It doesn't matter whether you are planning to fish on the lakes, kayak in the creeks, tube on the waves or swim in the rivers, you need to suit up with the proper life vest and floatation equipment for your outing. A life jacket isn't just a colorful addition to your water adventures; it’s a necessary tool to ensure your survival should something go wrong. It’s also the thing you want for peace of mind to make sure nothing WILL go wrong, because at least with a life jacket, you’re protected from the unknown in the depths of the water. The real question is that you should be asking yourself is how to buy a life jacket, because it’s really not a case of heading to the store and picking up one in whimsical colors because it’s pretty. You need to know what size life jacket you should get, what type of life jacket you need and whether your choice is the right one for your next jaunt on the water.

Life Vest Types

Before you sit in front of the computer and search for what type of life jacket do I need, you need to know that it can get complicated! Not only are there different types of jackets to buy by activity, but there are different levels of floatation devices that determine how safe you are in the water. There are three main types of jackets (offshore, nearshore and floatation aid) and these are then broken into 5 types of jackets that are rated by their weight and use.

Below, you’ll find the differences between the 5 main types of life vest that you could buy, and you can then make a more informed decision about which one is correct for your needs:

Type I Personal Floatation Device - Off Shore Life Vest

Here are some of the features of this particular life vest:

• 22lb of floatation
• Reversible, easy to put on and commercial in style
• Provides the most buoyancy of all the types
• Effective in all water types, particularly areas where rescue could take time
• Will turn most wearers face-up in the water

Type II Personal Floatation Device - Near-Shore Buoyancy Device

This near-shore buoyancy device has some compelling features:

• 15.5lb of floatation foam
• 33.5lb of floatation when inflated
• Intended to be used where a quick rescue is possible, such as inland waters
• Possibly turns face-down wearers the right way, but not as effective as Type I

Type III Personal Floatation Device - Floatation Aid

When you need a floatation aid in inland water, here are the features that matter most:

• 15.5lbs of floatation foam
• 22.5lb of inflatable floatation
• Lightweight and comfortable for the wearer
• A good device for conscious wearers
• Best suited for calm water where a quick rescue is possible
• This will not flip the wearer, the wearer must turn themselves face-up
• Same minimum buoyancy a the Type II
• Comes in a range of colors and sizes

Type IV Personal Floatation Device - Throwable Device

Some devices are not designed to be worn, and Type IV is one of them:

• Between 16-20lb of floatation
• Inland, calm waters are preferred with heavy boat traffic
• Can be thrown to a conscious person waiting for rescue to be held in the water
• Not designed to be worn
• These could be cushions, rings, horseshoe buoys
• To be used as well as a life jacket

Type V Personal Floatation Device - Special Use Only

• Intended to be used only with specific activities
• Follow the rules on the label

Choosing the right type of life jacket could mean the difference between life or death, as these are the devices that increase your survival time in the event of an accident. Accidents can and do happen at any time no matter how many precautions you take, and a life jacket is a preventative measure - as in, prevents death where possible. They are the most important safety device on any water vessel and no matter how many times you go out on the water, you need to ensure that you always have enough devices on board for the number of people with you. It’s a legal requirement and you could be fined if you don’t adhere to this. Along with the types of life vest, there are also types of inflation to consider:

• Manual Inflation. Pull the string, pushing a firing pin into a CO2 canister and inflating the life vest.
• Automatic Inflation. This involves a little pellet or pin that activates the life jacket as soon as it’s in contact with water. There is a manual pull string as a back up if the pin doesn't work.
• Hydrostatic Inflation (HAMMER). Similar to the automatic life vests, but the pellet is protected in a case. This then only works when the case is a few centimeters below water. It’s handy in case someone spills a drink; the case will protect the jacket from inflation until you really need it.

Activity-Specific Life Vests

Did you know that your life vest type depends on the activity that you have in mind? Gone are the days where you would don a bright orange life vest from the most generic range at the side of the water. You can now choose a jacket based on your specific activity, which makes it so much safer for you to partake in your activity. Below, we’ve got some of the common features of life vests that can be worn for different activities:

Fishing Life Vest

• You can wear these comfortably in a canoe or while you’re in a kayak because the wider cuts around the arm make paddling far easier.
• You have good freedom of movement, so casting and reeling for fish is more comfortable.
• These vests come with tool hangers for ease of use. Loops for fishing rods and multiple pockets for other accessories make it perfect for being on the water.
• Usually, this jacket is a Type III personal floatation device (PFD).

Kayaking and Canoeing Life Vest

• You get a lot of freedom of movement with these as, again, the wider cuts around the arms make for easier paddling and control.
• These are thinner at the back to make sure you're comfortable while kayaking.
• This is a Type III PFD

Compliance Vest

• These devices are more commonly made of foam with a strap that ensures a very comfortable and secure fit.
• Simple, and they comply with the United States Coast Guard regulations for recreational boating
• Type II PFD

Tubing Life Vests

• You can buy vests specific for water tubing and skiing, with wide-cut arms for more fluid movements while keeping you safe.
• These have buckles to make sure you get the tightest fit possible while being comfortable
• Type III PFD

Youth Life Vest

• These are made for children weighing between 50 - 90lb
• For recreational boating and paddle sports that are appropriate for children
• Comfortable for all genders

Child Life Vest

• Toddlers are smaller than most children, weighing in at 30 - 50lb, so these jackets are most appropriate and they won’t slip out of them.
• It can be used in almost all water situations for recreational boating and how to be comfortable in the water.

Infant Life Vests

• One size will fit all infants up to 30lb
• The shorter cut of this life vest will help new swimmers to move easily
• Simple secure system for maximum safety.

Getting Fitted

Any time you buy a life vest, you need to make sure that it’s of the correct fit so that you don’t end up in the water and unable to inflate it or survive. There are a few factors that you should really think about when you're shopping around for your life vest:

• Choose the vest that is based on chest size, whether for adults or kids
• Loosen the straps across the entire life vest, and then put it on.
• Once you’ve done that, secure all the straps closed
• Tighten the straps working from the bottom up to the shoulder straps.
• Test vest size by pulling up from the shoulder straps. If you can pull it up over your head, it’s too big and you need the next size down. It should be snug enough to keep you secure.
• Try moving your arms to check your range of motion without chafing in the water.

It’s important to remember that no one goes out on the water expecting to have to use the features of their life vest. It’s about having fun safely, though, and you need to prepare yourself for the unexpected. Prevention is best here, as the cure is going to end up as a rescue - which is something you want to avoid. Find the right jacket with the right size and you will always be able to enjoy your water activities. Always ensure you are wearing the correct fitting life vest for the activity that you are enjoying, and you won’t have a problem feeling confident that no matter what, you are safe.