Canoeing is plenty of fun, and when you have the right gear, you will feel safe and have even more fun with your canoe. The life jacket is one of the most important gear items you will need for your canoeing adventure.
What is the best life jacket for canoeing?
It can be a daunting task for beginners to find the right life jacket, and with so many different features to consider, many people pick the first one. However, the best life jacket for canoeing should be comfortable and easy for you to wear. It should also be comfortable when you have to wear it for prolonged periods.
Life jackets can be daunting to buy, but we have done some research. This article aims to help you understand the best life jackets for canoeing and how to find the best options for your needs. The small buyer’s guide will help you understand the most important features before making your decision.
Key Features To Look For A Life Jacket For Canoeing
Before diving into some of the top life jackets, we have to consider some essential features. Regardless of your life jacket preference, these features need to be considered. It is not only for canoeing, but whenever you need to buy a new life jacket for your protection, keep these features in mind:
Life Jacket Type
If you have not been keeping up with the world of life jackets, this might seem foreign to you. However, you need to choose if you want an automatic or manual life jacket. The automatic life jacket will automatically inflate once you hit the water. Alternatively, you will need to inflate the other lifejacket manually.
Buoyancy
Since the life jackets are designed to help you float when you fall into the water, you need to consider the life jacket’s buoyancy. It is measured using Newton’s, and there are a couple of factors to keep in mind. If you are in the ocean, you might need a more powerful life jacket than sailing on your local lake.
Comfort
You ought to be wearing your life jacket most of the time when you are on the water. However is the life jacket is not comfortable, many people might choose to take it off. We don’t recommend that you remove your life jacket, which means comfort is paramount for selecting the right option. To make sure the unit is comfortable, you should look at the fit and ensure that you get the right size.
Sprayhood
The Sprayhood is not an essential feature, but it could save your life. It does not often come with most life jackets, but you can fall into the water with the spray hood, and it should protect you from breathing in the water. While this might not be something you need on lakes, it could keep you from swallowing seawater when you are in the ocean.
Brand Quality
When speaking of comfort, we are also speaking of peace of mind. When it comes to buying life jackets, you don’t want to be buying from a brand you have never heard of. Life jackets can save your life and ensure maximum comfort when you are on the water. You can get this by looking for some of the high-end brands on the market today.
Accessories
Finally, there are plenty of accessories on life jackets that many people often miss. However, these accessories can make a big difference, and we would recommend that you look for some of them. The whistle is one of the most important, and it will enable you to signal to someone that you have fallen in the water and where you are.
You might also want to look at lights, especially if you are going out on the water at night. There are many other minor accessories, and you will have the prerogative to spice up your life jacket the best way you see fit.
Top 3 Life Jackets For Canoeing
Now that you know how to go about selecting the best life jackets, you should also be wondering which of them we would select. Fortunately, we have you covered, and the following section includes three of the top options. If you are looking for a great life jacket, these options should be at the top of your list to ensure you get the best:
Yukon Sport Paddle Life Vest
Where to Get It – Check it out on Amazon
Pros:
- Reliable brand
- Lightweight
- Breathable mesh on the sides
- Numerous colors available
Cons:
- No cons
Bottom Line: The Yukon Sport Paddle Life Vest is one of the top options on the market today, and it comes with some high-end features. The unit is designed to give you peace of mind, and it has all the accessories you might need.
Airhead Adult SWOOSH Kwik-Dry Neolite Flex Life Vest
Where to Get It – Check it out on Amazon
Pros:
- Lightweight construction
- Holds more than 90-pounds
- USCG Approved Type III
- Quick-dry materials
Cons:
- Expensive
Bottom Line: The Airhead Adult SWOOSH Kwik-Dry Neolite Flex Life Vest is one of the best options for avid outdoorsmen. It is a lightweight jacket, and it features a couple of accessories. However, it might be a bit expensive. It also dries out rapidly.
Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest
Where to Get It – Check it out on Amazon
Pros:
- Breathable design
- Numerous adjustments
- Includes neoprene padding
- Dries out rapidly
Cons:
- Sizes are small
Bottom Line: If you are a smaller person, you might want to consider the Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest. It is one of the top entry-level options on the market today, and it comes in a variety of different colors. The life jacket should be perfect for smaller individuals.
What Is The Best Life Jacket For Canoeing Summary
When selecting a life jacket, you will need to make sure that you take it seriously. Life jackets can save your life, and this is why we have gone through so much trouble to find these options. However, we would love to see some of your comments if you think we have missed the best life jackets for canoeing.
