Algonquin Adventures / When to replace your life jacket?

**Posted by CanoeClaire** 11/13/2017 12:23 pm

How do you know when to replace your life jacket?

I've had mine for about 10 years and it appears to be in good condition. No visible damage and I can still read all the printed information inside the back.

It's still comfortable to wear and if it were any other piece of gear, I wouldn't even be thinking about a replacement with the way it functions for me day-to-day.

But, it's a life jacket and it's 10 years old. Do these things have expiration dates? What's the best practice?

**Posted by MartinG** 11/13/2017 1:04 pm

Jump in the lake see if it floats you adequately. The closed cell foam does deteriorate over time but there are too many variables to really put a date on it.

**Posted by BarryB** 11/13/2017 2:14 pm

While an old jacket may keep you afloat initially, if the flotation material is degraded, it will slowly absorb water and after a while you'll find you're floating lower in the water than when you first went in.

Likewise, after having "floated-around" for a while, if the flotation material has "taken-on" water .. you'll notice the jacket is noticeably heavy, "squishy" and slow to dry off!