Best Life jacket for fishing 2021: A life jacket is a must-have for fishing. A simple reason is that it provides fantastic reliability and can save your life without any exaggeration. Not just fishing, a life jacket also keeps you safe during other activities on the water such as kayaking, swimming, or boating.
Life jackets are available at different prices with different features, some are cheaper with fewer features, others are expensive with advanced features. Well! whatever be the case, this buying guide includes some of the best life jackets for fishing. Further, it will also tell you the types of life jackets and the important things that you should consider while buying a life jacket for fishing.
Before that, take a look at our quick list of the Top 2 Best Life Jackets for Fishing without the details.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | O'Neill Men's Reactor USCG Life Vest, Black/Black/Black,X-Large | PrimeEligible | Buy on Amazon | |
 | ONYX Kayak Fishing Life Jacket, Universal, Tan | Prime | Buy on Amazon |
Best Life jacket for fishing Reviews 2021
So what are you waiting for? Just scroll down and unveil the list of best life jackets for fishing, furthermore, the article also includes a compact buying guide about life jackets.
#1. O’Neill Men’s Reactor USCG Life Vest
- USCG Approved Personal Flotation Device; Perfect for Wake Sports, Waterskiing, Tubing, and Swimming
- Segmented Foam Core And Anatomical Flex Points Allow Unrestricted Movement
- Quick Release Safety Buckles And Heavy Duty Front Zipper Create an Unparalleled Sense of Security
- Minimal Bulk Design Allows Full Mobility, While Expansion Panels Enable a Comfortable Fit
- Relaxed Fit For The Water Sports Enthusiast Who Wants Some Room To Move
- Neoprene vests are meant to fit fairly snugly when dry. Its important that they do fit snug. When neoprene gets wet it expands so the in order for the vest to fit properly it needs to be snug.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The O’Neil Men’s Reactor USCG Life Vest is made of Neoprene-bonded panels: 100% polyester and features mesh panels of 100% polyester, which means you can hand wash it in cold water or dip dry as per your convenience. The segmented foam core and anatomical flex points allow unrestricted movement. The minimal bulk design allows full mobility. It features a full zip-up front with dual seatbelt buckles. It is equipped with a closed Cell PVC Marine Foam that keeps you afloat.
This stylish life jacket boasts trendy brand graphics throughout thereby it doesn’t only keep you safe but also makes sure that your style is up to the mark. It is approved by the US-coast guard. Neoprene vests are meant to fit fairly snugly when dry. They must fit snug. The key feature of this life jacket is, when neoprene gets wet it expands so for the vest to fit properly it needs to be snug. Moreover, we can say that it is a perfect fit for water sports enthusiasts who wants some room to move.
Pros
- Ensures full mobility
- High safety standards
- Perfect fit for water sport enthusiasts
Cons
- Straps get tangled while fishing
- It doesn’t have some feature to make it more comfortable but on the other hand, the jacket is durable
#2. ONYX Kayak Fishing Life Jacket, Tan
- Six adjustment straps to cinch vest up for a snug fit
- High foam back accommodates high back seats
- Pockets designed for your essential gear
- Breathable mesh lower back
- Comfortable neoprene shoulder pads
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Here’s another feature-rich life jacket for fishing enthusiasts. If you’re looking for a great value product, this Kayak Fishing life jacket by ONYX will be perfect for you. ONYX has made sure to feature a lot of pockets in this life jacket so that the person who wears it can have full access to the tools. The best part is that all the pockets are zipped thus you don’t have to worry about your belongings at all. It also has an opening top pocket that let radios, pliers, and other pieces of equipment to slip down and clamp securely to your vest, keeping them easily accessible. The multiple functions that hold your essential gear make your entire fishing experience one of fun and ease.
This jacket is very comfortable that people don’t even feel it on their body. Most of them even forget to remove it after leaving the water. It has a comfortable high back that doesn’t get in the way of your Kayak seats. Lastly, the life jacket features a mesh back that ensures breathability.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable and high quality
- Perfect for professional fishermen
- Great flexibility for recreational activities
Cons
- Plastic zipper
Types Of Life Jackets
Since we’re talking about life jackets, it is important to understand the various types of life jackets before actually buying one. The different types of jackets life jackets come with different types of features. Scroll down to know each type of life jacket and choose which type will fir your needs.
Offshore Life Jacket (Type-I)
The Offshore Life Jacket, also known as Type-I life jacket, is the most common type which is suitable for all kinds of water. This type of jacket is already inflated and made of bulky foam. While featuring bright colours, most Offshore Life Jacket also consists of reflective tape. The main feature of Offshore life jacket is that the person faces up if unconscious. However, type-I jackets are not suitable for calm water.
Near-Shore Vests (Type-II)
The Near-shore jacket is also known as Type-II life jacket. The Near-Shore Vests are not suitable for open water. Also, the Type-II jackets are quite cheaper than the Type-I. These jackets are perfect for fishing in calm rivers or lakes, boating etc. Unlike Type-I, these jackets will not make sure to keep your face up in case of any emergency. Lastly, these jackets are very bulky and most people don’t feel comfortable with the level of freedom these jackets provide.
Floatation Aids (Type-III)
The Floatation Aids are made for perfect rescuing. Also known as Type-III life jackets, in the Floatation Aids, the person doesn’t get many restraints by the life jackets. On the other hand, these jackets are also very comfortable.
Throwable Devices (Type-IV)
The Type-IV PFDs are used as a backup to the Floatation aids, that is type-III life jackets. In other words, the throwable device is not made for unconscious people or non-swimmers but for avid swimmers who just need a back up to their flotation aids. These devices majorly include ring buoys or cushions that are thrown into the water.
Special-uses Devices (Type-V)
As the names suggest, the Special-Uses Devices are meant to be used for some special activities. The special-uses devices are also known as Type-V jackets, you can keep all the special life jackets in this category for example life jackets for dogs.
Standard Or Inflatable PFDs: Which is better?
The primary task of a life jacket is to use a piece of foam to provide adequate floatation on water and keep the person safe. Thereby, inflatable life vests can be a different option for fishing. You can make a choice based on your requirements. Here we have highlighted major differences between Standards PFDs and Inflatable PFDs so that you can understand which one is better for you.
Standard PFD
The standard PFDs contain foam in them and shaped into panels and are commonly used in Kayaking. Most of the manufacturers prefer to contour the panels to add extra comfort. Since these standard PFDs are inherently buoyant, they provide perfect floatation without any manual instructions.
Additionally, standards PFDs are very reliable and chances of them failing are very rare. On the other hand, the standard PFDs don’t even require much maintenance. All it requires is to keep them clean and store them out of the Sun. Lastly, the major benefit of standard PFDs is that they offer more storage space than the inflatable PFDs.
Inflatable PFD
Inflatable PFDs are known to have a smart and slim profile. Unlike standard PFDs, inflatable PFDs provide you with great freedom of movement and let you perform various on-water activities comfortably. The inflatable PFDs can be inflated in two ways: 1. when you pull a draw tab, or automatically when the vest is submerged in water.
Inflatable life jackets are recommended for week swimmers or children.
Conclusion
Now after you’ve carefully gone through this whole buying guide, you’re aware of why a life jacket is important for you and what you should keep in mind while buying it. We hope that the list of best life jackets for fishing was helpful enough for you and you end up choosing the best life jacket to enhance your fishing experience next time.
According to the statistics, a faulty life jacket can cause many drownings. Hence, last but not the least, you should always check that the life jacket you’re buying is coast-guard approved. Considering the number of drowning cases, it is advisable to always pick a jacket that is approved by the coast guard.
Material is also an important factor that should be considered while buying any product online. In offline shopping, you get an option to check the material in hand before actually buying the product. But in online shopping you don’t get that option, thus you should carefully read the reviews and features of the products. Especially, when it comes to life jackets, the material becomes even important because everyone desire to buy a best life jacket for fishing with maximum durability and long life.