Kiteboarding and Wakeboarding Impact Vests

Ensure Safety With an Impact Vest

Impact vests, often referred to as comp vests, are essential for shielding you from severe impacts during kitesurfing or wakeboarding. Typically crafted from neoprene, these vests contain a foam core that helps in absorbing impacts to the chest area during crashes or mishaps. Kiteboarders, wakeboarders, and water skiers commonly wear vests, as hitting the water at high speed can pose risks, potentially resulting in a broken rib instead of a mere bruise.

A great variety of impact vests is available to match your style. Some are designed to be unisex, while others are tailored specifically for different genders. Their design also varies based on the sport you engage in. Wakeboard vests offer maximum protection with foam covering the entire torso. Meanwhile, kiteboarding or kitesurfing vests are intended to fit beneath the harness, consequently providing less protection in that area but ensuring they do not interfere with your kite equipment.

Is an Impact Vest Identical to a Life Jacket?

Simply put, no, they are not the same. Impact vests prioritise protection, whereas life jackets and buoyancy aids are created to keep you buoyant. Certain styles may provide some level of buoyancy, but this is never assured for complete floatation. Nonetheless, the advantage of a kite or water ski vest is that they are lighter and offer a wider range of motion.

If you are uncertain about the level of protection or buoyancy a vest may offer, it is advisable to review the product specifications for clarity.

If buoyancy is your requirement, explore our range of Life Jackets and Buoyancy Aids.