Getting it Right With Buying Your Life Vests- Buyer's Guide

Life vest is an important personal floatation device. They tend to be lighter than life jackets however, both are good at getting the job done. Your safety while kayaking, skiing or going on a boat cruise should not be compromised. For that, you should always go for quality PFDs. This article takes you on a step by step guide on how to buy the best life vests for your safety and overall comfort.

Firstly, let's look at the types of life vests 

With over 20 pounds buoyancy, type I life vests are perfect for adults. They are designed to turn the wearer face up in the case of unconsciousness. They are however big and heavy.

Type II life vests are similar to type I. They offer a buoyancy of up to 15.5 pounds and also cause an unconscious person to face up. Interestingly, they are very affordable.  They are Ideal for boaters and kayakers as well. Type II life vests are sturdy and easy to use as well. They don't look fashionable though.

Next is type III. These life vests are often used by skiers. They are designed to be buckled or zipped from the front. With a buoyancy of 15 pounds or more, they are used for rescuing conscious wearers. That is to say that they don't make the wearer face up. They are generally comfortable and are widely used for watersports.

These are not meant to be worn but held onto in the case of a user who accidentally falls into the water. I.e to say that they are throwable PFDs. They offer a buoyancy of 16.5 pounds. 

These types are mostly used for rafting and boarding. They require strict adherence to the usage instructions as well.

Life Vests buyer's guide

In choosing the right life vest, you should consider the type of water activity you would be using it for, the size and fitting, material quality, weight, etc. Let's take a closer look at these factors.

Type of water activity

 Type III life vests mostly feature here. They are made light and comfortable for sitting comfortably in the kayak. They have large cuts around the neck and arms for easy paddling.

These also feature more of type III life vests. They have wide cuts around the arm for comfortable paddling. They also have multiple pockets to hold your fishing gear.

Life vests used here are soft and comfortable. Mostly made with a lot of foam padding. They also have large cuts around the arm for easy paddling and maneuvering. They are made to tight fit the users.

Life vests used for boat, kayak or canoe cruise. They are made to provide maximum comfort to users. They are mostly type II vests.

Life vest material

What material your life vest is made of determines its - buoyancy, durability, comfort and cost. The two most commonly used materials for making life vests are

Nylon made life vests are generally less expensive, most commonly used, lighter and more comfortable. However, they don't have much buoyancy as compared to neoprene made ones. They are ideal for recreational use and other water activities aside from watersports.

Life Vests made with neoprene are sturdy and provide more buoyancy than nylon made ones. They are more expensive too. Neoprene made life vests are ideal for all watersports.

Size and fitting

Choosing the right size of life vest helps keep you safe. Life Vests that are bigger than the wearers are almost useless as they might slip off when you enter the water. On the other hand, life vests that are too tight would make the wearer uncomfortable. So, it is important that you check for the size of the life vest that would give you a proper fit. Don't forget also to consider the age and size of the user. Life vests for kids are made with more safety straps to hold them tightly.  Adults should consider their chest size and choose life vest sizes that would fit without being too tight on the chest region.

Weight and buoyancy

Another important factor to consider is the weight of the user and the buoyancy of the vest. You should buy life vests that have more buoyancy than your body weight. It would be wrong to put on a life vest made for kids as an adult. 

Summary

With the many things to consider before buying a life vest to ensure your safety and comfort, this article breaks them down for your buying ease. We at Recreation Outfitters offer you the best brands of life vests for your maximum safety and comfort.  Go on, contact us now and smile later!

Recreation Outfitters top brands for life vests

Sea Eagle life vests

• Life Jacket XXL 50"- 60" Chest

Rave life Vests

• Infant Neo Life Vest
• Universal Nylon PFD Youth  
• Universal Nylon PFD Adult
• Universal Nylon PFD Child
• Universal Nylon PFD Infant

Onyx Outdoor life vests

• Onyx A/M 24 Inflatable PFD - Black - Automatic/Manual [132000-700-004-21]
• Movevent Torsion Vest - Red - XS/Small [122400-100-020-21]
• Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket (PFD) - Mossy Oak Elements [132000-855-004-19]
• Onyx Airspan Angler Life Jacket - M/L - Green [123200-400-040-23]

Stearns life vests

• Stearns Pfd Adult Comfort Series Max-5 Camo Vest Small
• Stearns Youth Heads-Up Life Jacket - 50-90lbs - Green [2000032674]

Mustang Survival life vests

• Mustang Survival Rev Young Adult Foam Vest Camo 90 Plus LBS
• Mustang Survival Rev Child Foam Vest Azure Blue 30-50 LBS