Buying a boat, or even just vacationing aboard, is many peoples’ dream. But, before you take to the water, make sure you have the right kind of life jackets for you and your crew – it’s a mandatory requirement for boats to be fully equipped with life vests, ideally those approved for use on open water by the US Coastguard. And they do check.
Wearing a life jacket is no reflection on your competency as a swimmer – even the strongest swimmers can get into difficulty if they are thrown into deep, choppy, and very cold water – often the exact kind of water you’ll be boating on.
So, read our reviews, and stock up on the most suitable life jackets – and make sure you’re wearing them – and then haul anchor, and sail away.
Contents
What To Look For
A boating life jacket needs to be comfortable, as you’ll be wearing it for long periods. You need a life vest that is thick enough to provide suitable warmth, without being so bulky as to become cumbersome.
Ideally, you want an auto-inflate life jacket (one that will inflate upon immersion, without any action needed from yourself). This is down to the fact that, in the shock of going overboard, you may struggle to remember quickly enough how to activate a manual life jacket.
If you are not a strong swimmer, you’ll need to invest in a life vest that will automatically turn you onto your back, should you land face down in the water, and which ideally has strong straps so that you can easily be hauled back to your boat by someone reaching down and grabbing your life jacket.
Best Life Jacket for Boating: Reviews
| Rank | Life Jacket | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Onyx Adult CO2 | $$$ |
| 4 | Kent Type II | $ |
| 3 | Onyx Deluxe | $$$ |
| 2 | Stearns Adult Classic Series | $ |
| 1 | Driftsun Universal Fit | $$$ |
#5 – Onyx Adult CO2
This life vest is Coast Guard approved for inshore sailing. It doesn’t perform particularly well in cold water, hence the inshore recommendation. This jacket can be inflated manually, or will inflate automatically on immersion. The manual option may provide peace of mind for experienced individuals who want to ensure, in the event that they require the life jacket, that it inflates promptly.
This is a lightweight vest, and comes with a full CO2 cylinder. However, the instructions for attaching and readying the CO2 cylinder are somewhat confusing, and would almost certainly baffle someone not used to specialist boating equipment.
This life jacket is comfortable, and allows for a full range of normal movement.
Pros
- Option of manual or automatic inflation
- Coast Guard approved
- Comfortable, not restrictive
Cons
- Not suitable for use in cold water
- Instructions for attaching and readying CO2 cylinder are difficult to understand
Who Is It For?
This would be a suitable life jacket for experienced sailors looking to remain inshore during good weather.
Value For Money?
This is quite a pricey life vest, and you really have to know what you’re doing in order to ensure you’re using it safely (the difficulty over fixing the CO2 cylinder, for example.) Also, you will have to purchase replacement CO2 cylinders if the vest is used. There are cheaper, better options available.
#4 – Kent Type II
This is a cheap and cheerful way to stock your boat for compliance. For the price of one good-quality life jacket, you get a pack of four, in an easy-to-store bag with a handy carry strap. These life vests are a basic size for standard adults.
They are bright orange, with hi-vis strips, and are Coast Guard approved, but best suited to inshore boating, as they are not particularly sturdy, and don’t offer any additional warmth. Also, the grab straps have a tendency to tear easily, so these are recommended for strong, confident swimmers only, as they may not allow a quick and easy rescue of someone who is struggling in the water. They are a very cheap purchase, however, and would be good to have onboard as spares.
Pros
- Cheap
- Hi-vis
- Multi buy
Cons
- Straps tear easily
- Not recommended for open water
Who Is It For?
These are really intended as “compliance spares”, more than anything else, but would also be fine for a family or group of friends taking a boat out on a lake or river for the day.
Value For Money?
Fine if you’re just hiring a day boat during your vacation, but if you intend to be on the water more regularly, it’s best to invest in something more durable.
#3 – Onyx Deluxe
This is a Coast Guard approved life jacket that’s suitable for use in all waters, and will inflate manually on immersion. It is also possible to inflate the vest manually, giving you extra peace of mind if you’re worried your vest isn’t inflating quickly enough. The vest is made from hi-vis, ripstop fabric, meaning you’ll be easily seen, and your life jacket won’t be damaged if you’re thrown up against rocks whilst in the water.
This is a lightweight life vest, with large armholes for freedom of movement, and is ideally suited for those exploring the fun of boating for the first time. More experienced boaters, particularly those heading into rougher waters, may prefer a life jacket with stronger grab straps. The Onyx Deluxe is also somewhat bulky, although this is true of most life jackets.
There are large storage pockets, so you can easily and safely carry essential items.
The sizing does tend to run rather small, so you’re best advised to order at least one size larger than you need. This life vest also does not come “ready to use” – the CO2 cylinder is not ready installed, and will need to be attached and armed prior to heading out on the water.
Pros
- Coast Guard approved
- Ripstop fabric
- Hi-vis
- Storage pockets
Cons
- Grab straps could do with being stronger
- Needs to be prepped prior to going out on the water
- Sizing runs small
Who Is It For?
This is an ideal, good-quality life jacket for those just getting into life afloat, and will provide reliable protection in a range of environments, whilst being comfortable and easy to wear onboard.
Value For Money?
This life vest is at the high end of the price range for such things, but potentially be a worthwhile investment if you planned on doing a lot of leisure boating.
#2 – Stearns Adult Classic Series
Stearns Adult Classic Series is a unisex life jacket (although Stearns also do life jackets that are specifically designed for women) which is Coast Guard approved. The life vest comes in a choice of red or blue, both colors being bright and easily seen. This life vest is one size fits all, but the buckles and straps allow for easy adjustment to get the right fit.
However, if you are particularly large, or very slim, you may prefer to opt for a life jacket that is sized in the normal fashion, so you can assured of a comfortable and safe fit, as a poor fit will become irritatingly obvious while boating, which usually involves being on the water for long periods, as well as moving around the boat, and engaging in regular activities, such as making drinks, reading a book or magazine, etc. (After all, if you’re on a boat, you’re likely to be on vacation – you want to enjoy yourself!)
Pros
- Coast Guard Approved
- Easy to adjust for fit
Cons
- One size – not suitable for anyone markedly outside “average” size ranges
Who Is It For?
The Stearns Adult Classic is a good general purpose life vest for captain and crew.
Value For Money?
This is a reasonably priced vest, and would be ideal for the average novice.
#1 – Driftsun Universal Fit
Driftsun is a slender design, lightweight life jacket which allows for a full range of movement both onboard and in the water. It is designed from high-quality, durable, ripstop fabric, to offer full protection, and is comfortable to wear. A whistle is included, providing the means to attract attention immediately should you find yourself overboard. This life vest includes hi-vis straps, and is fully adjustable for the perfect fit. It is Coast Guard approved.
Pros
- Slender, comfortable & lightweight
- Includes whistle to easily attract attention
- Ripstop fabric
- Fully adjustable fit
Cons
- This is an expensive life jacket, but regular and enthusiastic boaters may consider it a worthwhile investment.
Who Is It For?
This life vest is ideal for active, regular boaters who will be taking a physical role in handling their vessel, and sailing in a range of waters and conditions.
Value For Money?
It’s definitely an investment purchase rather than a “just in case”, but, bearing that in mind, it would certainly be worth it for someone who knows they’ll get the use out of it.
Final Decision
If you plan to throw yourself fully into boating, or are already regularly out at sea, then the clear winner is the Driftsun, which allows for the kind of activity associated with running a boat for anything more than vacation sailing.
If you’re just looking for something for your vacation and a few good summer days, then the Stearns Classic is more affordable, but still offers protection and quality.
Last update on 2017-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API