Body Glove Paddle Pals Life Vest Review: The Life Vest Kids Will Actually Want to Wear

The Body Glove Paddle Pals Swim Vest is a life vest with attached arm bands for kids weighing between 30 and 50 pounds. It allows kids to stay buoyant and keep their heads above water while learning to swim. This is a non-inflatable vest, yet it’s still easily packable for travel. It’s United States Coast Guard certified and easy for kids to put on. Here is why we recommend the Body Glove Paddle Pals Life Vest.

Body Glove Paddle Pals Life Vest Review

Price and Where to Buy: The Body Glove Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Vest is available on Amazon and Body Glove for prices ranging from $25 to $30.

Related: Best Swim Floaties for Kids

How the Body Glove Rates

Certified: 8/10. The Body Glove Paddle Pals Swim Vest is a United States Coast Guard certified Type III child’s personal floatation device. A Type III PFD means it’s good for protection when near shore or in pools where there’s a good chance of immediate rescue. It is not suitable for extended rough waters. It is more comfortable to wear than a Type I or II PFD, but it is not designed to turn an unconscious person face up in the water.  

Ease of Use: 10/10. A child slides his arms into the attached swim vest arm bands and the chest portion of the vest goes on shoulders and wraps around the chest to secure in the back. The shoulder harness prevents the vest from sliding off. It buckles in the back, making it nearly impossible for the child to accidentally unhook himself, and keeps the vest securely in place.

Usefulness: 10/10. The Paddle Pals Swim Vest assists children in learning to swim, while also staying afloat. It gives them more mobility and flexibility than an average life vest for children weighing between 30 and 50 pounds. The vest does not bunch up at the child’s neck and stays securely around the chest and arms. Kids can practice swimming and kicking strokes while wearing this swim vest, as well as practice putting their face in the water.

Style and Comfort: 10/10. The Body Glove Paddle Pals come in a variety of cool colors, themes and hologram designs for motion graphics. There are cars and planes in motion designs and mermaids and lady bug designs that kids will love. The swim vest also has a multi-panel design that prevents chafing and promotes comfort in and out of the water.

Final Verdict

Half the battle with life vests is getting kids to wear them, but children like wearing this vest because it’s comfortable and easy to maneuver in, both in and out of the water. Parents can be confident in their child’s safety when wearing the Body Glove Paddle Pal and kids will feel less stress or anxiety while learning to swim. Plus, it’s affordable and easily packable.

Related: Best Life Jackets for Kids

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