Re: Best life jackets to wear?
The best life jacket is the one you will wear.
I do a lot of water sports with the family, so I like the neoprene vests. It seems like the neoprene vests retain less water when someone boards the boat from the water. I had the nylon jackets at first, but then I would watch a puddle form under the feet of the person wearing it when they boarded my boat. I always like to minimize the incoming water, and the neoprene vests seem to be the best at doing this. I could not believe the amount of water that would get trapped in the nylon fabric, and then slowly drain into the boat. The nylon vests do have the advantage of being lighter, and cheaper on the wallet. I now use my old nylon vests as spares when I have extra guests on board. The inflatable vests are great for emergency purposes, but they are not intended for regular use. Since I am always in the water, an inflatable vest is not practical for me, but I see it as a good idea for someone who intends to stay in the boat.
