A good life jacket is an essential piece of safety gear to have when you’re out on the water. Having a properly fitted life jacket will keep you safe while you’re out having fun boating, fishing, paddling, or engaging in any other water sport whether indoors as well as outdoors.
The US Coast Guard defines portable flotation devices that are wearable in three main types, based on the pounds of floatation offered by the design. If you are planning a lot of time off shore, a Type I Off-Shore life jacket is recommended. Type II life jackets are suitable for boating inland waterways and near shore. Life Jackets that are USCG rated as “floatation aids” are designed for water skiing and other activities where immersion is possible.
You need to determine where the life jacket will be used the most and what type of activities you’ll primarily need it for. If you are boating, life jacket requirements depend on the size and type of vessel. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) requires a USCG-approved, properly fitted life jacket must be on board a vessel for every passenger, easy to access, and of course in good condition. In addition to Coast Guard requirements, you will also want to check the Personal Flotation Device (PFD) regulations for your state.
Life Jacket Construction and Features
Life jackets are available in three main designs which include foam, inflatable, and hybrid which is a combination of foam and inflatable. Foam life jackets are the most reliable and made to be worn by both swimmers and non swimmers. Inflatable life jackets are very compact and typically worn during snorkeling, fishing, paddling, or other activities where the user can inflate the jacket as needed. Hybrids have some buoyancy and have the ability to either manually or self-inflate.
The majority of life jackets are made of neoprene or nylon shells. Nylon is the least expensive option and dries fast. Lifejackets made with Neoprene will be more expensive, but this material offers a sleeker, comfortable fit for water sports use.
Life Jacket Types
Type I PFD Offshore Life Jacket
Type I life jackets are the bulkiest of the three types but provide the most buoyancy with 22 pounds of floatation and designed to turn most unconscious wearers face up when in the water. These life jackets are also more than a floatation device s the additional foam provides insulation which can keep the wearer from losing body heat when in the water for extended periods of time. Type I life jackets are highly recommended if you’re boating in offshore or remote locations where rescue may be delayed. Type I jackets are available in foam only to provide the wearer with maximum buoyancy in the event of an emergency.
Type II PFD Near Shore Life Jacket
A Type II Life Jacket is designed for use in inland waterways or near the shore where a fast rescue is possible. While these jackets have the capability of turning an unconscious boater face-up, the certainty is not as great as it is with the Type I vest. Foam versions of the Type II have 15.5 pounds of floatation where the inflatable jackets have 33.5 pounds of floatation.
Type III PFD Floatation Aid
Type III Life Jackets are the most comfortable of the three types. These life jackets offer the most variety in color and sizing. They are designed so that a conscious wearer can remain upright in calm waters where a speedy rescue is possible. Foam versions have 15.5 pounds of floatation. Inflatable Type III jackets have 22.5 pounds of floatation.
Sizes and Proper Fitting
A life jacket is designed primarily to keep your head above water when afloat. To make sure the life jacket is the right size, you should first check the life jackets label for size and weight restrictions. Sizing guides will vary from one manufacturer to another based on the design of each vest.
Generally, the sizes for children’s life jackets follow these weight ranges:
Infant: 0-30 pounds
Child: 30-60 pounds
Youth: 60-90 pounds.
Adult sizes are usually measured in chest diameter and can range in size from Extra Small (28-32 inches) to 3X (52-56 inches).
Once your life jacket is appropriately sized, put it on and properly secure all the fasteners which are typically buckles and/or zippers down the front of the vest. Once secure, have a friend or family member grasp the top of the jacket and gently pull up; if properly fitted, the life jacket should not rise above your chin. It’s highly recommended the life jacket be tested in shallow water or a pool to ensure a proper fit.