Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket, U.S. Coast Guard Approved, Low Profile, Compact Design, Manual Convertible Inflation Option

Very nice .. light weight and is very comfortable and doesn't get in the way while fishing

This life jacket is exactly what my 80 year old dad needed for boating and fishing trips. The low-profile design makes it comfortable to wear all day without feeling bulky, and he hardly notice it’s on. He likes that it can be set for automatic or manual inflation, giving extra flexibility depending on the situation. It’s easy to adjust, feels well made, and the U.S. Coast Guard approval gives me confidence in its safety. Excellent quality and worth every penny for the peace of mind it provides when my Dad is on the river alone!

well put together and easy to arm for use on the water. I was a bit skeptical when reading the description, but it works as well as they claim and it's very comfortable. Although I do miss the vest pockets from a standard flotation vest, I found a 'fishing shirt' supplied the needed storage just as well. I tested it out and was amazed at just how fast it inflated after hitting the water. I was more than a little pleased at how much more comfortable it was to wear and paddle both kayak and canoe. The only single criticism I have is that parting the vest bladder's cover to get at the manual inflation tube could be a bit of a problem if you were unexpectedly dumped in the water and you didn't have the CO2 loaded for automatic response. The velcro closure is strong and long there.

I hope I never have to write a complete "real-world" review of this item; short of a test in a pool that would require that I fall in the water, which I'm not inclined to do. the videos posted here and on their web site are enough for me. I absolutely HATE having to wear a life-vest - but to paddle a kayak even in a little creek in NYS you risk arrest and a fine if you aren't wearing one. This is a great option - it's light, unobtrusive, and not uncomfortable. it doesn't restrict movement at all. I like the automatic inflation feature (triggered when a sensor gets wet), and I like the fact that you can disable this feature and operate it manually - if you're rafting in white-water or otherwise getting wet for reasons other than drowning. I love the way the directions are written - offering 'survival tips" like "keeping a positive attitude about being rescued', or "huddling together to stay warm". They even give you a hypothermia chart to illustrate the danger of being in the water too long. It really is good information; water safety is a serious topic - but I did get a chuckle out of it, imagining myself standing in waist-deep water on a 90 degree day in August.

As we get older. We don't swim like we use to. So i purchased this awesome life jacket to wear at all times when in the boat. I don't even know i have it on anymore. I was going to switch this vest to manual inflation but my head (grand kids) told me to leave it in auto inflation. The vests are light, sporty and come in all different colors. Many sizes to choose from as well. Onyx A/M-24 is perfectly priced for a durable vests.

Best type 3 life vest I’ve ever used

This PFD works great! I was a little skeptical at first, but I fish a river that has a very fast current and is pretty cold in the fall (as of today Nov 11, water temp is 40 degrees F). If you fall out of my little boat the last thing you need to worry about is swimming. You need to concentrate on getting to shore before you get swept into the lake. I wanted one that automatically inflated but was comfortable to wear all day, and was buoyant enough for me in my winter fishing gear. I weight 265 and in the above video I had just got back from fishing so I had my heavy winter fishing jacket, thermal underwear, insulated pants, sweater, heavy duty boots and hat on. It worked fantastic. I also found out a few things. There is no way in hell I could get out of the water and into my boat without some sort of ladder. You can see me trying to get out of the pool not using the ladder and it wasn't even close. I weighed probably 60 pounds more when I got out due to the water logged clothing and the bulk of the inflated PFD made getting close to the pool edge impossible. I also found out that swimming forward was very hard and it was much easier to do the back-stroke. As you can see it took about 1.5 seconds for the auto inflater to kick in, but it did deploy and had no problem keeping my head out of the water. You must be wearing this in order for the Coast Guard to consider it a viable PFD, but is honestly so comfortable I forget I was wearing it. Sorry about the sideways video.

This is a great USCG Approved Automatic or Manual PFD Life Vest! It comes with the Yellow Cap that converts it to a Manual Life Vest and it comes with the Clear Cap that converts it to a Automatic Life Vest! I wanted to focus on these points because I don't know if everyone understands how this life vest functions. Automatic Mode: The way it arrives, is with the Clear Automatic Cap and Yellow Bobbin attached and the CO2 tube in a plastic bag. You must attach the CO2 canister prior to use, simple. In this configuration, if the vest gets wet or you fall or jump into the water the vest will activate and inflate with CO2 with or without pulling the red tabbed string. Manual Mode: The Yellow Cap that turns the vest into Manual Mode is located in a little pocket on the right side of the vest (if you have the vest laying in front of you) you must open the velcro where the inflatable is, and about a third of the way up you will feel the cap in the velcroed pocket. remove it from the pocket,. Then go to the left side of the vest, open the velcro and remove the Clear Cap by turning it counterclock wise, remove what they call the yellow bobbin and put it in a plastic bag so it doesn't get any moisture! Now, you can screw the Yellow Manual Cap on and the vest will Only Inflate by Pulling the Red Tabbed String. It is only a Manual Vest. Manual Mode is good it you plan on getting wet, taking a dip in the water, or are boating in shallow water. Auto Mode is if you are boating in deeper waters or rougher water and cannot get to shore easily. The Yellow Bobbin is different than the Yellow Cap that I am talking about in this review. The yellow bobbin is only used and Must be used in the Automatic Mode, so do not misplace the Yellow Bobbin and put it in a sealed plastic bag! One more point to make, If you live in a humid climate, always keep the Yellow Bobbin in a sealed plastic bag while being stored, so it does not draw moisture from the air and prematurely inflate the vest. This vest is made for many years of use if you understand how it works and when to use the Manual Mode safely and when to use the Automatic Mode safely. This is Not a disposable vest! It is USCG Approved Vest, but only when being worn. That is with any Life Jacket that is USCG approved!

It hasn't saved my life yet, but time will tell.

Purchased in early spring. Light weight, doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a PFD. Exactly what I was hoping for. Luckily, I haven’t “used” it yet, and hopefully I never will. But I feel at ease when wearing it.

Je ne l'ai pas essayé encore

Thin, light and unobtrusive. I use it for kayaking and it’s great. Never tested it, I just hope it works when needed.

Husband is a pilot and uses these for his cross-country trips over the water in British Columbia. He says they are comfortable to wear and perfect for the purpose.