Description

Overton’s Infant Nylon Vest was the best of all the life jackets we tested for two main reasons. First, it showed excellent buoyancy in the swim tests. Safety is obviously of prime importance when it comes to life jackets, and Overton’s outperformed the competition, pulling in the highest rating for safety features among the vests we tested. All seven life jackets that I tested faced the challenge of water collecting near my son’s face where the shoulder meets the headrest—it’s part of being in water. However, this model kept his head above the water even when he squirmed around or looked to the side while floating. Second, this top-rated baby life jacket excelled in comfort. The black panels have a softer texture than other nylon life jackets I tried, which helped avoid chafing in the armpit area. These thoughtful design details stood out during testing, earning this vest the overall best title.This life jacket is no slouch in ease of use either. It features one zipper, one waist strap and one crotch strap, making it very quick to put on and take off even the squirmiest of infants. The buckles release in a snap, the straps are easily adjustable and the catch handle feels sturdy. The only negative I could find with this model was that it was slow to dry after being in the pool. The bottom line: This jacket offers the kind of quality, durability and buoyancy you’d expect from premium models at an affordable price. Ringing in at an average of under $25, this is a truly awesome value.