ONYX LIFE VEST FEATURES HOW TO
ONYX LIFE VEST FEATURES PROFESSIONAL

The average adult requires 10 to 12 pounds of added buoyancy to keep afloat, but alas, we are not all average people. This helps your body float to the surface of water more effectively. The material in your life jacket, either foam or air (if you’re using an inflatable PFD), displaces a larger quantity of water than your body would alone. Buoyancy/Floatationīuoyancy indicates the amount of buoyant force needed to keep you floating in such a way that your chin stays above water. All of our recommendations have been approved. Its process is thorough and highly regulated, setting a high standard for quality. To start, I recommend checking whether your potential new PFD has been approved by the US Coast Guard, which certifies all kinds of flotation devices. For fishing vests, accessories-like big usable pockets-are king. Kayaking and rafting, which require dynamic movement and demand high flotation, require both, and will reward you for splurging on a smart design that maximizes mobility and minimizes bulk, while keeping high levels of buoyancy. By contrast, you want the thinnest possible jacket while sailing, since you need maximum mobility, and only need emergency flotation. For water skiing, as an example, you need high flotation, as you’ll likely crash into the water at some point, but you won’t need the highest possible mobility. Regardless of the sport, they only vary based on a few key factors, including movement, floatation, and accessories. How Do You Plan to Use It?ĭifferent life jackets are designed with specific types of activities in mind. Keep these parameters in mind and you’ll be set for a happy and safe summer on the water. When purchasing a life jacket, safety is the top consideration, but other factors should come into play as well. What to Consider When Shopping for an Adult Life Jacket → Looking for kids' life jackets? Check out our story on the Best Kids' Life Jackets For Summer. I’ve had life jackets save my life in dozens of scenarios including breaking my nose mid-run while kayaking the Urubamba River in Peru, cracking a rib while kayaking the Scott River in Northern California, and too many ill-advised cliff/bridge jumps to count. I have tested hundreds of life jackets since then, both on my own adventures and while writing for publications like Paddler Magazine (RIP), Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Outside Magazine, and Popular Mechanics. I was so excited that I put it on and immediately tested its buoyancy in a frigid swimming pool. It was a cerulean blue Lotus Designs (now Astral) low-profile whitewater kayaking jacket and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

ONYX LIFE VEST FEATURES PROFESSIONAL

The Expert: I received my first life jacket as a present from my folks for Christmas in 1999, in anticipation of my first season working as a professional raft guide.

Best Inflatable: Mustang Survival MIT 70 Automatic Inflatable PFD.

Best All-Purpose: Kokatat Proteus Life Vest.

Best Budget: Onyx General Purpose Boating Jacket.

If you go out and buy a great PFD that feels comfortable and brings features to the table, the best life jacket may feel more like a fashion accessory than a mandatory safety measure. Most people hate them because they're borrowing a cheap one that doesn't fit properly. Wearing a life jacket does not have to be a chore, though. Those laws are around for good reason: Just like a seatbelt, you never think that you’ll need a life jacket until the moment when you really need one. In fact, they are required for boating in many parts of the US. It’s the single most important piece of protective gear you have when things go sideways in a kayak or on water skis.

Box Dimensions: 4'H x 12'W x 20'L WT: 1.Life jackets or “personal floatation devices,” if you prefer, are a non-negotiable part of many water sports.

Recreational - Type V (with Type III Performance).

Inflation handle clips to life jacket to prevent snag hazards.

Use Onyx Rearming Kit #1351 for this product.

ONYX LIFE VEST FEATURES HOW TO

Always read your Owner's Manual for the proper way to initially arm your life jacket with the CO2 cartridge, and how to re-arm it after it has been inflated. Inflatable life jackets can be reused after each inflation with a new ReArm Kit. Coast Guard approved manual inflatable life jacket is recommended for persons 16 years of age and older and over 80 lbs. The soft neoprene neckline provides all-day comfort and the durable fabric resists tears and punctures. This lightweight, low-profile vest features comfort, safety, and peace of mind without knowing you have it on, until you may need it.

It is equipped with backup oral inflation when needed. The Onyx M-24 Essential Inflatable Life Jacket provides Manual pull cord inflation where the wearer pulls the Inflation handle. M-24 Manual Inflatable Life Jacket - Red - Adult Universal

Onyx life vest features