Auto inflate life jackets

[lawman]

Five years ago I bought a couple of auto-inflate like jackets at Cabelas. I wear one all the time, very comfortable. Has anyone ever tested one of these or fallen in the water and had it trigger? I read that u are supposed to buy replacement gas cartridges every few years. I am going to "test" one this spring when I replace the old cartridge. Are they hard to repack one deployed?

[Alagnak]

Five years ago I bought a couple of auto-inflate like jackets at Cabelas. I wear one all the time, very comfortable. Has anyone ever tested one of these or fallen in the water and had it trigger? I read that u are supposed to buy replacement gas cartridges every few years. I am going to "test" one this spring when I replace the old cartridge. Are they hard to repack one deployed?

The ones I've repacked in the past were very easy. Just velcro enclosures so the bladder can expand so all I had to do was fold the bags up while pressing out the air and close the velcro. I'm sure they say to 'test it' so they can sell you expensive rearming kits but oh well- then you know it's fresh. I just don't see a CO2 cartridge going bad in a year or two unless it was damaged but maybe someone has more proof on that either way. One of my vests I would just tie a heavy 30-40 pound mono for the break-away release and it worked great. So I could then use any CO2 cartridge I had laying around and didn't need to buy the kit. This was a cabelas vest type that I purchased 10 + years ago and kind of got out of the habit of wearing one at work or just fishing for fun. I've been thinking about spending the money on a new around the neck type soon and getting back into it.

[Ufatz]

If you have had them "laying around for five years" it is time to pop 'em and reload!! Ha Ha Ha! They do indeed deploy as intended and in fact they will go off if left in hot sun or if you stow them someplace where they can get wet so be careful where you keep them when not wearing.

The re-arm kits are about $20 depending on which ones you use but it is cheap insurance. Re-packing is pretty easy if you take your time and study how they go back together.

You can bytch about the re-arm kit price but when you need these you really NEED these!!

[minky]

Wow,doesn't sound to hard to repack them.

Your right about them being cheap insurance.

I will have to check them out the next time I am at the big C.

[lawman]

I try not to store them improperly but had no idea they could go off in the sun.

[Raider4ever]

Hot sun doesn't set them off, high humidity will. The arming device is kinda like an Alka-Seltzer tablet where as water dissolves it and sets off the CO2 cartridge. I bought a first edition Sterns auto inflate 10 years ago. Re-arm it every 2-3 years. The only time it ever went off was when I kept it in the boat for a couple of weeks. Boat's covered, it rains (a lot), it gets hot (really hot), it gets even hotter under the cover, increased heat allows for more moisture to be present, pull the cover off one Friday, pop the storage compartment, and viola, a big yellow balloon in there. Now I keep it in the shed by the little cooler I always bring for water and snacks. I love mine. I wear it at all times. It's on and you don't know it. Oh yeah, they do NOT go off if it's raining.