CGA Vest Closest to Comp?
 

Hey there guys, been a lurker here forever and finally joined the forums. Anyways, I'm looking for a CGA vest that is very minimal and not bulky at all or at least as much as would still qualify it as CGA.

Currently I have the O'Brien Team EVA vest, which doesn't fit me the best and is bulky as ****.

I heard most people like the Helium Swat vest or Helium Chrome. I've also heard people recommend Jet Pilot's Murray or O'Neil's Law? Anyways, I was coming here to find the bare minimal bulk jacket that remains CGA.

I'd go the comp vest route, but I'm a big guy, and frankly my lake is pretty busy so if I ever got knocked out, it's not exactly easy to get back to me sometimes with traffic, etc.

No help on this?

Be patient. It's 2am on the east coast :D

My hyperlite side entry vest is not bulky and is a great fit and im about 220. 79$ on evo. Or at least it was.

Have you tried searching the site? There have been a lot of threads on this, in the past, although nothing recent. I think the general consensus is a Jet Pilot Murray.

If your tall the Murray is no good. Bottom of it was up by my nipples.

Damn Mark, you must be really tall....!!! JK..

+1 for the Murray. He is a write-up I did on my thoughts about the vest. http://wakeboardstl.com/?p=147 and I still wear it to this day.

Check out the Jet Pilot Shane too. I bought both the '11 jet pilot Murray and Shane CGA vests online. After trying them both out on land, I liked the fit/feel of the Shane better. It's super light and not bulky and I feel like I have great range of motion in it.

Ok only 6ft 1 almost 2. I think if your sub 5'10" the murray would be awesome.

I ride a Liquid Force Hinge... Love it!! Came from a Helium SWAT and after a couple scary crashes. Decided to go full on CGA... The Hinge is the best I tried on for my build. 6 ft. 160.

Helium Swat comes in a CGA version too. I have been using it and it is pretty nice. It is longer than most by an inch or two. it is side zip entry, but the zip and the buckles are slightly to the front which i like so that if you bend sideways the buckles are not jabbing your ribs. the zipper is not sewn on the very edge of the fabric so that the zipper is not directly next to your skin... or basically there is a little extra neoprene flap that protects it if that makes sense. there is a SNAP (instead of velcro) at the top to keep the zipper up and it works wonders. I do tuble turns every time i go out and the back of the vest shows no wear. the straps have never had problems with twisting either which I LOVE LOVE LOVE, because i just hate strap twisting, especially if the twists are hidden under the neoprene and i cant get to them.
... now the negative. many people say it is like a comp vest, but i think it is about as thick as any other vest. it has no defined segments for bending, but it still bends despite. it is not the lightest vest IMO.

Helium is the best in my opinion

i think the lightest vest i have ever experienced is the Body glove eco vest. also i would say it was the softest vest too. That ecoprene and eco friendly foam and everything else makes that vest so light. BUT it totally stretched out on me and feels like it went up a whole size or more. not sure if the newer ones are better in this regard i have only experienced the first generation eco vest. ... maybe the fact it was so "soft" made it more stretchy too.

the next lightest vest i would say is the Hyperlite side entry vest. a budy of mine has one that is a size or two larger than my Helium swat i have and it weighs about the same if not slightly lighter. i would also say it is thinner. But i like the zipper better on mine and the zipper snap.

the new Capella vest by ronix is pretty dang kool too (from in-store experience only). most different design in a while, especially for front zips. tons of sectioning for mobility.

Check out the Oneill Revenge. It comes in both USCG and a Comp Vest. It's spendy but it's pretty rad.

A friend of mine wears the Murray, he's 6'1", and the vest ends about an inch from his boardshorts (which don't show any crack, for the naysayers out there). Which seems to me like it fits.

O'Neill Law, super light and CGA. Just got one and it is the smallest CGA I have ever owned.

+1 for the Oneill Revenge CGA. Great vest

+1 for the oneill revenge cga. floats well and is super slim.

I have a XXXL Jet Pilot Murray 2009 Model that was worn twice but I am smaller now and its too big if interested let me know and I can send you a pic or two of it.

Ive worn about 10 different vests minimum and CGA by far the most movement and comfortable is the Law by oneill. I have had helium, three or four oneills, Ronix (when I rode them), hyperlite, jet pilot, jobe, LF, and I still turn back to Oneill every time. I know it must sound like I'm reppin them or somethin but really is the best (I currently rock the checkmate).

Oh and some cables like mccormicks require no questions asked a CGA

Another +1 for the Oneill Revenge CGA. I have an older one and aside for it's weight when wet I have no complaints. It does drain fairly quickly and they might have improved since mine though.