I'm feeling an ice free winter again up here and would like some suggestions on a good self inflating PFD that won't break the bank. I wear my Kayak PFD now but would like something less bulky. Buy the way me and Puxatony Phil are buddy's so I on the money with the ice free thing. Thanks guys.

Best deal I can think of. Usually they go on sale after the holidays. There are better ones out there, but these are reliable and inexpensive to re-arm. As an added bonus it doesn't say "MUSTANG" in 5" letters across the front 

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Life-Jackets-Vests/Inflatable-Life-Jackets%7C/pc/104794380/c/104741280/sc/104399280/Cabelas-Tournament-3500-Auto-PFD/1806463.uts?destination=%2Fcategory%2FInflatable-Life-Jackets%2F104399280.uts&WTz_l=DirectLoad%3Bcat104399280

 

The Mustang PFD's are great quality and the industry standard, but if you buy one don't bank on re-arm kits being available too far off into the future due to planned obsolescence. 

I assume by 'self inflating' you're refering to an automatic vs. manual inflating. That being said, I own two automatics. One is a Mustang and the other is a BassPro. Of the two, I prefer the BassPro as it isn't as bulky and I've never had it inflate while fishing in the rain. It's less expensive than both the Mustang and Cabela's vest. I've had to re-arm the Mustang vest twice because it inflated unexpectedly on me, but only did so on the BassPro because it was three years old. 

I bought one when they fist came out I believe it was called a SOS pender.

When I bought my Mustang HIT inflatable vest, I went ahead and bought a couple of re-arming kits  Pay to play was my thinking at the time.  Haven't had to use it yet - knock on wood.

I really like my Cabela's auto pfd.      It is so comfortable that sometimes I forget to take it off and I drive home with it on.

I have a Gander Mountain house brand auto-inflate that I got on sale for around $70.

I had an automatic Mustang I won in a BASS weekend series tournament. After it went off in the rain on 3 different occasions I sold it and bought a manual one. Once I was sitting on the dang thing trying to load the boat in a downpour when it went off and almost shot me over the side into the lake. That'd be a heck of a deal to end up in the lake like that. 

Man glad I have the SOS suspenders. So far (Knock on wood) Never had one go off. And bought my first pair the year they hit the market. Now I have three 2 auto's and a manual. Will be replacing the 2 autos next spring with SOS again.

A heads up if the pill gets old and has been locked in a hot auto for weeks. They will go off with just humid days with rain. I swap out the pills each year if it needs it or not.

Pete

We use Cabela's Tournament 3500 Auto PFD

They go on sale often closer to $120, they are really comfortable and sometimes I forget I'm wearing one.

Tom, every time they go on sale at BPS, 

I consider buying one. The thing I don't like 

is the cost of playing the inflatable game. 

 

Yes, it is far more convenient, but for us 

kayakers, an "always ready" vest is really 

an awesome safety thing.

 

That said, I understand fishing in the cold 

and the bulk. I sometimes feel like the Stay 

Puff Marshmallow man...

Best deal I can think of. Usually they go on sale after the holidays. There are better ones out there, but these are reliable and inexpensive to re-arm. As an added bonus it doesn't say "MUSTANG" in 5" letters across the front 

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Life-Jackets-Vests/Inflatable-Life-Jackets%7C/pc/104794380/c/104741280/sc/104399280/Cabelas-Tournament-3500-Auto-PFD/1806463.uts?destination=%2Fcategory%2FInflatable-Life-Jackets%2F104399280.uts&WTz_l=DirectLoad%3Bcat104399280

 

The Mustang PFD's are great quality and the industry standard, but if you buy one don't bank on re-arm kits being available too far off into the future due to planned obsolescence. 

This is the one I use too.  I couldn't be happier with it.  I haven't had any trouble with it in the rain and it worked perfectly when it needed to.  Plus, it's very comfortable to wear all day.