Life insurance is one of those things few of us really like to buy.

Nevertheless, we do out of a sense of duty for those who matter most to us.

But the insurance policy Jamison Vanden Einde donned the other day at Madison Lake was the kind that most hunters and fishermen can appreciate.

Not only did it look very functional as cold weather gear with all of the usual pockets, zippers, and padding.

But after slipping on the Mossy Oak duck blind patterned bibs and parka, the local fishing guide waded out into Madison Lake until he was waist-deep and leaned back.

And floated like a cork.

Not only does the Arctic Armor function as other premium rain and foul weather gear by warding off wind, rain and cold. It also keeps a hunter or angler unlucky enough to go into the drink afloat indefinitely.

While other so-called float coats tend to be bulky, the Artic Armor has the appearance of typical rain/foul weather gear.

Joe Elfert, owner of Reel Fishing in Madison Lake and Minnesota’s main distributor of the gear known as Arctic Armor explained.

“The material it’s insulated with is called Insultex,” he said, explaining that the same material that provides insulation against the cold also is the source of its buoyancy.

“It has micro-air pockets molded inside of the material to keep its buoyancy ... a suit can support 750 pounds in the water,” he said.

Legal concerns prevent him from claiming the suit would prevent drowning or hypothermia. Nor is it Coast Guard approved as a PFD. Obtaining Coast Guard certification of each garment can be a supremely expensive proposition, he said.

The cost of a bibs-parka combination of Arctic Armor now runs about $330, but undoubtedly would increase significantly, even double, if i.d.i.gear (idigear.com), the Pennsylvania-based company that makes the garment, sought Coast Guard certification.

So an approved life jacket is still a must-have, even if one is wearing a suit of Arctic Armor.

Of course, if most sportsmen are honest with themselves, they’ll admit that the required life jacket frequently ends up anywhere but on their backs, anyway.