Unlike vest-style inflatables, belt-style PFDs blow up while they are away from your body. You then have to slip the inflated chamber around your head and tighten or tie the straps and fittings. Some belts provide just as much buoyancy as the typical vest.

Belt-style inflatable lifejackets are no doubt the most comfortable personal flotation devices (PFDs) on the market. They weigh only a few pounds, and as their name indicates, you simply strap them around your waist like a fanny pack.

The rolled-up package that holds the belt's inflatable chamber(s) is intended to sit just below your belly button, protruding only a few inches. The belt-pack inflatables also can be had for under $60, which is roughly a third of the cost of some vests. But—and this is a big but—some of these comfortable and cheap belts have limited buoyancy ratings, which makes a significant difference if you've fallen overboard and are struggling…