Buoyancy Aids
Stay safe and confident on the water with our range of Buoyancy Aids from leading manufacturers. At SUP Funk, we offer high-quality Paddle Board Buoyancy Aids that we have tested, use ourselves and can personally recommend.
Each is designed for comfort, safety and freedom of movement while out on your SUP or Kayak. Whether you’re after a lightweight Buoyancy Aid for Paddle Boarding or a reliable Kayak / SUP Life Jacket, our collection ensures you stay protected and safe without compromising performance on the water.
We only stock premium and trusted brands such as Spinlock, NRS and Baltic, so you can rely on proven quality and buy with confidence.
Should you wear a Buoyancy aid paddle boarding?
We get asked this question all the time and the simple answer is yes without question! Many lakes throughout the UK stipulate that a PFD must be worn at all times and the Paddle UK guidance (National Governing body for paddle sport) is that a Buoyancy Aid (or PFD) must be worn wherever you are paddling.
With the rise in popularity of Paddle Boarding unfortunately this has lead to an increase in incidents. Your safety out on the water is of the upmost importance where the right PFD will allow you to have fun but stay safe while out on the water.
Buoyancy Aids and Life Jackets, what is the difference?
Choosing the right Buoyancy Aid or Life Jacket for your paddle board adventures is one of the most important decisions before heading out on the water. It’s essential to understand the differences and limitations of each so you can select the option best suited to your needs. Both are types of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), but they serve different purposes. A Life Jacket is a life-saving device designed to turn an unconscious wearer face-up, keeping their head above water, while a Buoyancy Aid is intended to help a conscious person stay afloat and swim more easily.
Understanding Different PFD Classifications
Here in the UK a PFD is classified using the ISO 12402 international standard which is made up of four different levels which is based on their measured buoyancy in Newtons(N). Each classification determines the type of water activity the PFD is suitable for:
- Level 50N (ISO12402-5): Buoyancy aids that are designed to keep the wearer afloat but will not turn them over if unconscious. This is the most common type of Buoyancy Aid used for paddle boarding and importantly only suitable for wearers who can swim and used in sheltered waters close to the shoreline where help is close by.
- Level 100N (ISO12402-4): Life Jacket which provides a minimum of 10kg of buoyancy per jacket for calm and sheltered waters where crucially it may not be strong enough to self right an unconscious person onto their back especially if heavy in weight or wearing lots of heavy clothing.
- Level 150N (ISO12042-3): Life Jacket for general use on coastal and offshore waters and should turn an unconscious person onto their back and keep their face out of the water. Please be aware performance can be affected if the user is wearing heavy clothes.
- Level 275N (ISO12042-2): Life Jacket recommended for offshore use primarily in extreme conditions with high levels of buoyancy of over 275N and designed to self right an unconscious person keeping their airways above water.
No matter where your next paddle board adventure takes you SUP Funk has you covered with the best tried and tested Buoyancy Aids on the market.
FAQ
If you have any further questions or need help and advice do not hesitate to contact us and one of the team will be more than happy to help.
Reviews
Verified ownerBrilliant service! They spotted a Royal Mail problem with the delivery, and straight away fixed it, so I could get the shoes in time for my trip.
Verified ownerA bit bulky but pumps up multiple sup on one charge