I recently purchase a Inflatable Belt style PDF for boating and wondered if people on the site have also been using them for wader belts. I have had the accidental slips where I trip and fall into the water (I know LOL but it happens to a lot of us) and the belt has reduced the amount of water that has went into the waders. Don’t see why the added protection of a floatation device wouldn’t be good thing. Any pros vs cons would be appreciated.
If it’s in the middle…which end ends up?
Ducksterman,
A strap goes around your neck with the inflatable portion between your waist and your head. I do see your point but usually as the waders fill up the feet tend to sink first.
As always, I’m confused… first, you mention “an inflatable wader, BELT”, which is exactly that…and inflatable BELT, that goes around your waist, ONLY, which I think, duckster was referring to.
But, then, you mention how it "goes around your neck, with the inflatable portion “between head and waist”!? THOSE, are called “SOSpenders”, (trade name),or "Inflatable suspenders, as a PDF.
So, sorry, but which one are you asking about?
I replied half in jest but also serious…if it was indeed a belt and inflated it would likely suddenly make the waders air tight and perhaps your balance point would be in the middle…
I took a dip in the Deschutes once …deep and fast…my wader belt was fairly tight so at first air was trapped in my waders…my lower body became more buoyant than my upper and it was a struggle to keep my head up…have never forgot that one…
I THINK Robert is talking about the waist belt type of PFD which has a pouch with the PFD in it and a CO2 cartridge.
If you need it you yank the cord which inflates the PFD which you then have to flip over your head. I have the same type which I use on my float tube.
90% of the year I am wet wading or in hippers so I don’t worry about wader mishaps but if I was inclined to wear a PFD with waders in moving water I’d go with the SOSpenders just because they don’t require any action to get them over your head.