Life jackets and Impact vests
A good life jacket is mandatory equipment for all water sports. Therefore, the fit and function of it are important for you to want to use it. At Onwater we have a handpicked range of life jackets that we know are up to the task and suitable for various water sports.
If you are kayaking or SUPing, you should choose a life jacket that is flexible and shorter with plenty of room around the shoulders and arms. The life jacket should fit snugly but comfortably.
If you kite or windsurf, you should look for a shorter life jacket with a cutout for the harness hook. The life jacket should ideally not go lower than your navel.
If you are a sailor, it is important that the fit of the life jacket is good and that you can move freely in your life jacket.
The Impact Vest is made of neoprene with foam pads inside for extra buoyancy. It is best used as extra warmth directly on the skin during the warmer days of the year.
If you are going to use your impact vest with a harness, it needs to be "half-padded", meaning it doesn't have any foam pads at the bottom so that the harness can be attached over it.
If you wakeboard or jet ski, full padding is the way to go for extra buoyancy and also some protection in the event of a fall or impact.
First and foremost, you go by the fit and measurements when trying on your life jacket. Second, the weight – the buoyancy is usually the same and a life jacket that fits poorly will mean you don't want to use it.
