When you are riding, you really should use a Coast Guard approved life jacket. In the United States, the federal regulations require that all passengers on a boat have or are wearing a US Coast Guard approved life jacket. Use Only US Coast Guard (USCG) Approved Wakeboarding Life Jackets Other design elements include the material, which we looked at above. You want a secure vest, but you also do not need to wrestle one off when it is wet. Darker colors are more common, but do not catch the eye as easily.ĭesign also matters, which includes how easy it is to get your vest on or take it off. Brighter colors will make you more visible out on the water, helping to keep you safer. You might be wondering why colour would even matter when it comes to a life jacket, but it might. Look at how many pads and sections a vest has before buying. You will also want the jacket to resist water and keep you as warm as possible while you are out on the water riding.
The jacket needs to be snug and comfortable, which means that your range of motion must not be limited by the jacket. You need to make sure that you have enough protection that you will not be injured in the event that you lose hold of your handle, but you do not want a bulky jacket either. ComfortĬomfort is a huge consideration when it comes to your wakeboard life jacket.
The majority of riders do not have this risk factor, however, so it really is mostly personal preference. If you are a competitor, however, you will want to stick with zippers, because buckets have the risk of catching if you are flipping in the air. The style differences do not affect a jacket’s ability to keep you safe, but really come down mostly to personal preference. Wakeboard life jackets will come with a zipper, buckles, or both. Style might not be a top consideration for your life jacket, but you should not leave it out. You will come across some that are polyester as well, but the best material choice is neoprene. Neoprene jackets will typically fit snugly and will be more flexible than the more traditional nylon vests, not restricting any movement. The material is used to insulate you as well, so you will not be freezing when you are out on the water. This is because neoprene will stretch, help keep water out, and will keep you comfortable. The vast majority of wakeboard life jackets are made out of neoprene or a comparable material. They need to be formfitting, regardless of which size you need, which is why there are men’s, women’s, and children’s sizing. Every brand has a different sizing chart, so even if you have worn size with one brand, it might not be the same with another brand. Then you will need to compare this to the size chart supplied by the company. You will need to figure out the right size for you by measuring around the thickest part of your chest. Jackets come in a lot of different sizes. When it comes to wakeboard life jacket sizing, it is not a one-size-fits-all situation.