Updated December 27, 2022
When you go kayaking, whether for fishing, touring, or testing whitewater rapids, it is almost inevitable that you will at some point, fall overboard and find yourself in the water. If conditions are challenging or you are in some way debilitated, a good life jacket can literally be a lifesaver.
So step one is to make sure you have a quality life jacket that provides the necessary level of safety insurance. If you are fishing you want more than that. You want a jacket that is sturdy and puts your gear and accessories close at hand for easy access. At the same time, you need a comfortable fit with a range of motion and mobility for easy paddling and casting.
There are a few kayak fishing life jackets that meet these criteria. The best are reviewed below to help you find one that suits your style of fishing, with a comparison table, key features, photos, videos, and a basic buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know in the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of canoes, kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
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Best Kayak Fishing Life Jacket Reviews
- Stohlquist Fishermen Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- NRS Chinook Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Astral Ronny Fisher Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- MTI Solaris F-Spec Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Kokatat Leviathon Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
Best Kayak Fishing Life Jacket Comparison Table
| Picture | Life Jacket | Flotation | USCG Rating | Weight | Sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Stohlquist Fishermen Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 16.75 pounds | Type III | unavailable | 3 | $$$ |
  | NRS Chinook Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 16.5 pounds | Type III | 29 ounces | 4 | $$$ |
  | Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 15 pounds | Type III | unavailable | 2 | $ |
  | Astral Ronny Fisher Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 16 pounds | Type III | 29.44 ounces | 3 | $$$ |
 | MTI Solaris F-Spec Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 16.75 pounds | Type III | 25.6 ounces | 3 | $ |
  | Kokatat Leviathon Kayak Fishing Life Jacket | 16 pounds | Type III | 37.6 ounces | 3 | $$ |
| Picture | Life Jacket | Material | USCG Rating | Weight | Sizes | Price |
Stohlquist Fishermen Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Material: 500 denier Cordura shell, 200 denier Oxford liner
- Ultra-soft Gaia foam (no PVC)
- Adjustable padded neoprene shoulder straps
- High back flotation
- Cross-chest cinch strap
- Mesh lower back and open sides for ventilation
- Two drop-down drawbridge-style zippered pouch pockets with tool hangers and mesh zippered pockets inside
- Pouch pockets reinforced with an EVA shell which doubles as a shelf when the pocket is laid open
- External tool hangers
- Storage loops
- Comes in cactus color
- Unisex
- Flotation: 16.75 pounds
- Weight: unlisted
- Sizes: S/M, L/XL, XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$$
NRS Chinook Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Material: 200 denier urethane-coated ripstop nylon shell
- Soft foam flotation
- Mesh lower back
- Front zipper entry
- 8 adjustable points to customize the fit
- 7 front pockets
- Coil tool retractor
- Strobe holder loop, D-ring on the back
- Rod holder loops, multiple attachment loops, lash tab, and D-rings
- Key lanyard in a front pocket
- Fly drying patch
- Comes in bayberry, black, charcoal, orange, green, and red
- Unisex
- Flotation: 16.5 pounds
- Weight: 29 ounces
- Sizes: XS/M, S/M, L/XL, XL/XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$$
Onyx Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Material: 400 denier Oxford shell
- High foam back
- Mesh lower back for ventilation
- Neoprene shoulder pads for comfort
- 6 adjustment straps for a snug, personalized fit
- Largemouth cargo pocket for VHF radio and tools
- Push-button drop-down tray pocket with an elastic strap
- Zippered chest pocket
- Fleece-lined zippered pockets
- Hanging loop
- Lash tab
- 2-inch elastic attachment points
- Comes in tan/gray
- Unisex
- Flotation: 15 pounds (the lowest reviewed here)
- Weight: unavailable
- Sizes: oversize, universal
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $
Astral Ronny Fisher Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Material: 500 denier Cordura/300 denier Poly, 200 denier liner
- PE foam inserts for flotation
- Full back of super-thin foam with mesh for breathability
- Stowable hood in the collar (for wind and rain)
- Center zipper with adjustable side, shoulder, and waist straps for a good fit
- Convertible beverage holder
- Several front pockets with a tool organizer
- Velcro strips for mounting a tackle box
- Heavy-duty zippers and hardware
- Comes in ocean blue and granite gray
- Unisex
- Flotation: 16 pounds
- Weight: 29.44 ounces
- Sizes: oversize, universal
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$$
MTI Solaris F-Spec Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
Material: 210/420 denier ripstop nylon- Closed-cell foam for flotation
- High back foam with mesh lower back and open sides for mobility and breathability
- 6 points of adjustment for a custom fit
- Reflective trim for visibility
- Numerous chest-level attachment points – D-ring, webbing straps, and lash tab
- Big zippered cargo pocket with pliers holder and tethered signal whistle
- Drop-down fishing bridge platform
- Mesh pocket for your fishing license
- In-pocket key clip
- Back-shoulder D-ring
- Currently available in orange/gray
- Unisex
- Flotation: 16.75 pounds
- Weight: 25.6 ounces (XS/S)
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $
Kokatat Leviathon Kayak Fishing Life Jacket
- Material: 210 denier ripstop nylon
- Gaia foam for flotation (PVC-free)
- Ultra-light, fast-drying Ariaprene (non-toxic, hypoallergenic) mesh back and shoulders good with high back seating
- Contouring inner foam for a comfortable fit
- Shoulder and multiple side adjustments
- 14 pockets including 8 zippered, 4 mesh, and 2 hand warmers
- Numerous attachment points for fishing gear
- Available in orange, olive, and gray
- Unisex
- Flotation: 16 pounds
- Weight: 37.6 ounces
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Kayak Fishing Life Jacket Buying Guide
USCG Life Jacket Classification System
To make clear the capabilities of life jackets, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) classifies them into five categories. Those for kayaking fit into Type III or Type V. All reviewed here are Type III life jackets, which is usually the case.
Type III jackets are considered “flotation aids” that are used when the chance of a quick rescue is possible. This type is designed to be comfortable with flexibility of movement and to keep the user in a face-up position.
For a more detailed description of the USCG Classifications, check this earlier review: Best Kayaking Life Vest Review
Buoyancy or Flotation
This is the amount of force required to stay on the surface. The USCG standard for a Class III life jacket is 15.5 pounds of buoyancy. It is estimated that the average person only needs 7 to 12 pounds, so vests meeting that standard have excess buoyancy capability. Note that people with a high body fat ratio will be more buoyant than slim people and that you will be more buoyant in saltwater than freshwater.
Materials
Nylon is the most common material used in the shell of a life jacket due to its durability, resistance to scrapes and abrasion, mildew resistance, and water resistance. Some have coatings to improve performance.
For flotation plastic foam of different types is used due to high buoyancy. Some jackets use foam with high-performance capabilities like flexibility and softness which can add greatly to comfort and flexibility.
Mobility
When kayaking freedom of movement of the arms and shoulders is important for comfortable effective paddling. For a fishing life jacket, this is even more important due to the necessary handling of your rod and casting. A comfortable adjustable fit is key. Some jackets have sides that are more open so that more mobility is possible.
Pockets and Storage
An ergonomically designed life jacket that has storage options that make it easy to get your hands on what you need is important for kayakers. This is especially true for kayak fishermen. The kayak life jackets reviewed here all have a multitude of storage and attachment options for the great variety of tools, gear, lures, etc. you need to catch fish. Fishermen look for as many options as possible including mesh pockets, clam-shell pockets, pockets with special compartments, attachment options, and even drop-down workstations combined with D-rings, loops, clips, lash tabs, and rod holders, among others. The point is to eliminate lots of juggling in order to do what you need to do.
For more reviews of canoes, kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Boats
Feedback and Comments
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