We may earn commissions if you shop through the links below. Every spring as the lakes melt and people head out onto lakes, there are accidents involving cold water paddling. Many of the fatalities involve paddlers not wearing life jackets or using immersion gear, such as wetsuits or drysuits. Each spring there also seems to be discussion about whether or not you should wear a life jacket under a coat or under clothing. Because removing a life jacket is more difficult than putting a coat over the jacket, some paddlers wear their coats over their life jackets. That’s not the correct way to use a life jacket. To get a direct answer to the question, I reached out to the United States Coast Guard. According to the USCG, “Life jackets are designed to be worn as the outermost garment and because of safety concerns and possible performance issues should not be worn under any other clothing.” When worn under clothing, those items of clothing could alter “performance variables, as well as negating any detectability feature, such as color or reflectiveness, and hinder access to items attached to the life jacket such as whistles, lights, or PLBs.” While a garment worn over the life jacket won’t affect the buoyancy, the other performance issues are the biggest concern. Join REI and Earn $30 towards your next gear purchase. Another related safety concern arises for inflatable life jackets. Inflatable life jackets “should never be worn under clothing or any other item that could impede the outward movement of the life jacket during inflation due to the risk of bodily injury. Your ribs will give before the stitching in your jacket.” When you hit the water this spring prepare by dressing for immersion and wearing a life jacket. Make sure you wear your life jacket as the outermost layer, and avoid putting clothing or your coat over your life jacket.