The
Onyx M-24 Manual Inflatable Vest is slim and compact before inflation but rapidly expands into an air-filled flotation device with the pull of a tab.
Unlike most PFDs, the Onyx M-24 vest is a minimalist piece of safety apparel until that harrowing moment when you actually need some assistance. The vest consists of two narrow, flat suspender-like panels, a thin shoulder pad, and a few straps that hold it in place on your torso.
It won't impede your movement and is compact enough to be worn underneath a jacket if you choose. But when you pull down on the "Jerk to Inflate" handle, the vest will instantly fill with air and turn into a reliable safety flotation jacket.
Frankly, the term "manual" in the name of the Onyx M-24 Manual Inflatable Vest is almost misleading, but in a good way. The only manual input you need to provide is a quick pull of a single tab and a compact bottle of compressed air will do the rest of the work for you. If that fails, you can use a backup oral inflation tube, though.
This is not a single-use item, either: you can deflate the jacket and re-arm it with another bottle of compressed air. Though if you need to use it more than once in a short period of time, you should probably reexamine some of your life choices.
With dozens of ratings and reviews posted, Amazon customers have given the Onyx M-24 a 4.6-star rating. One customer who uses the vest for kayaking said it was so compact and comfortable he "felt like [he] wasn't wearing it," and when he tested the inflated jacket in a pool, it held his 6'1", 220-pound body above the water with ease.
A writer from Top5Reviewed said the vest "works well" when inflated and is quite comfortable when not.
Pros: Comfortable minimal design, suitable for multiple uses, backup oral inflation
Cons: Fits too loosely for use in rapids or large waves
Buy an Onyx M-24 Manual Inflatable Vest on Amazon for $84.64-$99.79 (prices vary by color)