SUP life jacket

Wearing a swim vest when SUP boarding isn't just a good idea, it's also a legal requirement. That's why you might as well buy a good SUP swim vest so that it's both comfortable to wear, and you can be sure that it gives you the right buoyancy. On this page you'll find a wide range of SUP swim vests, so you can be dressed safely and properly for your next paddleboarding trip.

What should a SUP swim vest be able to do?

Firstly, it's important that your SUP swim vest has a minimum buoyancy of 50 N, as this is a legal requirement. With a buoyancy of 50 N, your SUP swim vest is guaranteed to keep you afloat in the water, but it does require you to move. Therefore, you need to master the most basic swimming skills to get the full benefit of the buoyancy of the swim vest.

Another critical feature of a good SUP swim vest is that they have good mobility and flexibility, making it easier for you to swim in it and get onto your board. Both will be difficult to do if you're wearing a normal life jacket, as they are less flexible and more bulky.

Additionally, it's a good idea to consider the colour of your SUP swim vest. If you're SUPing a good distance from the shore, it's a big advantage to have a swim vest in a visible colour. This allows other paddleboarders, kayakers and sailboats to see you in the water should you fall in. It also makes it easier for a lifeguard to spot you from the shore should you find yourself in distress.

Is it best to use a life jacket or a swim vest for SUP?

Most activities on a SUP board tend to take place close to the shore and in calm water. Therefore, a good life jacket for SUP is sufficient if you know the most basic swimming techniques. Of course, this assumes that you are also able to get back on the board yourself if you fall into the water.

This part is especially difficult with a large life jacket, as your freedom of movement in the water is much more limited. In addition, most life jackets have a buoyancy of 100 N and above, which makes them more suitable for the open sea or rough waters. You don't need that kind of buoyancy on a paddleboard unless you're SUPing in hurricanes and 2 metre waves.

The main difference between a SUP swim vest and a life jacket lies in their different functions. While they both need to provide buoyancy, however, a life jacket needs to be able to keep you afloat and turn you onto your back if you're unconscious. A SUP swim vest can't do that, but you can swim much more freely in it.

That's why a SUP swim vest should be seen as a buoyancy aid rather than a life jacket. It is the middle ground between no buoyancy aid and “too much” buoyancy. Since a SUP board relies on a high degree of freedom of movement for optimal propulsion, it is important that your SUP swim vest does not hinder your movements.

Choose the right size for your SUP swim vest

For your SUP swim vest to perform best in the water, it's very essential to choose the right size. Firstly, pick a SUP swim vest that has a weight rating range that covers your weight. Its optimal buoyancy depends on whether it can support your weight. It's better to pick a larger interval, as you'll be on the safe side.

A SUP swim vest should also be close-fitting without being too tight, but also not too loose that you risk it falling off if you fall into the water. You'll be able to tell if it's too small, but it can be a little harder to know if it's too big.

Luckily, there are solutions for this. Once you have the life jacket on - buttoned, tied and zipped - you can have someone pull up on it. If it slides up more than 6 cm, it means it's too big.

One last thing to be aware of is that some life jackets have a zip to close, while others are tied together with strings. The two types each have their own advantages. A swim vest with a buckle around the waist and zip will provide a very tight fit, but they are difficult to adjust to different body shapes.

SUP swim vests with a buckle around the waist and strings, on the other hand, are more customisable. This makes it easier to customise how tight you want it to be, but it also makes them looser in their fit.

Take good care of your SUP swim vest

In general, a SUP swim vest is relatively resistant to wind and weather, but salt water will still wear down the materials. That's why it's important to rinse your swim vest in cold fresh water after each use to rinse all the salt out of it. Otherwise, it will sit and tenderise the materials and the vest will eventually crack the fabric. This will render your SUP swim vest unusable, as you risk losing some of its buoyancy.

After a thorough wash, simply air dry it, but not in sunlight as this has the same effect as salt and will also make the materials more fragile. Once completely dry, store it in a dry and dark place.

As most swim vests get their buoyancy from buoyancy aids embedded in the fabric, it is critical that they remain as intact as possible. Therefore, you should never stand, step or sit on your SUP swim vest, as this will compress the buoyancy aids and the swim vest will lose buoyancy.

Do you have everything you need?

That should take care of the SUP swim vest, but do you have everything else sorted? If you want to extend your SUP season, it's easy to do with the right wetsuit. And if you don't want to freeze your feet, a pair of SUP shoes or neoprene shoes will help. If you also freeze your hands and feet, you can find a full neoprene set right here.

In the unfortunate event that some of your paddleboard accessories break, you can find a lot of accessories and spare parts in our SUP accessories category. You can also spice up your board with a SUP seat or even a SUP sail.

If you're the more safety-orientated type who needs to get a SUP swim vest before you buy the board itself, you can find all our different SUP boards and SUP packages right here.

Buy your SUP swim vest here at Watery.ie

On this page you can find SUP swim vests covering a very wide weight range and all sizes in the highest quality. This makes it much easier for you to choose without having to worry about their safety guarantee. The hardest part will be picking what colour it should be and whether it should be zipped or unzipped.

If you have any questions about any of the models on this page, don't hesitate to contact our customer service team, who are ready to answer all your questions. When you place an order with us, you will of course receive a number of customer benefits:

• Free shipping on orders over €79
  
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM

Take a look around this page and our many other SUP categories and find all the equipment you need.