The 7 best life vests for kayaking

Just starting out on your kayak or looking to upgrade your safety gear? Our list of the best kayaking life vests is here to help.

From 50N buoyancy aids to 150N life jackets for kayaking, we've included something for everyone.

Here you'll find whatever you need in terms of buoyancy and additional features, so you can completely customise your purchase.

Remember: it's a legal requirement to wear a life vest when kayaking in a vessel deemed as 'seaworthy' by the manufacturer and strongly recommended aboard smaller kayaks, so it's a good idea to pick one up before heading out on the water.

1. Typhoon Yalu Wave, £45.50 

Kicking off our list is one of the most popular kayaking life vests available on the market. It comes with a decent range of features that have earned it its spot as an Amazon Choice product.

It's a front-zipping vest, making it incredibly easy to get into and out of as needed. The trapeze cut also allows for a good range of movement, so you'll be comfortable and secure when wearing it out on the water.

The ergonomically cut foam panels line the front and back of the vest and meet the safety requirements of a buoyancy aid at 50N.

It comes in five different colours, including:

• black/blue
• black/silver
• black/yellow
• black/lime
• silver/royal blue

While this is great if you're looking for a kayaking life vest to match your gear, it's safer than opting for dark colours only. They may look sleek, but you'll be much harder to spot if you get into trouble.

The more vibrant your life jacket is, the better—and you can't go wrong with yellow or lime green.

Related: Buoyancy aids of life jackets: what's the difference?

2. Palm Kaikoura, £161.95 (RRP £179.95)

This is hands down one of the best life vests for kayaking in terms of comfort.

It comes with an anti-ride-up waistbelt that keeps it secured in place and neoprene-lined underarms for extra padding.

There are also adjustable shoulder straps to help you get the perfect fit and fleece-lined handwarmer pockets to keep your hands warm in colder conditions.

Designed for touring, it's a great life vest for when you're kayaking faster and farther. The large front and rear pockets offer plenty of storage, especially since they come with internal compartments for securing valuables.

There are two-way zippers that are perfect for those who want easy access to their VHF radio and multiple reflective panels to the front and rear of the vest, making your kayaking experience safer overall.

The jacket itself comes in three different sizes:

• 60N (XS/S)
• 70N (M/L)
• 75N (XL/XXL)

That way, you can customise your purchase according to your buoyancy needs. The larger the size, the better the buoyancy.

It also comes in red and blue, red being a more striking colour for those who want to maximise visibility.

3. ITIWIT kayaking life vest, £24.99 (RRP £29.99)

Looking for a cheap life vest for kayaking? ITIWIT provide a quality product at a good price for those shopping on a budget.

Despite its low price, this life vest is ideal for kayakers wanting comfort paired with safety. It's a front-entry vest that you can secure via two buckles, and it has a reinforced buoyancy of 70N.

It's constructed from quality materials, including 100% tear-resistant polyester used for the main fabric and 100% polyethylene used for the inner foam. 

There are two colours to choose from:

• mandarine/dark grey
• turquoise green/dark grey

Both are bright and highly visible, so you'll be easy to spot if you run into any trouble on the water.

While it doesn't feature any pockets and has a minimalistic design, it's ideal for those looking for a lightweight kayak life vest.

4. Seago Seaguard kayaking life jacket, from £51.95

Supplying 165N of buoyancy for a decent price, this kayak life jacket is impressive right off the bat.

It's more than just a buoyancy aid, surpassing the 150N requirement for a lifejacket. So, this jacket is up to the task if you want to get out into tidal waters and varying weather conditions.

Despite its high buoyancy capabilities, it features a lightweight design thanks to being a round-neck jacket. This is great if you're heading out for an extended period, as heavier jackets tend to weigh you down.

There are three different inflation options, including:

• manual
• automatic
• automatic & harness

The latter is the most expensive, but the price only rises to £59.95, so it's a worthy investment if you're looking for ease of use. After all, manual inflation can be a burden if you're keen to get out onto the water.

Three colour options include grey/black, navy/grey, and red/grey. We'd recommend opting for the red jacket, as it is less likely to blend in with the rest of your gear.  

5. Helly Hansen buoyancy aid, £39.95 (RPP £49.95)

With this 50N kayak life vest from Helly Hansen, you can choose from six different sizing options to ensure a good fit. You don't have to worry about the one-size-fits-all approach here.

It's a front-entry jacket, so it's quick and easy to get into. It also has a front pocket ideal for carrying electronic flares, upping the product's overall safety.

The low bulk design is great for added comfort, as is the soft foam that lines the front of the jacket and the PE foam to the rear. It's incredibly supportive and stable considering its low price.

There are four colours to choose from, including:

• deep fjord (blue)
• ebony (black)
• fluro yellow
• red

We'd recommend the fluorescent yellow or red options, as their enhanced visibility is better for safety.

6. Yak Taurus Buoyancy Aid, £103.95

This 70N buoyancy aid from Yak delivers quality protection against harsh conditions and is suitable for use in whitewater. The outer cover material is heavy-duty and specifically designed to offer long-lasting support.

So, this vest is a great choice if you regularly head out on your touring kayak.

Comfort is another strong point, as this vest incorporates 4D cast technology with super soft foam to provide a seamless wearing experience. The back panel is lightweight and minimal, and barely noticeable during use.

Mesh sides and inner panels control drainage and prevent the jacket from retaining surplus water weight.

Storage hasn't been overlooked as there is a large zip pocket at the front of the vest for storing essentials and a designated knife pocket. Tabs dotted around the exterior can be used to mount accessories.

This is one of the best kayaking life vests available on the market, simply because it has everything you need and more. You get your money's worth if you can afford to spend a little extra.

7. SPINLOCK Deckvest VITO Hammer Life Jacket, £238.95

You'll likely only need a life jacket for kayaking (as opposed to a standard life vest) if you're heading offshore or into harsh conditions. But we didn't want to compile a list of the best products available without including one as powerful as the Deckvest.

The Hammar hydrostatic automatic inflator brings this kayak life jacket up to 170N buoyancy, which means ultimate protection in difficult conditions. It's been tried and tested by offshore sailors, which speaks volumes of its quality.

Despite its capabilities, the design is sleek and minimalist, making it barely noticeable compared to bulkier products of this kind.

It's constructed using rip-stop fabric to retain its quality and offer consistent protection over time.

Comfort is also a priority, especially through the ability to adjust it accurately to fit your body, no matter the gear you're wearing.

How to choose a life vest for kayaking 

Finding the best kayaking life vest or jacket is an easier task than it first seems, as it's mainly down to evaluating the type of kayaking you'll be taking part in.

But with so many options available, it's easy to see why confusion creeps in. Some brands are better than others, after all.

Here's a quick guide on choosing the right life vest or jacket to make the right investment.

1. Determine which form of kayaking you'll be doing 

By establishing this, you're significantly narrowing down your search. It becomes more about the quality of the product rather than its classification.

To give an overview, different levels of buoyancy are needed for separate activities depending on their risk. The four main levels are:

• 50N
• 100N
• 150N
• 275N

Anything below 150N is classed as a buoyancy aid, and anything above this number is considered a life jacket.

Most kayakers will be fine using a life vest with 50N-150N buoyancy, but some may opt for a higher level if they're paddling offshore or in harsher conditions.

Most of the products on our list are classed as buoyancy aids or 'kayaking life vests', but the Seago Seaguard is 165N, and the SPINLOCK Deckvest is 170N. 

2. Select the right size 

If your chosen life jacket or vest isn't a suitable fit, you could put yourself in danger if you capsize and need to rely on it for floatation.

You'll also be uncomfortable for most of your sessions, which is never good. Kayaking is for pleasure, after all.

You should read the sizing guide for your chosen product and ensure you properly measure yourself before selecting a size.

Choosing an adjustable vest or jacket is also a good idea, as you can customise your fit further and have a more comfortable experience.

3. Opt for a quality material 

Typically, kayak life jackets and vests are made from PVC or nylon.

These materials provide the best possible buoyancy levels thanks to their high denier, which also protects them against intense wear and tear.

Looking out for these materials when deciding will ensure you pick a kayak life jacket or vest that's fit for purpose.

4. Consider additional features

Whether you carry a bag aboard your kayak or not, you may need to use your life jacket or vest for storage.

This could mean choosing a product with a selection of secure storage pockets or D-rings that you can use for mounting gear.

You may also wish to have a knife or flare on board, which means a vest with a designated pocket for this equipment would be safer and more convenient.

If you are kayaking in low light conditions or want to maximise safety, you may also want to opt for a product with reflective panels.

Specialist kayak insurance with Insure4Boats 

Life vests are a great way to keep yourself safe aboard your kayak. But what about your gear?

With Insure4Boats, you can protect your kayak against theft, loss, and damage through specialist kayak insurance.

This includes new-for-old cover for items bought new and no more than 3 years old, so you can get straight back out on the water if the worst happens.

Up to £3m Third Party Liability is included as standard, so you'll be protected if you injure another person or damage third party property whilst kayaking.

Click here to learn more, or hit the button below to get an instant online quote.