Best Kayak Life Vests of 2023

It’s official; kayak life vests are cool. After years when kayakers avoided life vests, the culture has shifted to accept an essential key to water safety. The change in attitude is due to a new generation of life vests that are more comfortable, have better features, and keep anglers and other kayakers safer. To find the best kayak life vest, we looked for a personal floatation device (PFD) that is comfortable to wear, an asset when fishing, and smartly designed.

How We Picked The Best Kayak Life Vests

The best kayak life vests are ones that work. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are necessary for water safety and should always be worn while kayaking. The best kayak life vests not only function as a flotation device but should also fit well, be durable, and, ideally, have some external storage for activities like fishing.

We took many of the things within the “buying considerations” section at the bottom of this roundup into consideration. On top of that, we evaluated choices based on personal experience with the products, verified customer testimonials, company-specific research, and industry knowledge. Our top picks for the best kayak life vests are updated periodically to reflect new product testing and updates on how each product performs with more use.

The Best Kayak Life Vests: Reviews and Recommendations

Best for Fishing: Kokatat Leviathan

Best for Fishing

Specs

• Buoyancy: 16 lbs
• Closure: zipper
• Weight: 2 lbs 1 oz

Pros

• Extensive storage
• Durable materials
• Unique features

Cons

If we measure the best kayak life vest for fishing on safety, comfort, and function, then the winner is Kokatat’s Leviathan. The Kokatat Leviathan life vest is not only the best for fishing, but it is our top pick overall for the best life vest for kayaking. For decades, Kokatat has been making gear for serious paddlers, and they poured all their experience into the Leviathan.

The Leviathan’s shoulder and torso straps are padded with breathable mesh. To accommodate the high seat back in a fishing kayak, the Leviathan has floatation high on the back panel. The inside of the vest is soft material that feels like a cotton T-shirt against the skin. The Gaia flotation foam molds to the paddler’s body.

With 14 pockets carefully placed and stacked on the front panels, there is a place for everything. The plethora of pockets does make the Leviathan a little bulky, but with a perfect place to put safety and fishing gear, the extra space is worth it. In addition to pockets, the life vest features D-rings, tabs and attachment points to hold a safety knife and gear tether. It even has fleece-lined handwarmer pockets for those chilly days on the water.

The Leviathan is approved by both the American Coast Guard and Transport Canada to be recognized on both sides of the border. It provides 16 pounds of buoyancy across all sizes for guaranteed floatation.

Best Lightweight: Mustang M.I.T. 100

Best Lightweight

Specs

• Buoyancy: 25.1 lbs
• Closure: buckle
• Weight: 1.75 lbs

Pros

• Lightweight
• Easy to store
• Higher buoyancy than foam vests

Cons

• No storage
• Manual inflation cord

Mustang Survival makes safety equipment for rescue workers and the military and their innovations carry over to their consumer products. The M.I.T. 100 Automatic is Mustang’s most accessible inflatable PFD. M.I.T. stands for Membrane Inflatable Technology, referring to the soft, pliable bladder that fills with air. The panels have a low profile when not inflated. In an emergency, the bladders blow up to 22 pounds of buoyancy, which is more floatation than most foam PFDs and enough to qualify as a recreational Type III life vest.

Deflated, the M.I.T. 100 sits flat against the wearer’s chest. When the bladders are inflated, the wearer will float face up. Two bright yellow strips make it easier to see the inflatable life jacket in the water.

The M.I.T. 100 Automatic fills with air in seconds via a sensor that activates the CO2 cartridge when it detects water. It also can be inflated manually by pulling a cord. When the CO2 cartridge is spent, it’s easy to deflate and repack the bladders and replace the cartridge. Checking the activation is simple with a clear plastic window to show the indicator.

Mustang’s M.I.T. Automatic features 3D construction to hug the body with wide adjustable straps to keep the PFD in place. Soft, padded fabric at the neck prevents it from chaffing the skin.

Best for Women: NRS Chinook

Best for Women

Specs

• Buoyancy: 16 lbs
• Closure: zipper
• Weight: 2 lbs

Pros

• Comfortable high back design
• Excellent ventilation
• Quality safety features

Cons

• Not the most durable
• Velcro isn’t super secure in pockets

Specially designed to be the best women’s life vest, the NRS Chinook has molded Plushfit foam panels that are articulated to fit a variety of female body shapes. Pockets, lash tabs and sturdy construction make the NRS Shenook a great fishing life vest. Two large pockets and two smaller gear pockets on the front provide just enough space for fishing and safety gear without creating excess bulk that could interfere with paddling.

The mesh back with high floatation keeps the life vest cool, and won’t interfere with a high sit-on-top kayak seat. A rod holder, knife lash tab and strobe attachment round out the minimal, but smart, fishing features that make the Shenook an ideal kayak life vest for women.

Best for Kids: Astral Otter 2.0

Best for Kids

Specs

• Buoyancy: 11.5 lbs
• Closure: buckles
• Weight: 1 lb 5 oz

Pros

• Adjustable
• USCG Type III
• Detachable leg loops

Cons

The Astral Otter 2.0 looks, fits, and performs like a pro-level whitewater PFD. Form-fit and low profile, the Otter 2.0 provides 11.5 pounds of buoyancy in a small package that isn’t overly bulky. The arm holes are generous to prevent rubbing the skin or binding up clothes. Padded shoulder and torso straps keep the PFD in place without squeezing the kid. Waist, belly, and chest clips offer redundant closures for a reliable fit.

Bright colors appeal to the youngsters and make the PFD easy to spot on the river. A large grab handle on the back makes rescue easy. Our favorite feature is the Kapok foam, made out of organic, sustainable plant fibers, that is soft and moldable for a comfortable, environmentally-conscious fit. Little ones love to explore, and Astral gave the Otter 2.0 two small zippered pockets to hold their discoveries. The grown-up features on the little Otter 2.0 make it the best kayak life vest for kids weighing 50 to 90 pounds.

Best Budget: Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Vest

Best Budget

Specs

• Buoyancy: N/A
• Closure: zipper
• Weight: 1.4 lbs

Pros

• Fits adults 90+ lbs
• Oversize option available
• Excellent storage

Cons

The Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Vest costs half the price of high-end life jackets with many of the same features and the highest safety standard. It has a high foam back, a comfortable neoprene shoulder pad, and various pockets and tabs for kayak fishing accessories and safety gear. A breathable mesh back stays cool and comfortable while six adjustment points and universal sizing work to keep the wearer afloat. The vest offers abundant floatation to give the vest plenty of buoyancy.

What to Consider When Choosing a Kayak Life Vest

Kayak life vests, like a lot of kayak gear, have come a long way in the last decade. Those old orange life preservers were heavy, bulky, hot, and sticky, and many people would take them off after a while. The best kayak life vests are now more comfortable, functional, and safe.

Safety

Of course, the most important aspect of the best kayak life vest is safety. Today’s PFDs are safer than traditional life vests. Adjustable straps on the shoulder and torso dial in the fit so the life vest works properly. Reflective accents make the angler visible at night.

To encourage water safety, Coast Guard regulations say a paddler must have a Type III life vest on board (though we urge kayak anglers to wear their life vest). It’s no question that a PDF is one of the best kayaking accessories.

Comfort

Comfort a crucial factor for a life vest. A heavy, bulky, clammy and hot PFD is a PFD that many people won’t wear. The best kayak life vest shapes the foam for a better fit and to reduce size and weight. Padded straps, 3D construction and softer fabric are more comfortable against the skin. Mesh panels, vents and dimpled foam keep air flowing through the vest. If you don’t like a foam vest, then the latest inflatable life vests are a great choice for a lightweight, low profile way to stay safe.

One important distinction between standard PFDs and kayak life vests: a kayak PFD has the rear floatation section positioned high on the back so it won’t interfere with the seat back.

Functionality

In addition to comfort and safety, many anglers want a fishing PFD—a life vest with storage for tackle, safety gear and tools. That means pockets, D-rings, tabs to hold pliers, cutters, gear, and small tackle boxes. Other kayakers want a personal flotation device free of all but essential kayak fishing accessories.

Some anglers like to carry essential safety equipment in case they are separated from the kayak. These anglers look for a place to stuff a personal locator beacon, safety whistle, signal light, paddling knife, and smartphone.

Get the most out of your kayaking experience with the best kayak paddles.

Design

If a foam life vest is too hot and bulky for your style, then an inflatable vest is the next best thing. These kayak life vests feature a rubber bladder that uses a CO2 cartridge to inflate in seconds. A manual inflatable vest inflates when the user pulls a cord. An automatic model activates when the vest hits the water.

Inflatable life vests use a CO2 cartridge to blow up rubber bladders inside the vest. A manual vest is inflated when the user pulls a cord. Automatic inflatables have a sensor that causes the vest to inflate when it hits water. Neither type of inflatable is as safe as a foam vest, because it requires an action to become a PFD. That’s why inflatable life jackets shouldn’t be relied on in river rapids or heavy surf crossings, but for near-shore trips in sheltered waters, an inflatable PFD is a good option because it’s lighter, cooler and more comfortable than foam.

FAQs

Best Kayak Life Vests: Final Thoughts

The best kayak life vests offer comfort and features to keep the paddler safe, plus pockets and tabs for tackle and essential safety gear, such as a whistle and signal strobe. When it comes to safety, money should never be an issue, so buy the best kayak fishing PFD you can afford.

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.