I think comp vests are bad for our sport. Every company is heavily advertising comp vests and marketing them to the average rider. I will not let anyone ride with a non uscga vest behind my boat. Like the pro-life jacket ad says it only takes 4 seconds to sink if you are knocked out.
I challenge manufacturers to focus on safety and make 80% of their life jackets uscga. IMO comp vests are for pros only and even then should only be for competition. People without vests need to get a major clue. Way more basic than even for example helmets in any sport.
When I try to buy a new life jacket, it seems the MAJORITY are comp. Then they all show up on clearance when they don't sell. What gives?? Who is buying these?? Major manufacturers like Hyp, and LF always trying to unload Hennie comps for exampe.
Take a company like Helium. They only make a couple uscga models and you can tell that their focus in advertising and design is on the comp vest. I really like the construction and look of their jackets, but I will never ever ever buy a comp vest. Their colors and graphic design are also way too garish and bold colors for me for the most part.
What do you think?
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http://www.heliumwake.com/dyn_category.php?k=149882 2009 Vests
o Balance Series
o Division Series
o Division Series - CGA
o Flak Series
o Freedom Series - CGA
o Her-Fit Series
o LRS - CGA
o Rove Series
o Swat Series
o Swat Series - CGA
o Wake Tanks
Kids:
o Child Series - CGA
o Grom Series - CGA
o Infant Series - CGA
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So I really do think they are a promising vest company and their product line offering is really quite full. But they still have seven lines of comps and only four lines of cga. You can really tell on some models which got more attention to design and detail.
Also they have ZERO WOMENS USGCA this is not okay. Stop trying to make womens vest be all hot-looking. Make then functional, innovative with classic styling. No high-belly vests, less barbies and lipstick (ie pink and pretty).
Hybrid Mode
