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Short answer: Our pick for women is the Jetpilot Zahra X1, a high-performance vest with a segmented fit. One of our best sellers is the Follow Corp: good value, a comfy fit and loads of colours. For something super stretchy and light, try the Ivy Bella. If you have a longer, slimmer build, look at the Rip Curl E-Bomb, Follow Cleo or Jetpilot Aurora. On a budget, the Wing Divine is light and flexible. Every vest here is Level 50S.
Looking for something else? See our best life jackets for water ski, wakeboard and wakesurf, best kids life jackets, or best jet ski life jackets.
Our picks at a glance
| Vest | Best for | Fit | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpilot Zahra X1 | Our pick | High-performance segmented fit | 6–16 |
| Follow Corp | Best seller, good value | Comfy, easy fit | 6–16 |
| Ivy Bella | Stretch and light weight | Soft, body-mapped | 6–16 |
| Rip Curl E-Bomb | High end, longer build | Longer cut, flex zone | 8–16 |
| Follow Cleo | Longer, slimmer build | Tailored | 6–14 |
| Jetpilot Aurora | Longer, slimmer build | Contoured | 6–16 |
| Wing Divine | Budget | Light, flexible | 6–20 |
All seven are certified to Australian Standard AS 4758 Level 50S. Where you can wear a 50S depends on your state and the water you're on, so check our state-by-state guide before you ride.
Why a womens vest?
A womens vest is cut for a womens shape, so it sits properly across the shoulders, ribs and waist without gapping or riding up. A vest that gaps won't hold you properly in the water, so it's worth getting one cut for you.
Our pick
Jetpilot Zahra X1
Our pick of the best vests for women. It's made from Jetpilot's X1 360 stretch neoprene, so it moves with you in every direction, and the anatomical womens cut sits close without pinching. It's light and low-profile enough to wear all day.
From the shop floor: Our pick of the best vest for women, with a high-performance segmented fit.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 · Colour: Ice Blue
Best seller
Follow Corp
One of our best-selling womens vests. It's good value, comfortable to wear all day, and comes in more colours than anything else in this guide. It suits skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and tubing.
From the shop floor: One of our best sellers, with great colours, good value and a comfy fit.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 · Colours: Melon, Black, Mint, Purple, Sand
Stretch and light weight
Ivy Bella
Super stretchy and light. A soft, body-mapped fit and flexible panels keep it moving with you through edge changes and wake crossings, and it stays low-bulk in our climate.
From the shop floor: Super stretchy and light weight.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 · Colours: Sage, Charcoal
Longer, slimmer builds
Rip Curl E-Bomb
Rip Curl's high-end womens vest. It has a longer cut and a flex zone, with flexible side panels and segments that move with your torso through every cut. Quick-draining fabric sheds water fast so it stays light.
From the shop floor: A high-end vest with a longer cut and a flex zone.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 · Colour: Dark Green
Follow Cleo
Suits a longer, slimmer build. Fully segmented, stitched-through construction keeps it soft and flexible, and Follow's Duo technology adds side-to-side stability as well as front to back. The Tailored Fit sits properly across your shoulders, ribs and waist.
From the shop floor: Suits a longer, slimmer build.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 · Colours: Black, Grape
Jetpilot Aurora
Also suits a longer, slimmer build. Contoured Ecoprene is shaped for a womens body, giving full freedom through the arms and shoulders, and the fully stitched construction keeps it in place without riding up.
From the shop floor: Also suits a longer, slimmer build.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 · Colours: Purple, Black
Budget pick
Wing Divine
Light and flexible at a budget price. The outline cuts in at the waist, so it avoids the boxy shape of vests adapted from mens patterns, and independent flex chambers let the foam move with you. It also has the widest size range in this guide.
From the shop floor: Our budget pick, light and flexible.
Level: 50S · Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 · Colour: Black (L50S) · Also as a Level 50 in Yellow and Orange
How to choose
- Want the best all-round performance: the Jetpilot Zahra X1.
- Want value, comfort and colour choice: the Follow Corp.
- Want maximum stretch: the Ivy Bella.
- Longer, slimmer build: the Rip Curl E-Bomb, Follow Cleo or Jetpilot Aurora.
- On a budget, or need a bigger size: the Wing Divine, sizes 6 to 20.
For what panels, segmenting and cut actually do, see The Breakdown: Life Vests.
Getting the size right
Check the weight rating on the label, then use the size chart on the product page, because sizes vary by brand. It should fit snug, like a wetsuit: try it on dry and the zip should sit about 5 to 10 cm apart before you do it up. Our life vest size guide and how to fit a life jacket go through it.
Common questions
What is the best womens life jacket?
Our pick is the Jetpilot Zahra X1, a high-performance vest with a segmented fit. The Follow Corp is one of our best sellers for its value, comfort and colours.
Do women need a womens specific life jacket?
It's worth it. A womens vest is cut to sit properly across the shoulders, ribs and waist without gapping, and a vest that gaps won't hold you properly in the water.
What is the best womens life jacket for a longer, slimmer build?
The Rip Curl E-Bomb, Follow Cleo or Jetpilot Aurora. The E-Bomb has a longer cut and a flex zone.
What is the best budget womens life jacket?
The Wing Divine. It's light and flexible, and comes in sizes 6 to 20.
How should a womens life jacket fit?
Snug, like a wetsuit, when you try it on dry. The zip should sit about 5 to 10 cm apart before you do it up, and the vest should have to stretch to close.
Related guides
- What life vest do I need? State-by-state guide
- The Breakdown: Life Vests
- Life vest size guide
- How to fit a life jacket
- Buyers Guide: Best Life Jackets
- Buyers Guide: Best Kids Life Jackets
- Buyers Guide: Best Jet Ski Life Jackets
- Buyers Guide: Best Womens Wakeboards
Or see all womens life vests.
Waterskiers World. Australia's dedicated towed water sports retailer, family-run for over 20 years from our Brisbane store and online.