floating coat

[fishfry95]

hey guys I am looking int a floating jacket or bibs.I was looking at artic armor. any one have any thoughts? I can't spend a ton of money I was thinking either the coat or the bibs.

[mud_n_fun]

If you buy a coat, your head is above water. If you buy pants, can you breathe through that?

[fishfry95]

thats kind of what I was thinking any advice on what brand. I saw on redrock store can't remember the brand but it said it floated but was not coast guard approved.

[NYSporty]

The only float coat CG approved is going to be $350+  like mustang.
I have done allot of research for the last 2 weeks and just bought a Striker climate coat I was going to get AA but after the reviews on quality and comments about costumer service between AA and Striker I was sold.
I also found a pair of mustang floating bibs on ebay for 77$ used only once so I should be all set.
Striker all the way...

[mud_n_fun]

Ice fishing suits aren't CG approved as they have two purposes, to keep you warm, and float you. The keep you warm part is the hard part. They keep you too warm. Floatation is insulation. Cutting back floatation for insulation, noone would buy the suit. Oh Ice fisherman do. And you know what? The suits float. We still have one factor, they are to warm. 30 degrees and 3" off Ice, there is no way your going to wear it all day.
An inflating lifevest is on my to buy list now.

[NYSporty]

Mustang Survival Deluxe Anti-Exposure Flotation Suit
USCG Type V Work Suit with Type III Performance $414.95
I would not like to have that on all day.

[adkwiley]

I have the striker ice suit, if i get too warm I just wear my bibs. If you happen to go in the drink wearing just the bib they will keep you afloat.   The jacket has good ventilation but I dont wear it as much as my bibs, but then again last year was very mild, wore the jacket on a few occasions.  Yes it is very warm but hell thats what i paid for.  Something to keep me warm on frigid days and the floating part is just a perk.  I figured if I was going to be buying a ice suit to be warm might as well get one that will keep me afloat god forbid I fall in.  The wife was all  for me spending the small amount extra to keep me safe.

[Caseman]

To be fair if you just have the floating bibs on and take off the flotation jacket or not have a flotation jacket you will be way better off than wearing carrharts bibs. I would hate to go in with those.  They are warm but  a massive sponge when wet.

A striker suit is next on my list.  Probably wont be until next year seeing that I have been laid off for the past 4 months.   

[Dave W]

I know with AA the jacket and the bibs will float you by themselves, you don't need to be wearing both of them to float.  Not sure with Striker but I think they say you need to be wearing the jacket and the bibs to float.

I've got an AA suit and a Striker suit.  I've had the AA suit for a lot longer and have used it a lot more, so maybe my opinion of the Striker suit will change as I get to use it more, but for now I like the AA jacket better than the Striker jacket, and I like the Striker bibs better than the AA bibs.

[Buckshots]

You can find the striker light suit on clearance right now if you look around. The striker breathes pretty good compared to the AA. Any floatation suit is better than none though.

[kevt528]

I have the Striker Lite suit, the bibs or jacket will float you by themselves.  I like the adjustable inseam on the bibs, the long zippers on the legs and i like the venting on the jacket.  I have had mine for 2 seasons now and quality has been excellent no problems or issues with the suit.