2nd May 2023
Life jackets are an essential piece of safety equipment for anyone participating in water activities such as boating, fishing, or watersports. They are designed to keep the wearer afloat in case of an emergency, and they come in different buoyancy levels to accommodate various body weights and water conditions.
From buoyancy aids to junior life jackets, to adult life jackets - floatation devices come in a wide range of buoyancy ratings. But which amount of buoyancy is most suitable for your requirements? This easy to follow guide will help you establish just that.
What is a newton life jacket?
All floatation devices have an 'N' in their product title - this stands for newton, a metric measurement of force that indicates how much buoyancy a floatation device has. For example, 10 newtons is equivalent to 1 kilogram of buoyancy, so a 150 newton life jacket will support someone with an in water weight of 15kg.
50N Life Jacket:
50 newtons is the standard level of buoyancy for an adult buoyancy aid. 50N buoyancy aids should be used in sheltered waters where help and rescue are close-by. 50N buoyancy aids are hugely popular for those partaking in watersports, which is why sailing buoyancy aids, kayak buoyancy aids and SUP buoyancy aids that provide excellent freedom of movement are widely available. The ISO standard for 50N floatation devices is ISO 12402-5.
100N Life Jackets:
100N is the standard buoyancy for adult life jackets and children's life jackets constructed from foam. Similar to 50N buoyancy aids, 100N life jackets should be used in calm or sheltered waters and will not turn over an unconscious casualty. The ISO standard for 100N floatation devices is ISO 12402-4.
150N Life Jackets:
A 150N life jacket will turn you onto your back and keep your airways clear, regardless of whether you are conscious or not. 150N life jackets are most popular among those sailing in coastal and inshore waters, although can also be used in offshore waters too. In addition, 150N life jackets are most frequently supplied as junior life jackets, as we often find that adult life jackets start from around 165 newtons of buoyancy. They are however both rated to the same ISO 12402-3 standard.
If you are wearing multiple layers of clothing or workwear, it is advised that you purchase an adult life jacket with increased buoyancy - brands including Crewsaver and Seago supply 190 newton life jackets which are feature rich and have enough buoyancy to support the extra weight.
275N Life Jackets:
275 newton life jackets are designed for the toughest conditions where you are likely to experience extreme weather and will be wearing multiple layers of protective clothing that carry additional weight. This ensures that when the life jacket is activated, you are turned over into the correct position and your airways are kept clear of the water. The ISO rating for 275N life jackets is ISO 12402-2.
With life jackets being such an essential piece of safety equipment, we highly recommend reaching out to us if you're unsure which is most suited to your requirements. Call our highly experienced team on 01634 295 233, email customservices@piratescave.co.uk, or visit us in Rochester or Gillingham - we're open 7 days a week! We've also written the ultimate life jacket guide which answers all our most frequently asked questions about life jackets.
If you are looking for a new life jacket, you've come to the right place - we stock a leading range of life jackets from some of the industry's most trusted brands including Crewsaver, Seago and Spinlock life jackets. We even stock life jackets for dogs too!
