The invention of the personal inflation vest is widely attributed to Hawaii’s Shane Dorian following his total wipeout at Mavericks, California in 2010.  After a two-wave hold down and subsequent “life flashing before his eyes”, Shane was badly shaken and admits he was lucky to get out alive. Contemplating giving up surfing, something about the pull-tab and inflation system of a life jacket being demonstrated on board his flight home, resonated. An idea forming as to how the simple life jacket could be adapted to save those out on water, Shane made contact with Billabong wetsuits head designer Hub Hubbard and the rest as they say is history. The inflatable wetsuit and later the inflatable vest as we now know it was born.

    

Andrew Cotton for team Red Bull and Marcio Dias wearing their Blue Soup UP Vests

Fast forward to 2018 and the Blue Soup Equipment Company launched their version of the inflation vest - The UP Vest, to critical acclaim.  Designed and manufactured solely in the UK, the UP Vest was developed and tested over a number years by professional surfers from an idea originally conceived by Mark Rees, co-founder of Blue Soup and a former Royal Marine well versed in water safety.

Having spent many years out on the water wearing bulky and restrictive flotation and safety equipment, Mark recognised the need for something lighter that still gave the wearer safety and security but that didn’t restrict their arm movements when paddling or when the wearer may be in difficulty. As Mark says: “Having a bulky ‘buoyancy aid’ can be a hindrance as well as a benefit especially if you are wearing a heavy, waterlogged bit of kit and are trying to get yourself out of the water, solo, and onto a board or boat”.

Peace of mind while out on the water
The UP Vest by Blue Soup is an inflation vest with a difference. Made of comfortable, 4-way stretch lycra, worn over the top of a wetsuit and equipped with lungs capable of being manually inflated with co2 by either 2 or 4 pull-tabs the short-sleeved vest is designed to be deployed during long or potential big-wave hold downs. Pulling the handily located tabs inflates the lungs with co2 giving the wearer buoyancy and a relaxed and controlled return to surface in the all important ‘head back’ position.

Dany Bruch, professional windsurfer and owner of Bruch Boards out on the water in his Blue Soup UP Vest 

 

Who wears an UP Vest?
Blue Soup’s inflation vests are currently worn by some of the world’s top men and women in water sports including Garrett McNamara,  Nicole Pacelli, Ian Consenza, Dany Bruch and Rodrigo Koxa. The vests aren’t exclusive to surfers, of course, and Blue Soup sells a complete range of vests for a variety of water sports including stand up paddle boarding (SUP), windsurfing, kayaking, foiling, paragliding and jet skiing. We’ve also kitted out Team Red Bull and their athletes in a bespoke and customised version of the UP Vest including Andrew Cotton, Kai Lenny, Justine DuPont and Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca.

Other inflation vests in the Blue Soup range:
Most recently in Blue Soup’s history, the UN Vest was launched.  

Designed to be worn under a wetsuit, the UN Vest made its debut in Nazaré back in March this year with professional surfer Andrew ‘Cotty’ Cotton. Like its sister product, the UN Vest works with the same in-built inflation system manually operated by pulling the tabs to inflate the vest with co2. Similarly the UN Vest can also be fully customised with company branding, name or sponsorship logos for a truly personalised item.

What are the benefits of wearing a Blue Soup inflation vest?

• First and foremost - inflation vests offer increased safety out on the water
• Inflation vests minimise the most challenging and exhausting part of big wave surfing - the hold down.
• The UP Vest is less cost prohibitive than the competition
  When Blue Soup first launched the UP Vest, we wanted to ensure our brand was accessible to all - both professional and amateur watersports men and women.  We didn’t want the cost of an inflation vest to stop anyone from taking their safety in or on the water seriously. 
• Made of lightweight 4-way stretch material, our vests don’t restrict arm or head movement
• Suitable for both men and women - the UP, UN and RESCUE Vests all come in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL at no extra cost
• Fully customisable in team colours and branding
• 12 month warranty with additional servicing options available
  
  

New products coming soon
Next to launch in late 2021 will be the RESCUE Vest.  Designed with the same inflation system and worn over the top of a wetsuit, the RESCUE vest is long-sleeved and features a radio pouch on the left arm. It comes in a range of bright colours with the word RESCUE emblazoned across the back in white.  It’s been especially developed to be worn by tow-in riders as well as those in the safety arena who actively patrol the water while sporting events are underway.

Where can I buy a Blue Soup Inflation Vest?
Blue Soup currently sells direct from our UK based website shop or you can avoid international shipping and additional import taxes by purchasing from one of our in-country distributors or shops.  

Spain/Canaries
Magma Freediving

France
Lab Boardstore
Side Shore

Portugal
Praia do Norte Nazaré

The Netherlands
Noordze Boardstore

Hungary
M8 Foiling

USA
Towsurfer.com

Big Wave Surf - Jay Boon

Ian Simpson

Kaz Fukada

Mazorca

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