When you are kayaking, just like in life, it is better to be safe than sorry. That’s why it is important to always wear your PFD (Personal Floatation Device) or lifejacket even if you are a good swimmer. Even experienced paddlers know that your life jacket could be the most important piece of equipment for your kayak adventure. You are going to want to be sure you get the best kayak PFD you can.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information.
You may be overwhelmed by all the kayak life jackets for sale, but don’t stress. When you are searching for the best life jacket for kayaking, there are really two things that you need to focus on.
First, you want to make sure you choose a Coast Guard approved life vest. This helps ensure that the PFD will provide you with the buoyancy that you need when kayaking. There are 5 different types of Coast Guard approved flotation devices, which I explain in more detail below. For kayaking, most people use either a Type 3 or a Type 5 PFD. If you live outside the US, then there should be another government organization that provides a certification.
Second, you will want to make sure you get the most comfortable kayak life vest for you. If your PFD is not comfortable, then you are not going to wear it. The best kayak life vest is one that you will wear! When choosing the best PFD for your size, you need to first measure your chest when you are wearing your paddling clothes. You will also want to take into consideration the height of your kayak seat and the back of the PFD. If you have a sit on top kayak or one that has a high seat back, you will need a PFD with a high back so that it does not get pushed up.
Note: In this post, I only discuss the best life jackets for adults, meaning people over 90 lbs. I will work on a list for children soon.
The US Coast Guard has come up with 5 different PFD types. Most kayakers prefer to use either a Type 3 PFD or a Type 5 PFD. Here are the definitions of the different life vest types so that you can make an educated choice for yourself:
You will need to decide if you want a standard or inflatable life jacket. Standard life jackets are more traditional and rated as USCG Type III. They look like a vest and rely on flotation material, like foam, to create buoyancy. Inflatable PFDs are either Type III or Type V USCG approved and can be either manually or automatically inflated.
With the manual inflation PFD, you pull a cord, which activates a CO2 gas cartridge and inflates the vest. The automatic design inflates when submerged in water. You have to be careful with a self-inflating life jacket because when you are kayaking you tend to get wet. For manually inflatable PFDS, you need to replace the CO2 cartridge after each inflation to ensure proper operation.
Some people chose an inflatable PFD because it covers less of your body so they feel like it is more comfortable and cooler than a standard PFD. The best inflatable life vest I can recommend is the Eyson Slim Inflatable Life Jacket. If you do your research, though, you can definitely find standard PFDs that are comfortable and have cooling features.
Check price and availability for the Eyson Inflatable PFD here.
Personally, I prefer a standard life jacket because you don’t have to activate it to get the buoyancy. Plus, they have pockets for storage. Inflatable PFDs should never be used during high-impact activities, such as whitewater kayaking. Also, they are not recommended for children under the age of 16 or those that don’t know how to swim.
If you can’t decide between standard or inflatable, you can occasionally find a kayak PFD that’s a combination of a standard and an inflatable life vest. A hybrid PFD, like the KOKATAT Sea02 PFD, gives you inherent buoyancy in a compressed, comfortable life vest, but typically costs significantly more.
Check price and availability of the KOKATAT Sea02 PFD here.
ONYX MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest tops my list of kayak PFD recommendations. This vest that conforms to your body like a glove and has vented channels to keep you cool while paddling. You also get a great range of motion. It’s the most comfortable life jacket for kayaking!
The ONYX MoveVent is also durable since it is made with 200 denier nylon ripstop and nylon oxford. The soft flotation foam on the inner back provides added comfort and the SOLAS grade reflective material is great for visibility. It has pockets for storage and even comes with a whistle. You can see why it is my top-rated kayak PFD.
Check prices and availability for the ONYX MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest here.
In addition to the requirements for any kayak PFD, the best kayak fishing life vest will have extra storage and lots of mobility. For storage, some kayak fishing PFDs will feature for tool hangers, loops for a rod and a drop-down pocket table for working with lures and flies. Additionally, the best fishing life vest allows your shoulders and arms to move freely for casting and reeling in the big catch! If you are really serious about fishing, I would not recommend an inflatable fishing life vest as they just don’t have enough storage.
In my opinion, the best life jacket for kayak fishing is the Stohlquist Fisherman. It is a type III PFD with sea level buoyancy of 16 lbs. 12 oz. The Stohlquist Fisherman personal floatation device has a 500 denier Cordura shell, 200 denier oxford liner, and eco-conscious Gaia foam. You get good shoulder mobility with open sides for ventilation, a high back, adjustable shoulder and side strap plus plenty of storage for your fishing gear.
Check prices and availability for the Stolhquist Fisherman here.
Also, you might be interested in reading my Fishing Kayak recommendations.
If you are a whitewater kayaker you want to make sure you have a PFD with extra buoyancy. You will also need stronger construction that other types of PFDs. I also recommend that you chose a standard PFD and not an inflatable one. Whitewater life jackets are typically larger and also have extra storage space for your rescue gear. You want to make sure the whitewater PFD you choose has wide armholes, a high waistline, and is fully adjustable.
The Astral Greenjacket Rescue PFD is widely considered the best whitewater life jacket by the pros. It combines full rescue capabilities with the comfort and protection in a low-profile life jacket. The Foam Tectonics allow the outer front panel to move freely with your upper body while the inner panel stays in place. The 500 denier Cordura® nylon with PVC-Free Gaia™ and PE foam flotation make this a durable and environmentally-friendly whitewater kayak PFD. It also has “Flotection” armor plating along the sides to protect you from impact. The large zippered pocket has multiple compartments for stowing your rescue gear.
Check price and availability of the Astral Greenjacket PFD here.
A pink kayak life jacket does not necessarily equate to the best women’s kayak life vest. I mentioned before that it is important that a PFD fit you correctly. Since women are built differently than men, it makes sense that women need a PFD that is cut for a woman.
My wife thinks that the Stohlquist Flo is the best women’s kayak life vest. This Type III PFD has built-in support cups designed to fit a women’s torso instead of smush it. The Flo has 8 adjustable points to the make sure you get the perfect fit. It won’t ride up while you are paddling thanks to the Cinch-Strap that wraps diagonally across the body – only Stohlquists have it. You also have wide armholes so you get a good range of motion.
Another feature of the Flo that helps make it the best women’s kayak life jacket is the mesh back. It allows the air to flow, moves perspiration away from your body, and keeps you cool. It also allows for the PFD to sit higher on your back, which works well especially with the high back kayak seats on sit-on-top kayaks. The outside is made from ripstop material that is very durable The lower back waistband is padded with neoprene so it won’t chafe your skin if you are wearing a swimsuit. It also has good size snap pockets for storing things like your sunglasses.
Check prices and availability for the Stolhquist Flo here.
You want to be really careful about buying a cheap life vest. I personally would spend the money to make sure I got a kayaking life jacket that is durable and comfortable. However, I know some of you are just casual kayakers so you don’t want to spend a lot of money on something you won’t be using very often.
The cheap kayak PFD that I would recommend is the ONYX Universal Paddle Vest Universal. It is USCG Type III so you will be covered from a safety perspective. However, cheap kayak life vests may not be as durable or comfortable as the other kayak PFDs I recommended.
Check price and availability of the ONYX Universal Paddle Vest Universal here.
There are plenty of good life jackets for kayaking from various kayak pfd brands on the market. Personally, I prefer a standard rather than an inflatable PFD for kayaking. It is important that you find the most comfortable PFD for kayaking for you.
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Everyone loves a good deal and when it has to do with kayaking that is even better! Groupon is one of my favorite ways to save money and they actually have a lot of kayak Groupons. I have found Groupons for kayak rentals and tours which can really come in handy when you are traveling. Sometimes, I have even found Groupons for kayaks or accessories. The one thing about Groupons is that they don’t last forever. I am going to try to keep this page updated with the best current deals, so if you are looking for a kayak Groupon, keep checking this page for new deals. Last updated July 23, 2017.
Note: This page contains affiliate links see Disclosure for more information.
Delaware River Kayak and Wine Day Trip from Manhattan
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Self Guided Kayak Tour in Marine Park Brooklyn
Two Hour Guided Kayak Tour in San Francisco
Nature at Sunset Kayak Tours with Chicago River Canoe & Kayak
Kayak Rental from Kostal Paddle Port Washington New York
Two Hour Kayak Rental in San Diego, California
Two Hour Kayak Rental in Seattle Washington
Two Hour Tandem Kayak Rental in Dallas, Texas
Two Hour Kayak Rental in Chicago
Coming Soon….
Note: Many time, I have found kayaks and kayak accessories on Groupon that were actually priced higher than on Amazon or other sources. I will only include links here when the kayak Groupon is really a good deal.
Be sure to check out my buying guides if you are looking to buy a kayak:
The Best Fishing Kayak for Any Situation
You might also enjoy Kayaking Quotes to Get You Paddling.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links on this page with no additional cost to you. Please be assured I would not promote any product unless I believe that our readers will also benefit. The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.
You may have guessed that I am pretty obsessed with kayaking. If I am not kayaking, I am usually thinking about kayaking, talking about kayaking, researching about kayaking or wishing I was kayaking. So here are some of my favorite kayaking quotes that help me get through the days without paddling.
I’d rather be kayaking.
Everyone must believe in something. I believe I’ll go kayaking.
I don’t need therapy I just need to go kayaking.
Stress is caused by not kayaking enough.
Life’s short, paddle hard. Don’t forget your PFD!
Money can’t buy you happiness but it can buy you a kayak and that’s kind of the same thing.
Yes, I do have a retirement plan, I plan on kayaking.
Keep calm and paddle on!
Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.
A rough day at sea is better than any day at the office.
What happens on the river stays on the river.
If in doubt paddle out.
Kayaking is the answer. Who cares what the question is.
Kayak more. Worry less.
Smooth water does not make a skillful kayaker.
A day spent on the water is never a waste of time.
Happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to other kayakers.
Your kayak doesn’t have an expiration date.
Some beautiful waters can’t be discovered without getting lost.
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to kayak in the rain.
At the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair should be messy, and your eyes should be sparkling.
Hopefully, these kayaking quotes made you smile or maybe even chuckle. The stretches between kayaking trips can be rough. Don’t worry, you will be out on the water again soon!
What is your favorite kayaking quote? Or are there any funny kayak quotes that I might have missed? Please share it with me in the comments.
Also be sure to check out my recommendations for the best inflatable kayaks and the best fishing kayaks.
Until next time, keep on paddling!
The is a great kayak for a beginner or for someone that just wants to try kayaking. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but for a starter kayak, it works just fine. You won’t find a better quality kayak more affordable than the . Intex also makes a tandem version of this... Read More »
The is one of the most popular out there. This sit on top angler kayak can hold up to three people and is built for stability. It has many useful features at an affordable price. Ideal for a relaxing day fishing on the lake. Features 500 lb. capacity Sleek, one-piece design Ergonomic seating Elevated seating... Read More »
The is the best kayak for fishing in my opinion. If you are a serious angler, this is the high-end kayak that won’t disappoint. Of course, the Native Slayer is fast, stable, and comfortable. This sit on top fishing kayak is comparable to the Hobie Outback, but less expensive. Plus, I really like that you... Read More »