Safe Life Jackets

Life jackets, life vests, and life preservers must be present on boats in most states and on all vessels traveling on water supervised by the US Coast Guard. Wearing life jackets allow people to safely enjoy fishing, boating, skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing on oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams. We offer the highest quality life jackets, vests, and rash guards for adults, youths, and infants. Our models include life jackets for fishing, recreational, and boating, as well as tournament line vests for skiing, kneeboarding, and wakeboarding.

Older versions of life jackets and life preservers can be hot, bulky, and cumbersome. The life jackets found on SafeLifeJackets.com are better looking, more comfortable, and provide increased protection.

Choose from several different classifications of life jackets, vests, and life preservers.

Life Jacket Classification Guide

Type I PFD - Off-Shore Life Jacket
This jacket provides the most buoyancy and floats the best. It is reversible, easy to put on and designed to turn most people who are unconscious in the water from the face-down position to an upright and slightly backward position. It is effective in all types of water, especially where rescue is delayed. It comes in 2 sizes: adults more than 90 pounds and kids less than 90 pounds.

Type II PFD - Near-Shore Buoyancy Vest
This jacket is intended for calm, inland water or where a quick rescue is possible. Will turn some unconscious wearers to a face-up position in the water although the turning is not as definite as with a Type I PFD. This jacket comes in several comfortable sizes and styles.

Type III PFD - Flotation Aid
Good for conscious wearers in calm, inland water or where a quick rescue is possible. Type III foam vest offers same minimum buoyancy as Type II PFD, comes in many colors and sizes, and is most comfortable for continuous wear.

Type IV PFD - Throwable Device
Intended for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic wear rescue is always possible. Designed to be thrown to a conscious person in the water to be held by user until rescued. Type IV devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys. They are not designed to be worn.

Life jackets, vests, and life preservers should never be substitutes for good judgment and adult supervision.

Life Jacket Safety Tips

* It is important to test a PFD in shallow water or a guarded swimming pool to make sure it fits appropriately and is in proper working order. * Be sure to always check the condition of your life jacket(s) before heading out for any watersport activity. When boating, make sure you always have enough life jackets on board for every passenger. * To keep water out of the vest, a bottom drain or mesh drainage is usually provided * The size of life vest you buy depends on your weight and size(See Sizing Chart) * Always keep your vest in a place you can access in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.). * Life Jackets should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. * Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water. * Teach your child how to put on his or her own life jacket. * Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted. * Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example.