The Spinlock Deckvest LITE is one of the best lifejackets I have used, principally because it feels the least cumbersome. I am not going to argue that it’s the best lifejacket around for protection once activated, nor for turning a wearer in the water – plus the inability to attach a lifeline restricts its use to coastal or calm weather conditions. But if it is the most comfortable lifejacket I’ve ever worn, it’s the one most likely to persuade sailors to wear it in the first place.

With its Deckvest range, Spinlock has redesigned inflating lifejackets to make them less awkward; stylish, even. It’s a style that has been copied, but is yet to be bettered. And the LITE is the lightest and best yet for any normal sailor, for weekending, coastal racing or cruising.

A double zip runs all around the horseshoe-shaped jacket, which makes it easy to check and repack the fluorescent bladder. A lifting strop is hidden within and the CO₂ cylinder has an easy-to-understand colour-guide to check its status. That said, you’ll need to be an expert in origami to repack the inflatable innards into the slim package. And the LITE is a fairly basic model – a sprayhood and light are optional extras – so it might be worth upgrading to the 5D model for a more feature-packed jacket.

The single crotch-strap and buckles are neat and well designed to avoid snagging. The jacket also comes in a net bag for packing, allowing air to circulate when stored.