Vests & Impact

VESTS FOR WATER SPORTS PERFORMERS & WATER DOGS

Whether you are a beachgoer or a water sports enthusiast, a safety-approved vest will always be a good investment. In Denmark, it is a legal requirement to bring a life jacket or life vest when you are on the water with a vessel. The legal requirement applies regardless of whether you are on board a sailboat or sailing in a canoe, kayak or on a paddleboard or windsurfer. There are many types of vests, and these different types cover different situations and needs. In the coming sections, we will explain the different types of vests, as well as which situations and needs they are best suited to.

Life jacket & life jacket

A lifejacket or lifejacket must be CE-marked. It is the manufacturer's statement that the vest meets the requirements of standards in the area.

Life jackets in the 50N class are good for wet water sports. Do you row a kayak, surf or sail a dinghy. Here, it is common to end up in the water and the life jacket gives you help to get back up and continue your trip. Life jackets are recommended for experienced swimmers, close to land and with help nearby. Remember to check whether your life jacket has become old and worn and may have lost buoyancy. Better buy a new one if in doubt. Feel free to buy a swimming vest in clear, visible colors with reflectors. Black and gray vests are hard to spot on the water. Choose a vest that fits the person and close / fasten the vest so that it works properly in a water passage.

Lifejackets in the 100N class - The classic solid vests are suitable for children and less experienced swimmers - possibly also as a guest vest. The life jacket keeps the person in the water and face up, so that you can breathe, even if you lose consciousness. Here, too, choose a vest that fits the person. Self-inflating vests in the 150N and 275N class are a good choice for experienced swimmers on sailing and motor boats. During normal sailing, vests take up very little space and weight. And in an emergency, they provide good buoyancy and a turning effect so that the face is upwards. The 275N class is particularly relevant for sailing in the off-season with sailing clothes and sweaters. If you weigh over 100 kg and sail in the off-season, the 275N vest is a good choice.

The information is taken from Sikkerhedstyrelsen.dk you can read more by following the link.

Impact vest

Impact vests must not be confused with a swimming or life jacket. The impact vest's primary task is simply to protect you against hard blows when you hit the water's surface at high speed. The thin layer of foam impact vest is lined with shock absorbers. At the same time, the foam has the property of providing a bit of buoyancy, so you don't have to fight so much to stay afloat when you crash. The impact vest is only suitable for the experienced water sports enthusiast who wants maximum freedom of movement. Remember impact vests are only approved as 'protection on the water' and must therefore not be confused with the properties of the life jacket and/or life jacket. At Westwind, we sell a wide selection of impact vests from several different brands.

Our vest brands

At westwind, we sell a large selection of life jackets, life jackets and impact jackets. We have vests from many different brands. This ensures that you as a customer have the best conditions for choosing the vest that best suits you and your needs. Westwind sells vests from brands such as Helly Hansen, O'Neill, Ion and Mystic. Helly Hansen and Ion have the largest selection of life jackets and life vests. While O'Neill and Mystic primarily make up our impact vest range.

Maintenance of life jacket

Regardless of which vest you choose, it is important to take good care of it. Maintaining a vest is simple. Always make sure to rinse the vest in fresh water after you have been on the water. Especially if you have worn the vest in salt water. Thoroughly rinsing the zipper in fresh water ensures that it does not become stuck. If you follow these tips, your vest will last for many years. Remember, however, that over time the buoyancy of the vest will inevitably deteriorate, and therefore a new vest will be needed from time to time.

Paddleboard life jacket rules

Many are in doubt as to whether they should wear a life jacket when they go out on their Stand Up Paddleboards. The simple answer is 'yes you should'. Paddleboard is defined as a small vessel on the water and therefore it is a legal requirement that you wear a safety-approved life jacket. If you SUP without a life jacket, the police have the right to issue you a fine.

Purchase of water sports vest at Westwind

Westwind is always ready to guide you based on their years of experience in the surf & water sports field. We recommend always checking the stock status of the product you are looking at and turning up at one of our stores that has the product in stock. So when you're out by the water anyway, swing by one of the shops. Get a chat with the staff, as well as guidance and answers to any questions you might have about the desired product. Please also contact us at webshop@westwind.dk if questions should arise during your online shopping on this page.