When it comes to enjoying the wonderful activities the water has to offer, choosing the right life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is paramount. With so many life jacket sizes and designs on the market, picking the right fit for you, or a dependent, can be challenging. This guide from Vaikobi will walk you through the necessary procedures for finding a PFD that fits you best, maximising safety and comfort.
What size PFD do I need?
Using a size chart is a great place to begin understanding what size PFD is typically recommended for your height, weight and body shape. Weight ranges determine which lifejacket will have adequate buoyancy for the wearer. Most manufacturers and retailers will have these readily available online for reference.
However, there are further considerations to make when finding the best life vest PFD that suits your specific watersports needs. Sailors or windsurfers who use trapeze harnesses should consider the extra room at the waist necessary for life jackets to integrate comfortably with their other gear. Usually, a ‘short’ lifejacket like A Vaikobi VX PFD or a Vaikobi VXI NEO PFD is best for this. ‘Short’ lifejackets have their buoyancy distributed higher on the chest.
How should a PFD fit?
It’s essential to know which characteristics a properly fitted PFD should have to mitigate risk. A loose PFD may result in the life jacket slipping off overhead as someone falls in the water. Riding up may impair proper breathing by covering the mouth or nose, leading to further panic in an already difficult situation. If a life jacket is too tight, it can restrict movement, impeding the wearer’s ability to self-rescue or remove themselves from immediate danger: e.g. a capsized or sinking vessel.
How to ensure your PFD is safe and snug in all the right places:
Waist
The bottom strap on your life jacket needs to be done up firmly in all circumstances. This will prevent riding up or decreased upper body mobility. While tight is ideal, it shouldn’t dig into your ribs - bend forward to make sure it’s comfortable around your waist.
Shoulders & Neck
This check is for adjusting the PFD’s ‘height’. Look for adjustable neoprene shoulder straps and tune these so they sit comfortably over your collarbone. The PFD shouldn’t sit too high on your neck and you should be able to turn your head properly. If you’re a paddler, make sure when you’re sitting in the vessel, the PFD isn’t touching your thighs during leg drives: this will quickly become annoying if it does.
Chest
The uppermost strap around the torso does not need to be done up as tightly as the bottom waist strap. This strap is mainly for support to ensure a good fit around the widest part of your chest. Check the overall profile of the PFD according to how it sits on the chest: the centre of your life jacket should sit over the sternum.
Armholes
This measurement depends on your personal preference for range of motion and usually differs based on PFD design. Seasoned paddlers usually prefer small lifejackets with larger armholes, like V3 Ocean racing PFD: also great for athletes with broad shoulders!
Check out the Vaikobi product-specific videos for a tutorial below:
Paddler’s PFD Sizing Guide
Sailor’s PFD Sizing Guide
How to fit a PFD: Things to check for
Step 1: Know your chest measurements/weight against the manufacturer’s size guide.
Measure your chest size at its widest point. Find the category on the manufacturer’s size that best fits your weight range. Zipping up your lifejacket should not be a workout, nor should it be too easy. The aim is to have a lifejacket that is easy to slip over the head but sits snug once zipped up.
Step 2: Adjust straps for optimal comfort and efficiency.
Do up the bottom waist strap firmly. Adjust the shoulder straps to take up any slack, so the lifejacket sits high and comfortably in the middle of your chest. You should be able to turn your head both ways with a clear neck and chin. Adjust the topmost waist strap until comfortable.
Step 3: Pull test.
A properly fitted PFD will not ride up past your ears or mouth. To simulate falling into water and the effect of buoyancy on the jacket, pull the PFD from the shoulder straps towards the sky. If it passes your mouth, you need a tighter fit. If the straps cannot be adjusted tighter, then sizing down is recommended.
Step 4: Mobility test.
Swing your arms to simulate swimming or paddling in your PFD. If you can’t move comfortably in a full range of motion, your PFD may be too small or too tight.
Step 5: Test in shallow water.
Use controlled conditions, such as the shallow end of a swimming pool to test your lifejacket’s buoyancy. Bring your knees to your chest so that you are floating. If the PFD supports your weight and has stayed put against your chest, this is a good fit and it will be safe for use. If you must work hard to assist flotation by treading water this is not the right PFD size for you.
Special note for fitting children in lifejackets: Pick a design that has additional head support and crotch straps to prevent riding up or slipping out.
If you would like to read more about the classifications of PFDs read the Vaikobi PFD Guide here.
