What Makes A Good Life Jacket?

History

Until the 1800s, people used animal skins, inflated bladders, or wooden blocks as a form of flotation device. The earliest design of the modern life jacket is attributed to Captain John Ross Ward, who made life jackets out of cork shavings for his boat crew.

Raw Material

The raw materials used for life jackets have now changed. Most PFDs have their outer shell made of vinyl or nylon material, with various bits of styling. Inner parts of life jackets are often plastic foam or just air.

The Manufacturing Process

Here’s how the process goes:

Creating markers

A plotter creates a stencil of the design pattern on sheets of white paper called markers. 

Preparing the nylon

A piece of nylon fabric is rolled out on a surface and smoothed with a spreader. The plotter then places the marker on the nylon.

Cutting the pattern

The nylon is cut into the desired shape manually with a motor-driven knife or a machine.

Cutting the foam

The foam is trimmed into the required thickness and taken through the pattern cutting process. The reflective tape and attachable pieces are then prepared.

Assembling the pattern pieces

Sewing professionals assemble the parts of the vests, creating different styles and designs. 

Finishing

Finally, the plotter attaches straps, reflective tapes, snaps, logos, and brands the PFDs. The life jackets are then packaged and sent out for distribution.

Classification of A Life Jacket

There are different types of life jackets for your favorite sports. 

Inherently  Buoyant

These life jackets are durable, using plastic foam as their interior material. They are suitable for paddle boarders on rough or remote water. 

Hybrids

These life jackets use both natural buoyancy and manual inflation. They are more comfortable and come in different sizes to give a more snug fit than the inherently buoyant PFDs. 

Inflatable

This type of life jacket uses air to provide flotation. This PFD is very comfortable and compact. The flotation devices are automatically filled with gas when they need to provide flotation. The PFD is suitable for tubing in troubled waters.

Requirements and features of a life jacket

United States Coast Guard Approved

Whether it’s a Type I PFD, Type II PFD, Type III PFD, Type IV PFD or Type V PFD, you want to make sure that your life jacket is U.S Coast Guard approved.

Quality Control

Quality control is essential for PFDs. The US Coast Guard monitors life jackets to make sure that they have sufficient buoyancy to lift you above water without sacrificing your comfort. 

For a PFD to be approved by the Coast Guard, it must meet the required standards.

Understand Your Life Jacket Labels

Every PFD comes with a label. These labels will show you the sizing, proper use, care instructions, life jacket type, and more. 

For your safety, pay attention to the instructions and information on the life jacket labels. For example, don’t use Type III PFDs or Type IV PFDs where Type II PFDs are required.  

Why’s that? 

You most likely won’t get the required buoyancy, visibility, or comfort with them.

Choosing Your Life Jacket

Look out for these when considering life vests:

A Good Fit

A life vest has to be a good fit, especially for a child. Make sure you choose the best size available on the market, considering the chest size or a child’s weight. Go for one approved by the U.S Coast Guard with adjustable shoulder straps or buckles that will allow you free movement. 

Life Jackets Standards

People need life vests for a variety of watersports, including kayaking, fishing, tubing, and swimming. Make sure you choose a U.S Coast Guard approved PFD for your desired sports.