Best Life Jackets of 2026

Luke Dobson Avatar
Luke Dobson
Last Updated: 9 Feb 2026

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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

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

Top 10 Life Jackets

#TOP 1

Bluewave Sport 150N Navy Automatic Lifejacket

Navy
One Size
Bluewave Sport 150N Navy Automatic Lifejacket Cover
Bluewave Sport 150N Navy Automatic Lifejacket

The Bluewave 150N Lifejacket offers excellent safety on the water with its automatic inflation feature, ensuring you remain buoyant without manual effort. Its CE certification in the UK guarantees compliance with safety standards, giving you peace of mind. Additionally, the bright yellow inflating bladder enhances visibility in emergencies, making it easier for rescuers to spot you. Supplied ready to wear, this lifejacket is convenient and straightforward, allowing you to focus on enjoying your time on the water.

What We Like
Automatic inflation feature
CE certified safety
High visibility bladder
Ready to wear

Osprey 50N Adult Buoyancy Aid for Watersports

BGG1757
L-XL
Osprey 50N Adult Buoyancy Aid for Watersports Cover
Osprey | Adult Buoyancy Aid 50N, PFD Swim Vest, Waterproof Float Jacket for Watersports, Paddleboarding and Kayaking Red L/XL

The Osprey Buoyancy Aid is a fully certified flotation jacket designed for various watersports, including paddleboarding and kayaking. With 50N of buoyancy, it ensures your safety while on the water, giving you confidence to enjoy your activities. The high-visibility yellow straps enhance your visibility, promoting safety during your adventures. Its slimline profile allows for full freedom of movement, while the adjustable shoulder and waist straps provide maximum comfort and security, ensuring you can focus on having fun.

What We Like
Fully certified for safety
Durable material for water activities
High-visibility for added safety
Comfortable and adjustable fit
Easy to clean and maintain

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 4

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Life Jacket

9710BLA
Black
One Size
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Life Jacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Life Jacket - Adult - Black

The Crewsaver Crewfit Life Jacket is designed for safety and comfort. The auto firing feature ensures that the jacket activates automatically when needed, providing peace of mind. The robust outer cover offers durability, making it suitable for various conditions. With a short profile 33g CO2 cylinder, it is lightweight yet effective. The buckle adjuster accommodates a range of sizes, allowing you to find a perfect fit for comfort during use.

What We Like
Automatic activation for safety
Durable outer cover
Lightweight design
Adjustable for various sizes
#TOP 5

Bluewave Sport 150N Automatic Lifejacket

blue,black,red
Adult
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 6

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Lifejacket

9715RA
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Lifejacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Harness Lifejacket

The Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Lifejacket is designed to enhance your safety while boating. It features an attachment point for a Crewsaver Surface Light, ensuring visibility in low light conditions. The Peninsular Chin support keeps your airway clear of water, providing peace of mind. With robust outer cover materials, this lifejacket offers exceptional durability for regular use. Additionally, the UML MK5 Automatic or Halkny Roberts 840 Manual operating heads give you versatile activation options, allowing for ease of use in emergencies.

What We Like
Superior buoyancy for safety
Comfortable 3D technology design
Durable outer cover material
Automatic or manual activation
Visibility features for safety
#TOP 7

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Life Jacket

9710NBA
Navy Blue
One Size
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Life Jacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Non-Harness Automatic Life Jacket - Navy Blue

The Crewsaver Crewfit 165N offers excellent safety features for water enthusiasts. Its auto firing mechanism ensures immediate inflation when needed, providing you with peace of mind. The robust outer cover enhances durability, making it suitable for various water activities. You’ll appreciate the buckle adjuster, which allows for a comfortable fit across different sizes, ensuring it stays securely in place. Additionally, the crotch strap adds extra security, preventing the jacket from riding up during use.

What We Like
Automatic inflation mechanism
Durable outer cover
Adjustable for various sizes
Secure crotch strap
#TOP 8

Harveys Stalker Camo Gas Fishing Lifejacket

Harveys
13216006
multicolour
One Size
Harveys Stalker Camo Gas Fishing Lifejacket Cover
Harveys 'Stalker' Automatic Camo Pattern Gas Fishing Lifejacket

The Harveys Stalker Lifejacket is designed for convenience and safety on the water. It comes ready to wear, complete with a gas cylinder, ensuring you are prepared the moment you need it. The adjustable one-size-fits-all design makes it easy for anyone to wear comfortably. With a quick release buckle, you can remove the lifejacket swiftly if necessary, enhancing your safety during fishing trips. Made from military-grade British DPM fabric, you can trust its durability while enjoying your time outdoors.

What We Like
Ready to wear with gas cylinder
Adjustable for all sizes
Quick release for safety
Durable military-grade fabric
#TOP 9

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Lifejacket

9710RA
One Size Fits All
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Lifejacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Automatic Lifejacket

The Crewfit 165N Sport Lifejacket by Crewsaver offers excellent comfort thanks to its Fusion 3D shape, which moulds to your body for a snug fit. It is ideal for everyday recreational boaters, providing reliable safety without fuss. The robust outer cover protects the lifejacket from wear and tear, while the buckle adjuster lets you easily find the perfect fit for your size. Additionally, the crotch strap keeps the lifejacket securely in place, ensuring you stay safe in the water. This lifejacket combines practicality with comfort and safety.

What We Like
Comfortable Fusion 3D shape
Suitable for everyday use
Durable outer cover
Adjustable buckle for fit
Secure crotch strap
#TOP 10

Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Lifejacket

9710RM
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Lifejacket Cover
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport Manual Lifejacket

The Crewsaver Crewfit 165 Sport is designed for your comfort and safety while boating. Its Fusion 3D shape ensures that you enjoy a snug fit during your activities. The robust outer cover adds durability, making it ideal for regular use. With a buckle adjuster, you can easily find the right size for a secure fit. Additionally, the inclusion of a crotch strap enhances safety by keeping the lifejacket in place, giving you peace of mind as you navigate the waters.

What We Like
Comfortable Fusion 3D shape
Durable outer cover
Adjustable buckle for sizing
Includes a safety crotch strap
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 3,688 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 £95.37.

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

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.