As a lifelong watersports brand, we take safety on the water seriously. That's why we've focused on developing a wide range of comfortable, versatile, and reliable personal flotation devices (PFDs) for the entire family. Please reference this PFD buying guide to help ensure you purchase the life jacket best suited for your water activity.
We recommend you always use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (USCGA) or Transport Canada-approved life jacket for your watersports activities. Both have government standards set by global safety certification company UL, whose mission is to deliver safety, quality, security, sustainability, and confidence to the life-jacket market.
Life jackets or life vests—commonly categorized as personal flotation devices—are available in a wide variety of styles, each specifically designed for different water activities, including boating, using personal watercraft, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, river rafting, and learning to swim. Whether your PFD requirement is for basic water safety, use as a learn-to-swim aid, or for high-performance watersports like wakeboarding or white-water rafting, the right PFD should provide life-saving flotation in case of an emergency.
Read on to learn how to buy a PFD that best fits your needs, activity, sport, and size.