Life Jackets & Buoyancy Aids

Life Jackets

Life jackets and buoyancy aids are 2 different things but the names are often confused an interchanged. Broadly speaking, a Life Jacket is worn by people who have no intention to be in the water and if they find themselves in the water it is likely an accident has happened. A life jacket will try it’s best to save your life.

I will try to float you onto your back and it will try to support your head in a way that will allow you to breathe even if you have been knocked unconscious. A life jacket will normally have a collar and be made from hi visibility material , usually orange or yellow.

All our life jackets are CE approved

Buoyancy Aids

A Buoyancy aids is normally worn by sports users who may be in the water as part of their sport and need some extra buoyancy when they are in there. They don’t want to be floated onto their back, they just want to be more buoyant. Legally they are only recommended for sheltered waters and for competent swimmers.

Buoyancy aids are regularly worn for kayaking, sailing, waterskiing and many other watersports.

Life Jacket and Buoyancy Aid Fit.

Buoyancy aids and life jackets should fit well if they are to work correctly. Firstly the weight rating will make sure you have enough buoyancy for your own weight. Secondly they buoyancy aids should not be physically too large as it can come up over someone’s head when they fall in the water if that is the case.

Our buoyancy aids feature adjustable straps to make sure they are a good fit for the user and we use strong clip buckles to ensure they stay on. They can be worn over a wetsuit or drysuit and allow you to paddle in a kayak or canoe without being too obtrusive.