Mustang inflatable PFD test - with and without leg straps
 

Hey all,

I had a couple of Mustang PFD's with expired inflators that I was about to replace, so I decided to test them out in the pool. One is fitted with the optional leg strap accessory and the other is not. In the video, the leg straps are overly loose, as they're adjusted to fit me properly when wearing my foul weather gear, so IMO the difference would be even more significant when in foulies.

Based on this admittedly unscientific experiment, it seems to me that an unconscious person that falls in the water wearing an inflatable PFD without leg straps would be at pretty high risk of drowning, as my mouth and nose were barely above water, even in a perfectly calm swimming pool.

I'm curious to hear others' thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHu2EGVRkv0

Re: Mustang inflatable PFD test - with and without leg straps
 

you're not wrong. Most inflatable PFDs without leg straps don't hold one up comfortably. I haven't yet, but I've been thinking about adding the optional leg straps to our PFDs.

Re: Mustang inflatable PFD test - with and without leg straps
 

For that reason, crotch straps are required safety equipment for PFD’s on all offshore/ocean races. It’s definitely worth adding if you don’t have. Once you get it adjusted right, you’ll hardly notice it.