Review - The Stearns Chest Pack Inflatable Life Jacket

The Stearns Chest Pack

We've been personally using these for a few years now and on three occasions I'm glad I have been! Rather than images of falling into the sea from a cliff or being washed away by freak waves, picture Huge salmon heading downstream at 30 miles and hour and your backing running out fast! Yes, all three times I've used it, it's been due to Brad Pitt style"River Runs Through It" action so the BIG ONE didn't get away! Two out of the three times, all I got for my trouble was wet and a lost fish, But the third time was Lucky, as they say.

This unit offers the convenience of knowing you'll be back above the surface in no time with a very handy, if quite small, chest pack. There's just enough room in there for your car keys (on a little clip) a camera and maybe a hand full of flies in a small box. On the sides of this there are two zips, one on either side that open the pack up into a handwarmer tube. This can also be used to store a small amount of gear. There's also a zipped change pocket.

D Loop

Around the waist is the life jacket rolled conveniently into a waist band with the manual (only) activation toggle in the centre. When fishing, this toggle can be tucked into the waist band through the Velcro closure on the bottom of the band with just the plastic sticking out. A few practice runs lets you get in there quickly should you need to open the Velcro and get to it but we'd recommend (for legal reasons) that you leave the toggle on the outside. However, when you've caught your fly line on it a few times in your stripping basket, you too may be looking for a way of keeping it out of the way. There is a clear plastic window in the front of the waist band so you can check the unit is primed (when activated, the small green disk falls off showing the unit is used.

If you've read the review of the Baltic Flyfisher 150N, you'll know we tested these in the local pool much to the bemusement of the pensioners swimming at speeds only attainable once you own a bus pass. Quite how they manage to swim so slowly without sinking is a complete mystery. Anyway, the idea was that you fall in and let the life jacket bring you back up. Not being automatic, we couldn't do that with this model so I decided that I'd get to the bottom of the deep end before inflating it to see how quickly it could get me through 10 feet of water. Its actually quite a ride because as soon as it was actuated I was back on the surface. Only being a 16 gram CO2 cartridge, it doesn't get you there quite as quick as the Baltic Flyfisher but I was back at the surface well before a possible drowning incident.

Inflated jacket

Upon pulling the cord the belt opens the Velcro closure along the bottom of the waist band and the bladder pops out. However, rather than being a full lifejacket, you get what could be described as an Inflated Sausage. Once at the surface, one has to then take the neck strap that is on the bottom of the Sausage and place this behind the head to complete the operation. This is simple to do and can be done one handed so you don't have to let go of your Sage rod and Able reel (you'll no doubt be glad to hear!)

Once inflated and the neck strap in place you can float merrily around but at a more reclined angle than the Baltic Flyfisher. The sausage is across the chest and you do not have anything behind your head. Saying that, it kept my 19 stones afloat without issue. It also advises you to loosen the waist strap so that it rides higher up under your chin when inflated.

Comfort wise, its hard to know it's even there. The shoulder and waist straps are adjustable and the tags all tuck neatly away so they don't catch on anything. The top of the shoulder part is neoprene and there is also a neoprene piece down the back to the waist belt.

In reality, and in comparison to the Baltic Flyfisher you trade more floatation, reflective panels, a whistle and the automatic inflation feature for the convenience of a small chestpack. Is it worth it for the price? Well that's for you to decide. But the fact we've been using them for several years means they must be doing something right. It makes for a great summer pack when you are traveling light and fishing in, say an estuary, where the sea isn't going to be all that rough.

See you in the Forum
Tight loops.

Carl

Carl Hutchinson is a qualified instructor with the EFFA and FFFUSA and runs saltwater fly fishing Mullet with www.corporateflyfishing.com He is a member of the 55 yard club and current Roxtons International Saltwater Fly Casting Champion and has fished extensively in many saltwater locations and specialises in saltwater fly fishing for Salmon in Canada.