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At Mustang Survival, we design gear to excel in the most extreme conditions while enhancing everyday adventures. Often, the cutting-edge technology we develop for military, coast guard, rescue personnel, and law enforcement use shapes our recreational products. The Khimera Dual Flotation PFD is a prime example of this innovation; built on the visionary platform of our MRV170 Rescue Swimmer Vest, it combines professional-grade safety with comfort and versatility for everyone on the water.
Our development of the MRV170 Rescue Swimmer Vest in 2016, marked a significant innovation in personal flotation devices (PFDs). Specifically designed for rescue swimmers, the MRV170 transformed how professionals approach water rescues, combining tactical performance, mobility, and buoyancy to keep both the rescuer and the victim safe.
A rescue swimmer is a highly trained specialist, equipped to handle high-risk situations, whose mission is to save lives wherever they're needed. Their skills often make them the first line of defense when lives hang in the balance.
Before we introduced the MRV170, rescue swimmers had limited options: bulky foam vests that restricted movement and vision or slim inflatable vests lacking sufficient inherent flotation. Rescue swimmers, often lowered into the water from helicopters, need both freedom of movement and precise buoyancy control to help survivors in various conditions. Recognizing these unique demands, we collaborated with professionals to design a solution.
After two years of development, the result was the MRV170, combining foam flotation and inflatable elements into a streamlined design. The vest provides 9 pounds of inherent foam buoyancy, expandable to 26 pounds with manual CO2 inflation, ensuring rescue swimmers can operate freely without compromising on safety. Its unique hybrid design transformed a compliance-driven device into a high-performance tool, with features such as an oral inflation valve for buoyancy control, adjustable straps for a customized fit, compatibility with all harness designs and a MOLLE system for attaching gear, making it indispensable in rescue operations.
What truly sets the MRV170 apart is its tailored design for rescue swimmers; flotation is distributed between front and back panels to prevent unwanted rotation in the water. The vest also incorporates our expertise in inflatable membrane technology, developed from military and public safety innovations.
The success of the MRV170 led us to adapt its technology for the recreational market, resulting in the Khimera Dual Flotation PFD. Using the same hybrid flotation system, the Khimera has the same professional-grade safety, reduced bulk, and lightweight over-the-head design, while eliminating the MOLLE system to simplify the vest. We also reduced the foam (7.5 pounds of buoyancy) and bladder (13 pounds of buoyancy) to make it smaller overall and made the chassis shorter to be more compatible with kayaks. This streamlined design, combined with adjustable straps and reflective patches for visibility, makes the Khimera ideal for those seeking enhanced mobility and safety on the water recreationally.
Both the MRV170 and the Khimera exemplify our platform-based approach to PFD development, allowing us to adapt and scale our designs to meet the needs of diverse users. By building on the success of the MRV170, Mustang Survival created a versatile design that continues to set the standard in flotation technology, ensuring that whether someone is saving lives or enjoying a day on the water, they are equipped with the best.
Are you a volunteer or a full-time first responder? Do you have a team you’d like to procure the Rescue Swimmer Vest or other rescue gear for? Contact us to outfit your crew.
Contact: mustanggovt@mustangsurvival.com // 1-800-526-0532
