The buoyancy of the life jacket or buoyancy aid is therefore expressed in Newtons. This is the performance category. General: the higher the buoyancy, the higher the performance level of the product. This performance category (Newton) gives an indication for what the rescue equipment is suitable and safe to use (what to wear/what clothing?).

Your weight is of secondary importance, after all you weigh much less in the water. The dimensions of our vests are shown in weight. What is more important is what your area of ​​application is and what type of clothing you wear. This is reflected in the Newton performance categories.

Application: I use the vest as a sports vest on inland waterways where help is quickly available and in good weather (where a lot of freedom of movement is required) or I go sailing at sea with full sailing clothing and extreme weather. This makes a big difference in terms of choice.

Clothing: heavy waterproof clothing can negatively affect the functioning of the vest due to air entrapment (in the legs and on the back). The life jacket should then have more buoyancy to turn you onto your back. With heavy, sailing and/or work clothing, it is therefore advisable to wear a 275N vest

The fit is important for children. This is even more important than the weight classification stated on the vest. Put the life jacket on your child and adjust the chest strap to the correct size. (2 fingers must still be able to fit between the chest strap and the body). The vest must close above the belt and sit below the belt. Also check whether the vest has a good fit and is not too loose on the body.

We strongly advise against this. If the vest is too large, the child will slip into the life jacket. The vest can also slide over the body. This negatively affects the performance of the vest. For example, the required distance from the mouth to the water surface cannot be achieved, which creates a dangerous situation.

We recommend purchasing a foam vest for very small children (up to 5/6 years). A solid vest has the advantage that it requires much less maintenance and no inspection. You will also immediately see the bright color of the vest and so will your child. Nowadays, children's vests from diagonal are nice and light and flexible to wear. The buoyancy is immediately present. Children can also enjoy swimming with the foam vest on! Please note: never wear a disposable diaper, but with a swim diaper. This is in connection with turning the drowning man around.

Our inflatable vests are available from 15kg. These inflatable vests inflate in the water and bring your child neatly to the surface and turn them on their back. Children cannot swim with the inflatable vest on! Inflatable vests have more turning capacity due to the active inflation of the vest. Inflatable vests can be a bit stiffer and heavier for small children. A disadvantage is that they remain technical products and are therefore less suitable for very young children. These vests also require at least 2 annual maintenance.

The average lifespan for foam and inflatable vests is 10 years. An exception with inflatable vests is that this can be extended after 15 years. This is provided that they are inspected annually by us from the 11th to the 15th year. No inspection will be carried out from the age of 15 onwards.

· SOLAS/MED vests: mandatory annually by the legislature

· ISO vests: not required by law, but if it were up to us, yes.

If it were up to you, this should be the case. If it were up to the legislature, it would not interfere with this. However, if an accident occurs with an unapproved life jacket, you alone are responsible. It's about your safety!

If the vest is very dirty or after contact with salt water, rinse it with lukewarm water (Inflatable also on the inside, first remove the water activation pill), let it dry completely and fold the vest again. Then store the vest in a dry place where there is ventilation