How to Purchase the Right Size Life Jacket

The U.S. Coast Guard requires each person on a boat, canoe, kayak or personal watercraft to wear an approved life jacket (called a PFD or personal flotation device), or have ready access to a stowed life jacket. Children 12 years old and younger must wear a properly fitting PFD when the boat is underway. Different types and sizes of life jackets are available for a variety of recreational water activities such as white water paddling, wake boarding and general boating. Choose a life jacket for your sport and try it on for size and fit.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Scale
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the thickest part around your chest and around your waist. Write these measurements down along with your weight.

    • 2

      Select a life jacket or PFD (personal flotation device) based on your needs and your swimming skills. For example, PFDs are available for water skiing, wakeboarding or off-shore boating that provide appropriate range of motion and may have automatic inflation for strong swimmers. Standard PFDs are composed of buoyant material which are designed to keep a non-swimmer afloat, facing up.

    • 3

      Choose a selection of PFDs for your water activity in the size based on weight range and age category (such as infant, child, youth or adult).

    • 4

      Measure the inside of the PFD around the chest and the waist to determine whether it will fit snugly with a few inches extra to accommodate heavier clothing, if applicable for your activity (such as a sweater for off-shore boating or wet suit or sweat shirt for ocean kayaking). Remove any models that are too small or too large from your selection.

    • 5

      Don the PFD and secure the straps and buckles for a snug (but not tight) fit.

    • 6

      Move your arms up and hold them straight over your head.

    • 7

      Ask the sales clerk or a friend to grasp the top of the arm hole (both sides) and firmly tug the PFD upwards.

    • 8

      Check that the gap in the arm hole of the pulled PFD does not reach above your ears and that the front openings fall below your chin.