Unlike vest-style inflatables, the belts blow up while they are away from your body. You then have to slip the inflation chamber around your head and tighten or tie straps and fittings. Some of the 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 (easier to put on than the inflatable vests we reported on in the September issue).

The rolled-up package that holds the belt’s inflatable chamber(s) sits just below your belly button, protruding only a few inches. The belt-pack inflatables also can be had for under $60, which is 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…