
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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | Not sure of the model right now, I'll check when I get home. I never said my suit was discontinued though - as far as I know it's still available. Try http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall/outdoors/buoy_boy.pdf or http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall/outdoors/mus_clas.pdf for an example of prices and models. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Slamr,
Relative warmth is a very subjective measurement. For me - yes they are warm, the next person may decide that they need six layers under them to feel warm. I would say that they are as warm or warmer than a good pair of Carhartts. That's about as good of a yardstick as I can come up with.
K. |
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Posts: 240
| My friend Craig Stapon has one and it saved his hide last week. He fell into the water of the back of his pontoon boat. He quickly floated up, and then grabed the deck and got right out. Now here is the amazing part. Everything underneath was dry! the only thing that got wet was his boots and face and a little around the neck. As for warm, they are very warm. It was 30 degrees out and he was warm all day. I have a boy o boy and it is very warm as well. I been fortnate not to fall in so I don't know how dry I will stay but it has been great so far.
Cory |
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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | Couldn't find a model number, so I can't say which one it is. What I can tell you is that it has a fabric hood instead of a PFD type hood. I wish it had the latter, but oh well. Oh yah, I wear it snowmobiling and ice fishing all the time. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | I wear the Mustang Survival Coverall and use a heated fleece vest under neath!
http://www.shieldsafetystore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&...
Capt. Larry |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I use one of the better mustang suits as can be seen in my picture to the left. I was out this weekend in the teens and here is what I wore underneat it, underwear, long johns, socks, whool socks, t-shirt ( M1st one at that as it is long and tucked into the long johns) a buttoned shirt tucked into my jeans, long sleave shirt and a whool sweather. Now when it got warm, yes I got warm when we hit high 30s, I would unzip it for a while or I may take off a layer if I need too. This set up is good to well under freezing and keeps you warm all day long. To answer your questions : *are they warm? Yes very warm the one piece suit keeps your entire body heat in.
*are they durable over time? Get the more expensive higher quality mustangs and they should last for a very long time. As well they are much more quiet then the cheaper boys ones, the material is stiffer and makes noises everytime you move.
*how restrictive are they when you try to walk in them? Get one much larger then you need, lets you have room for putting layers underneat as well as been able to sit without getting strangled and you can move in all directions and have the pants cover your ankles and the sleves cover your wrist. Mine is a 50-54 size and I noramly wear a 44T in mens suits. Just try it on before you buy, make all the moves you would make while wearing it to make sure you are confortable in it before buying it. I would never be out without it once the waters hit the 40s. |
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Posts: 33
| The comfort zone varies with whichever style you select. I like the softer camo colored version (LeBaron's) but unlike the stiffer, orange suit, it is not an approved "life jacket", so you still need one in the boat. In super cold weather, I wear longjohns and a polyester pile pants/zip up jacket combo, like they sell at all the sport shows. Add a thin gortex layer if you expect pouring rain, tho it takes about all day for the rain to soak through. It'll take all night in a warm room to dry out if that happens. A gator, face mask, ski goggles and ski gloves also help. A rule of thumb is to go a little bigger than you think, as you can't move in them if they are tight. A good floater should last decades. It's a wise investment I'd encourage anyone still fishing to make. Mark |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | What did you guys pay for your suits? |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | I paid $379 for my Mustang Survival Coverall at West Marine.But I see the price went up on the better suit.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?... |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I don't know if it is the exact same suit as in larry's link but this one is a hell of a lot cheaper and in Canadian funds. Look at the more expensive of the two for the better suit. You do need acrobat reader to get this page. http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall/outdoors/mus_clas.pdf |
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Mustang Survival Suits?