Comp vest that floats decent?

Ive been looking for a new vest this year and am having problems cause im tall and skinny so they always slide up on me.

The only vest ive found is the oneill checkmate but dont know how well it floats. I want to be able to stay afloat if i get hurt.

So to the question. Since comp vests seem to fit much nicer im wondering what comp vests float decently well unless someone can recommend a CGA vest.

(Message edited by goride on May 12, 2008)

I've got an old KGB vest, I don't know if they make it any more, it's an 04 I think, but it fits pretty well. It definitely floats as well. Never had a chance of coming off and it doesn't ride up as long as you tighten the straps up. The only thing with it is you gotta wear something under it or it will sand your nips off.

Looks like this anyway. It might be Aussie made I'm not sure.

The oniell vapor is a comp vest and its pretty thick. I use it and it floats me jsut fine. And I'm pretty skinny myself.

hey goride,

i got the checkmate (as far as i know it's "this year's vapor") and it floats pretty well for a non-cga. i can totally recommend it, though if you are really skinny it might not fit you perfectly.

O'Neill Revenge Comp

I have the hyperlite JD Webb and i love it!

O'neill Outlaw suits and floats me just fine

thanks for the suggestions ill have to try those.

Oh yeah im not like crazy skinny just your average tall skinny 6 ft guy

for comp vests go smaller than what you would normally get.

i used the sizing chart on buywake.com and my vest fit me perfectly!

Xcel Method is by far the best imo. It has thin foam up top and thicker foam in the bottom section. Very good flotation and great flexibility.

http://www.evogear.com/wakeboard-vests/xcel-method-segmented-impact-vest-2007.aspx?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=goo glebase&CMP=KAC-Froogle

Mitch maybe ill try a small in some other vests since i usually wear a medium.

This sucks cause when i was at a demo day i wore a LF vest that fit perfect but my dumb ass didnt bother to see which vest it was.

Dont you hate when you remember to do something when your driving home or somewhere else.

O'Neil Revenge Comp floats very well and it's long.

Jet Pilot Baller floats pretty well, but it is thicker than some of the above mentioned vests.

I think the new Oneill boosts look floaty

I just came from the SkiShack where this morning I purchased an O'Neill Vapor. We took it and the A-10 to a 12 ft. tank, and I tried both for buoyancy. I wanted the A-10 cause it looks so damn cool, but when I exhaled fully, I went to the bottom of the pool. Not saying anything negative about the A-10, just didn't fit into what I was looking for. My priorities were rib protection, buoyancy, fit, and the Vapor filled the role (unfortunately the one with purple threading).

How about just buying an approved vest and not having to worry about flotation?

...Because I previously purchased an approved vest saying specifically, "I don't want to compromise anything for floatability". Picked up a LF Cinch which has little rib protection but is USCG approved and promptly broke a rib on an innocuous fall. Not giving up on the idea of floating, just balancing that with "integrated rib protection".

(Message edited by onthewatermo on May 14, 2008)

...and I was sad to give up my Cinch because it matched my board. The day I got it over lunch break, my boss insisted I bring it into the office.

O'neil Outlaw floats great. The Vapor floats ok, too, but has a tendency to slide off over your head on hard crashes. I've got the Guru now and it's like wearing a wetsuit top. Doesn't float well. I might just have to go back to my Outlaw. Comfortable and floats well.

I'm going to have to recommend the CWB faction vest. I knocked myself out facedown and it floated me quite well, at least thats what I was told

It has a side zipper and one strap. Is really thin and comfortable too.