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Strap In!
Life jacket, life preserver, vest, buoyancy aid – they’re all different names for the most essential piece of individual safety equipment on a boat: the wearable personal flotation device (PFD). PFDs come in a wide range of configurations and styles, so it can be difficult to wade through all the options and arrive at the right buying decision. To that end, we've prepared this PFD buying guide which we hope will answer your questions and aid you in selecting the right PFDs for your needs.
PFD Essentials
Sizing
By federal law, recreational boats must have one wearable PFD correctly sized for each person onboard. We offer infant, child, youth and adult sizes based on weight and/or chest circumference. A loose or ill-fitting PFD may not perform as expected or, worse, may not be worn at all, so we strongly recommend you test the fit – especially for infants, children and non-swimmers. To test, grasp the the wearer’s PFD at the shoulders and pull upward. If it rises above the wearer’s chin or ears, it’s too loose or too big. Either tighten the straps or go down one size.
Activity
Wearable PFDs for recreational boating can be divided into two categories: general boating, worn when the wearer does not expect to get wet, and water sports, worn when contact with the water will most likely occur. Inflatable PFDs, which inflate automatically when submerged, belong in the first category, as do most inherently buoyant PFDs (vests filled with buoyant foam panels). Multi-sport and ski PFDs feature several adjustment points for a snug fit that won’t shift or ride up in the event of high-speed impact with the water.
Wear It!
It may seem obvious, but it’s still true: An unworn PFD will be useless in an emergency. Half of all boating fatalities due to drowning occur close to shore in calm waters; in most cases the life jackets were stowed, not worn. So don’t just bring your PFD onboard, wear it!
L
2025-08-21 17:52:08
Jacket version - great buoyancy and floats well. Unlike many other life jackets, it actually turns you face up and out of the water no matter how you enter. It is a bit bulky but it's still easy to move in and is much more secure in the water. You don't have to worry about it floating off you or riding up as it sits comfortably under your head. Also keeps your face well out of the water rather than very close to it.I think it'd be great for non-swimmers and swimmers who want a reliable safety device
Customer
2025-08-16 18:08:37
Just as expected. Durable. Not disappointed with quality.
A
2025-08-14 11:54:32
Type I pfd are very large and bulky but are the only pfd that will keep your hear above water if you are unconscious. We keep these on our ocean boat in case of emergency as our Alaska waters are cold and one may lose consciousness before rescue. Good safety gear to have on board but not a type of pfd we wear regularly, we have type III's for regular wear.
Azm
2025-07-06 13:10:55
Will be giving it a test in water soon. Was a bit tough to assemble and get into.
Weim_Momma
2025-07-05 10:20:28
These commercial vests are fully compliant and well made. They fit standard adults and have the added safety features of reflective material for added visibility as required by ColRegs. They do what they are designed and will float an adult face up.
Kay123
2025-06-15 16:43:17
Quick & Easy to put on. No cutsie pics on these vests but these are Coastguard Approved. The cartoon character vests are likely not. We did extensive safety research before purchasing. We learned a lot and picked these. We boat on the Great Lakes.
JK
2025-06-01 10:49:26
Yes this is big/bulky but that's intentional. When you need an adult life vest this one will actually work lol If in a serious situation it provides excellent buoyancy so the person will not waste precious energy. What's great about this Type 1 vest is you could use it to toss to someone if you just tie a line to it. Or you could also use it to just chill and float around in the water, keeping your neck above the surface. FYI for kayakers yes it fits inside the WS Pungo 120 rear storage hatch. This vest does not impede your arms at all for rowing!
Tammy hartmann
2025-02-06 10:16:25
You get what you pay for if you want the best you gotta pat for them
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