For fishing vests, accessories-like big usable pockets-are king. Kayaking and rafting, which require dynamic movement and demand high flotation, require both, and will reward you for splurging on a smart design that maximizes mobility and minimizes bulk, while keeping high levels of buoyancy. By contrast, you want the thinnest possible jacket while sailing, since you need maximum mobility, and only need emergency flotation. For water skiing, as an example, you need high flotation, as you’ll likely crash into the water at some point, but you won’t need the highest possible mobility. Regardless of the sport, they only vary based on a few key factors, including movement, floatation, and accessories. How Do You Plan to Use It?ĭifferent life jackets are designed with specific types of activities in mind. Keep these parameters in mind and you’ll be set for a happy and safe summer on the water. When purchasing a life jacket, safety is the top consideration, but other factors should come into play as well. What to Consider When Shopping for an Adult Life Jacket → Looking for kids' life jackets? Check out our story on the Best Kids' Life Jackets For Summer.
I’ve had life jackets save my life in dozens of scenarios including breaking my nose mid-run while kayaking the Urubamba River in Peru, cracking a rib while kayaking the Scott River in Northern California, and too many ill-advised cliff/bridge jumps to count. I have tested hundreds of life jackets since then, both on my own adventures and while writing for publications like Paddler Magazine (RIP), Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Outside Magazine, and Popular Mechanics. I was so excited that I put it on and immediately tested its buoyancy in a frigid swimming pool. It was a cerulean blue Lotus Designs (now Astral) low-profile whitewater kayaking jacket and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
ONYX LIFE VEST SMALL PROFESSIONAL
The Expert: I received my first life jacket as a present from my folks for Christmas in 1999, in anticipation of my first season working as a professional raft guide. Best Inflatable: Mustang Survival MIT 70 Automatic Inflatable PFD.Best All-Purpose: Kokatat Proteus Life Vest.Best Budget: Onyx General Purpose Boating Jacket.If you go out and buy a great PFD that feels comfortable and brings features to the table, the best life jacket may feel more like a fashion accessory than a mandatory safety measure. Most people hate them because they're borrowing a cheap one that doesn't fit properly. Wearing a life jacket does not have to be a chore, though. Those laws are around for good reason: Just like a seatbelt, you never think that you’ll need a life jacket until the moment when you really need one. In fact, they are required for boating in many parts of the US. It’s the single most important piece of protective gear you have when things go sideways in a kayak or on water skis. Box Dimensions: 3"H x 15"W x 20"L WT: 1.Life jackets or “personal floatation devices,” if you prefer, are a non-negotiable part of many water sports.Coast Guard Approved Type III Life Jacket / Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Material - 200 denier nylon ripstop and nylon oxford.Shoulder adjustments with neoprene comfort pads.Sculpted and flexible design conforms to you and stays in place.Mesh in lower back fits high back seats and sit-on-top kayaks.Ventilation in front and back to keep you cool.
ONYX LIFE VEST SMALL SERIES
The mesh ventilation is featured in the front and back of the MoveVent series jackets to allow for maximum airflow. The Onyx MoveVent is a vest that conforms to your body like a glove, yet its innovative vented channels help keep you cool while paddling. MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest - M/L
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