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Posts: 814
| Looking at pulling the trigger on a mustang survival suit #ms2175.
Possibly looking to retire the Cabelas gortex guidewear for a little more safety in the fall, this is a lifejacket and hypothermia suit in one...mustang states you can be in 40 degree water for over 3.5 hrs before hypo-thermia sets in and you will stay a float. I fish alone alot and wonder if this is a smart move...well I know its the smart move, but is it worth the switch or is there other alternatives. these run about 400.00.
Has anyone used these one piece suits?
If so how is the castability and manuverability? (I will be casting more than trolling)
Are they better than the gortex guidewear for waterproofness?
how warm are they? will I still have to layer clothing?
looking for any reliable input thanks Mike
see atached photo.
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 mustang survival.jpg (4KB - 222 downloads)
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I have been thinking of getting one myself. bass pro a couple years ago had one for 299, all black. it had a floatation piece that went behind the head shaped like a big cylinder. In hind site i should have bought it.
One stupid question I have, why I did not buy the one bass pro had and have not been able to get an answer on, are they waterproof, can they keep you dry in the rain? |
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Posts: 108
Location: Toronto, ON | If you want to have a waterproof flotation suit, get the "Integrity HX Flotation suit"...
http://www.mustangsurvival.com/products/product.php?id=547&mc=91
Edited by TanMan 1/20/2009 10:43 PM
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Posts: 8782
| I've been considering one of these as well. A few thoughts:
A full body suit is the only thing that I can see possibly keeping you dry and from freezing to death should you go in while fishing by yourself, go through the ice, etc.
Bibs and a coat would keep you afloat, but you're getting wet. If the water is 35 and you're wearing big boots and lots of layers underneath, wet and climbing back into the boat might not be possible. So yes, you'll float, but hypothermia and ultimately death are very real possibilities.
It would be interesting to talk to someopne who has actually used the Mustang line of products, as I have the same questions as everyone else:
1. If its raining sideways and its 33 degrees, is this thing going to keep me warm and dry?
2. They float, but how well? If I'm wearing polypro, fleece, wool, etc underneath, and that gets wet because I've gone over the side, will I still float?
3. How durable is it REALLY?
4. Can I sit on a wet boat seat in the rain and not get water soaking through all the way to my ass? Because there ain't much worse than that at 6:30 in the morning, knowing that you are the warmest you will be all day, and your back side is already frozen.
5. Can I move in this, cast, net a fish, etc. Because if it hinders your movement enough to knock you off balance you're better off without it. |
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Posts: 58
| I have a Mustang integrity suit. Got it last year at the end of the season. I use to wear polypro, fleece, and cabelas xcr raingear. Well so far fishing this late fall and on the ice I just wear a sweatshirt and jeans with my mustang suit and its plenty warm. I went the bibs and coat route for comfort and its very comfortable. I dont know of anybody that owns one that actually went in 38 degree water with it. Hope this helps. The suit is very waterproof as long as you purchase the hood. Brian |
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Posts: 814
| Well I made a phone call today...to Mustang and here's what the tech person said.
1.NONE of their suits in this price range (under 500.00) are waterproof! they are weatherproof. They were not designed to be raingear. which means they will absorb some water, not really from rain but from sitting and kneeling and anything where pressure is applied water will come thru....that's how the suit works. Minimal amounts of water are let through, enough where the body can warm the water, kinda like a wet suit if you will. water is kept inbetween you and the cell foam. He suggested wearing a cheap raingear for an outer layer if you start to get wet.
2. Durability is probably better than gortex, as these are really meant for coast guard use and other extreme jobs.
3. Life span is about 5 years of full time use for the floatation and hypo-thermia part of the suit....they can be redone or repaired for a fee.
4. One piece suits are more awkward compared to a two piece, but the one piece works better and more efficently. The one piece suits are about 7lbs dry.You still should be able to cast as per the tech.
5. Becarefull which one you purchase...some will turn you face up and looking at the sky and some will not...the ms#2175 will and the integrity line will not. Your best bet is to call and check what model your looking at.
6. You will not have to layer as much, because of the cell foam and its heat retension, he said most could get by with jeans and a sweatshirt in freezing temps.
These suits actually let water shed from the suit very quickly once victim is removed from the water....way faster than muliple layers of clothing. One other thing you will want to leave the suit on as it will act like a wet suit keeping body heat trapped inside. Total opposite of multiple layered clothes.
Mike |
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Posts: 194
Location: Southwest PA | I have a one peice floatation suit and have no problems casting all day.
Be aware that the Integrity suit is not US Coast Guard approved where as the MS2175 is. You will still be required by law to have a life jacket on board with the Integrity suit.
Rich W |
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| In terms of cost, think of it as an insurance policy for not dying. How much is that worth?
Also, I heard that if you fall in, step on the outboard to climb back in the boat. Some outboards have a power raise option that could help too. I have never done it, just read about it.
Brian
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Posts: 58
| My integrity suit is a type III pfd. It has passed many coast guard inspections on Lake Erie. I am only required additional life jackets for any others on my boat. |
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Posts: 181
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana | Found this on Ebay...thought you might be interested.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mustang-Survival-Suit-MS2175-XXL_W0Q... |
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Posts: 494
Location: midwest | If you are looking for a warm suit that has floatation to it. I would suggest artic armor. It is NOT a coast guard approved pfd but it does float and keeps you warm in cold weather. Worth a look if your in the market for cold weather gear http://www.idigear.com/arcticarmor.php . |
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Posts: 194
Location: Southwest PA | mskyhntr,
According to Mustang's website the one piece Integrity suit MS195HX is Canadian Coast Guard approved only.
You can get both U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard approved in the Integrity 2 piece, which is what BuckeyeMuskie has.
Go with the MS2175 that your looking at if you want a U.S. Coast Guard approved 1 piece suit.
I cant speak for the 2 piece suit because I've never had one, but it only made sense to me to get a 1 piece suit.
Rich W
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Posts: 3
| msky hntr: I have used a one piece mustang ms2175 for 9 or 10 years. used much when I was commercial fishing in alaska and also commercial fishing off the calif and oregon coast. excellent product has saved many lives. last 3 years I have used on my fall trips to reindeer and cormorant lakes. mine is one piece. make sure you get one with a air tube. have talked to commercials that have went over and when the air tube inflated head hood it kept a good portion of their head and chest out of the drink. they stayed warm and lived. have been inspected several times by coast guard- no problems. I wear merino wool underwear and socks with sweat pants and insulated hoody warm as toast. no problem casting overhand - little awkward casting pounder bulldog sidearm. I wear here in Montana in the spring when trout fishing because I am 70 and fishing solo. my suit has never been cleaned and no problem even with a few oil stains and grime. I think i payed a little over 200 - 250 10 years ago. now 500 - go figure. this is probably my last year fishing in canada and will give someone a good deal this late fall. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | How about colors? Another reason I have put it off, I do not want a gaudy colored one. I know these are not meant for anything stealthy but I would prefer a green or a camo. |
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Posts: 814
| llstew how is the waterproofing? do I have to have a light raing jacket to go over it?
mike
Edited by mskyhntr 1/22/2009 11:29 PM
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Posts: 8782
| ToddM - 1/22/2009 9:59 PM
How about colors? Another reason I have put it off, I do not want a gaudy colored one. I know these are not meant for anything stealthy but I would prefer a green or a camo.
Todd, I thought the same thing -- I don't want to be out there looking like a light bulb. But then the whole idea of a flotation/survival suit is that when you go over in a nasty storm, or at night, they can actually FIND you to save your sorry butt.
So I think maybe that orange suit and all that reflective tape might just be there for a reason...
They DO sell a camo flotation coat that looks pretty cool, the Sportsmen's coat I think its called.
I'd really like to field test some of their stuff, jump in with all my usual clothes/boots/late fall wear and see what happens before I shell out that kind of $$$$ though. |
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Posts: 194
Location: Southwest PA | Todd,
Check out the Stearn's float suit, they offer it in green.
Rich W |
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Posts: 3
| to mskyhntr I have never wore my grunden bibs or parka over. guess you could but would be bulky. I have wore in light rain without problems. possibly you might want a light larger size plastic parka over the top. |
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Posts: 58
| I believe mustang has a black suit as well. |
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