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Your Complete Guide to Float Vests and Jackets

  • What are float vests?

    Float vests and jackets are worn over swimming costumes or shorts to help children achieve a natural position in the water when learning to swim. They are a buoyancy aid so work with a child’s natural buoyancy to help increase their safety level when in water. The jackets feature removable floats which can be taken out gradually as a child’s confidence and swimming ability improve. Vests with non-removable floats are also available.

    Some float vests also have the added advantage of UPF to help protect children’s delicate skin from the sun and are made of neoprene to keep children warmer in cool water. All of Splash About’s float jackets and vests provide UPF50+ sun protection.

  • What’s the difference between float vests and float jackets?

    Both terms are used interchangeably to describe a waistcoat-style buoyancy aid. In the Splash About range, ‘float vest’ or 'Swim Vest' is used to describe vests that don’t have removable floats and have been specially designed to flat pack in order to fit
    into a suitcase for taking on holiday. ‘Float jacket’ describes vests that do have removable floats.

  • Are Float Jackets the same as life jackets?

    No, it’s important to note that float
    jackets are not life saving devices and are not a suitable substitute for life jackets. Life jackets are designed to help a person in the
    water remain in an upright position, with their head above water, whether they are moving or not.

    Float jackets and swim vests do not do this, they are designed instead to help children achieve a natural swimming position when learning to swim, whilst still enabling them to go under water if they wish. When a child is using a float jacket for the first
    time, it is best to hold their hands until they learn how to balance in the water.

    Children must be supervised at all times when in or near water

Buoyancy Aid Comparison Guide

 

  Go Splash Swim Vest Go Splash Float Jacket Floatsuit Armbands
Age Suitability 1-2 Years, 2-4 Years and 4-6 Years 1-3 Years and 3-6 Years 1-2 Years, 2-4 Years and 4-6 Years Birth - 6 years
Warmth Made with Neoprene for added warmth Made with Neoprene for added warmth No warmth protection No warmth protection
Safety Robust material with non-removable floats position children correctly in the water   Robust material with integrated floats which cannot be removed easily by the child Integrated floats which cannot be removed easily by child Susceptible to air leaks and punctures, can easily be removed by child
Removable Floats Non-removable Floats 8-Piece Adjustable Buoyancy Float System

16-piece Adjustable Buoyancy Float System

No, floats are either on or off
Buoyancy Helps keeps child in a natural swimming position  Helps keeps child in a natural swimming position  Helps keeps child in a natural swimming position Keeps child in an upright position in the water with arms above the chest
UPF UPF50+ UPF50+ UPF50+ No sun protection
Ease of Use Slip over arms and zip up front Slip over arms and zip up front  Pull up and zip up the back Need inflating, can be awkward to pull on
Comfort Soft neoprene and binding to prevent chafing Soft neoprene and binding to prevent chafing Soft fabric with YKK zip Plastic can cause chafing or rubbing
Cost  £22.99  £24.99 £25 £5
Size Lightweight and packs flat, ideal for holidays Lightweight and floats can be removed Lightweight and floats can be removed for packing Bulky and restrictive when worn, but small when deflated so easy to pack
  • Go Splash Swim Vest 

    The Go Splash Swim Vest is designed as a holiday learn to swim aid, that is lightweight and can be packed in any suitcase or beach bag. It is a holiday essential!

    Product Features:

    • Non-removable float system makes it easy to use
    • Helps children learn to swim by holding them in the correct swimming position
    • Multi-award winning
      product including Platinum in Best Swimming Product, Gold in Best Swim
      Aid and Gold in Best Travel Invention in the Loved by Parents Awards
      2023
    • Designed to increase children's confidence in the water and improve swimming skills 
    • Mix and match with matching swimwear
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  • Go Splash Float Jacket

    The Go Splash Float Jacket is ideal as a starter Float Jacket for young children

    Product Features:

    • 8-piece removable buoyancy system. Floats can be removed in pairs as the child gains confidence in the water
    • Helps children to learn to swim by holding them in the correct swimming position
    • Designed to increase children's confidence in the water and improve swimming skills
    • Mix and Match with matching swimwear
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  • Floatsuit

    An all in one Floatsuit designed to provide maximum adjustability for learning to swim. 

    Product Features: 

    • 16-piece adjustable buoyancy float system. Floats can be removed in pairs as the childs confidence grows in the water
    • Learn to swim aid designed to increase children's water confidence and improve swimming skills
    • Holds children in the correct learn to swim position in the pool
    • Award Winning product
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  • Armbands

    Easy to inflate and use on the go, armbands can be a simple and easy way to start to learn to swim. 

    Product Features: 

    • High quality 
    • Easy to inflate, designed to increase water confidence
    • Bright colours
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