Best Life Jacket for Dinghy Sailing

There’s nothing quite like sailing a dinghy! “What’s dinghy sailing?” you say? Wikipedia defines dinghy sailing as sailing a small boat using five essential controls: the sails, the foils, the trim, balance and finally the choice of route. We might suggest there is a sixth control: safety provided by the best life jacket for dinghy sailing.

While it can be exhilarating to be out on the water in a small sailboat such as a dinghy, you just can’t forget about safety!  That’s the purpose of our review here; to figure out if there really is the best life jacket for dinghy sailing. Whenever you’re faced with a decision, you  should take into consideration the type of activity you’re engaged in, so that you can understand the requirements you will need out of your safety equipment. As dinghy sailing can be quite fast, fun and exciting, don’t forget you’ll also be in a small space and required to perform many various maneuvers. Whether you’ll be participating in dinghy races, learning to sail, or just enjoying the freedom and control of sailing a small boat, you will need safety and maneuverability from your life jacket.

Is there a best life jacket for dinghy sailing?

So, with safety and freedom of movement as our main requirements for the best life jacket for dinghy sailing, let’s look at what is available and the pro’s and con’s of each. While there are almost endless choices in life jackets, we’ve narrowed down the list based on customer reviews , focusing on our required capabilities to help you pick the best life jacket for dinghy sailing.

Stearns Adult Watersport Classic Series Vest – Budget Friendly

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For those who want great performance while not breaking the bank, the Stearns Adult Watersport Classic Series Vest life jacket for dinghy sailing is a great choice. It is US Coast Guard approved, has 4 adjustable straps and is made of durable 200D nylon construction. It also has large arm holes for ample movement when you need to trim the sails or jumping from one side to the other when tacking. The adjustable straps allows this vest to fit most adults, although some have reported that it can feel a bit small.

If you’re on a budget and looking for a versatile life jacket, the Stearns is a good option. It’s a basic no-frills life jacket for dinghy sailing that will get the job done. It may be a bit basic for some, as it doesn’t contain any pockets or reflective strips. It does come in various colors, so if you don’t like the yellow we pictured here, you can choose another color.

Stohlquist Edge Life Jacket – Good storage

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If you want to combine functionality and good looks, the Stohlquist Edge is a great life jacket for dinghy sailing. And with an extra bonus of a large top loading front pocket, you can keep all your essentials with you. You won’t need to leave your keys, wallet and other personal belongings onshore, just drop them into the front pocket and zip it up.  It also features adjustable shoulders, 4 side pulls and a front waist buckle so you can get the right fit. The ergonomic shaped torso means that it won’t get in your way as you execute sailing tactics. The mesh sides help with ventilation so you won’t overheat. While it may be a bit on the higher price range, if you’re looking for lots of options, you should take a look at this life jacket for dinghy sailing.

ABSOLUTE OUTDOOR Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket – Lightweight Slender Design

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For those people looking for a no-frills life jacket for dinghy sailing, look no further than the Onyx A/M-24 inflatable life jacket. It can be inflated either manually by pulling the T-cord or automatically when it is submerged in water. There are many reasons you could wind up in the water, and automatic inflation of a life jacket means one less thing to worry about. Get the most range of motion with the minimal design and a soft neoprene neckline for comfort. Read a more detailed review of the life jacket here.

ONYX MoveVent Curve – Stay cool with mesh for ventilation

Check Price On Amazon.com Want some ventilation to keep cool under pressure? The Onyx MoveVent Curve life jacket combines comfort and function with the integrated ventilation in the front and mesh back to let air flow through.  This is another vest-style life jacket for dinghy sailing, and it conforms to your body like a glove, so you can maintain the range of motion you need. Shoulder adjustments and adjustable side belts ensure the life jacket will fit you snugly and stay out of your way.

MTI Adventurewear Solaris PFD Life Jacket – Safety and Versatility – Possibly the best life jacket for dinghy sailing!

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Combining safety with versatility, the MTI Adventurewear Solaris PFD Life Jacket is a great choice for dinghy sailing. Not only do you get a high-back, reflective materials, two expandable pockets, another small zippered pocket, but you also get a hat hook to make sure you don’t lose your hat the wind catches it! That’s a lot of options. Of course, on top of these convenience features, you get the safety features of US Coast Guard Type III rating, adjustable shoulder straps and front buckles that can be opened for extra ventilation.

Best life jacket for dinghy sailing?

So, now that we’ve gone through 5 various life jackets, what is the best life jacket for dinghy sailing? As you can tell, there are many choices when it comes to life jackets, so depending on what is most important to you, we hope you can use the information we’ve provided here. If you’re looking for a slender, out of the way life jacket, take a closer look at the Onyx AM-2/4, and with it’s automatic inflatable capability, it’s one less thing to worry about. For the most versatility, the MTI Adventurewear Solaris PFD Life Jacket comes out on top. Did we mention it has a hat hook loop and a key retainer clip in one of the pockets?