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It’s no surprise that fishing from a kayak has become increasingly popular in recent years. Fishing from a kayak lets you gain access to hard to reach spots and more fish. Fishing from a kayak is fun and convenient, but it’s important to wear a life jacket anytime you’re on the water.
If you want to fish comfortably, not just any life jacket will do. You should consider investing in a life jacket made specifically for fishing. Before you buy, we’ve got some pointers to help you find the right one.
Name | Picture | Price | Best Feature | Our Rating | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nrs Chinook Fishing Life Jacket | $$ | Soft, Lots of pockets, excellent fit | 9.8/10 | See Current Price | |
Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | $$ | High foam back is excellent for kayaking | 9.6/10 | See Current Price | |
Stohlquist Fishing Kayak Life Jacket | $$ | We love the tightening system on this vest | 9.6/10 | See Current Price | |
Stearns Angler Life Vest | $$ | Lightweight design makes it easy to cast | 9.4/10 | See Current Price | |
Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest | $ | We love the fit and feel of the jacket | 9.4/10 | See Current Price |
What is a Fishing Life Jacket?
A fishing life jacket is specifically designed for fishermen. It’s designed to keep you comfortable, organized, and safe at the same time.
The right fishing life vest will have enough buoyancy to help you stay afloat in case you fall into deep waters. Fishing life vests also come with extra storage places for added convenience.
What are the Benefits of using a Fishing Life Vest for Kayaking?
Fishing life vests are great because they:
- Provide more storage, more comfort, and more durability for fishermen
- Often come with pockets that drain
- Are often quick drying
The best part about the a fishing life vest is that it provides all of the conveniences of an angling vest while also providing safety.
All of this while allowing you to paddle without getting in the way.
What to Look for in a Kayaking Fishing Life Jacket?
Storage
Fishing life jackets that have multiple pockets and accessory loops allow you to put essential fishing gear right in the jacket. These pockets will save you the hassle of moving around in a small kayak to find a tackle box or access commonly used items.
Material
Make sure you get a life jacket that is made out of dense nylon. The more dense the nylon, the more durable it is. If you are going to spend a lot of money on a life jacket, you want to make sure it will last you a long time.
Comfort
You’ll be wearing it for a long time and you want to make sure you can be mobile and comfortable in the vest. It’s easy to throw caution to the wind and take off an uncomfortable life jacket “just for a sec” to get some relief. Keep yourself safe by investing in a comfortable life vest.
3 Biggest Mistakes When Choosing a Life Vest
The Best Fishing Life Vest for Kayaking
Nrs Chinook Fishing Life Jacket
Summary: The Nrs Chinook Fishing Life Jacket is a Unisex life jacket made for adults. This is an American made jacket that weighs about 1.81 pounds. The jacket is designed to be spacious in the front and fit securely in the back. The design allows for comfort and safety all at the same time.
Pros: The life jacket is equipped with more than one adjustment point so it can fit different body types and be worn by different people. It is made of soft, PlushFIT foam to allow for maximum comfort. Another advantage of this vest is that it comes with two accessory pockets, two large zippered pockets, and one tool holder so you can keep your essential fishing gear on you at all times.
Cons: Some customers stated that they were able to find a similar quality product for a much cheaper price than this life jacket. The company also does not list a sizing chart for the life vest so multiple customers received a jacket that did not fit them properly. The company could improve the size range of life jackets.
Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
Summary: The Onyx Karak Fishing Life Jacket is a one-size life jacket weighing about 1.3 pounds. The jacket includes a high back The life jacket has been U.S. Coast Guard Approved to ensure a high level of safety for the customer.
Pros: This life jacket comes equipped with multiple pocket designs and functions so you can store all of your fishing essentials. Another advantage of this kayak is that it includes neoprene shoulder pads and a breathable mesh lower back for optimum comfort. There are multiple adjustment straps so you can fit it on multiple body types. Made in the USA
Cons: This kayaking life jacket has received criticism for being too bulky. The fabric surrounding the zipper is also loose and poorly sewn so it can get easily caught in the zipper.
Stohlquist Fishing Kayak Life Jacket
Summary: The Stohlquist Fishing Kayak Life Jacket is a fishing life vest that comes equipped with exclusive graded sizing. The jackets feature taller and modern seat backs designed to make fishing easier.
Pros: One advantage of this life jacket is that it features a cross-chest cinch harness so the vest does not ride up at all. The jacket also comes with multiple storage and multiple pockets to put the fishing gear in. The pockets have drainage which prevents the fishermen/fisherwomen from getting too wet. The life vest also includes a lower back waistband and padded shoulders for optimum comfort.
Cons: The only suggestion for improvement is that the next version of this life vest should include a feature that attracts the fish to bite the lure.
Summary: The Stearns Comfort Series Collared Angler Vest is a fishing life jacket like no other. It has been US Coast Guard-approved to ensure maximum safety for the customer. The vest features large size front zippered pockets that can easily store gear such as cell phones.
Pros: A huge advantage of this life jacket is that it has tackle-pockets which can be also used as hand warmers. This allows fisherman/fisherwomen to be able to go into the coldest of waters. Also, the jacket has a flexible neoprene collar to prevent chafing. This jacket also has mesh shoulder panels which allow for more ventilation on breezy days. Truly, this is a life jacket designed for all kinds of weather.
Cons: Some customers complained about the quality of the fabric that the pockets are made out of. There seemed to be holes that formed in the pockets easily large enough for emergency whistles to fall out of the jacket.
Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest
Summary: The Onyx Move Vent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest is a unisex adult life jacket that weighs about 1 pound. The jacket has been U.S. Coast Guard Approved for maximum security. It is made of SOLAS grade reflective material so it is easily visible.
Pros: A major advantage of this life jacket is that it features expandable zippered pockets with mesh drainage. The pockets allow for storage while the zipper protects the items from falling out. The drainage also helps keep the pocket area and fisherman dry while they are kayaking. The soft, lightweight flotation foam adds to the comfort of the jacket.
Cons: Some customers complained about the size chart provided by the company. They followed the size chart and found their jacket to be too large. The zipper of the jacket also seems to come undone when the fisherman/fisherwomen capsize.
In Review
Truly, a kayaking fishing life jacket can be an excellent investment for those who love to fish regularly. A kayaking fishing life jacket has several notable benefits over traditional life jackets. Be sure to research different kinds of life jackets before you make your purchase because you will end up using it a lot and for a long time.
Works Referenced:
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