LF hinge vs Oneill Law

tommcat 08-21-2005, 4:37 PM

any opinions on these 2 vests? i picked up a LF impact and it is the most comfortable ever but it flat out doesnt float me. i am considering switching to the glide hinge but am looking for some input before i buy another vest.
i tired the cell block also and dont really like it.

(mjmurphy53711) · (mjmurphy53711) **Join Date: Mar 2004** 08-21-2005, 5:44 PM

non cg approved vests dont float you......especially if you weigh over 180. They are comfotable, and padding, but if you get knocked out you wont float, much anyways. If you want a vest that floats go cg approved....otherwise find a vest that is comfotable and ride it. Myself I love my oneil outlaw

(raketball) · (raketball) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 08-21-2005, 5:53 PM

Both my wife and I have the Law and we really like them. Extremely comfortable and USCG approved. I have not tried any other vests, so I can't comment on any others. We are both very happy with the Law.

(proho) · (proho) **Join Date: Aug 2005** 08-21-2005, 6:19 PM

mike, stop posting fallacies on pfds. ncga might be able to float the manufacturer either didnt go through the trouble of getting it certified or failed the certification, so you may luck out and get a vest that floats you great or you may not. Also weight does not determine floatation. an extremely fat person will float better that a well-built boarder.

back to the topic. i really liked the oneill law. it will probably be my next vest but i never tried the hinge on.

tommcat 08-21-2005, 6:20 PM

the Hinge is CG approved, thats why i was considering it. just wondering if it is as close to a non approved vest as they claim.
tim, is the law fairly short on the torso? i dont like long vests and for some reason it looks long in the pictures.

(nauty) · (nauty) **Join Date: Feb 2004** 08-21-2005, 7:26 PM

I have a hinge and like it quite a bit. I tried both the Hinge and the Law on at the shop. The hinge felt a little bit lighter and IMO had better freedom of movement. It was less cumbersome thanthe Law.

My only knock on the hinge is that when I take a fall on the water the back of the vest flips up. It doesn't ride up or have any threat of coming off, the bottom part of the vest on the back side just flips up. It's really no big deal.

I haven't worn the Law in the water, so I really can't give an honest comparison of the two other than how they both felt on dry land.

Hope this helps.

(Message edited by nauty on August 21, 2005)

(mjmurphy53711) · (mjmurphy53711) **Join Date: Mar 2004** 08-21-2005, 7:43 PM

calm down pro, my point is simple......i put on a non approved vest, any style......and i sink, just a little bit slower than if i had nothing at all, but my vest is basically cardboard, calm down.

(ttuclint) · (ttuclint) **Join Date: Sep 2003** 08-21-2005, 7:59 PM

Only CGA for my wife and I. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

(just_board) · (just_board) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 08-21-2005, 9:11 PM

i'm with Clint

sweet name, too.