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- #5 MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest From Onyx
- #4 Inflatable Life Jacket From Eyson
- #3 Buoyancy Vest From Appmoo
- #2 Chinook Fly Fishing Vest From NRS
- #1 Fit Life Jacket From Stohlquist
The 5 Best Kayaking Life Jackets Of 2021
Kayaking is incredibly popular as a water sport, and many states require you to carry a life jacket when you’re on the water. To make sure you’re protected, we’ve put together this list of the 5 best kayak life jackets available in 2021. When you’re on the water, it’s important to have a reliable life jacket. If you’re an experienced kayaker, you’ll want a vest that fits well, offers plenty of features, is lightweight, and easily deployable.
We’ve looked at all of the leading kayak PFDs, (Personal Floating Devices), and in this list, you’ll find our recommendations for the best kayak life jackets on the market.
The items mentioned in this guide are in no exact order, so be sure to stay to the end, so you don’t miss the perfect model for your needs.
To give you this top 5 review, we have looked at 86 products and analyzed 3474 customer reviews.
#1. Fit Life Jacket From Stohlquist
Best Overall Life Jacket
Best of the Best
The Stohlquist Fit Life Jacket is made from a recycled polymer and will keep you afloat for as long as you’re wearing it. It has adjustable neck and shoulder straps, and an extra-large chest opening for extra comfort and freedom of movement. While it’s one of the most comfortable jacket that we’ve looked at, it has a higher price tag than most life jackets and larger size isn’t as universally available as other life jackets.
- High-Quality Materials
- High Level Of Comfort
- Dries Quickly
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You will enjoy the versatility, comfort, and easy-to-use features of the Stohlquist Fit Life Jacket. It stands out for its excellent value, and its material is of the highest quality. It has adjustable neck and shoulder straps, and an extra-large chest opening for extra comfort and freedom of movement.
You should choose this life jacket because of its high level of comfort and versatile fit. It will fit all body types, and its lightweight design will keep you afloat for as long as you’re wearing it.
The Stohlquist Fit Life Jacket is lightweight and made from a recycled polymer, so it dries quickly and it can be stored by hanging it in the attached drying/storage loops when not in use.
While it’s one of the most comfortable jackets that we’ve looked at, it does have its downfalls. It has a higher price tag than most life jackets, and its larger size isn’t as universally available as other life jackets.
We also found that the shoulder straps can get in the way of normal paddling. These things are relatively minor, though, and we don’t think you will be able to find another life jacket that fits you better if you’re on the water for any length of time.
Regardless, this is our top recommendation for anyone in the market for a new life jacket.
#2. Chinook Fly Fishing Vest From Nrs
Best Fishing PFD for Anglers
Top Pick
NRS Chinook PFD has all the right features for being a great fishing vest. It has critical features like plentiful pockets, a high-back design, and shoulder adjustments. The foam flotation is quite comfortable, and the zippers make it easy to zip up. Anglers who spend a lot of time on the water will find it hard to pass up on this product.
- Ample Storage Space
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Fly fishing can be a lot of fun, but it can also be incredibly dangerous if you are not adequately protected. If you are in a kayak, for instance, you need to be able to float to safety because the currents can quickly carry you under the water. For this, you need a PFD that will keep you afloat in case of capsizing. This is the best PFD for anglers because of its high-quality construction, excellent flotation, and ample storage space.
The NRS Chinook has all the right features for being a great fishing vest. It has critical features like plentiful pockets, a high-back design, and shoulder adjustments that give you a full range of motion when casting or paddling.
The foam flotation is quite comfortable, and the zippers make it easy to zip up and secure to your body. Anglers who spend a lot of time on the water will find it hard to pass up on this product.
#3. Buoyancy Vest From Appmoo
Best Snorkeling Vest
Top Pick
The Appmoo Vest has a high buoyancy and can keep you afloat above the water. While it can be used for any water sport, it is especially great if you also love to snorkel because of its high Buoyancy. And while other brands might have problems with their products, APPMOO’s customer service is great.
- Comfortable & Breathable
- High Buoyancy
- High Quality
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The Appmoo Vest has a high buoyancy and can keep you floaty and afloat above the water. Your friends and family will definitely love it, as it is so comfortable and breathable. While it can be used for any water sport, it is especially great if you also love to snorkel because of its high Buoyancy.
And while other brands might have problems with their products, APPMOO’s customer service is great. This snorkel vest is reliable and of high quality, so you don’t have to worry about your vest when on the water.
#4. Inflatable Life Jacket From Eyson
Best Inflatable
Top Pick
The Eyson inflatable life jacket is a top-selling option and a clear choice if you want maximum comfort and visibility. It features an all-around high-quality design with comfortable neoprene material and an easy-to-use oral inflation port. While the Eyson is an excellent option for boating or fishing, some people have complaints about the comfort of the harness straps.
- 5 Seconds Inflation Time
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The Eyson inflatable life jacket is a top-selling option and a clear choice if you want maximum comfort and visibility. It features an all-around high-quality design with comfortable neoprene material, an easy-to-use oral inflation port, and highly reflective tape to help you be seen by passing boats.
Its high-quality CO2 cartridge makes it one of the most efficient life jackets on the market, with an inflation time of less than five seconds and a loss of less than 5% over a 24 hour period.
It has a high-frequency whistle attachment to call for help, along with reflective tape on the chest and waistline. While the Eyson is an excellent option for boating or fishing, some people have complaints about the comfort of the harness straps.
They say that the position of the back harness strap can be a little awkward, and the positioning of the central belt strap can create an unwieldy mess if you’re sitting in a boat.
However, we think that this is a top-notch life vest that is perfect for boating, fishing, or any watersports you may be into.
#5. MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest From Onyx
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Value
Onyx MoveVent Curve is a newcomer to our lineup but quickly rose to the top of our competitive field. It has a low profile full-body zipper that’s easy to use and does a good job of keeping the warmth in while allowing you to lean back in for the paddle. While we didn’t find the ventilation system to be particularly effective, this model does have good back coverage and adequate arm ventilation.
- No Pockets
- Mesh Ventilation Panels
- 4 Styles
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The Onyx MoveVent Curve is a newcomer to our lineup but quickly rose to the top of our competitive field. It stands out with its comfortable vertical slab design that allows for more freedom of movement than we expected and its price tag that’s less than half of the competition.
It has no pockets, and there are mesh ventilation panels on the vest front, and the lower back to keep you cool. It has a low profile full-body zipper that’s easy to use and does a good job of keeping the warmth in while allowing you to lean back in for the paddle.
Its material is also breathable, and its flexibility helps make it a great choice for SUP and other general on-water activities. While we didn’t find the front ventilation system to be particularly effective, this model does have good back coverage and adequate space to move your arms.
Its 200D nylon fabric is lightweight and breathable, and its absence of pockets or other features makes it a bit boring. It’s certainly not a flashy or high-end model, but we were pleasantly surprised by its comfort and performance while remaining on a budget.
