Five jackets, five use cases.
- Best overall (~£260): Spinlock Deckvest 6D — sprayhood + light + harness D-ring.
- Premium / offshore (~£330): Deckvest VITO — hydrostatic, AIS-MOB integration.
- Budget (~£95): Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport — solid auto-inflate, harness included.
- Kids (~£180): Deckvest Cento Jr. — properly sized 100N with harness and sprayhood.
- Foam / dinghy (~£60): Helly Hansen Sport Comfort — 50N buoyancy aid.
Quick spec comparison.
The five picks, in detail.
Spinlock Deckvest 6D
Best overallThe UK cruising and RYA-instructor benchmark for a decade. 170N, integrated harness D-ring, fitted sprayhood, Pylon light. Slim profile that doesn't restrict movement at the helm.
If you sail UK / Northern European waters and want one lifejacket that does everything correctly, this is the default. The sprayhood is the unsung hero — keeps breaking water out of your face while you wait for recovery.
Hammer (bobbin) activation, not hydrostatic — replace every 3 years and it can trigger in heavy spray. Consider the VITO if you regularly take green water on deck.
Spinlock Deckvest VITO
Best premium (offshore)Spinlock's top-tier offshore vest. Hydrostatic inflation (only triggers when properly submerged), Lume-On lights, integrated AIS-MOB and PLB pockets, full harness, sprayhood.
Offshore and ocean-passage sailors, or anyone who takes regular green water. Hydrostatic activation prevents false inflations; the PLB/MOB pockets are properly thought through.
Much pricier than the 6D, and hydrostatic inflators cost more to service. Overkill for inshore day-sailing, where the auto-hammer Deckvest is genuinely fine.
Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport
Best budget cruisingThe budget cruising staple. 165N automatic inflation, harness D-ring for tethering, low-profile fit. No sprayhood or light as standard — those are add-ons.
Charter boats, weekend cruising, the spare on a family boat. At ~£95 you can equip a four-person crew for what one VITO costs. RYA-compliant for inshore and coastal.
Sprayhood and light are extras — both push the price near £140. Lacks the build refinement of the Spinlock range.
Spinlock Deckvest Cento Jr.
Best for kidsProperly sized for children 20–50 kg. 100N (correct for the weight range), harness D-ring, fitted sprayhood, adjustable to grow with the child.
The only premium sailing lifejacket sized correctly for children. Most 'kids' lifejackets are oversized adult foam vests that ride to the chin. This fits properly and has a real harness D-ring.
Children grow out of the range quickly — budget a replacement every 2–3 years. Light sold separately. Switch to an adult 150N+ once they pass the weight limit.
Helly Hansen Sport Comfort
Best foam (dinghy / inshore)A foam buoyancy aid (50N) — not a lifejacket in the strict sense; it won't turn an unconscious casualty face-up. For active dinghy sailing, paddleboarding, and casual day-boat use where you're a competent swimmer.
Dinghy racing, hot-weather day sailing, tender use, paddleboard. Reduced bulk lets you move — and no inflation mechanism means no service interval.
50N is buoyancy-aid territory, not a lifejacket. Won't float you face-up if unconscious. Wrong choice for offshore, cruising, or single-handed sailing.
What to actually look for.
Buoyancy in Newtons — 50N to 275N
ISO 12402 sets five levels. 50N is a buoyancy aid (no face-up turn). 100N turns most casualties face-up in calm water. 150N is the cruising standard — turns face-up in a typical seaway with oilies. 170N is the offshore standard for heavy gear. 275N is for commercial/survival-suit work. For sailing: 150N coastal, 170N offshore.
Hammer (bobbin) vs hydrostatic activation
Auto inflators fire when they detect water. Hammer/bobbin activators dissolve a salt tablet in any water — including heavy spray — and need replacing every 3 years (~£10). Hydrostatic activators only fire submerged below ~10 cm, so they ignore spray; they cost more (~£40) and last longer. Hammer for coastal; hydrostatic offshore.
Sprayhood — the unsung hero
A small spray-deflecting cone that pops over your face on inflation. Many in-water fatalities are from inhaling spray and breaking water, not classic drowning — the sprayhood prevents that. Standard on the 6D and VITO; a £15 add-on on Crewsaver. Buy it. Always.
Harness D-ring — not optional
Every sailing lifejacket should have a stainless D-ring on the chest for a tether. It's the difference between a lifejacket and a lifejacket-with-harness, and RYA/offshore racing rules require it. No D-ring = designed for powerboating, not sailing. All five picks have one.
Light — required, often sold separately
A water-activated light is required by SOLAS and most racing rules. Built into the 6D and VITO; a £20–40 add-on elsewhere. The Spinlock Lume-On is widely regarded as the best — sticks to the bladder, activates on inflation, 8-hour runtime. Don't skip it.
PLB and AIS-MOB integration
Premium lifejackets (VITO, Mustang HIT) have purpose-built pockets for PLBs and AIS-MOB devices. Cheaper ones make you improvise with shock cord — fine until you go in the water and it tears off. If you own a PLB and AIS-MOB, the integration is worth paying for — see our PLB buying guide.
Service intervals
Service inflatables annually (visual + 16-hour hold test), with a 3-yearly inflator and CO₂ cylinder replacement at a service centre — ~£25–£40 per jacket. Self-service is allowed in the UK but fiddly. Skipping service is the most common reason lifejackets fail to inflate in real distress.
Fit — try before you buy
Chest size matters more than weight. Most adult jackets fit 70–140 cm chests. Women's-fit variants are worth the small premium if the standard cut chafes. Don't buy online for anyone you can't measure — return shipping eats the saving.
FAQ.
150N or 170N — which?
150N is the coastal-cruising standard, fine for most UK/European sailing in light-to-moderate conditions. 170N is the offshore standard with a more reliable face-up turn in heavy oilskins and seaboots. Sail winter or offshore → 170N. Summer day-trips → 150N. The price difference is small.
Foam or inflatable?
Foam is bulky but maintenance-free and immediately buoyant — right for dinghy racing and kayaks. Inflatable is slim and comfortable to wear all day but needs servicing and has failure modes foam doesn't. For cruising sailboats, inflatable — you actually wear it because it isn't bulky.
Hammer or hydrostatic?
Hammer is cheaper and triggers on any water contact, including spray — fine for coastal, can false-fire if stowed wet. Hydrostatic only triggers submerged ~10 cm, so it ignores spray and rain; more expensive upfront and at service. Worth it for boats taking regular green water.
Can I service my own?
Yes — at-home annual service is allowed in the UK for non-commercial craft: inspect the bladder, 16-hour hold test, weigh the CO₂ cylinder, check the bobbin date. The 3-yearly cylinder + inflator is a ~£15 spares pack. If in doubt, a £30 service is cheap insurance.
When should I replace it entirely?
A well-maintained inflatable lasts 10 years. Replace earlier if the bladder fails the hold test, the webbing/D-ring shows UV or corrosion damage, it's been fired in anger, or the maker's end-of-life date is past. Foam lifejackets last 5–7 years before the foam degrades.