Anyone who’s paid attention to most of our videos or long distance rides has noted that we often bring the kids along for the fun – and of course you should! Why let your children rot away in front of the TV or iPad screen when they could be feeling the thrill of sea spray and wind in their faces? Of course not. So yeah, the kids are coming. But you want to keep them safe and that’s why we got our hands on Slippery Wetsuits’ Child Hydro Vest in Yellow/Black.
Priced at $29.95, the Hydro Vest provides a child between 30-to-50 pounds comfortably, with a secure fit that is both very light weight for reduced fatigue and USCG Type 3 approved. Patterned almost exactly after Slippery’s adult Hydro Nylon Vest, the child’s vest features 1-inch belts with heavy duty buckles for support, a crotch strap for added protection and a “D” ring for clip-style lanyards (although we can’t imagine attaching a lanyard to a 4-year-old).
The nylon construction is built tough but isn’t too rough to the touch on exposed ski. The cut of the foam is forgiving with plenty of range of motion in the neck, shoulders and waist, allowing little ones to enjoy jumping from the deck of your watercraft, swimming and generally moving around. They yellow-and-neon green pattern is bright, clearly visible and makes your child almost impossible to miss while in the water.
The crotch strap can tend to chafe over long rides or adjusted too tightly, so make sure to be aware of your child’s adjustment and comfort. We’ve used the Child Hydro Vest all summer long and found it to be a great fit for our youngest children. There’s no corner to cut, to price too high to keep your children safe while out on the water, and Slippery’s offering here is exactly what we’re looking for – and likely, for you too.
