Best life vest on Reddit
123 reviews from r/sailing, r/labrador, r/dogs and 26 more subreddits
123 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Ruffwear
4.5
(15)
"Ruffwear is what my labs use in rivers, ponds and pools I make them work."
"I really liked my Saulus life vest; it has a few nice features like a double head flap part and it does up nice and tight."
"I swear by Ruffwear for all my outdoor dog gear. Their life vest is great."
"Very durable, still look like new despite years of use."
"Ruff wear makes good stuff."
"I really like the ruffwear ones. Buoyant, fit well, I wouldn't mess with the knockoffs."
"Ruffwear vests tend to fit well and keep the dog's rear up."
"Our dock diving facility uses Ruffwear vests when dogs are first learning."
"Great quality and holds up well, preferred by other owners."
"Definitely recommend Ruffwear if it comes in your dog's size. My GSD has a Ruffwear life vest and I can't say enough good things about it."
#2
Mustang
4.4
(8)
"For dinghy sailing there is nothing better than the mustang hybrid in my opinion."
"USCG with neck support. For children 33 - 55 lbs."
"The hydrostatic inflatable PFD only inflates when slightly submerged, making it reliable for overnight races."
"Mustang self inflator."
"I wear a Mustang MIT 70. Super light and comfy."
"I recently bought one of these. The Mit100 is better if you're big or might land in higher waves."
"It is comfortable and I like it, but I wish it had an attachment point on the chest."
"Haven't used it yet beyond checking fit, but it seems good."
#3
Outward Hound
4.3
(8)
"We used the same brand (Outward Hound) 3 times: a large for her and then smaller versions when we had a new lab puppy"
"The Outward Hound vests have worked well for my frenchie and his friends."
"I'm looking at the Outward Hound Granby."
"Outward Hound vests fit well but sizing can be tricky."
"I have an Outward Hound one we have for boating."
"I grabbed an outward hound one from Amazon."
"It's bright, it has a handle, and it's pretty adjustable."
"I bought a regular dog life jacket for my pug. I don't think you need something specific for a pug."
#4
Life Jacket
4.2
(6)
"I'm so glad you asked about life jackets! I need one for my girl and was about to ask this group for recommendations 😂😂😂"
"Check out Hedz Up Pets."
"I got her a life jacket. And sometimes w/o it I'd tow her around in deeper water."
"I’ve had much better luck finding life jackets that can fit them than any other dog clothes."
"Haven't gotten one yet, but this article has some good info."
"I saw several at Bass Pro Shop. Although, I have not used them yet!!"
#5
Onyx
4.6
(5)
"I usually only go out to about November/55⁰... water is still a bit warm and I'm good with a hooded sweatshirt and long pants."
"Onyx AM24. I forget I'm wearing it when out on the water."
"This life vest is designed for paddling, offering a generous range of motion and adjustable straps."
"Small lakes and such...Onyx a/m 24"
"The life vests are super compact and inflate with a pull cord when needed."
#6
NRS
3.8
(6)
"Feels good to have a vest that is designed for people who have boobs and feels like it can take a couple of seasons of Laser racing."
"Harbors and big waters...NRS Chinook"
"The Raku is super slimmed down and comfortable even when cinched."
"NRS Chinook. Pockets in front, the back flotation is high."
"May look at something like the NRS Ninja."
"I don't recommend the inflatable life vests due to potential failure and maneuverability issues."
#7
Stohlquist
4.6
(5)
"We got Stohlquist Fisherman PFDs this year and love them so far!"
"It's a tiny bit bulkier than most similar floatation aids, but it's USCG approved and provides great floatation."
"It fits comfortably and doesn't get in the way, and that's about all you need in a dinghy PFD."
"I'm happy with my Stohlquist pfd."
"The Stohlquist Drifter is close fitting and provides comfort with foam support against the boat."
#8
Hurtta
4.4
(5)
"The Hurtta vest has been the best in terms of durability and fit."
"Hurtta makes a good one, too!"
"We have a life jacket (Hurtta, a yellow one) on him if he swims in a lake."
"Hurtta is a generally solid brand for practical gear. The life vest seems comfortable and has held up for a good 5 years."
"A bit pricey but may be worth it by the sound of it."
#9
Spinlock
5.0
(4)
"Great for ocean use with harness loops and spray hood."
"Highly recommended by my female crew for minimizing nipple chafe."
"It's night and day compared to other inflatable vests that I've used before."
"I love spinlock. They have a good recommend tool."
#10
Salus
5.0
(4)
"One of the lowest profile foam vests, not bulky with front pockets."
"Great range of movement, way more comfortable, and actually provide better flotation than a traditional life vest."
"Great range of movement, way more comfortable, and actually provide better flotation than a traditional life vest."
"They work great, they stay out of the way, they float - what more do you need!"
#11
US Coast Guard
4.0
(3)
"Type III life jackets are suitable for swimming and provide adequate safety in calm waters."
"Type II life jackets are ideal for boating on calm lakes."
"Type I life jackets are recommended for ocean boating."
#12
Petsmart
3.7
(3)
"The life vest has lasted quite a long time for my girlfriend's Boston terrier."
"The minimalist vest provides confidence insurance for swimming."
"My dog hated the water and would swim straight to the steps. I wouldn't let a bulldog swim without a life jacket."
#13
Various Brands
5.0
(2)
"The XS mermaid life jacket is awesome for our Chi, and it has a carrying handle that makes it fun to pick her up."
"The XS mermaid life jacket is awesome for our Chi, and it has a carrying handle that cracks me up when I pick her up."
#14
Salus Marine
5.0
(2)
"Excellent lifejackets. Been taking our son canoeing and boating since he was six months old."
"Excellent lifejackets. Been taking our son canoeing and boating since he was six months old."
#15
Deckvest
4.5
(2)
"It's very minimal but super light, I barely notice I'm wearing it."
"A good option for sailboat racing in semi-protected waters."
#16
Mustang Survival
4.5
(2)
"The hydrostatic inflatable PFD only inflates when slightly submerged, preventing accidental inflation."
"I recently bought one of these. The Mit100 is better if you're big or might land in higher waves."
#17
Astral
4.5
(2)
"The Astral Ronny is really well constructed and fits better than many."
"If you’re male take a look at the Astral V8."
#18
Kong
4.5
(2)
"I have a Kong brand one that we use for paddleboarding that I've been happy with."
"We have a Kong vest. It’s good to have one when we’re out on the boat."
#19
unknown
4.0
(2)
"They have good selections of life jackets including those specially designed for dogs."
"I made sure to get one that did just have straps under the belly but actual padding."
#20
Gerber
7.0
(1)
"It's reassuring to have it on during the flight in case I do need to ditch and don't make it in my life raft. However, it's uncomfortable with the seat belt on and constantly shifts to my right."
#21
Zhik
3.5
(2)
"The Zhik PDF is great with a slim design and no buckles or straps."
"If you don't plan on racing and want just a little bit of flotation, the Zhik might be what you're after."
#22
Level Six
5.0
(1)
"I use the Level Six brand and its been great: comfortable, buoyant, and durable."
#23
Ezydog
5.0
(1)
"I love the ezydog sport personally!"
#24
Surf Dogs Australia
5.0
(1)
"My Lab has his Dog Lifejacket from Surf Dogs Australia."
#25
Pro Life Vest
5.0
(1)
"PRO LIFE VEST!!! I have a 2.5 year old black lab."
#26
Lifeline Gear
5.0
(1)
"It's lightweight and comfortable, making it a great choice for racing."
#27
Stearns
5.0
(1)
"Super comfortable and only around $100."
#28
Petco
5.0
(1)
"My local petco sells this flotation vest. They have a few other brands online as well."
#29
Canada Pooch
5.0
(1)
"CP uses top-notch materials and impeccable craftsmanship. Stitching is on par with Columbia/North Face lines."
#30
Bass Pro Shops
5.0
(1)
"Legal and safe. No fitment problems whatsoever."
#31
Amazon
5.0
(1)
"This is the one we have on our boat. My LO has gotten more than a year of use out of it because he is so small."
#32
West Marine
5.0
(1)
"I've used mine dozens of times, doesn't get in the way of the harness. You couldn't drown with this if you wanted to."
#33
Lotus
5.0
(1)
"I actually really like it, it doesn't really catch on anything and is fairly small so hiking with it is easy."
#34
Supersoft
5.0
(1)
"The support in water is great, they float like a buoy. Thin enough and comfortable that the kids wear it all day."
#35
Ruff Wear
5.0
(1)
"Very durable, still look like new despite years of use."
#36
Top Paw
5.0
(1)
"I am extremely pleased with it!"
#37
Crewsaver
5.0
(1)
"Excellent choice for serious conditions."
#38
Pool Gear
5.0
(1)
"It's easy to put on because they step into it. They seem to be very comfortable in them."
#39
Various Pet Brands
5.0
(1)
"I recommend trying on various sizes and brands to find the perfect fit for your dog."
#40
EMUST
5.0
(1)
"I love this one, it velcros under his belly but also clips so it’s securely on."
#41
Revere
5.0
(1)
"I've been pleased with the pack style. I really don't notice it belted around my waist while I'm in the plane."
#42
Cabelas
5.0
(1)
"An auto/manual inflatable life vest is a great solution for comfort, especially for larger sizes."
#43
Zippypaws
5.0
(1)
"The Zippypaws Adventure worked well during an extended houseboat stay, with a chin rest to keep the snoot out of the water and a huge handle for pulling the pup out."
#44
Forward WIP
5.0
(1)
"It's nice and compact, works well with a harness, gives good protection and is a full 50N rated lifejacket unlike other impact vests on the market."
#45
Switlik
5.0
(1)
"They’re super comfortable and I wear them every time I go up, just in case."
#46
Rukka
5.0
(1)
"I've been very happy with the quality, though my dog is medium sized. Saved him already once when he wanted to play figurehead on our sup board during a windy day and dropped into baltic sea."
#47
Puddle Jumper
4.0
(1)
"Puddle jumper"
#48
Gul
4.0
(1)
"[Gul Garda II] Nothing on the shoulders, cheap, safe."
#49
Kokatat
4.0
(1)
"Kokatat Bahia tour or Bahia predator."
#50
Youly
4.0
(1)
"It fits him well."
#51
LL Bean
4.0
(1)
"The LL Bean vest has the most foam under the chest, helping corgis keep their nose up while swimming."
#52
Newfoundland
4.0
(1)
"These dogs are made to swim, no life jacket needed."
#53
Surfercat
4.0
(1)
"It's a little pricey but probably safer for a cat than the dog ones."
#54
Body Glove
3.0
(1)
"I have a cheapo Body Glove from Walmart that I like to wear."
#55
Coast Guard
1.0
(1)
"Water wings and puddle jumpers are not safe for children and do not provide adequate security in the water."
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