Old Town Canoe & Kayak

Old Town Outfitter Universal

The Outfitter Universal is the life jacket you buy so there is always one in the boat. One size, 30 to 56 inch chest, front zip, USCG Type III. It...
Authorized Old Town Canoe and Kayak Dealer
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Need Help or Have Questions? Call (615) 696-7887
Regular price $79.99 USD
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Old Town Outfitter Universal
$79.99 USD
Lowest Price Guarantee

Caney Fork Outdoors will not be undersold.

We will price match any advertised price from an authorized United States brick-and-mortar or online retailer for the same kayak or qualifying product, including all shipping and any applicable hidden fees. If an authorized U.S. retailer is offering an identical*, in-stock item for less, we will match that total price.

To request a price match, please complete the form below or contact us at:

  • Contact Form: Click To Go To Form
  • Email: helpdesk@cfoutdoors.com
  • Phone: (615) 696-7887
  • Phone: (931) 858-5222
Price Match Requirements

To qualify for a price match, the following conditions must be met:

  • The customer must submit a price match request through the form or contact Caney Fork Outdoors directly with retailer details. The competitor must be an authorized U.S. brick-and-mortar or online retailer.
  • The item must be identical* (new condition, same brand, model, year, size, color, configuration, and specifications).
  • The item must be new and in-stock at the time of the request.
  • The competitor’s price must include all costs, including shipping, handling, any fees, and/or any hidden fees.
  • We reserve the right to verify pricing, availability, shipping charges, and product details.
  • Price match requests must be submitted prior to purchase.
  • We reserve the right to limit quantities to one per customer, per item, per day.
  • Caney Fork Outdoors reserves the final decision on all price match approvals.
  • We do not price match any online prices outside the contiguous United States.
  • We do not price match during major promotional periods, including Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving.
  • We will match our own online pricing for in-store purchases upon request.
What We Do NOT Price Match

Caney Fork Outdoors will not honor price matches for:

  • Percentage-off promotions or Buy One Get One Free offers without a specific final price
  • Auctions or membership-based pricing sites
  • Previously placed orders
  • Promotions requiring purchase to receive a gift card
  • Instant rebates, mail-in rebates, or financing offers
  • Closeout, clearance, liquidation, going-out-of-business sales, or misprinted advertisements
  • Any pricing that cannot be verified or is not publicly available at the time of request
Information Needed To Price Match:
  • Full Name: Enter your full name.
  • Email Address: Enter your email address.
  • Company Name: Enter in the company that has the product in question.
  • Question/Comment: Enter in the brick and mortar/online retailer's URL to find the product in question. Include the price they are wanting the product in question.
Shipping Damage Free Guarantee

Accessory Shipments

Paddles, PFDs, dry bags, helmets, skirts, motors, rod holders, and accessories ship UPS, FedEx, or USPS Ground.

It lands on your doorstep like any other package. We email tracking the day it leaves our shop.

Order gear on the same order as a kayak we're hand delivering or shipping, and it comes with the kayak.

Kayak Shipments

We deliver kayaks two ways. Inside our delivery area, we bring your boat to you ourselves. Everywhere else, it ships LTL freight with a carrier that reports a 99.9% damage-free delivery rate. We'll tell you which one you're getting once your order is placed along with more details.

If we hand deliver it

Nothing to inspect, nothing to sign at the curb. We're the ones unloading your kayak, so if anything is wrong, tell us right there and we'll take care of it. We will call before hand for a meetup place.

If it ships LTL freight

Look the boat over before you sign the delivery receipt. If you see damage, write it on the receipt. That one step is what protects your claim. Then email clear photos to helpdesk@cfoutdoors.com within 2 hours of delivery. We also will email you more details on this process once the order is placed.

What we cover

Structural damage. Anything that compromises the hull or would void the manufacturer's warranty, confirmed with the vendor. We make it right.

Cosmetic damage. Light scratches or minor surface dents that don't affect performance or structure. We send a repair kit when one is available. If you'd rather have a replacement, a 20% restocking fee applies plus full shipping back to us.

Old Town Canoe and Kayak Warranty

Boats, Drives and Accessories

  • Hull and deck: Covered for the lifetime of the boat from the original purchase date. Blemished boats carry 5 years.
  • PDL pedal drive: 5 years from the original purchase date.
  • Electric motor drives: 2 years from the original purchase date.
  • Accessories such as paddles and life jackets: 1 year from the purchase date.
  • Who it covers: Original retail purchaser only. The warranty does not transfer if the boat is sold.

Not covered

Normal wear and tear, misuse, abuse, negligence and accidents, commercial use, damage from the elements, modifications, unauthorized repairs, and failure to follow Old Town's maintenance instructions. Proof of purchase is required.

Filing a claim

Old Town handles warranty claims directly. Do not return the boat to your retailer for warranty repair. Call Old Town technical support at 800-343-1555, option 2, with your proof of purchase, the boat serial number, and a description of the problem. They issue a return authorization number before anything ships.

Read the full Old Town warranty policy.

The Outfitter Universal is the life jacket you buy so there is always one in the boat. One size, 30 to 56 inch chest, front zip, USCG Type III. It fits almost anyone who gets in your kayak, which is the entire point of a universal vest.

The detail that makes it a kayak jacket and not a generic vest is the thin-back profile. High-back kayak seats push a thick foam panel into your spine and force you to sit forward all day. This one is cut flat through the back so it sits against a seat instead of fighting it.

Shell and liner are 200D nylon over lightweight PE foam. Adjustable shoulder and side straps dial the fit, and elastic keepers stop the loose strap ends from flapping. At $79.99 it is the sensible spare, the guest jacket, and the one you hand a buddy who showed up without one.

Specifications

  • Certification: USCG Type III, and TC
  • Size: Adult Universal, one size
  • Chest Fit: 30 to 56 in
  • Entry: Front zip
  • Flotation Foam: Lightweight PE
  • Shell Fabric: 200D Nylon
  • Liner Fabric: 200D Nylon
  • Fit: Unisex
  • Back Profile: Thin back, cut for kayak seats
  • Adjustment: Shoulder and side straps, with elastic keepers

Key Features

  • Thin-Back Profile: Cut flat through the back so it works with a high-back kayak seat instead of pushing you forward.
  • 30 to 56 in Chest: One jacket covers nearly every adult who will get in your boat. That is what makes it worth keeping a spare.
  • USCG Type III: The approval class for paddling vests. This is the certification a game warden is looking for.
  • Front Zip: On and off in one motion, over a t-shirt or over a jacket.
  • Adjustable Straps: Shoulder and side straps pull the fit in so the jacket does not ride up when you are in the water.
  • Elastic Strap Keepers: Loose ends stay tucked instead of catching on a rod or a track.
  • 200D Nylon: Shell and liner both. Handles being stuffed in a hatch and dragged across a deck.

Old Town Outfitter Universal Questions, Answered

Will it really fit anyone?

It covers a 30 to 56 inch chest, which is most adults. It is not a child or youth jacket, and a properly fitted jacket sized to one person will always be more comfortable than a universal. Buy this as the spare and the guest jacket.

Is it USCG approved?

Yes, Type III. That is the standard approval class for recreational paddling and it is what satisfies the legal requirement to have a wearable PFD on board.

Will it work with a high-back kayak seat?

That is what it was designed for. The thin-back cut keeps foam out from between your spine and the seat back. A standard boating vest with a full foam back is what makes people take the jacket off and sit on it, which defends nobody.

Does it have pockets?

Old Town does not list pockets on this jacket and we are not going to claim any. If you want pockets, a fishing-specific PFD is the category to look at.

How do I check the fit?

Zip it, snug the side straps, then the shoulder straps. Have someone pull up on the shoulders. If it slides up past your ears, tighten it. A jacket that rides up in the water is a jacket that is too loose.

How do I care for it?

Rinse with fresh water after saltwater, hang it to dry out of direct sun, and store it dry. Do not machine dry it and do not leave it compressed under gear all season. Foam that has been crushed does not float the way it used to.

How long is it covered?

Old Town covers accessories, life jackets included, for 1 year. Claims go direct to Johnson Outdoors at 800-343-1555, option 2.

How does the Old Town Outfitter Universal ship?

Ships parcel, nationwide. It packs down small enough to box, so it goes out as a standard ground shipment.

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