Had a low/no speed get-off trying to get to a campsite parking- steep, rocky, rutted and rooted! Goosed it over a hump and bike went down and I flew off. The turtle 2 immediately inflated and I literally bounced over a terrain that undoubtedly would have been cruel to my 73 yr old bones. I literally jumped up totally fine and dealt with the bike (Ignition off and with two nearby campers and my son got the bike upright. It wasn't a tragedy and probably wouldn't have been even with just my normal gear on- but that vest , on that landscape, I'm sure made a possible "situation" a nothing burger! I carry a spare CO2 so I was in business in a few minutes. When I got home I looked for the Helitte 60cc CO2- NONE- not Helite site, not Revzilla, not Amazon and no where else. I emailed a link on the Helite site hoping that in a week they'd get back- if at all (still waiting for a few such vendors!) well- an hour and a half later I get a reply, how many do I want? Hour and a half later I get an invoice that I pay online and immediately get a tracking #. Thanks Helite!
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36654
New member
In no way do I intend to dismiss the good customer service. Aren't life vest CO2 cartridges compatible with the Helite vests?
Probably? If anyone knows for sure that would be helpful. I don’t know if Helite’s excellent customer service would extend to recommending another company’s product- but I’m sure they’d blame a failure on a non- helite cartridge...a not necessarily unreasonable response
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
A visit to your nearest marine supply store (West Marine) could confirm that possibility.
As and FYI, all life vest must comply with DOT and coastguard regulations incl. inflatable ones using CO2 cartridges.. YMMV
As and FYI, all life vest must comply with DOT and coastguard regulations incl. inflatable ones using CO2 cartridges.. YMMV
Thanks! Middle of upstate ny. Brick and mortar anything’s are few and far between but I get the message Hopefully I’ll never again need a 60cc CO2. LOL
pglaves
#13338
I am not persuaded that the Coast Guard has jurisdiction over inflatable anti-collision motorcycle protective gear. I am also unpersuaded that the Coast Guard would have jurisdiction over air bags in cars and trucks which is a far better analogy to a Helite vest than a flotation device in a boat.
brownie0486
Well-known member
I wear my Helite most of the time, great to hear it performed as expected and it saved you from injuries
36654
New member
DOT has jurisdiction over our inland waterways. So, the comment on Coast Guard & DOT jurisdiction for inflatable PFD's seems right. BTW - a 60-gram CO2 cartridge appears to provide 275N or 62-lbs of bouyancy.
pglaves
#13338
I do not believe that a Helite vest is a Personal Flotation Device. Would somebody who owns one please look and see if there is a Coast Guard approval tag on a Helite vest.
brownie0486
Well-known member
There is NOT on my helite2 bought 2 years ago
I suppose in a pinch I'd try any 60cc CO2 but generally speaking wouldn't the recommended cartridge be preferred? They make the vest and supply a part that they have faith in- I assume they make money on it but I doubt they just rebrand cheap Chinese stuff. And if they do- well at least I know where they live- so to speak. Small price to pay for some peace of mind. Besides, I wish the company well and choose to support it. Again- I'm grateful for the "marine" recco as (again) in a pinch I'd want something that is in the life-saving business rather than the paint-ball business.
brownie0486
Well-known member
https://shop.helite.com/en/equestrian/25-91-cartouche-co2.html
"You must always use a Helite branded cartridge for your Helite airbag system.
ATTENTION, some retailers offer CO2 gas cartridges at attractive prices.
You must not use these cartridges for various reasons:
- technical compatibility problem (not the same gas volume, screw thread, etc.)
- lower quality compared to Helite cartridges (seal, corrosion, fragility, etc.)
- loss of the CE certification for the product
- proper functioning of the airbag system is not guaranteed."
"You must always use a Helite branded cartridge for your Helite airbag system.
ATTENTION, some retailers offer CO2 gas cartridges at attractive prices.
You must not use these cartridges for various reasons:
- technical compatibility problem (not the same gas volume, screw thread, etc.)
- lower quality compared to Helite cartridges (seal, corrosion, fragility, etc.)
- loss of the CE certification for the product
- proper functioning of the airbag system is not guaranteed."
36654
New member
Paul,
Inflatabale PFD's from companies like Mustang are critical safety gear for people working in extreme (wet and cold) conditions. Rapid and reliable inflation is critical in those conditions, much like the Helite vest. However, Mustang serves militay and Gov't agency markets with high quality standards. I would thrust a 60gram CO2 cylinder from Mustang or similar company as being a good 60gram CO2 cylinder, if the Helite product wasn't available.
When you consider the inflatable PFD technology and the inflatable immobilizers used by EMS crews, the viability and utility of the Helite product is obvious, in my opinion. I wish I had been smart enough to put the pieces together.
BTW - Helite also has a line of products for Seniors called called hip safe, https://senior.helite.com/en/ , which I wouldn't recommend as a PFD.
pglaves
#13338
I don't disagree with any of this. I just don't think a Helite vest is a flotation device and I don't think it is regulated by the Coast Guard. However if I was on a sinking Duck Boat in the Lake of the Ozarks I would certainly be glad to be wearing a Helite vest since the boat captain failed to instruct the (now dead) passengers that they should wear a PFD.
36654
New member
If you tried to use it as a PFD, it would probably drown you due to the big back bladder. The senior hip guard would be even worse.
Ok- so we all agree that the Helite Turtle probably wouldn’t be the thing to wear jumping into the middle of a cold lake and expect to float for any length of time- if at all- no matter what brand CO2 was used. Can we also agree that it’s the bees knees for jumping off- voluntarily or otherwise- a motorcycle at speed on to a roadway- using a correct CO2- the marine and first responders brand being a reasonable try when helite brand not available?
brownie0486
Well-known member
You'd have less than 5 minutes to deflation, so it'll keep ya afloat for a few minutes and not much more.
