Best Life Jacket For Kayak Fishing

When you’re heading out on the open water in your kayak, you get a feeling of exhilaration and excitement. More so, if you fish from your kayak, you need to ensure your safety without compromising comfort. This is where the best life jacket for kayak fishing comes in. To start, nothing matches the feeling of being on your kayak and catching a fish. You need to find the right life jacket to keep you safe, comfortable, cool and flexible. Therefore, we bring you the best choices for your kayak fishing adventures.

1. Stohlquist Fisherman Personal Floatation Device

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The Stohlquist Fisherman PFD comes in as one of the best life jacket for kayak fishing. First, Stohlquist brings us a life vest designed for fisherman wanting a truly unique and convenient life vest for their adventures. The Fisherman by Stohlquist is built with an impressive 500 denier nylon that blows all the competition out of the water (figuratively). The vest comes in 2 colors both designed for different types of adventures. If you are trying to blend in with your surroundings you may want to go with the cactus color. Alternatively, it comes in a mango color with 3M relfectors for high visibility.

Built In Work Surface?!

Yes, you read that right. There are two pockets that fold down in to a work surface so you can cut, tie, clip, assemble whatever you need on your mini built-in work station. Every pocket on this vest is designed with drainage so there will not be any water building up inside of them. The vest comes with a cross chest harness to prevent it from riding up on your body. Impressively, the Fisherman weighs only 1 lb, making it one of the lightest life jackets for kayak fishing available.

Storage Features

Moreover, the outer shells of the pockets are designed to be stiff to protect the contents when you’re getting back on your kayak. Finally, just skimming the features on this, there are spots for all your necessary tools suchs as tippets, nippers, lines, hemastats and pliers. Amazingly, there is all sorts of space for everything you need.

2. ONYX MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest

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One of the most popular life vests for kayak fishers on the market, the Onyx MoveVent does not disappoint. To start, this life jacket is built to last. Equipped with 200 denier nylon and oxford nylon, it is durable. First of all, Onyx designed this vest with movement and flexibilty in mind. Secondly, each side of the vest has a breathable mesh membrane. So, this gives you a comfortable piece of material that rests under your arms.

Additionally, the side straps are fully adjustable to give you a nice comfortabl fit when you’re reeling in your catch. There’s a lot of twisting and turning your upper torso on a kayak. Futhermore, the open sides and mesh material give your arms and upper body the ultimate flexibility.

Safety Features & Specs

Is this life jacket Coast Guard approved? You bet it is! The Onyx MoveVent Paddle Sports Life Vest is Coast Guard approved. This model falls into the Type III category of personal flotation devices. Furthermore, the material a SOLAS grade relflective material. This will help you in the visibility department for sure. Onyx went the extra mile with this vest adding a safety whistle built right into the vest. For the best life jacket for kayak fishing, this is a nice bonus feature.

Conforming & Comfortable Design

Designed to comform to your body, the MoveVent series of life vests are comfortable. Additionally, what sets these life jackets apart is the sculpted foam that takes your comfort to a new level. Additionally, the mesh ventilation keeps you cool in the hot summer months and mid-day sun. The airflow that the mesh ventilation allows provides you with some much needed relief on those mid-summer days.

3. ONYX Kayak Fishing Life Jacket

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This could very well be our favorite candidate for the best life jacket for kayak fishing. Onyx brings us the Kayak Fishing Life Jacket. First of all, this life vest stands out from the crowd. Answering to the needs and demands of kayak fishers around the globe, Onyx perhaps has create the ultimate kayak fishing life jacket. Onyx integrated accessory & storage pockets which is what we like the most. There is a place for everything it seems. Whether you need quick and easy access to your fishing line or compact tackle box, there is a spot for those directly on the life jacket. Of course, Onyx has included all of it’s normal high quality design elements in this vest as well as many others.

Safe, Sound & Built To Last

Coast Guard approved as a type III personal flotation device. This is a high quality life vest for kayak fishing. Don’t be fooled by the knockoffs. Onyx doubles down on the Nylon from their MoveVent dynamic jacket with 400 denier nylon. Rips & tears will be a problem of the past with the high quality material they put into their jacket.

So Many Features

This jacket gives you 3 accessory pockets for storing anything you need eay access to. If you do own a water proof pouch, you could put your important personal items in the pouch, then secure them in one of the accessory pockets. Therefore, if you happen to end up in the water, your important stuff is on you and in a water tight pouch. Furthermore, this vest is designed with a low profile specifically for paddlers.

4. NRS Chinook Mesh Back Fishing PFD

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NRS brings us the Chinook Mesh Back Fishing PFD. This life vest is a bit on the bulkier side but it takes zero compromises on features. Weighing in at 2.2 lbs this is heavier than the Onyx but sports a number of comfort and safety features unique to its design. Furthermore, the Chinook is coast guard approved. The body conforming foam keeps you comfortable wearing this vest. Moreover, if your kayak happens to have a high back seat, the lower back mesh design doesn’t get in the way of your seating arrangement.

It’s All In The Details

NRS designed this life jacket for serious anglers and fishermen. Moreover, they do not underperform in the feature department. When looking for the best life jacket for kayak fishing, the bonus features is what sets these PFD’s apart. Boasting 7 pockets on the front, you will not run out of room to keep your most accessible items within an arms reach. Secondly, NRS included a fishing tool retractor in the design of this PFD. Numerous loops and d-rings have been integrated. Therefore, this jacket is especially convenient. Finally, with your baits and tackle handy, you are prepared for anything.

5. MTI Adventurewear Calcutta Kayak Fishing Angler PFD Life Jacket

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You’ve been paddling for hours, settled in a nice shallow bay and are ready to cast your rod for your next catch. $&%#! You put your fishing line by your feet before you left and it slid to the front of the kayak! Not to worry, you put an extra roll into one of many accessory pockets on your brand new Calcutta fishing PFD! First off, this universal fit life vest makes the cut for our list of the best life jacket for kayak fishing. MTI desisgned this life jacket with the fisherman in mind. On the front of the vest, you can find specific pockets designed for fishing gear. As such, this protects your gear and keeps it on your person.

Kayak Fishing Features

What sets this life jacket apart you ask? First of all, this vest is designed for the avid kayak fisherman. Additionally, the vest includes a rod holder when you need to use both hands for setting up your next catch. Not only are there multiple pockets for accessories, but there is a lash tab and a few D-Ring’s so you can clip or strap on an important piece of equipment as you see fit. Furthermore, this vest is mid range in terms of weight at 1.7 lbs.

Features To Look For

There are a number of important features to look for. Both, from a safety and comfort standpoint. When you’re looking for the best life jacket for kayak fishing, ensure you find these features.

Is your life jacket Coast Guard approved? This is important because some life jackets are not and this can be a liability for your safety. Life jacket types range from type I to type V. Every life jacket rating has a different rating. You must know your activity and location to ensure you are bringing the right type of life jacket. Find out more in our guide for life jacket types.

When you’re on your kayak catching fish, you want to make sure that you are comfortable. Furthermore, a bulky and uncomfortable life jacket can hinder your mobility. Moreover, finding the best life jacket for kayak fishing can be key to making your adventure great. Whether you go with inflatable or even a life safety belt, think about your mobility. Don’t ever sacrifice your safety, but consider options that give you much needed movement of your arms.

There’s nothing worse than wearing a heavy, bulky, non-breathable life jacket on a scorching hot summer day. Obviously, there are plenty of life jacket options that can keep you cool in the hot summer sun. When searching for the best life jacket for kayak fishing, ensure the materials used will keep you cool.

Know your water, know your boat and know yourself. Make sure that you are familiar with how your life jacket works. Moreso, check the specifications to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements for weight. Also, pick a life vest with a suitable buoyancy weight. Finally, users will be required to swim when choosing certain life jackets. This is important to know before making your choice for the best life jacket for kayak fishing. Some people prefer to choose an inflatable life vest for fishing instead.

Conclusion on the Best Life Jacket For Kayak Fishing

Whether it’s your first time kayak fishing, or if you are a seasoned pro there is a life jacket out there for you. We presented a sample of some of the most popular best life jacket for kayak fishing available on the market. Remember to go over the pros and cons of each type of life jacket. Also, choose a life vest that is best suits you.

Furthermore, keep in mind the important points we mentioned above. Never sacrifice your safety for comfort by not wearing a Personal Flotation Device. If your current life preserver is uncomfortable, there are plenty of options to replace your life jacket with something more mobile, comfortable and flexible. Finally, have a great time out there! Your best life jacket for kayak fishing is just one part in having a safe adventure.