Advice on Floatation Suits

[Patrick_Pending]

I am thinking of buying a two piece floatation suit. Does anyone have any advice? I quite like the look of the Penn Blue Water suits.

I already have some neoprene chest waders and wonder if it would be practical to wear these under a floatation suit or would I get to warm?

[TIM]

You will boil up with both on, you would be better off with a titan smock and your waders, or at a push I have fished with a floatation suit under my oceans.

[Edited on 10/1/2004 by TIM]

[jason]

i have a penn blue water absolutely superb piece of kit for boat fishing - i do think though that you would be too hot if you are walking around doing shore fishing as the insulation is outstanding. I normally take the whole suit out all year round as you never know when you will need it. Normally just wearing the bottoms in the summer with a light t shirt..
regards jason

[Chippy]

Personally I much prefer the one piece suits. I\'ve always wondered if you fall in wearing only the bottom half of a two piece, do you float legs up or down? I\'ve never struggled with my own one piece in terms of movement or being too warm.

If you want a flotation device to go with waders, then I believe Fladen market a Flotation smock for about 60 or 70 notes.

[LING_BASHER]

YER MY ADVICE WOULD BE NOT TO GET 1, I HAVE ONE AND NEVER USE IT IT\'S HOT, HARD TO MOVE IN AND HEAVEY.I GOT A TITIAN COAT AND IT\'S ALL I WEAR NOW IT\'S WARM,WATER PROFF AND LIGHT.

[Gwyn]

I have two, a fladen expert one piece which I use when rock fishing with studded leg waders underneath, the other is a Shakespeare president two piece the jacket I wear over neoprene chest waders when fishing the beaches, if you wear a full two piece with neoprene chest waders you will overheat very quickley.

Jims tackle are doing the shakespeare president and the uglystick suits at extremely cheap prices.

Gwyn

[willywetegg]

I\"ve got a Mainstream 1 piece a Sundridge 2 piece which I where all the time. With hind sight although I have had no problems with the 1 piece would never get another. If I get a bit hot while wearing the 2 piece I take the top off. I also have smocks and waders but If you are talking warmth AND safety get a floatation suit. Sorry forgot to say quite often I wear me flotation top with me waders. Some times you get hot while walking yes but all you need do is open your top when you get to your spot or even hang it on yer rest.

[Edited on 11/1/2004 by willywetegg]

[TC]

Neoprene chesties and a floatation jacket is a combination hard to beat.
My wife got me a pair of Snowbee chesties, the Christmas before last and I bought the top part of a Fladen, 2 piece floatation suit shortly after.

Ian has recently bought one of the Fladen floatation smocks and loves it. It’s smaller, lighter and less cumbersome that the jacket I have, but still keeps you warm, protected from the elements and seems to have excellent floatation properties.

[tich]

I hope this does not look to stupid but ??? if fishing from a beach why have one.. its not lickley you are going to slip on the sand... again if off rocks / boats esp yes ....daft question what does a flotation suit exactly do?? appart from float(I hope)

[tich]

I know a few of my mates thatwork the rigs have to use them but is W/ Bay beach not a little bit to heavy??then again???you have to take safety on...I think i t depends on your fishing area//

[Patrick_Pending]

Hi Tich,

I do tend to wade into the sea quite a bit when I am trying to cast into deep water. Consequently, it only takes a freak wave to wash you off your feet. As I often fish alone on an empty beach (2am midweek) I think I should do something to improve the safety aspects.

I am told that floatation suits have properties other than just keeping you afloat such as good waterproofing, windproofing, high visibility, and provide good thermal insulation to.

Although, the weather has been relatively mild for this time of year, I was out on the beach recently, when it was -7C and it can get much worse than that. I am really just looking for something that will keep me warm, safe and will be relatively comortable to wear.

Thanks for the advice everyone I will probably end up buying a full suit and then I have the choice of wearing it as a suit(without my waders) or just the jacket with my waders.

[Ian]

I\'ve got the Penn two-part suite. Definitely keeps you warm, plus the flexibility of taking the top part off in early/late season. Not sure about the other makes, but I have a few issues with the Penn:

The zips on the bottom of the sallopettes can jam on the protective material behind, it\'s easy to free them, but a pain. The zip tag (the bit you hold onto) on the jacket can get stuck at an awkward angle in the fastener that it\'s attached to and it takes a bit of jiggling to free. The main problem and something to look for on other makes, is that the seams are on the inside leg of the sallopettes. They chafe when you walk and eventually wear through in places.

The new version may have sussed these problems. Mine is the previous Bluewater one (~ 2 years old).

Hope this helps

[Ian]

No, I don\'t have it in my living room !! That should have been suit.....

[Patrick_Pending]

Ian, it was a two-piece not a three-piece I was after