When you’re going fishing, your life vest isn’t just a life preserver or personal flotation device – it’s also portable gear storage. When you buy a life jacket for fishing, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best buy for your buck. And, when you’re fishing, that means pockets. Practicality and safety should blend seamlessly to create the perfect fishing life jacket. Our helpful reviews point you towards the equipment where this aim has been achieved.
Depending on the type of fishing you do, there are also other considerations to take into account. If you’re a fly-fisher, you’ll want a life vest that’s not too tight around the arms. If you fish from a boat, you don’t want your life jacket to feel uncomfortable when you sit down on a box seat.
Read our reviews, and find the life jacket that’s right for you.
Contents
Best Life Jacket for Fishing Reviews 2017
| Rank | Model | Pockets | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Autovox Adult Inflatable | 0 | $ |
| 3 | Stohlquist Fisherman’s PFD | 2 | $$$$$ |
| 2 | Stearns Comfort Series | 2 | $$ |
| 1 | NRS Chinook | 7 | $$$$ |
#4 – Autovox Adult Inflatable Life Vest
The Autovox Adult Inflatable comes in hi-vis orange or yellow, and is an easy-on, easy-off horse collar style life jacket. Lightweight, the Autovox can be easily stored in a rucksack, or jacket pocket.
Unfortunately, this life vest is just that – a life vest. While it won’t get in your way too much if you’re fly-fishing, it doesn’t offer anywhere to store your accessories, either.
Pros
- Lightweight – easy to pack
- Hi-vis, for safety
Cons
- No pockets
Who Is It For?
This life vest is probably best suited for the occasional angler, or someone who is considering a boat-based fishing trip as part of their vacation.
Value For Money?
Not in the case of the genuine fishing enthusiast, owing to the lack of pockets and storage for hooks, bait, and other accessories.
#3 – Stohlquist Fisherman’s Personal Flotation Device
Stohlquist Fisherman’s Personal Flotation Device is a little bulky, but has plenty of pockets for all your accessory storage needs. It is a comfortable, breathable life jacket, although it does hit higher up the price ladder. It is also not ideal for fly fishing, as it is too bulky, with the material causing rubbing along the sides on each cast. This could potentially be alleviated by wearing a long-sleeved undershirt, but, for the price, you would expect this design flaw to be addressed.
Pros
- Plenty of pockets for storage
Cons
- Not suitable for fly-fishing
- Bulky
Who Is It For?
This life jacket would ideally suit the experienced, regular boat angler, enabling them to have all their accessories to hand, whilst offering a breathable fabric for those long summer days.
Value For Money?
This is a higher-priced life jacket, and really the only benefit compared to cheaper options is the increased number of pockets. If you really need to travel light, then it’s a fair choice. If you can afford to carry a rucksack, fanny pack, or tackle box? Do that, and consider a cheaper life jacket.
#2 – Stearns Comfort Series Angler Vest
This product offers a breathable design, with large, zippered front pockets for storing bait and accessories. The Stearns Comfort Series is Coast Guard approved, and its one drawback is that it is somewhat bulky, and can feel cumbersome.
Pros
- Large pockets
- Coast Guard Approved
Cons
- Bulky
Who Is It For?
Being Coast Guard approved, the Stearns life vest would be ideal for the boat or shore-based sea-fisherman. The large front pockets would allow for a range of bait and accessories to be carried safely and securely, whilst providing protection should an accident occur.
Value For Money?
This is a very reasonably priced anglers’ life vest which is a good general-purpose form of protection. Definitely worth considering if you’re looking for something cheap and practical.
#1 – NRS Chinook Life Vest
With 7 front pockets and multiple D-hooks, this life jacket really does offer you comprehensive accessory storage. You could easily, and safely, carry a knife in one of the pockets, or clipped to a D-ring, making this life vest ideal for those fishing from small boats or RIBs, who want to keep as much space clear as possible, as well as those who have a bit of a trek to their fishing ground, and don’t want to be carrying too much.
The Chinook life vest is breathable and comfortable, and has been designed with kayak fishermen, particularly, in mind. The back of the vest is comfortable when seated in a kayak, and the vest itself does not feel bulky at all.
The Chinook life jacket comes in a range of colors, so you can easily match your life jacket to your boat, your rods, or simply your personality.
Pros
- Fantastic range of storage options
- Comfortable and breathable
- Designed for the needs of kayak fishermen
Cons
- Potentially the price, which is a little steep.
Who Is It For?
This vest is ideal for wild fishermen, who are often fishing from canoes, kayaks, and very small boats, and therefore need to save space wherever possible. It is definitely a professional investment purchase, and could also be the ideal buy for photographers as well as fishermen!
Value For Money?
Whilst the Chinook life jacket is definitely an investment purchase, it is a worthwhile one, especially if saving space and travelling light are important to you.
The Final Decision
The clear winner from the fishing life vests is the NRS Chinook, which fits the bill of combining safety and practicality.
A Fly Fishing Vest I Like
Finally, the Anglatech Fly Fishing Vest (ASIN:B017HTFKEW) is comfortable and lightweight, with plenty of storage pockets. It features cord-drawn, quiet-close zippers, although these do have a tendency to break, and do not close fully. Also, despite being sold along with life jackets and life vests, this is neither – it is NOT designed to function as a flotation device, although it may work well in combination with the Autovox Adult Inflatable Life Vest, which could easily be worn alongside this vest without causing any inconvenience.
Pros
- Plenty of pockets
- Designed for fly fishing
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Not a life jacket – would need to be worn with a head collar style life vest to be effective.
Who Is It For?
Not being an actual life jacket, this vest is clearly designed for the occasional fly fisherman who fishes from the shallows.
Value For Money?
This is a fairly expensive vest, especially since an actual life vest would have to be purchased to be worn alongside it. May make a good gift, but isn’t worth the price in general.
Last update on 2017-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API