Floatation clothing- all its cracked up to be??

I am wondering, the clothing line for ice fishing has came out with these great looking outerwear clothing to keep you in floatation for up to 3 hours.

My question is: what good does 3 hours in freezing water do if you cant survive for 30 minutes in freezing water??

Some have a real answer here on this, I would appreciate it.

FISHINFOOL

fishinfool wrote:

My question is: what good does 3 hours in freezing water do if you cant survive for 30 minutes in freezing water??

Any time you end up in the water floating is better than sinking. Effort and energy not spent struggling to keep your head above water can be used to self rescue. The idea is to get out of the water as fast as possible, open water or if you’ve gone through the ice. Manufacturers provide info about how long the clothing will keep someone floating to provide confidence that the clothing will do that job of keeping you floating long enough to get out of the water. If you stick around to test the 3 hour claim…you’re a popcicle.

Will it keep you from dying of hypothermia. No. Will it keep you afloat long enough for you to tell for help, and stay above water long enough to get out or for someone to find you alive? Possibly, yes. I will take the added protection.

At least your body will be floating and the recovery process will be greatly less traumatic for your survivors

cheers wrote:

At least your body will be floating and the recovery process will be greatly less traumatic for your survivors

Same way with wearing a PFD. You might not survive but someone will at least find you.

For a few years BK would post an article/studies of how long one could survive in the water by temp in the spring as a pfd reminder. I was actually surprised at how long the body can last assuming One doesn’t drown in the first minute when the body essentially freaks out. I would guess that is the key time any pfd would be the most help. I assume those times implied “surviving” to then get to serious medical attention, but clearly better than the alternative.

James Holst wrote:

Any time you end up in the water floating is better than sinking.

Pretty much sums it all up in a nutshell.

Also keep in mind the real positive effect that cold water drownings have on resuscitation. When we do our dive rescue and ice rescue the term “not dead til they’re warm and dead” is very real. Also with certain types of resuscitations we work we use active cooling with ice packs because it increases survival rates to keep the body cool because it constricts blood vessels, keeping the blood in key organs and tissues.

Just another reason to increase your chances of at least being found.

Okay, so I have already have a StrikeMaster fishing suit.
I wear a life vest also.
So am I gaining anything here with a flotation suit that I dont already have?
I just dont want to shell out alot of cash if what I do now is the same thing.

FF

fishinfool wrote:

Okay, so I have already have a StrikeMaster fishing suit.
I wear a life vest also.
So am I gaining anything here with a flotation suit that I dont already have?
I just dont want to shell out alot of cash if what I do now is the same thing.

FF

If you wear a life jacket you probably don’t need one. Just remember if you take it off though. I would say the new suits by any of the brands are probably more comfortable and breathable.

Just food for thought.

BTW- The first thing you need to control if you go in is your breathing, you will immediately start to hyperventilate, drowning is the first problem.

tim hurley wrote:

BTW- The first thing you need to control if you go in is your breathing, you will immediately start to hyperventilate, drowning is the first problem.

Geeze – I hope I never have to remember that.

Me too. I was always told to hold your breath when you go in. Im not good at remembering things though!!

I have Striker float suit really don’t want to test it . Good idea to be wearing ice picks though.

definately!!

I have Striker Predator bibs and a Climate jacket. Usually wear the jacket without the liner but the liner is also very nice. Worn together cold wind on atv or snowmobile just doesn’t get through.

I like the idea of the float suit. Ice pics still get wore on thin or soft ice. If I go in wearing it I’m not planning to hang around for a while before getting out!