Supreme x O'Brien Life Vest
The original behind the Supreme x O'Brien Life Vest is the O'Brien Life Vest — $84.99 retail vs Supreme's $128.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
The O'Brien life vest is a US Coast Guard Type III-approved personal flotation device with a nylon shell, PE foam flotation panels, and front-zip closure with three adjustable web belts, meeting federal safety standards for recreational boating, waterskiing, and towable watersports. O'Brien has made water sports equipment in the Pacific Northwest since the 1960s, when founder Herb O'Brien began testing waterski prototypes in his parents' basement; the company became one of the primary US suppliers of wakeboards, skis, kneeboards, and safety gear. The Supreme SS2018 collab applies box logo branding and co-branded print graphics to a Coast Guard-certified life vest that meets the same federal approval standards as the standard catalog version.
About O'Brien
O'Brien is an American watersports manufacturer founded in 1962 by Herb O'Brien and headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company built its first waterski in 1964 and became one of the dominant slalom and combo ski brands through the 1970s and 1980s. In 1991 Herb O'Brien introduced the HO Hyperlite, the first compression-molded wakeboard, which popularized the term wakeboarding and moved the sport away from its ski-binding origins. O'Brien's current line covers wakeboards, waterskis, wakesurfers, towable tubes, and stand-up paddle boards. Supreme's collaboration with O'Brien applies the box logo to towable watersports equipment.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $128 |
|---|---|
| O'Brien retail | $84.99 |
| Hype tax | +51% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x O'Brien Life Vest just the regular Life Vest?
The Supreme x O'Brien Life Vest, released in Spring/Summer 2018, is based on the O'Brien Life Vest. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the O'Brien Life Vest is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the O'Brien Life Vest than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $128 for the Supreme x O'Brien Life Vest; the O'Brien Life Vest retails for $84.99. That's a 51% markup — buying the original saves you $43.01, or 34% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the O'Brien Life Vest?
You can buy the O'Brien Life Vest direct from O'Brien or direct from O'Brien. Retail price is $84.99. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
