CRVJax Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 What is the best (non-CGA) vest for impact protection and flotation? I have an Eagle now which I like, but would like to be a little safer. I ski slalom on a closed course, 15/22 off @32mph wanting to get to 34. Skiing more aggressively and the falls are getting harder. I'm 60 so I'm only going to progress so far. So I can sacrifice some flexibility for safety. Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Cnewbert Posted June 8, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 8, 2020 You might give the Stokes Blue Steel Impact Vest a look. Performance Ski (perfski.com) carries them. I bought one recently and really like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 Oneil comp's have more padding than Eagle's also and are very well made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller powbmps Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 I recently picked up a Ronix One Custom Fit Comp Vest. Coming from an Eagle, this one definitely has more padding and more float (at the expense of being a bit bulkier, of course). The Boa feature is pretty cool, but the dial can catch on things (like when sliding into the driver's seat). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jibbo Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 Stokes Evo2 impact vest is great for giving a bit more protection. I have had a number of rib problems in the past and needed a jacket with a bit more protection and this one is fantastic. Floats a bit higher than most of the other comp vests too. https://www.stokesskis.com/product/evo2/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ScottScott Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 I wonder about these "impact" vests. There really doesn't seem to be a lot of science behind them from a rib protection standpoint, I think a lot is speculation. Does more padding help or hurt? Are multiple smaller foam panels better, or larger ones? I think the multiple panels help in movement and flexibility, but seems like larger panels would distribute the impact over a larger area. Comfort and flexibility are going to sacrifice any protection, and flotation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 At age 64 and still pushing hard, the best advice is if you’re at risk- toss the handle . Don’t take the fall . Don’t get hurt/ ski again tomorrow. Personally I love the feel of Eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Rednucleus Posted June 9, 2020 Baller_ Share Posted June 9, 2020 Just got a Stokes Evo II and took an unexpected crash at the gates. Was happy to keep skiing no pain, just hurt my ego! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chris55 Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 At 64 and running 32mph on open water and 34mph on tournament....the Evo2 from Stokes is the best I've used regarding protection and floatation as well. And I do toss the handle too when I feel a big crash would be possible..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller foxriverat Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 I agree with @ScottScott my old vest had the thicker padding and I bruised my ribs a few times in that vest. I felt the padding did the damage. The O'Neill slasher i have now going on my 3rd year with thinner padding has never given me a problem yet when I take a fall on my ribs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chris55 Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 I still have a O'Neill slasher and used it for 3 years, very comfy an good quality but IMO not as good as Evo2 for protection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GaryJanzig Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 I still use the USCG Connelly and Ski Warm Neo vests. The non USCG comp vests in Pennsylvania are not legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabeej20 Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 Another vote for stoke Evo2. Switched from O’Neil slasher last year. Stokes fits better and gives me more protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRVJax Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Thanks for the good insight guys. One last question and I'll leave it alone. Have any of you tried the single buckle wakeboard vests as somewhat of an in between pure comp and a CGA? Little more protection and float against just a little more bulk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BCM Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 @CRVJax - I tried a few on a shop when I bought my O'neil Slasher. The deciding factor for me was that of the single buckle vests I tried on, none of them had any velcro or other mechanism to keep the zipper up. I have had vests un-zip in the past and it results in a less than ideal situation. The zippers also felt a little more free to move, they made me nervous. I felt the O'Neil was a little more secure when fully zipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MuskokaKy Posted June 9, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 9, 2020 IMO - Stokes and Eagle are top quality. I personally prefer stokes but unsure regarding impact protection and all that. @Thomasasher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted June 10, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 10, 2020 I'm an O'Neill fan boy for all my rashguards, boardshorts and own 2 O'Neill Slasher.Absolutely no ribs protection whatsoever on the sides,only the stretchy material. Broke 4 ribs last summer in a bad fall.Very comfortable but no protection. Ski partner just got a new Camaro that i will try soon. My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ALPJr Posted June 10, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 10, 2020 O’Neill Assault hard to beat. https://us.oneill.com/products/assault-l-s-uscg-vest?variant=1467684028431 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRVJax Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller vic Posted June 20, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 20, 2020 My concern with buying new vests the manufacturer does not provide any proof of any level of protection or buoyancy. How many LBs of buoyancy? and level of protection and what is the protected area. is this stuff too hard to test for. Tie weights to your vest until it sinks. put 1sg inch block on vest and see how much weight it takes before going flat. Anybody else got ideas on how to set some standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted June 21, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 21, 2020 o:) More government! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Chef23 Posted June 21, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 21, 2020 I have a Camaro and an Eagle. The Camaro definitely has more padding and flotation. It is also heavier when wet. Eagle does make a vest with more flotation but I don’t think there is more rib protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 75Tique Posted June 21, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 21, 2020 I'm not a high level/tournament skier, and I have never had a non cga vest so I dont know, but are CGA vests really restrictive to impact performance. Hard to believe. I know two people that had major rib damage in recent years. I took a spill a few weeks ago (again, rookie in a CGA vest) and did what I think was bruise some ribs. Still hurts and still impacts performance. I cant imagine going out with any less protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller HMan66 Posted June 26, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 26, 2020 I wear an O'Neill Slasher comp vest. Had a nasty crash going into the gates last week. The vest was still around my shoulders, but the zipper came completely unzipped. I've been free skiing with a non CGA vest for years, but I went ahead and bought an O'Neill Assault CGA vest just because. Yeah, it feels a little bulkier but it's not coming off in a crash. After all, we all skied wearing those 4 buckle nylon jobs! Or how about the foam ring around the waist? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ScottScott Posted June 26, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 26, 2020 I had a number of falls in my O'neil vest where the zipper came open. I've now had a Eagle/Wrapped vest for a year now with some pretty good wipe-outs and zipper always has stayed zipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Dacon62 Posted June 27, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 27, 2020 Thicker, better rib protection and floatation, but less comfortable and not as easy to keep arms close to chest to maintain a good pulling position. Thinner, more comfort and better able to keep arms close to the ribs but less protection and worse flotation. Risk/reward dilemma. Go thin, perform better and crash less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Shell Posted June 28, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 28, 2020 @MDB1056 sometimes you can't always just throw the handle, especially when training and pushing it to the limit, "shit happens" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Minelickskier Posted June 28, 2020 Baller Share Posted June 28, 2020 Well said Shell...I apply that definition to a lot of things in my life! Oh +1 for the slasher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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