Should a life jacket fit tight?

Your life jacket should fit snugly without being too tight. The term the Coast Guard uses is “comfortably snug”. If you can't make your life jacket fit snugly, then it's too big. If you can't comfortably put it on and fasten it, it's too small.

How do you know if a life jacket is sized correctly?

Use the “touchdown” test to see if your life jacket fits properly; Lift your arms above your head as if calling a touchdown. The chest portion of the jacket should not touch your chin when you look left, right or over your shoulder. If the jacket passes this test, it most likely fits.

Is it better to have a life jacket too big or too small?

According to the Coast Guard, if a life jacket is too big, it won't keep your head above the water. And if it's too small, it might not have the buoyancy required to keep your body afloat. Remember, a life jacket sized for an adult will not work for a child.

How do you know if a life jacket is too big?

MOST IMPORTANT Life Jacket Fitting Guide: If you can put more than 3 finger widths in the gap between your shoulders and the shoulder area of the life vest, your life vest is too big. That vest will not keep your head above water: NEVER have a huge gap in the shoulders.

Do life jackets stretch out?

Nylon life jackets do not have stretch properties and will fit similar in and out of water. They typically do not include a zipper and will have more than 2 buckles to ensure a snug fit. Make sure to tighten the buckles as much as possible to achieve the proper snug fit.

Life Jacket Selection and Fit

What happens if your life jacket is too small?

Proper fit is key to a life jacket performing as designed. If it's too small, you won't stay afloat; if too large, it will ride up over your face or otherwise reposition. It should be snug, like a glove, yet flexible enough to go through multiple motions for your particular water activity.

Why does my life jacket ride up?

If there is excess room above the openings and the life jacket rides up over a boater's chin or face, it does NOT fit properly. A snug fit in these areas signals a properly fitting life jacket.

What is life jacket sizing for adults based on?

Choosing the Right Life Jacket

Adult sizing is based on chest size and body weight. Check that all of the closures (zippers, buckles and clips) can be properly secured. Choose a life jacket that suits the type of activities you plan on doing.

How tight should a buoyancy aid be?

Buoyancy aids that pull on over the head and those with front openings are equally suitable. The aid should fit you snugly and have a belt or drawcord to secure it at the waist.

What does 90 lbs mean on a life jacket?

ADULT >90 LBS. Chest size is used on ADULT devices to further define the fit. Chest sizes are not used on all others.

How is a kids life jacket supposed to fit?

How Should a Life Jacket Fit a Child? The fit must be snug enough that the child must not be able to slip out of the lifejacket! Life jackets for infants and smaller children (less than 50 pounds) should have a crotch strap to ensure a snug fit, as well as a large float collar for head support.

How should a kids life vest fit?

How Should a Life Jacket Fit a Child? Children's life jackets must fit snugly so the child can't slip out of it. Life jackets designed for infants and children under 50 pounds should also have a crotch strap and float collar for head support. A good way to test snugness is to lift the child by the shoulders of the PFD.

Do life jackets go by weight?

200 pounds x 15% = 30 pounds.

30 pounds of you is going to float all on its own. You only have 10 pounds of dense material that needs to be kept afloat. Your life jacket is rated for 17 pounds and is now more than capable of keeping you afloat. In our example, a person would need to weigh 350 pounds.

How much weight can a life jacket support?

Since the average person in water needs about seven to 12 additional pounds of buoyancy to float, a life jacket does not have to support the entire physical weight of a human body. Instead, it supports those seven to 12 pounds, with a few pounds to spare.

Can I drown with a life jacket on?

Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water, or eventually drowns from numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.

What is the difference between a life jacket and a life vest?

The terms PFD, lifejacket, life vest, life preserver, buoyancy vest and buoyancy aid are used interchangeably for the same item, all with the same key purpose; to prevent persons drowning. A PFD is a garment designed to keep a conscious person afloat and to assist with buoyancy in the water.

Which life jacket is appropriate for adults only?

Type III – Inherently buoyant recommended uses and features:

Supervised activities, such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and during personal watercraft operation. Minimum Buoyancy: 15.5 lbs. for adult size.

How do I stop my life jacket from riding up?

Product Details. NRS PFD Leg Straps are an extra safety measure that you will really appreciate if you go for an unexpected swim. They help prevent ride up of your life jacket and keep your head higher above the water.

When should you discard a life jacket?

There is no expiry date for a personal floatation device and/or lifejacket, but it becomes void if it has been repaired or altered; therefore, it is no longer usable and must be replaced and discarded for recycling.

What size life jacket should I have?

While the child is wearing the life jacket, pull it up at their shoulders—if the vest touches the child's ears, it's too big for them. Make sure the child is comfortable in the vest—or they won't want to wear it! Never buy a size larger than you need hoping the child will 'grow into it'.

Can you wear a too big life jacket?

In the summertime when it's hot, no one wants to wear anything that's tight, binding or uncomfortable, so be sure to choose a life jacket that isn't too small, pinches or rubs. Likewise, don't choose a life jacket that's too big. In the water, life jackets that are too big can shift, ride up or even slide off.

Should a child's PFD fit loosely?

The life jacket should fit snugly even without them. Be sure to test the fit by picking your child up by the shoulder straps. If the chin and ears slip through, then the PFD is too loose.

What is the safest life jacket for a child?