Are you one of those people who hates wearing life jackets because they are too bulky? Maybe you don’t wear one at all because you find them uncomfortable. There may be a solution for you.
In late 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard approved a new Level 50 life jacket. The concept behind this life jacket is simple: make it slimmer and less bulky, while still providing flotation and protection for the wearer.
It is commonly said that the safest life jacket is the one you actually wear. In fact, 87 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. You can have the best, most reliable life jacket on the market, but if it’s stuffed under the cushions of your deck seating, it isn’t doing you any good.
One of the most common complaints people have about life jackets is that they are bulky, heavy, or uncomfortable. For these reasons many people don’t wear them.
If you have been boating for many years like I have, you are probably familiar with the old Type I through Type V designations for life jackets. In 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard adopted a new standard that uses Level designations. Examples include Level 50, Level 70, and Level 100. The standard was already being used in Canada.
The numbers refer to the amount of buoyancy the life jacket provides, measured in newtons. A Level 50 life jacket provides 50 newtons of buoyancy, or about 11 pounds of flotation force, while a Level 70 provides 70 newtons, or about 16 pounds.
Of course, if you still have life jackets with the older Type I through Type V designations, you don’t necessarily need to throw them away. They can still be used as long as they are U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good condition, and otherwise meet the applicable requirements.
A Level 50 life jacket is lighter and less bulky than many traditional life jackets. That can make it more comfortable and less likely to get in the way when participating in activities such as fishing or watersports.
However, there are some things you need to know.
A Level 50 life jacket provides less buoyancy than a traditional Level 70. It provides 50 newtons of buoyancy, hence the name “Level 50,” while a Level 70 provides 70 newtons.
It is also intended for good swimmers and use in protected waters. That’s because it does not provide the same level of inherent buoyancy and righting capability as some other types of life jackets. It is not intended for extreme offshore environments where conditions can be unpredictable and the wearer may be unable to help themselves.
There is another important distinction with Level 50 life jackets: they are intended to be worn. In other words, you can’t simply throw a Level 50 life jacket into a storage compartment and expect it to count the same way as a traditional life jacket that is carried onboard but not being worn. Its purpose is to provide protection while you are actually wearing it.
Some people might look at these limitations and wonder why the Coast Guard would approve a life jacket that provides less flotation than a traditional life jacket.
Well, as we mentioned earlier, a life jacket isn’t very effective if you aren’t wearing it.
If you are one of those people who struggles with the bulkiness, weight, or interference of a traditional life jacket, a Level 50 may be worth looking into. It could provide a more comfortable option that makes you more likely to keep your life jacket on while you’re out enjoying the water.
And when it comes to boating safety, a life jacket that you actually wear is a lot better than the best life jacket sitting underneath a seat.
