BUOYANCY AIDS
The following provides good descriptions of the various terms used in paddle sports, all credit due to Brookbank website.
Life Jackets
Like the name suggests are design for preserving your life. Life Jackets have more buoyancy on the front chest and back of the neck to make sure the wearer, if rendered unconscious, will float face up in the water.
Buoyancy Aids
Sometimes referred to as a PFD (Personal Floatation Device). They are NOT a Life Jackets. Mainly a buoyancy aid is exactly what its name suggests: it is an aid to floatation. A Buoyancy Aid will float you face up just as easily as face down if you are not conscious, however they are much easier to swim in than a life jacket.