I have a Helium Swat right now. Doesnt float well and comes unzipped on hard crashes. Any tips on one that floats a hair better and wont come undone?

Just get a nice CGA. They are super thin now and it could save your life.

everyone i have tried on is just too thick.. and bulky.. no flex at all

try the oniel law, super flexable. I have the revenge, I love it, but it's a bit stiff around the midsection.

Try the Jp Murray cga <BR> <BR>The Hyperlite S/E CGA <BR> <BR>Both thin and have great flex and are CGA.

Any good floating NON-CGA's yall know of?

No, that's why they are non CGAs. If you can find a flexible CGA why not go that route? Hopefully it's not an image thing....

I've never tried a non-CGA (and am also fairly new to wakeboarding) and have been dieing to ask this question. <BR> <BR>Does it really matter if a life vest is a little stiffer? The only thing I can think of that you would need to bend over on is on grabs, but even on those its better technique to bring the board up instead of bending over. <BR> <BR>Or is the reason people prefer to wear non-CGA vests just comfort? (e.g., a t-shirt is more comfortable than a sweater?)

Its not.. Trust me. I just love the freedom I get from my non cga. Its almost like wearing nothing. Unsafe of course but its better than rding with 4 inches of foam on. Also the only thing im going off of is the Helium CGA's they have at TSR. They are the only CGAs I have ever ridden, so I'm new to the "Thin and Flexible" CGA vests.

dude those CGAs at TSR as super super stiff. my cga billabong is nothing like that. you're right if my only reference were those things i would buy one either, i hate those vests.

I can understand the want for lighter more flexible vests. <BR>Seriously check out oniel and jet pilot CGAs. They are thin thin. Of course they aren't non cga thin, but they are getting there. The law really is about as close as you can get.

CGA's aren't nearly 4 inches thick any more. Most times you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference from what you're looking for (good floating non-cga) from an actual "wakeboarding" CGA vest. So why not just go to a CGA? <BR> <BR>What it comes down to IMO is you can't have a t-shirt float 120 pounds of muscle. It just doesn't work. <BR> <BR>More on topic, just go try some on if you can. Sounds like you're in an area where you have a shop close by, too. (lucky dog <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" border=0>!)

Yea Ben!! Thats why I'm super biased on CGAs. Im gonna look into a CGA vest.. I just gotta get to a shop! I appreciate it!

Yea.. Shops everywhere in TX!! Ill check it out and try to keep my bias's at bay. I have ridden about 10 diffrent types of non cga. but with me movin to the ft. worth area and WSR opening along with DWC in the near future.. I figure it would be smarter to buy a CGA instead of trying to hide my NON cga under a jersey lol

murray designed one anyone try that vest?

Then new style oneill boost isn't bad... not as good as a CGA but better than others.

Just picked up a new Rip Curl Dawn Patrol vest after one of my older ones disappeared on Christmas Day, CGA and cheap but it works and I don't feel like I've missed any grabs because of it.

There are a lot of nice side entry CGA vests too. I have a LF watson side entry I really like - big arm holes and short waisted. <BR> <BR>My other vest is the JP Murray Full Metal Jacket and it is also nice and thin and flexy - a lot like the Oneill Law.

XCEL Method vest!!!! <BR> <BR>It is non-CGA but still floats really well (will keep your head above water even without your board on.) <BR> <BR>I ban non-CGAs on my boat because I consider them dangerous (The A-10 couldn't float a cat) but the Xcel Method is great. <BR> <BR>I can almost guarantee it's exactly what you're looking for.

The liquid force Henshaw comp vests float pretty well for a non-cga. I don't know if they're still making them for 2010.

I started rocking the hyperlite non-cga catalyst and the vest is great, a lot of floatation, super flexibale and it has 2 buckles so it looks like a cga vest also which might come in handy at some cable parks.

O'neill Outlaw.

My thick lifejacket messes up my steez! <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>I just got a Helium Paisley CGA and it is incredible thin. Also glideskin-like, whatever you wanna call that - tumbleturns here i come.