LIFE JACKETS

CALL - 408.295.2628 Type V Type III's

We carry lifejackets (a.k.a. "pfd's") from MTI, America's Cup, Extrasport, Stohlquist, Palm, and Safegard. We can special-order other models from these companies and NRS as well; allow a few extra days delivery time.

This page was updated May, 2008.

Before you buy a lifejacket - or "pfd" - you need to be clear not only on what type of boat you'll be piloting, but also how much whitewater, if any, you are going to run.

There is much confusion about the numbered designations of lifejackets, specifically a lot of would-be paddlers thinking a "type V" (that's a roman numeral "5") vest is for class V whitewater and a type III for class III rivers, etc. Although paddlers of inflatable boats generally use type V's for harder rivers, this is only coincidence and not what the Coast Guard had in mind. If, for example, you tried to use a type IV floatation device for a class IV river, you would find yourself on the bottom of the river in quick order. That's because a type IV device is a throw cushion! The Coast Guard came up with these category designations for floatation devices decades ago.
So, let's quickly review the types, and then go on to the details of what might be practical for your purposes.Use the following as a rough guide only-

A watersports Type I jacket is usually a high-floatation "May West" model sometimes filled with kapok (a raw cotton-like substance that comes from tree pods that could be mistaken for a coconut), tending to have straps that do not secure the bulbous jacket very well to your bod. These straps often move around on the front of the May West. That's bothersome enough in whitewater, but worse is that the kapok is sealed in easily punctured vinyl pouches inside the vest. Use your May West for a cushion, and you might unknowingly pop one pouch. Next time you take a swim, this pouch will suck up water like a shopvac, and you will sink like a stone. All this said, many newer type I's have closed cell foam inserts, and better systems for the cinch straps. If you work at really tightening the waist strap these improved May West's could be used for moderate whitewater though they are not ideal. Their bulk makes them uncomfortable and they tend to ride up in swims.

A Type II "jacket" is nothing more than a horseshoe collar, and these should be only used by good swimmers on flat water. It's worth noting that a few type II's are also loaded with kapok. Inflatable lifejackets fall in between type II and type III and may be designated either way depending on the whims of the Coast Guard and whether there is a backside to the vest.

Type III pfd's are what many of you will end up with. These are canoe/kayak/ski vests with floatation ratings (in the adult sizes anyway) of 15.5 to 19.5 pounds, which is okay for easy rivers, ocean use, or for hardshell river kayakers who rely on their boat's own buoyancy for floatation. There are some oddball vests like the Big Buoy & Patriot below that have much higher floatation in the range of the type V's, but because they lack the collar are rated at type III. We list them with the type five's to minimize confusion though.

Type IV floatation devices are the afforementioned throw cushions and other non-worn floats - not a lifejacket at all. This group can include the familiar O-ring lifesavers that cartoon characters toss around.

A Type five (or "V") jacket usually has at least as much floatation as a Type I, and more than any of the other categories. Type V's are specialized vests that almost always have a floatation collar if they are intended for river use. There are oddball inflatable, spelunking, and special military lifejackets that may also be rated type V but you won't see them on paddling websites. NRS's Astral vest and one or two kayak jackets from Lotus are exceptions, though we are not sure how these got the type V Coast Guard stamp as they are configured.
The purpose of the floatation collar is a) to protect your un-helmeted noggin from rocks, assuming your are floating on your back as you should be when you fall from a raft, and b) to float said noggin should you be rendered unconscious. It would be hard to find actual examples where "b" really saved someone's life though. However, there is grim video footage of the opposite seeming to happen to a swimmer in Idaho back in the 90's. He was wearing what appeared to be an Extrasport HiFloat (no collar) and may have been knocked unconscious. He did not survive.
The buoyancy rating, which is the downward force in pounds that it takes to submerge a jacket, is usually a minimum of 22 pounds on a type V, though most range closer to the 25 - 29 pound range regardless of what the Coast Guard labeling may state. Some like the basic Stearns type V are barely 22 pounds though in the small/medium size. Also, a few jackets may have dual type III/V ratings just to confuse us.

If your paddling includes moderate or advanced whitewater, or heavy seas, and you are not a hardshell boater, the clear choice is a type V. We hear one question over and over again: "If I'm paddling an inflatable kayak, shouldn't I wear a type III kayaker's vest?" Well, that depends. Any of you who paddle only mild water shouldn't wear anything bulky, so a comfy type 3 is the only real choice. However, if you are a whitewater inflatable kayaker who paddles medium or high flows, then you need a type V, or one of the Patriot/Big Buoy style vests with a type III rating but type V floatation. If you wear a normal type III and swim rapids at higher flows, you will be underwater most of the time. Hardshell kayakers wear type III's on rivers because they plan on staying in their boats, not swimming. When your inflatable upsets, you won't have that option. If you are one of those rare people whose sole category of paddling involves tiny low-flow class II and III streams, then a type III vest could be considered, assuming you aren't overly heavy. .

Type V lifejackets

Most folks want a little more flexibility in an i.k. than they need in a raft, and for this reason it's hard to beat Wellington/America's Cups' Ultrafloat type V/III. This jacket incorporates many desirable features in one package: one of the highest floatation ratings (rated at 26 pounds, but actually checking out at 30), a fourth "low" strap that when snug prevents the Ultrafloat from riding up, split-cell foam in the front and huge arm holes for the most dexterity of any type V, comfort like a type III vest, and one-size-fits-all adjustability for almost anyone over 90 lbs. & 5 feet tall. The chest size range is 30 to 52 inches. Although it has no pocket, it really seems to be a superior value in every other way compared with some of the type V Extrasport models. Some people complain about the collar, but you can always cut it off. The Ultrafloat is a red/blue two-tone. We no longer have any oranges or yellows. $105

The standard America's Cup type V Rogue comes in youth (chest sizes 24 - 29"; $76, in orange-red), and small/medium (30 - 42 chest) & large/extra large (44, 56 chest) adult sizes ($86). The pfd will not cinch down quite as snug to your body as the more flexible Ultrafloat, or the Safegard adult vest below. Rogues have the highest floatation (26 - 27 pounds) among the four brands of standard type V's made in the U.S. and they hold up under abuse too. We used nothing but them in rental for 22 years. Adult sizes in orange only.

Update on America's Cup-
Way back in 2003 the lifejacket division of Wellington/America's Cup had declared bankruptcy. Tthough they were still churning out a range of lifejackets for a while, eventually it got down to just some limited production for NRS, who became the exclusive distributor for the three whitewater vests Amercia's Cup had. Recently, that too ended. As of late March 2008 we have some stock on the Rogue model directly above, and we should have enough of the Ultrafloats to last through this season. When they are gone that will be it. There is a new vest coming from MTI called the Canyon that we hope should fill the gap, but it does not look like it will become available before August.
We've had inquiries from outfitters on the America's Cups but unfortunately we do not have sufficient margins to wholesale these, sorry.

If you are shopping for a youth-size jacket your best bet is the Safegard. This jacket, though rated at the same range of chest sizes as the America's Cup. (24 to 29"), will actually accomodate a slightly bigger person and it has more foam, and therefore more floatation than the Rogue Youth. It also weighs less, has bigger arm holes, and stays cooler on summer days. Last, the lowest strap on the Safegard model is below the foam, not over it like the America's Cup Youth, so you can cinch it up around your child's waistline much more securely with less ride-up. We are also almost out of the Youth America's Cup, so it won't evne be an option for much longer. In orange-blue two tone (not the yellow-blue shown) now with reflector tape. $75.

Note: If you are slender in build, and you buy a universal size vest like the Ultrafloat above or Agency Pro below, you may end up with a lot of extra strap(s) hanging off the sides of the jacket when it is cinched snug. These dangling straps could snare something in a swim or flip. We recommend that you either tie them together in knots, or better yet cut them off if there is more than 8 or 9" per strap and you are the only person who will use the jacket.
If you do cut them, make sure and leave about four inches beyond the plastic ladder locks. Then, get a cigarrette lighter or candle and heat up not only the ends of each strap, but the flat surface near the end as well. Then, quickly fold it over onto itself so that you are joining the molten area to an adjacent spot an inch or so down. Basically, you are melting the strap to itself. Do this twice for each strap so that you have a doubled, folded end that cannot slip back through the ladder locks on the sides of the vest.

Can't fit in a standard XL or universal size lifejacket? Well, now there is an answer for bigger folks whose chest size is over 52" - the Safegard Goliath, a.k.a. the "Oversize". This is a modestly priced type V jacket with slightly stiffer foam and a design that is similiar to the America's Cup Rogue model above. It has a full 30 pounds of buoyancy and of course has a floatation collar like the ones above, though you cannot see it in the photo. Red-blue, in 400 denier nylon throughout. No, it won't be as comfortable as most other type fives, but this is one of only two (the other being a Stearns product, also rather bulky, which we don't carry) vests we are aware of in this size range. And since the Extrasport's are now made overseas, custom ordering a XXXL is no longer an option with them. Standard four-way strap adjustments, with one strap being below the foam like the Ultrafloat and Safegard Universal, at the bargain price of only $83.

The Patriot Rescue Vest ($129) from MTI took nearly four years to get aproved by the Coast Guard and Underwriters Labs, and then late in 2006 it failed again. As of this update MTI has given up on rescue harness jackets, and all we have left in the Patriots are the small/x-s size. These are labeled for 30 to 35" chest sizes, and will actually fit 29" to 36" chests so for the ladies and some of the really slender guys out there, this is a super reasonbly priced option in rescue pfd's. The Patriot has 26 pounds bouyancy, super soft foam, strong 500 denier cordura on the exterior, lash tabs for knives, whistle loops, eight-way adjustability including the shoulders, and two low profile neoprene pockets (the smaller pocket is on the opposite side as the large pocket, not the same side as shown). They come in mango (think school bus color) only, with black trim and black interiors. Please note that because this model does not have a floatation collar it is designated as a type III by the Coast Guard, even though it really is a type V in every other way. In three sizes:

Unless you have been through a swiftwater rescue course, or at least boat with others who have, you should not be looking at harness vests like the one above. Like many other "safety devices", the extra hardware and straps of a harness can be an accident waiting to happen in the wrong hands. Many paddlers who have contact us about purchasing Patriots have not been through SRT so they should really stay with the Big Buoy model below. Also note that the harness strap in front has to weave through a metal friction plate and then through a 2" camming buckle, so the Patriot does not come on and off quickly.

As with the Big Buoy and Extrasport agency Pro below, there is a lot of foam packed into a kayak-length jacket like the Patriot. This means that these three vests are very thick on the front panels, and you sense this bulk when you wear them. Some people have loved these jackets and even ordered more for their friends. Other people have whined to no end, but if you think it will be a problem please stay with a standard model like the Ultrafloat - which no one has ever complained about. And try to understand that there is no free lunch where buoyancy is concerned. More floatation on a lifejacket means more cubic inches of foam. More foam either means short thick panels or very long not-so-thick panels like on the Extrasport HiFloat.

MTI's Big Buoy ($99) is a Patriot without the rescue harness, and two big pockets instead of one big & one small. If the main idea is to get a kayak style jacket with the floatation of a rafting vest and no collar, this is a great one to look at and it runs $30 less than the Patriot. In XS/S (30 to 35" chest size; 26 pounds floatation), Med/Lg (36 to 44"'; 26.5 pounds floatation), and XL/XXL (44 to 54" chest; 27 pounds floatation). We try to keep these in both the mango Patriot color above, and the pretty dark emerald shown. This color never comes out well in photos, but the picture gives you a rough idea. Sometimes we will not have both colors in all three sizes. We have found that due to the thick foam panels on the Big Buoy and Patriots that MTI's sizing is off a bit. The XL/XXL will easily fit a 42 or 41" chest, and the Med/Lg will snug down to 34". As with the Patriot, there are adjustable should straps, three cinch adjustments on each side, a knife lash, and two plastic D-rings for whistles, etc. Please note that because this model does not have a floatation collar it is designated as a type III by the Coast Guard, even though it really is a type V in every other way.

Extrasport HiFloat: We keep just a very small number of these lifejackets in medium, large, and XL sizes, but we don't try to stock every color. We're posting it because we get quite a few calls for the HiFloat, being popular with rathers and many inflatable kayakers. There are quite a few Extrasport dealers around so this is not a brand we are going to get into heavily. The Agency Pro below is the only other one we carry.

To main appeal of this jacket seems to be in it's comfort and flexibility when bending, and for some paddlers, the fact that it can fold up at the bottom, allowing you to wear it in a hardshell kayak with a sprayskirt. Beyond this though, the HiFloat does not stay on your bod quite as well in a swim as most of the other high buoyancy jackets above. It also has smaller arm holes than the others. When we suggest the A.C. Ultrafloat as an alternative, a number of folks mention they don't like the collar on the America's Cup. We shouldn't even have to state this, but there is an invention known as scissors. Cut the collar off if you don't like it - just don't ask us to do it for you.

It is a well made product though with the best fabric and foam throughout, and is generally very comfortable. One chest pocket and one knife lash, 27 lbs buoyancy in the XL size, $115

Note: Only the Stohlquist, America's Cup, and Safegard vests are made in the U.S. now - Extrasport has been producing theirs in China since they were bought out by Johnson Outdoors (the same folks who now own Carlisle Paddles).

Extrasport Agency Pro: This is another model we've had some call for, so we are now carrying them in red only. It is a universal size, with a moderate 23 pounds of buoyancy. Basically, for smaller people or those with a somewhat higher body fat percentage (people with a tall lean lumberjack build sink the fastest), 23 pounds is probably enough and is roughly equivalent to a Stearns brand type V rafting jacket in the large/xl size. For the afforementioned lumberjacks who might be running a lot of class V rivers, or even high flow class IV, this would not be the ideal lifejacket. Two good sized secure pockets, two D-rings, and two knife mounts. The shoulders are adjustable but unfortunately they are bare webbing. $125

Type III's

The new Riptide ($95) from MTI is similiar to many over-the-head jackets, but this one is a front zip design so it's easier to get on and off. This one will be replacing the Stohlquist Wedge at the bottom of the page as we run out of those, and it offers the same extreme minimalist approach. The entire side is open and the rear foam is sculpted, so there is zero interference to your arms & shoulders even when setting up for a roll. The small amount of padding up top makes this one ideal for the ladies, and the rugged materials used throughout should ensure a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Riptides only come in two sizes; s/m and l/xl. The small/medium goes from 30" to 40", and the large/xl goes from 40" to 50", or maybe to 52" if your biggest dimension is around your sternum. If you really do have a 52" chest though, this jacket is not going to provide enough floatation in whitewater. Consider the big size on the Stella down below. Even though the Stella is a women's model the generous foam in it would be helpful to bigger guys as well. It features Z-adjust side straps, a front & rear knife lash, reflective tape, fully adjustable shoulders, a separate waist strap below the foam like many MTI vest to stop ride-up, and two expandable pockets. Strong cordura shell, in the two-tone bluish slate color shown, 16.5 pounds buoyancy.

The MTI Discovery ($85) type III has two cinch cinch straps on each side (which run over the outside of the kidney foam panels, so the straps are not directly against your body), a waist straps, shoulder adjustments, two big zippered pockets, reflective tape, incredibly soft foam, and two different knife/accessory attachments on the upper chest. These come in mango, red, and blue, but on the middle size mango is about all we got this year. The Discovery works well for both touring paddlers and whitewater kayakers. These fit most women well too. 17 lbs. buoyancy; strong 500 denier exterior fabric, three sizes: XS/S (chest sizes 30 to 36"), MED/LG (chest sizes 36 to 43"), and XL/XXL (chest sizes 44 to 56"). Note: some of these are marked "MBU" on the inside, not "Discovery", but it is the same jacket.
The Discovery is being replaced by the more pricey "eco Discovery" which uses pvc-free foam purchased through another lifejacket company that is a direct competitor. The extra $15 you paying on the new version, which we aren't stocking for now, is due only to the variation in the foam.

Please Note: If you are specifically looking for a women's pfd, please scroll down to the Nami and PFDiva vests.

The Comp III ($69, at left) is a short profile vest, meaning the jacket ends well above your belly button. It's comfortable for such a low price but a bit bulky feeling. It has wetsuit neoprene over the adjustable shoulders, and super soft foam front and back, with one big self draining front pocket. The Comp III also uses MTI's Internal Kinetic Technology, which is a long winded way of saying the use of stretchy components around the waist adjustment help prevent this vest from riding up on you in swims. Same sizes and bouyancy as the Discovery above, in mango/black or the red/black shown. 16 lbs buoyancy in the sm/xs size, 16.5 in the m/l, and 17 lbs in the xl/xx.

The Livery pfd from MTI is a bargain at only $33, and we will be closing these out since they overlap with the far more cushy Cruiser below. It is made of the same oxford nylon as the more expensive jackets above but MTI does use stiff cheap-o plastic foam in this one. The XL/XXL size has 19 lbs of floatation, otherwise sizing & specs are again the same as the MTI Discovery's above. Shown in red but most of our stock is blue, recommended for very easy rivers & canoeists only.

The MTI Cruiser ($49) fills a gap between the econo-buy Livery jacket above and all the rest of MTI's more pricey lifejackets. What you get for an extra ten bucks over the Livery is much softer, better conforming foam, verticle split foam panels instead of one solid panel on each side of the zipper, and the same adjustments as the Comps & Discovery's. In short, a basic, pocketless, very comfy kayak jacket. Same sizes as the Discovery's above, stocked in blue and yellow.

Our other kid's likejacket besides the Safeguard Youth up above is the MTI Junior. This small scale pfd has most of the same features as the adult MTI's, like eight side & shoulder adjustments, whistle & lash D-rings, two mesh pockets, and even a knife patch. Of course, whether your child should be carrying a knife is another matter.... Since this pfd only has about 2/3 the floatation of the Safeguard Youth, it is best used for kids up to 90 pounds who won't be running any rivers beyond novice level, or, if for whitewater, only for those kids weighing between 50 and 70 pounds. In other words, the floatation of the Junior is not sufficient for kids above 70 pounds in intermediate and advanced level rivers. Check your child's maximum chest measurement- this vest and the Safeguard are designed for sizes between 24" and 29", though this one can go about an inch smaller and the Safeguard about an inch bigger. $55, in mango or blue.

MTI built the Nami Tour ($69) kayak vests specifically for the ladies, with a super soft concave sculpted front panel. It has 500 denier cordura on the outside, one pocket, 16-1/2 pounds of floatation (this figure seems way low considering how much foam is in this PFD), neoprene seams, full side and shoulder adjustments, and MTI's Kinetic Technology to ensure a snug fit without ride-up. Many of MTI's lifejackets compare favorably with the considerably more expensive Lotus jackets, this one and the Play model below in particular. The Nami comes in the same three adult sizes as the Discovery's up above. We have mostly two-tone violet/lavender and floral patterns with mango or turquoise base color. Call us for color choices in your size, as it varies with what we can get from MTI. We also have a very few mango medium/large (36" to 44") Nami Whitewater vests ($79) left, which have knife lashes, a whistle D-ring, and a different pocket. This is the one actually shown in the picture above rather than the Tour model. The Nami Tour does look smoother on the front than the Whitewater version shown in the picture. We'll swap the photo soon.

MTI's PFDiva, new for Spring of '07, has been one of the best reviewed women's lifejackets available anywhere, ever. Before you plonk down for that Lotus or Astral vest, take a close look at the Diva and read the independent opinions on the web.
The PFDiva uses insertable memory foam pads for what MTI calls "Adjust-a-bust", which ensures that all but the most Dolly-Partonish paddlers will be able to get a perfect fit with minimal fussing. The Diva is a center zippered model with Z-adjust side straps (one strap takes the place of two), a knife lash for whitewater paddlers, a sports bra "racer" back panel, adjustable shoulders, one large & one flat pocket, and a beefy 500 denier cordura shell that will ensure a long lifespan. The foam is MTI's softest grade, and as long as you cinch the bottom strap firmly the Diva will never ride up on your torso even in violent swims. This is probably one of the most thoroughly tested vests MTI has ever produced. These run $95, far lower than most of the competition, and the competitors really don't have an equal anyway. These come in slightly different sizes from any other type III's on this page: The small/medium runs 29" to 40" chest size, but the L/XL only goes from 40" to 48", not 50" or 52" like some others. There is no XX size. We stock the "Ice" color shown.

We also carry a few of the Palm Stella vests in the same grey ice color (not the mango shown), which run $115, but we have not decided whether we'll be adding them permanently to this page. They do seem to have more foam than the other ladie's type III whitewater vests, so we may start carrying more for river runners who want the most buoyancy they can get a in a type III. In three sizes; for now we only have the S/XS (29" to 36") and M/L (36" to 43"), but we can special order the X/XXL size. .

The MTI Play pfd ($95) is available in XS/Small (31 to 36" chest, with 16 pounds floatation), Med/Large (37 to 44", with 17 pounds floatation), and XL/XXl (45" to 53", 18 pounds floatation). This very nice high-end kayaker's jacket has all the features of the Nami above plus an extra mesh pocket, a glove-like fit with MTI's Kinetic Technology (preventing ride-up), and uses MTI's highest grade foam in both the front & back. Most of our stock is slate (a blue-grey-purple color), red, or navy blue. Intended as a whitewater vest but also popular with open water paddlers.

Our last MTI vest is a rather unusual new design that falls in between kayak and waterski vests, and like some of the type V's up at the top of this page, it is a universal adult one-size fits all (for anyone over 90 pounds with chest sizes between 30" and 56", and preferably at least 5' tall). It is known as the APF, which stands for "All Person Fit". At 17.5 pounds, it is not intended for serious rafting or inflatable kayakers on rivers that are either at high flow or beyond class II. What it does provide though is an option to those paddling their tandem i.k. or hardshell with a variety of different sized friends. The APF has three front adjustable closure buckles, two cinch straps on each side, two big pockets with velcro side openings not visible in the photo, large arm holes, and neoprene shoulder pads. It is made from lighter weight 200 denier nylon, and a mix of very soft foam (in the front center pieces) and very hard foam (in the back and on the sides). It is open on the sides so you may get rubbed a bit around the kidneys by the straps. The APF is a great deal if you need to purchase something for paddling partners that are too cheap to buy their own! $49, in red or mango.

If you are looking for the very highest degree of freedom of movement, the Stohlquist Wedge pfd is a truly radical design. All the foam is centered low and only adjustable padded straps run over your shoulders. The Wedge is a side entry jacket (you can barely make out the left zipper in the photo), with a mesh pocket on the opposite side. This vest has softer foam than any other pfd on this page for unmatched comfort. The most important feature and one that is integral to the design of the Wedge is the use non-slip "Gripp Panels" on the interior, which prevent this jacket from riding up on your body. Wedge pfd's come in Small, Medium, Large, and XL (give us your chest size and we'll figure it out), in five colors: red, mango, teal (teal is being discontinued), blue, and the new sage color. We never have all the colors & sizes, but can order any color you would like if Stohlquist has it in their stock. $95