Best Life Jackets of 2025

Luke Dobson Avatar
Luke Dobson
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Life jackets are essential safety devices designed to keep individuals afloat in water and prevent drowning. They come in various sizes and styles, from inflatable to foam-filled, and are suitable for different water activities such as boating, fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Life jackets are made with durable materials and are designed to provide buoyancy and support to the wearer's head and body. It is highly recommended to wear a life jacket whenever engaging in water activities to ensure personal safety and prevent accidents.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Osprey 50N Buoyancy Aid for Watersports Cover #TOP 1
Osprey 50N Buoyancy Aid for Watersports
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Manual Life Jacket Cover #TOP 2
Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Manual Life Jacket
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Bluewave Sport 150N Manual Gas Lifejacket Cover #TOP 3
Bluewave Sport 150N Manual Gas Lifejacket
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Life Jackets

Osprey 50N Buoyancy Aid for Watersports

BGG1756
Osprey 50N Buoyancy Aid for Watersports Cover
Osprey | Adult Buoyancy Aid 50N, PFD Swim Vest, Waterproof Float Jacket for Watersports, Paddleboarding and Kayaking Red S/M

The Osprey Buoyancy Aid is a fully certified jacket, ensuring your safety while paddleboarding or kayaking. With 50N of buoyancy, it provides reliable flotation for a variety of watersports. The jacket features high-visibility yellow straps, enhancing your visibility on the water, which is crucial for safety. Its slimline profile allows you to move freely, ensuring comfort during your activities. Additionally, the jacket is fully adjustable with shoulder and waist straps, allowing you to customise the fit for maximum safety and comfort.

What We Like
Fully certified for safety
High buoyancy for support
Improved visibility on water
Adjustable for comfort
Durable material for longevity

Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Manual Life Jacket

9710NBM
Navy Blue
Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Manual Life Jacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Non-Harness Manual Life Jacket - Navy Blue

The Crewsaver Crewfit Sport Jacket is designed for safety and convenience on the water. It features a manual firing system, allowing you to activate it when needed, ensuring you have control over your safety. The robust outer cover enhances durability, protecting the jacket from wear and tear. With a short profile 33g CO2 cylinder and Exolok cylinder safe, you can trust its reliability in emergencies. Additionally, the buckle adjuster accommodates various sizes, making it suitable for different users and ensuring a comfortable fit.

What We Like
Durable outer cover
Manual firing system
Adjustable size
Reliable CO2 cylinder
#TOP 3

Bluewave Sport 150N Manual Gas Lifejacket

Navy,Yellow
One Size
Bluewave Sport 150N Manual Gas Lifejacket Cover
Bluewave Sport 150N Navy Manual Gas Lifejacket

The Bluewave Sport 150N Lifejacket is designed for safety and convenience on the water. With a pull cord to inflate, you can quickly and easily activate the lifejacket when needed. It is CE certified for sale in the UK, ensuring it meets safety standards. Supplied ready to wear, there is no need for complex setup, allowing you to focus on enjoying your time on the water. Additionally, the bright yellow inflating bladder enhances visibility, making it easier for others to spot you in an emergency.

What We Like
Quick inflation pull cord
CE certified for safety
Ready to wear out of the box
High visibility in emergencies
#TOP 4

Bluewave Sport 150N Automatic Lifejacket

blue,black,red
Bluewave Sport 150N Automatic Lifejacket Cover
Bluewave Sport 150N Harness Navy Automatic Lifejacket

The Bluewave 150N Lifejacket offers automatic inflation, ensuring that you will be safely buoyant when you need it most. CE approved for sale in the UK, this lifejacket guarantees compliance with safety standards. The inclusion of a metal buckle and D ring enhances durability and allows for secure attachment of accessories. With its bright yellow inflating bladder, you can be easily spotted in emergencies, providing you with peace of mind while enjoying water activities.

What We Like
Automatic inflation for safety
CE approved for UK use
Durable metal buckle and D ring
High visibility yellow bladder
#TOP 5

Harveys Automatic 150N Fishing Lifejacket

Harveys
216i
Olive Green
Adult
Harveys Automatic 150N Fishing Lifejacket Cover
Harveys Lightweight Automatic 150N Fishing Lifejacket

The Harveys Fishing Lifejacket features automatic inflation, ensuring that it will activate quickly when you need it most. CE approved for sale in the UK, this lifejacket meets safety standards, giving you peace of mind while you're out on the water. Its high cut design allows for comfortable movement while wading and fishing, making it ideal for anglers. Additionally, it comes supplied ready to wear with a gas canister included, so you can start using it immediately without any hassle.

What We Like
Automatic inflation for quick safety
CE approved for UK safety
High cut design for comfort
Ready to wear with gas canister
#TOP 6

Waveline Adult Black Automatic Lifejacket 165N

Waveline
WLLJAUTOB
Black
Adult
Waveline Adult Black Automatic Lifejacket 165N Cover
Waveline Adult Black Automatic Lifejacket. 165N ISO Approved

The Waveline Automatic Lifejacket offers 165N buoyancy, ensuring you stay afloat in emergencies. The integrated quick entry waistbelt makes putting on the lifejacket quick and easy, providing convenience when time is crucial. Its 33g CO2 gas cylinder ensures automatic inflation, giving you peace of mind while engaging in water activities. The Velcro closure cover enhances security, preventing any accidental openings and allowing you to enjoy your time on the water with confidence.

What We Like
High buoyancy for safety
Quick and easy to wear
Automatic inflation system
Secure Velcro closure
#TOP 7

Bluewave Adult 150N Automatic Lifejacket

Red,Yellow
One Size
Bluewave Adult 150N Automatic Lifejacket Cover
Bluewave Adult Lifejacket 150N Harness Red Automatic

The Bluewave 150N Lifejacket is designed with your safety in mind. Its automatic inflation feature ensures that the jacket will inflate when submerged in water, providing immediate buoyancy. Being CE approved for sale in the UK, you can trust its quality and compliance with safety standards. The metal buckle and D-ring offer secure fastening and attachment options, enhancing your comfort and security. Additionally, it includes a gas canister, ensuring that you are always ready for unexpected situations while enjoying water activities.

What We Like
Automatic inflation for safety
CE approved quality
Secure metal buckle
Includes gas canister
Bright bladder for visibility
#TOP 8

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Life Jacket

9710BLM
Black
One Size
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Life Jacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Non-Harness Manual Life Jacket - Black

The Crewsaver Crewfit Life Jacket is designed for comfort and safety. It features a crotch strap that ensures the jacket stays securely in place, giving you peace of mind while you enjoy water activities. The buckle adjuster allows you to customise the fit, accommodating a range of sizes for a snug feel. Additionally, the short profile 33g CO2 cylinder with Exolok cylinder safe provides reliable inflation when you need it most. With a robust outer cover, this jacket is built to withstand the rigours of the outdoors.

What We Like
Comfortable 3D shape
Secure crotch strap
Customisable fit
Reliable CO2 inflation
Durable outer cover
#TOP 9

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Harness Lifejacket

9715NBA
Navy Blue
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Harness Lifejacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Harness Automatic Lifejacket Navy Blue

The Crewsaver Crewfit Lifejacket is designed for safety and comfort on the water. Featuring an automatic firing mechanism, it ensures quick deployment in emergencies, giving you peace of mind. The robust outer cover enhances durability, making it suitable for various marine conditions. Its short profile 33g CO2 cylinder with Exolok cylinder safe means you can rely on it without added bulk. Additionally, the buckle adjuster allows you to adjust the fit for a range of sizes, providing you with a snug and secure feel while you enjoy your time boating.

What We Like
Automatic firing mechanism
Durable outer cover
Compact CO2 cylinder
Adjustable buckle for fit

Conwy Kayaks CK-50N Buoyancy Aid PFD

Black and Red
Conwy Kayaks CK-50N Buoyancy Aid PFD Cover
Conwy Kayaks CK Buoyancy Aid PFD Personal Flotation Device | Lightweight Foam | Unisex (Extra Large)

The Conwy Kayaks CK-50N is a stylish and secure unisex buoyancy aid designed to enhance your water activities. It features a secure front buckle and a high-quality YKK zip, along with a supplemental tie that prevents accidental opening, ensuring your safety while yachting, jet skiing, or paddle boarding. The adjustable bottom hem helps keep the vest in place, providing you with comfort and confidence as you enjoy your time in the water. With its excellent safety characteristics, this buoyancy aid complies with relevant EU regulations, making it a reliable choice.

What We Like
Stylish and secure design
High-quality materials used
Adjustable for better fit
CE & UKCA certified
Suitable for various water activities
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What's the difference between a life jacket and buoyancy aid?

‍In simple terms, a buoyancy aid is to help you swim whereas a life jacket is designed to keep you afloat without the need for swimming.

2. Do you have to wear life jackets in NSW?

You must wear a lifejacket when sailboarding more than 400m from the shore and alone on your vessel....Sailboards and kiteboards.

3. What's the difference between a life jacket and a life preserver?

The most important difference between a life jacket and PFD is that life jackets are designed to turn the wearer face up in the water even if unconscious. To get technical: life jackets are also PFDs but not all PFDs are life jackets.

4. What does the N mean on life jackets?

The 'N' on a life jacket stands for Newtons, which is a measure of force. For example, 10 Newtons is equivalent to 1 kilogram of buoyancy. There are currently four primary European standards for buoyancy, 50N, 100N, 150N and 275N.

Editor's Notes

During our life jacket research, we found 306 life jacket products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 4,273 customer reviews through our big data system to write the life jackets list. We found that most customers choose life jackets with an average price of £66.22.

The life jackets are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of life jackets, including Osprey, Crewsaver, Bluewave, Harveys, Waveline.

Written by
Luke Dobson Avatar

Luke is a runner, a climber, hiker, hunter, and a lot more. Luke Dobson is Celtic-born and has lived most of his life in Scotland. However, his sporting endeavours have taken him to several countries around Europe. He serves as a tour guide for countless companies and owns a couple of gyms and recreational centres in Scotland. Luke Dobson is proficient in 7 different languages. He maintains many sport article columns where he shares his wealth of experience in the sport industry.