Updated October 4, 2024
When you head out on your kayak for a little excitement, given the power of the waves and whitewater, the value of a PFD or life vest is all too evident. If you’re a woman, it would certainly be nice to wear one that not only provides the necessary level of safety but is also comfortable and designed to fit your feminine contours and body shape. All too many men’s and even unisex models just don’t cut it.
That’s where a little assistance to help in your selection process comes in. Below is an introduction to a range of kayaking life vests for women. To start there’s a comparison table of top women’s PFDs, followed by descriptions and key specifications with photos and videos, and finally 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 kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
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 Kayaks Inflatable Boats Canoes
Kayaking Life Jackets for Women
- NRS Zoya Women’s Kayak Life Vest
- Astral Layla Women’s Kayak Life Vest
- Stohlquist Women’s Flo Personal Flotation Device Kayak Life Vest
- Stohlquist Betsea Women’s Kayak Life Vest
- Stohlquist Cruiser Women’s Kayak Life Vest
- NRS Women’s Shenook Fishing Kayak Life Vest
- Stohlquist Women’s Escape Kayak Life Vest
- NRS Nora Women’s Kayak Life Vest
Women’s Kayaking Life Jacket Comparison Table
| Picture | Life Vest | Flotation | USCG Rating | Weight | Sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | NRS Zoya Women's Kayak Life Vest | 16.5 pounds | Type III | 34.88 ounces | 3 | $$ |
  | Astral Layla Women’s Kayak Life Vest | 16.3 pounds | Type III | 27.8 ounces | 4 | $$ |
  | Stohlquist Women's Flo Personal Flotation Device Kayak Life Vest | 16.125 pounds | Type III | 22 ounces | 3 | $$ |
  | Stohlquist Betsea Women's Kayak Life Vest | 18.25 pounds | Type III | 27.1 ounces | 3 | $$$ |
  | Stohlquist Cruiser Women's Kayak Life Vest | 16.75 pounds | Type III | 32 ounces | 3 | $$ |
  | NRS Women's Shenook Fishing Kayak Life Vest | 16.5 pounds | Type III | 30 ounces | 2 | $$ |
  | Stohlquist Women's Escape Kayak Life Vest | 15.625 pounds | Type III | 16 ounces | 3 | $ |
  | NRS Nora Women's Kayak Life Vest | 16.5 pounds | Type III | unavailable | 3 | $$ |
| Picture | Live Vest | Flotation | USCG Rating | Weight | Sizes | Price |
NRS Zoya Women’s Kayak Life Vest
The NRS Zoya has a durable design with comfortable high-back flotation and soft, pliable foam around the chest taking into consideration a woman’s contours.
6 adjustment points further enable a customized fit and a mesh bottom provides cooling ventilation.
Easy-access storage options are available with 2 large zippered pockets and a lash tab, and reflective accents add visibility.
- Durable 400-denier nylon shell
- Pliable foam in the chest area
- High-back foam flotation for comfort on high-back seats
- Mesh lower back promotes ventilation
- 6 adjustment points for a customized fit
- 2 zippered front pockets and a lash tab for storage
- Center entry zipper
- 3M reflective accents for visibility
- Comes in gray, orchid, teal, or red
- Flotation: 16.5 pounds
- Weight: 34.88 ounces
- Sizes: XS/M, L/XL, XL/XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Astral Layla Women’s Kayak Life Vest
The Astral Layla provides excellent flotation capacity with a durable female-specific design that has comfortable bust cups and hinged architecture.
The soft foam, stretchy Lycra, and adjustable side and shoulder straps in the 4 available sizes enable a customized fit to suit any contours for long days of paddling.
There is a large zippered pocket with a divider for ample storage and it comes in 3 attractive colors.
- Durable shell and liner of denier nylon and stretch Lycra
- Comfortable, soft PVC-free foam of Kapok with PE inserts
- Sculpted bust cups and architecture-specific to a woman’s contours with multi-panel hinged seams
- Sturdy Polypro webbing and hardware
- Secure, large front pocket with divider and key clip
- Adjustable shoulder and side straps for a customized fit
- Comes in eggplant, glacier blue, and rosa red
- Flotation: 16.5 pounds
- Weight: 27.8 ounces
- Sizes: XS, S/M, M/L, L/XL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Stohlquist Women’s Flo Personal Flotation Device Kayak Life Vest
The Stohlquist Women’s Flo is specially contoured to a woman’s figure and very lightweight.
The neoprene waistband fits comfortably and the cross-chest cinch strap eliminates riding up.
Ventilation and flexibility are facilitated with high-back flotation, a mesh lower back and shoulders, and open sides, and ample storage is available in the large bellows side pockets.
Putting it on and taking it off is easy with the center zip, and it comes in 3 attractive color combinations, and 3 sizes to fit all women.
- Sturdy nylon shell
- High-back PE foam flotation, comfortable with high-back seats
- Comfortable neoprene padded waistband
- Mesh shoulders and lower back and open sides for ventilation
- Cross-chest cinch strap
- Webbing shoulder, side, and belt straps
- Large self-draining bellows side pockets
- 4-way lash tabs back and front
- High-quality YKK center zipper for easy entry
- Comes in gray, orange, purple
- Flotation: 16.125 pounds
- Weight: 22 ounces
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, Plus
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Stohlquist Betsea Women’s Kayak Life Vest
The Stohlquist Betsea does a great job providing a high level of buoyancy for women that comfortably takes into account their unique shape and needs.
Ergonomically shaped foam with molded bust cups and graded sizing in combination with adjustable straps create an extraordinarily customizable fit.
Cooling is facilitated by lumbar and shoulder ventilation and there is plenty of storage with two large expandable pockets.
When the temperature is a little nippy there are even fleece-lined handwarmer pockets to help out.
There is reflective trim for visibility and several eye-catching color combinations to choose from.
- Ergonomic pre-curved foam for women’s contours with built-in inner cups for support
- Graded sizing with different foam and fabric cuts rather than just different strap sizes
- 2 large expandable zippered pockets
- Fleece-lined side handwarmer pockets
- 4-way accessory tabs on chest and back shoulder
- Back hang loop
- Ventilated lumbar and shoulder pads
- Adjustable straps for a customized fit
- Cross-chest cinch strap to prevent riding up
- 3M reflective front and back trim for visibility
- Comes in powder blue/gray, sage/sand, pink/black
- Flotation: 18.25 pounds
- Weight: 27.1 ounces
- Sizes: S/M, L/XL, Plus
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$$
Stohlquist Cruiser Women’s Kayak Life Vest
The Stohlquist Cruiser has an ergonomic design, especially for women, and is best suited to touring and sit-on-top paddling.
It has supportive inner cups on a shortened and shaped torso with ventilated back and shoulder pads, a mesh lower back, and open sides for cooling.
Neoprene padding on the shoulders and belt add to the comfort and reflective accents enhance low-light visibility.
In addition, there is substantial storage in the 2 large pockets and rear lash tab, and it comes in 3 attractive color combinations.
- Sturdy UV-resistant 500-denier nylon shell, 200-denier nylon liner
- Contoured supportive inner cups
- Cross-chest cinch straps eliminate riding up
- Corrosion-resistant center zip for easy entry
- 2 Large zippered self-draining bellows pockets
- 4-way rear lash tab for accessories
- Adjustable shoulder straps and webbing belt
- Short ergonomically shaped torso with high-back foam flotation, comfortable with high-back seats
- Mesh shoulders and low back with open sides for ventilation
- Comfortable neoprene padded waistband and shoulders
- Reflective accents back and front for visibility
- Comes in black/pink, powder blue/gray, mango/gray
- Flotation: 16.75 pounds
- Weight: 32 ounces
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, Plus
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
NRS Women’s Shenook Fishing Kayak Life Vest
The NRS Shenook is the women’s version of the popular Chinook Fishing PFD with a medium profile and form panels to suit a woman’s torso requirements and comfort.
It is a good multi-use model especially suited for fishing due to the numerous handy storage options including 7 pockets, and numerous loops, D-rings, and lash tabs.
A mesh lower back keeps you cool, 8 adjustable points ensure a customizable fit, and the central zipper makes it convenient to get it on and off.
- Durable urethane-coated nylon shell
- Soft foam flotation
- Form panels to fit the female torso
- Mesh lower back for ventilation
- Front zipper entry for easy on and off
- 8 adjustable points to customize the fit
- 7 front pockets
- Coil tool retractor
- D-ring on the back, strobe holder loop
- Multiple attachment loops, rod holder loops, lash tab, and D-rings
- Available in charcoal
- Flotation: 16.5 pounds
- Weight: 30 ounces
- Sizes: XS/M, L/XL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Stohlquist Women’s Escape Kayak Life Vest
The Stohlquist Women’s Escape is a simple low-priced functional kayak life vest with soft low-profile foam and contoured foam in the torso that comfortably conforms to a woman’s contours.
It has padded shoulders and a large zippered pocket for personal items with 8 points of adjustability to customize the fit.
The center zipper allows convenient entry, reflective accents make you more visible in low light, and it comes in 3 lively colors, as well.
- Sturdy 200-denier nylon shell, 200-denier Oxford liner
- Soft foam shaped in the chest for female contours
- Low-profile soft foam inside for a comfortable conforming fit
- Adjustable side and shoulder straps for a custom fit
- Padded shoulders
- Reflective accents for visibility
- Large zippered expandable pocket
- Center zipper entry
- Waist belt with a center buckle
- Comes in sail blue, turquoise, and violet
- Flotation: 15.625 pounds
- Weight: 16 ounces (XS/S)
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, Plus
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $
NRS Nora Women’s Kayak Life Vest
The NRS Nora is specially designed for women and is suitable for a range of paddling and boating activities.
The ventilated back panels keep you cool and are thin enough to be comfortable sitting in highback kayak seating.
The 5-panel construction flexes freely to match your body shape with chest panels conforming comfortably to the shape of the female torso.
6 adjustment points further enhance a customized fit and 2 large zippered pockets and lash tabs provide reasonable storage options.
There are also reflective accents for low-light visibility along with 3 colors to choose from.
- Flexible 5-panel construction conforms to the body
- Thin ventilated back panels distribute foam and flotation
- Chest panels conform to a woman’s figure
- 6 adjustment points for a customized fit
- 2 large zippered pockets and lash tabs for storage
- 3M reflective accents for visibility
- Center zipper entry
- Comes in green, teal, and charcoal
- Flotation: 16.5 pounds
- Weight: unavailable
- Sizes: XS/M, L/XL, XL/XXL
- USCG Rating: Type III
- Price: $$
Kayaking Life Jackets for Women Buying Guide
USCG Rating
The United States Coast Guard classifies life vests into five types based on the intended use. For a detailed description, check this out: USCG Rating System
Life vests for kayaking usually fit into Type III or Type V. All reviewed here are classed Type III.
Type I
- For remote offshore more distant locations
- Have enough buoyancy to keep you face up on the surface
- Large and brightly colored for visibility
Type II
- For use close to shore in calmer water with a chance for a quick rescue
- Smaller than Type I vests
- Often inexpensive and for general use on many boats to meet USCG regulations
Type III
- Considered ‘flotation aids” for use when quick rescue is likely
- Allow flexibility in movement and are comfortable
- Designed to keep the person face-up but not automatically as with Type I vests
Type IV
- Designed to be thrown for a person to grab like a cushion or circular ring
- Not meant for rough water or unconscious victims
- Backup for other PFDs
Type V
- The class used for PFDs designed for particular activities, for example, kayaking, windsurfing, SUP, etc.
- Flotation is usually greater than that of Type II or III vests
- The USCG requires a label that defines the designated activity for it to be in compliance
Buoyancy
This term is used in the descriptions and comparison table that refers to the force necessary for something to stay at the surface. We are concerned about keeping a person’s head above water when wearing a vest. A person’s weight and body fat ratio influence buoyancy. Also, an object will be more buoyant in saltwater than in freshwater.
Normally an adult needs from 7 to 12 pounds of buoyancy to float. The USCG demands that Type III vests have at least a buoyancy of 15.5 pounds. For a description of the calculations to determine buoyancy requirements, check this article: How Do We Calculate Weight in Water?
A Woman’s Fit
Sizing is based on your chest size primarily. For women standard sizes for men and unisex sizes leave a lot to be desired for a comfortable fit. That is why we are introducing these women’s life vests that are designed to fit the contours and shape of a woman. This includes graded sizing and integrated features incorporating a woman’s bust. A shorter torso length is another difference between men’s and women’s models. To accommodate individual differences, it is good to have multiple adjustment points for the best custom fit.
Materials
For kayak life vests the outer material used most often is nylon. It is resistant to abrasions and scrapes, is water-resistant, and is often resistant to UV rays, as well. Some models use neoprene but that is most often used in models designed for other water sports.
There are different varieties of foam used for flotation. Which one is used is not a major factor unless you are concerned with being green, in which PVC is frowned upon.
Storage
Kayakers find it handy to have convenient storage options on the vest, especially for fishing. Take note of the options offered and how ergonomically they are organized. There are front or side pockets, pockets with lining for hand warming, mesh pockets, clamshell pockets, pockets with zippers, D-rings, clips, loops, lash tabs, and other options.
Visibility
In low-light situations, reflective patches, highlights, or strips can be of great assistance in making you more visible for a quick rescue. Brightly colored vests are also easier to see. A signaling device like a flashlight or whistle is another option to consider having with you stored on your life vest.
For more reviews of kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
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 Kayaks Inflatable Boats Canoes
Feedback and Comments
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Heavy Duty Nylon Construction, Soft Gaia Foam, Comfortable, Well Ventilated, Good Mobility, Lots of Storage Options Designed for Fishing
Durable, Comfortable, Adjustable Fit, Ventilated, 7 Front Pockets, Rod Holder, Many Attachment Points, 4 Sizes, 6 Colors 
Budget Pricing, Comfortable, Adjustable Fit, Ventilated, Reasonable Mobility, Specialized Pockets, Numerous Storage Options
Heavy-Duty, Full Back Thin PE Foam Flotation, Good Mobility, Numerous Fishing Gear Storage Options, Stowable Hood
High-Back, Open Sides for Mobility, Multiple Pockets & Specialty Fishing Gear Storage Options, Reflective Trim, High Buoyancy
Comfortable, Body Conforming Fit, Lots of Pockets & Attachment Points for Fishing Gear, Quick-Drying, Green Materials, 3 Colors to Choose From
Updated April 11, 2023
The Onyx MoveVent vest has durable 200-denier nylon construction with vented channels and a mesh back to keep you cool as you paddle.
The Astral V-Eight Kayak Life Vest has a high mesh back and open sides in its Airescape system to keep paddlers cool when working hard in warm climates.
The Stohlquist Edge has an ergonomic design and large arm openings that facilitate freedom of movement.
Another ergonomic model from Stohlquist, the Trekker has a comfortable design with ventilated shoulder and back pads and an open structure for ease of movement and cooling.
The Onyx Youth Paddle Kayak Life Vest is sized for young people from 55-88 pounds.
