Plus size individuals looking for 3x life jackets or larger, or other personal flotation devices in plus sizes, want a quality product that meets safety standards.
Right Fit Is Important
No matter what size you are, when buying a life jacket, fit is important. Before your life depends on it, test the fit. Here are a few tips:
Try on the life jacket
Check that the life vest or jacket fits snugly without binding. A life jacket should not ride up the body while it's holding your weight in the water. However, in cases where a person's stomach is larger than their chest, the vest or jacket may creep up. If this is the case for you, it's important to really test the life jacket to make sure that the way it fits does not impede its performance.
Test the life jacket's buoyancy
Test the life jacket in shallow water where you can stand up easily. While wearing the jacket, immerse yourself in the water and put your head back. Relax. If the jacket is the right buoyancy for your weight, it will keep your chin comfortably above the surface of the water. This is an important test. If the jacket is not buoyant enough to keep your mouth well above the water, it is not the right life jacket for you. In some cases, older foam-filled life jackets lose buoyancy over time, so be sure to test the jacket before you go out on the water and are in a life or death situation.
While this test will confirm whether or not the jacket is right for you, it's important to remember that other factors may figure into how well your life jacket works in a real life scenario. For example, if you find yourself treading rough waters, the jacket may not work as well as it did when you tested it in calm, shallow water.
Other items that can make a difference in how well your life jacket works is the clothing you have on as well as what you may be carrying in your pockets. For instance, if you originally try out your life jacket while wearing a trendy T shirt, it will not fit the same if you have it on over your swimsuit.
A Variety of Jackets for Different Activities
While a life jacket is a life jacket, different styles are made for a variety of activities. The differences for the most part are for comfort while performing certain movements specific to a certain sport or activity. Here are a few examples:
- Canoeing/kayaking jackets
- Boating jackets
- Fishing jackets
- PWC (Personal Water Craft) jackets
- Snowmobiling
- Inflatables
Product Features
Not all personal flotation devices are created to do the same job. Some will be United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved and some include comfort features like lumbar support. If you know you're going to be in deep water, you may want to look for a life jacket designed for extended survival in rough water. In some cases, the activity you participate in may dictate what type of life jacket is required. Be sure to check regulations before you make your purchase.
How to Find 3x Life Jackets and Vests
When you're looking for 3x life jackets or bigger, sometimes it is easier to find the fit and comfort you're looking for by purchasing an inflatable jacket or vest. Sizing is not always consistent from one brand to another, so be sure to check the chest size to know whether or not the jacket or vest will fit you.If you want to see what's out there in plus sizes, the Internet offers options with the click of a button. Take a look at the following links or manufacturers:
Life Jackets
- Universal Adult Life Jacket - Oversize 2XL/3XL
- Adult 4-Buckle Nylon Life Jacket
- Stearns Sans-Souci Life Jacket
