If you plan on riding a jet ski, it is important to know what to wear. In this article, I will breakdown what you need to wear, as well as additional accessories that are nice to have.
What to wear on a jet ski
If you plan to ride a jet ski, you must wear a comfortable bathing suit, sunscreen, and a life jacket.
Some additional accessories that you might need are water shoes, sunglasses, and gloves.
Comfortable bathing suit
The most important thing you need to wear when riding a jet ski is a comfortable bathing suit. I suggest choosing a bathing suit that you have already worn a couple times so that it is broken in a little.
You want to make sure that your bathing suit is loose enough so that it doesn’t restrict any of your leg motion. That being said, you don’t want it to be too loose, as this can cause rashes.
It is best to have a bathing suit that is made out of either nylon or polyester so that it doesn’t weigh you down when it gets wet. These materials also tend to dry quicker which is nice.
If you are prone to rashes or already have one, I suggest putting on compression shorts which help reduce the friction between your skin and the jet ski.
Sunscreen
While it is often overlooked, it is essential that you wear sunscreen when you ride a jet ski. Riding a jet ski can be deceptive because due to the water and the wind, you might not notice that you are getting burned until it is too late.
Additionally, the UV rays from the sun reflect off the water which make you more vulnerable to sunburn. Even on cloudy days, you can get sunburned in as little as 20 minutes on the water.
You should put sunscreen on every part of your skin that is going to be exposed to the sun. I suggest putting the sunscreen on at least 20 minutes before you get on the jet ski in order to give it time to dry.
If your skin is prone to sunburn, I suggest that you wear a rash guard for extra protection. The last thing you want to do is ruin your vacation by being sunburned for the rest of it.
Life jackets
It is mandated by law that every person on a jet ski must wear a life jacket. There are no exceptions to the rule, no matter how experienced you are or even if you are only going a short distance.
You should also know that anyone being towed by behind a jet ski must also have a life jacket.
A common mistake I see is that people will wear a life jacket that doesn’t fit them. Not only is this dangerous in time of emergency, but it will also make your jet ski experience less enjoyable if you are wearing an uncomfortable life jacket.
For more guidance on how to choose the right size, check out my article on the best jet ski life jackets.
Now lets get into some of the accessories that are nice to wear when you are on a jet ski.
Water shoes
While water shoes are not a must, they can be convenient for a couple reasons. If you plan on docking your jet ski somewhere and walking somewhere, it is nice to have shoes ready to go.
Also, if you are jet skiing somewhere that does not have a soft bottom, water shoes can help protect your feet if you step on the ground.
Lastly, water shoes help protect your feet form sunburn. You can learn more in my guide on the best shoes for jet skiing.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are also a good accessory to have on a jet ski, especially during a sunny day. The reflection of the sun on the water can make it difficult to see for some people, so sunglasses are a great way to improve your visibility.
If you wear sunglasses, make sure you have a cord that wraps around your neck so they don’t fly off.
Another option aside from sunglasses are jet ski hats.
Gloves
If you have sensitive hands, you might want to wear jet ski gloves while your ride a jet ski. The friction between the water and the handlebar can cause blisters for sensitive hands, especially if you ride the jet ski for a long period of time.
Communication device
While this isn’t necessarily something you wear, I strongly suggest that you keep some sort of communication device with you at all times while you ride a jet ski. This will come in handy if you every get lost or are involved in an accident.
This could be your phone, a walkie talkie, etc. Just about all jet skis have a dry compartment where you can store these devices. On a similar note, I suggest you have a device that can tell time.
Lastly, a jet ski gps can also help you keep track of time and prevent you from getting lost.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped prepare you for what to wear when you ride a jet ski. I hope you enjoy your time on the water!
