Best Water Ski Life Vest & Wetsuit Review

A life vest or wetsuit is absolutely essential every time you head towards the water. We will take you through today in this buying guide – water ski life vests and wetsuits. It does not matter how well you think you ski or how calm the water is – you always need a life vest or wetsuit. Here are four water ski life vests and wetsuits that are considered the perfect pick.

Top 4 Water Ski Life Vests & Wetsuits You Should Consider Buying

Hyperlite Riot Water Comp Vest

Hyperlite 2022 Riot Water Comp Vest

State of the art design for 2022
Diamond pattern flex zones on the body of the vest
Convenient to open front zip entry
Lightweight construction

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The Riot 2022 Comp Vest by Hyperlite is a popular choice among many water sports enthusiasts. It comes in dazzling colors that match any setup and provide all the protection you need. A great aspect of this life vest is the diamond pattern segments that allow this vest to move with the motion of your body. These segments also let your jacket flex with your body while you pull off difficult tricks on the water. This is one of the latest models to arrive in 2022. It carries a simple front zip entry that comes in handy to remove while you come back to the shore.

Pros

State of the art design
Diamond pattern flex zones on the body of the vest
Convenient to open front zip entry
Lightweight construction

Cons

This vest is not approved by the US Coast Guard

O’Neill Epic Full Wetsuit

O'Neill Epic Full Wetsuit

Double Super Seal Neck
Advanced Velcro Closure
Strategic Seamless Paddle Zones
External key pocket with a loop as an additional accessory

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The O’Neill Epic is synonymous with its name – this water skiing wetsuit is epic! It carries multiple high-end features and is made with 100% UltraFlex neoprene. The double seal neck closure ensures that this product does not budge an inch. Another useful element is its Lumbar Seamless Design (LSD), with an engineered covert blackout zip for additional comfort. The sharp graphics and clean style lines give an edge to your style, while its range of features offers excellent performance. The Krypto Knee Pads in this wetsuit become extremely useful for using a kneeboard.

Pros

Double Super Seal Neck
Advanced Velcro Closure
Strategic Seamless Paddle Zones
Long, full-arm sleeves
External key pocket with a loop as an additional accessory

Cons

The price range may appear high due to exclusive features

Liquid Force Flex Water Comp Vest

Liquid Force Flex Water Comp Vest

High-grade 38-Panel Flex-Architecture Construction
Made with Flex-Span Neoprene that fits like a second skin
Specially designed for Impact Protection

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The Liquid Force Comp vest offers remarkable impact protection while flexing with you as you ski. This 2020 Flex model has been revamped for improved impact resistance without sacrificing the range of motion of earlier models. This life vest comes in grey and is reversible to show two designs. It is lightweight and flexible; the few times we tried it on, we did not experience chaffing around the legs. Overall a good quality product.

Pros

High-grade 38-Panel Flex-Architecture Construction
Made with Flex-Span Neoprene that fits like a second skin
It is reversible – Flip it out for a fresh look
Specially designed for Impact Protection

Cons

You do not get any bright color options
This is not a Coast-Guard approved life vest

Quiksilver Syncro 4/3 Wetsuit

Quiksilver Syncro 4/3 Wetsuit

Hydrowrap neck closure system
Supratex knee pads that are lightweight, durable, and flexible
A Vapor Stretch mechanism on back and chest panels to block the wind

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The Quiksilver Syncro Wetsuit has a composition of 12% Elastane and 83% Nylon. This is a lightweight and warm product that provides high flexibility on the water. Vapor Stretch technology on the back and chest blocks the passage of cold wind and retains heat. Another feature is the Far-Infrared thermal lining that transforms body heat into infrared energy to maintain warmth. This wetsuit is suitable for water temperatures down to 11 degrees and has blindstitched (GBS) seams to dodge water entry.

Pros

Far-Infrared thermal lining to generate and manage warmth
Hydrowrap neck closure system to ensure a watertight seal
Supratex knee pads that are lightweight, durable, and flexible
Drainage holes throughout the wetsuit
Hydroshield Watter Barrier to keep you warmer
A Vapor Stretch mechanism on back and chest panels to block the wind

Your Know-It-All Guide To Water Ski Life Vests And Wetsuits

Every water-sports fanatic has specific requirements for their gear. However, there are a few non-negotiable, basic quality aspects you should look out for. Scroll through the article to know more about life vests and wetsuits to make an educated choice.

What Factors Should You Consider Before Buying A Life Vest Or Wetsuit?

There are a couple of things you must consider before buying a life vest or wetsuit. Since it is a matter of safety, you must choose a piece of equipment that fits your preference perfectly. Once the safety aspect has been checked, you can look for other factors like design and fashion.

Size

It all comes down to the right size of your life vest. If it is too small, you may face restrictions in terms of movement. If it happens to be larger than your body dimensions, you will struggle with staying afloat. You can determine your ideal size when you have your vest on. Ask someone to tug the personal floatation device (PFD) up, and if your life jacket does not move up to your neck, you have found your perfect size.

Design

It is important that your life vest or wetsuit carries mesh drain panels. They provide sufficient ventilation and allow your vest or wetsuit to dry hours faster than usual. This helps you care for your back and decrease perspiration while skiing.

Weight Capacity

When choosing a life vest or wetsuit, you must know its floating capacity. Apart from the size, the weight also takes a critical position among the factors to consider. This is because if you are overweight and purchase safety gear meant for lighter individuals, you are putting yourself at risk. If you want to delve deeper into the specifics, here is a video that may help you make the right choice.

Do Life Vests And Wetsuits Expire?

All the care you provide to your life vest or wetsuit will prolong its performance. They do not come with an expiry date. However, they become weaker at the seams if you get them altered or repaired. If you are repairing an item of clothing designed to save your life, it is better to replace than repair.

What Are The Advantages Of Wearing A Wetsuit?

Provides Warmth

If you are a regular skier/wakeboarder, you must be familiar with spine-chilling temperatures during half of the year. Wearing a wetsuit can provide you warmth in the cold water, thereby making your skiing experience safer and more enjoyable. No one likes to be cold whilst water skiing etc.

Speed In The Water

The buoyancy of a wetsuit and life vest allows you to swim faster than without it. This way, you can expect to save anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes when swimming to the shore. Generally, the longer the distance is, the more time-saving you can achieve.

Does Getting A Specific Color Matter When It Comes To Life Vests And Wetsuits?

Colors with a brighter hue, especially yellow and orange, offer better visibility. This way, people will be able to locate you even if you have wandered 100 meters away. Want to save yourself from an unanticipated accident? Get a colorful life vest!

What Difference Does The Material Of A Life Vest Or Wetsuit Make?

The material of your water ski life vest or wetsuit is an essential factor that affects your buying decision. Nylon and neoprene are regarded as “preferred” materials. They provide high-grade quality and durability over other materials. Nylon material is highly recommended for skiing, owing to the greater freedom of movement it allows. Also, it is lightweight and affordable. If you are skiing in colder water, neoprene life vests are great. They offer extra warmth, more buoyancy in the water, and some stretch! While a polyester life vest may last up to five years, you will not have to replace a neoprene safety vest earlier than six and a half years.

Best Water Ski Life Vest & Wetsuit Review