Survival Vest

Would a survival vest be a good idea, like the one that air force pilots wear for if they get shot down. They have lots of pockets for gear and a bag you might drop but a vest it always be attached to you. Anyway how much does a vest like this cost? <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Go to Ranger Ricks website-he has loads of stuff + advice on buying a bvest and how to fill it etc. If you want to save money check this out first!

Mark

Hi Rusty,

Here is a link to a page where Doug writes about Stearns' Inflatable Sportsman's Vest from Eagle Enterprises which not only has lots of pockets for gear, but also provides 22.5lbs. of buoyancy via CO2 cartridge or inflation tube. (Here is the larger picture.)

It's not quite what pilots wear, and it's not really a PFD (Personal Flotation Device), but it looks like it was obviously made for fishing (with that lure patch), and would probably be useful for any number of outdoor activities.

Stay safe,
J.T.

I dunno. Up here in my neck of the woods (No pun intended) backpacks are all the rage. I like the vest that Burt Gummer wears in the Tremors Series, that is coolness and utility in one. <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Jet: I see you are from Dallas, are there any good survival stores that you know of. REI is pretty usefull but there prices are high.

Hi Rusty,
So you're local? Your profile doesn't say. Cool.
I've got a few favorite places around town. Galyan's at Stonebriar Mall, Preston & 121, is similar to REI, but larger. Outdoor World, on Bass Pro Drive out by Grapevine Mills Mall, is more geared toward the "sportsman" than the "outdoorsman" ... meaning, more fishing & hunting. There are also a couple of spy gear stores around the Metroplex that can be fun to browse in. There is one at Beltline & Midway, and another ... oh gosh, somewhere near Valley View Mall. Not real helpful, I realize. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> You can look up "Spy ___" in the phone book & see what you find. For military surplus, I like the Texas Army & Navy Store on the NW corner of Spring Valley & Central.
I'm sure there are others of which I'm not yet aware. If you know of any, let me know. I'd love to check out some new places. Hope that helps.
Stay safe,
J.T.

A good vest would be the one that James Bond <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> wore in the end of Goldeneye. Not the best movie ever, but i liked the vest! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi,

I use a SRU-21P survival vest whenever I fly.

It has lots of pockets - very convenient for storing survival items. I had mine "improved" to suit my needs.

I paid 90$ for it at Aviation Marine Specialty Products, Inc.(http://www.avmarspecprod.com/).

I fancied a better model manufactured by Magam Betihut in Israel - they make a model which is is extremely sturdy, fire resistant and comes with a dual chamber life preserver - the only downside: THE PRICE (1000 $) !!!

If anybody knows where the british airforce survival vests are manufactured - I'd be happy to learn about it !

Hi Rusty,
have you thought about using a "chest rig"? It has some convincing advantages over other means of carrying survival equipment:

1. comfortable to wear with a rucksack
2. you are still able to use your hip belt with good comfort and effectiveness
3. some have large storage pouches
4. the map pocket is always useful
5. in some you can carry waterbottles or messtins so if you need to dump your rucksack (in river or ice crossings for example) you'll have a greater survival chance

They start at about £15 and up to £65.

reinhardt