Life jackets & life vests

Life jackets and buoyancy aids are among the most important pieces of safety equipment on the water. Marinepool offers the right vests for sailing, motorboating, SUP, kayaking, fishing, leisure activities, children and dogs – from sporty buoyancy aids to self-righting life jackets for more demanding conditions.

Safety on the water starts with the right equipment. Whether sailing, motorboating, stand-up paddling, kayaking, fishing or enjoying leisure activities around the water: the right vest can make a decisive difference in an emergency. It is important to understand the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life jacket.

A buoyancy aid supports active users who can swim by helping them float and move in the water. It provides additional buoyancy and a high level of freedom of movement, but it is not designed to be self-righting. A life jacket, also often called a life vest, provides more buoyancy and is designed to help bring the body into a safer position in the water and keep the airways above the surface.

Marinepool has been developing safety equipment for watersports enthusiasts, sailors, crews, families and professional users for more than 35 years. Our experience in sailing, regatta sailing, offshore use and professional applications flows into the development of life jackets, buoyancy aids, children’s vests, dog life jackets and suitable rescue accessories.

The right choice depends on who will wear the vest, where it will be used and which level of safety is required.

A life jacket is the right choice when passive safety is the priority. It is suitable for non-swimmers, children, less confident swimmers, longer passages, cold water, coastal waters, offshore use or situations in which a person may not be able to actively help themselves in an emergency. Marinepool life jackets are available, among others, as inflatable life jackets, foam life jackets and children’s life jackets.

A buoyancy aid is designed for active watersports where freedom of movement is especially important. Buoyancy aids are suitable for people who can swim safely and are using them in sheltered waters or close to shore. Typical areas of use include dinghy sailing, stand-up paddling, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, waterskiing, wakeboarding or fishing.

For dogs, there are dedicated dog life jackets. A dog life jacket supports buoyancy, makes swimming easier and, with a handle, can help you lift your dog out of the water more easily in an emergency.

The buoyancy class is stated in Newton and helps with orientation. It does not replace individual advice, but it shows which basic areas of use a vest is designed for.

50N buoyancy aids are flotation aids for active users who can swim. They provide support in the water and excellent freedom of movement, but they are not self-righting. This makes them especially suitable for sporty activities such as SUP, skiff and dinghy sailing, kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing or wakeboarding. You can find more information under buoyancy aids.

100N life jackets are often used for sheltered waters, children, non-swimmers, leisure use and guests on board. Many models are foam life jackets and are immediately ready for use. Suitable products can be found under foam life jacketsand children’s life jackets.

150N life jackets are a common choice for sailing and motorboating in coastal waters or for fishing. Many models are designed as inflatable life jackets and offer greater freedom of movement on board.

300N life jackets are designed for demanding conditions, offshore use, heavy weather and wearing heavy sailing clothing. They offer high buoyancy and are mainly used where greater safety reserves are required.

Safety equipment must fit the person wearing it. For adults, the intended use is often the key factor: for active watersports, adult buoyancy aids are a good choice when the wearer can swim safely and needs freedom of movement. For sailing and motorboating in coastal waters, offshore use or longer passages, life jackets are the better choice.

For children, choosing the right vest is especially important. Body weight, body size, swimming ability and intended use are decisive. Children who can swim safely and actively take part in watersports may wear a children’s buoyancy aid, depending on the situation. For smaller children, non-swimmers or boat trips, a children’s life jacket is usually the more suitable choice, as it provides more buoyancy and a higher level of safety.

Dogs also benefit from additional buoyancy. A dog life jacket supports your dog while swimming, can reduce fatigue during longer periods in the water and provides additional safety when boating, swimming or spending holidays near the water. A sturdy handle on the back is especially practical, as it helps you lift the dog out of the water more easily when needed.

Safety equipment does not end with choosing the right vest. Especially with automatic inflatable life jackets, regular checks, maintenance and suitable spare parts play an important role. After activation, an inflatable life jacket must be correctly rearmed and checked before it is used again. For this, Marinepool offers suitable rearming kits, CO₂ cylinders and other rescue accessories.

Before every use, straps, buckles, outer cover, CO₂ cylinder, inflation mechanism and status indicator should be checked. Inflatable life jackets with United Moulders or Halkey Roberts systems have a service interval of 2 years. Hammar systems require a small service after 2.5 years and a full service after 5 years. The service life of an inflatable life jacket is generally 10 years. Further information is available in the Marinepool Product Service section.

Depending on the model, Marinepool buoyancy aids and life jackets are based on the ISO 12402 series of standards for personal flotation devices. The standard helps classify buoyancy aids, life jackets and buoyancy classes more clearly.

ISO 12402-5 describes 50N flotation aids. This class is typical for buoyancy aids and is intended for active users who can swim, are conscious and are using them in sheltered waters.

ISO 12402-4 describes 100N life jackets. These are often used for sheltered waters, children and non-swimmers.

ISO 12402-3 describes 150N life jackets. This class is relevant for many sailing, motorboating and coastal applications.

ISO 12402-2 describes the high offshore class of 275N. Marinepool 300N life jackets belong to the particularly high-buoyancy offshore range and are designed for severe conditions, additional sailing clothing and higher safety requirements.

Since 1991, Marinepool has been developing equipment for people who want to stay safe on and around the water. Our roots are in sailing, but today our safety products are used in many different areas: sailing, motorboating, fishing, stand-up paddling, kayaking, clubs, charter boats and family days out on the water.

As an experienced provider of life jackets and buoyancy aids, Marinepool combines technical development, controlled production standards and practical watersports expertise. Especially with life jackets, buoyancy aids and accessories, it is not only the material that matters, but the interaction between fit, buoyancy, freedom of movement, function and regular inspection.

A life jacket provides more buoyancy and is designed to help bring a person into the safest possible position in the water so that the head and airways remain above the surface. A buoyancy aid is a 50N flotation aid for active users who can swim. It supports floating and swimming, but it is not self-righting. For SUP, kayaking, dinghy sailing or waterskiing, a buoyancy aid can be suitable.

For children, non-swimmers, cold water, coastal passages, offshore use or longer trips, a life jacket is the better choice.

For sailing, the right vest depends on the sailing area and the activity. For dinghy and skiff sailing or training in sheltered waters, a 50N buoyancy aid can be suitable if the wearer can swim safely. For cruising, coastal sailing, motorboating or offshore use, life jackets are more appropriate. Inflatable life jackets are especially common because they fit compactly and offer plenty of freedom of movement on deck.

50N stands for flotation aids or buoyancy aids for active users who can swim. 100N describes life jackets for sheltered waters, children, non-swimmers and leisure use. 150N life jackets are often used for sailing, motorboating and coastal waters. 300N life jackets offer particularly high buoyancy reserves and are designed for offshore use, severe conditions or wearing thick sailing clothing.

For children, age alone is not the decisive factor. Current weight range, body size, secure fit and swimming ability are more important. Small children, babies and non-swimmers should wear a suitable children’s life jacket. Children who can swim safely and actively take part in watersports may use a children’s buoyancy aid, depending on the intended use. It is always important that the vest fits closely and cannot slip over the chin or head.

Yes, Marinepool offers dog life jackets. A dog life jacket supports buoyancy and can provide additional safety when boating, swimming or spending time near the water. It is especially useful for dogs that spend longer periods in the water, travel on boats or get tired more quickly while swimming. A sturdy handle on the back makes it easier to lift the dog out of the water in a controlled way in an emergency.

Accessories and rearming kits are especially important for inflatable life jackets. After activation, the life jacket must be rearmed and checked before it is used again. Suitable rearming kits, CO₂ cylinders and inflation mechanisms are required for this. A signal light, sprayhood, lifeline or other rescue accessories can also be useful depending on the area of use, especially for longer passages, night sailing or offshore use.

Inflatable life jackets with United Moulders or Halkey Roberts systems should be serviced every 2 years. Hammar systems require a small service after 2.5 years and a full service after 5 years. The service life of an inflatable life jacket is generally 10 years. In addition, the vest should be visually checked before every use, especially the CO₂ cylinder, inflation mechanism, status indicator, straps and buckles.

Marinepool buoyancy aids and life jackets are classified according to the ISO 12402 series of standards, depending on the model. 50N buoyancy aids fall under ISO 12402-5. Life jackets are classified by buoyancy class, including ISO 12402-4 for 100N, ISO 12402-3 for 150N and ISO 12402-2 for the high offshore class. The standard helps with orientation, but the decisive factors remain the area of use, weight, clothing and safety requirements.

Marinepool offers safety equipment for a wide range of activities on and around the water: life jackets for passive safety, buoyancy aids for active watersports enthusiasts, children’s life jackets, dog life jackets and rescue accessories and rearming kits for maintenance, rearming and regular inspection.

Whether sailing, motorboating, stand-up paddling, kayaking, fishing, on a charter holiday, at a club or on an offshore passage: the right vest must match the area of use, the wearer and the conditions. Marinepool combines many years of experience in watersports with functional safety equipment for adults, children, dogs, crews and professional users.

Last updated: July 2026