![Life jackets hanging up to dry](https://www.boatingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/BTG0720-OSP-LifeJackets-Hero-1024x682.jpg)
Life jackets will only do their job if you wear them. Increase the odds of that happening by choosing a type that matches your activity, checking for comfort and proper fit…and paying special attention when outfitting infants and toddlers.
![O'Neill Superlite Life Vest](https://www.boatingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/btg0819-osp-pfd1-906x1024.jpg)
For most recreational boating and watersports use, a U.S. Coast Guard Approved Type III life jacket will prove most versatile. Type III jackets (often referred to as “ski” vests) slip on with ease and are designed to keep a conscious wearer afloat.
Don’t like the wrapped-up feel of a Type III jacket…or plan to get in the water? Consider suspender-style (Type V) vests, which inflate and provide flotation only should the wearer go overboard.
![Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Jacket](https://www.boatingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/btg0819-osp-pfd2-1024x1024.jpg)
Most Type III jackets wrap flotation foam in a nylon or neoprene exterior. The former is typically cooler in the heat and dries faster, the latter often provide a more form-hugging fit.
To check for proper fit, perform this simple test: Securely fasten all straps, buckles or zippers, then lift your arms straight up over your head and have a friend grab the jacket atop the arm holes and lift. The jacket may move slightly, but should not slide up over the wearer’s face or, worse, slip off.
![Stohlquist Toddler Life Jacket](https://www.boatingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/btg0819-osp-pfd3-1024x1024.jpg)
If you’re choosing a life jacket for an infant or toddler, look for several key extras. An adjustable crotch strap ensures the jacket can’t ride up over a child’s head. A double collar offers both better head and neck support. A grab handle or strap atop that collar also provides a valuable handhold should you need to pull the child from the water.