It also arrives as the new Level 50 standard opens the door to slimmer, lighter buoyancy aids for paddling and other types of boating. Level 50 buoyancy aids provide at least 50 newtons, or approximately 11 pounds, of flotation—a step down from the 15-plus pounds in the Level 70 or Type III life jackets most paddlers are familiar with. Szczepaniak said that comfort was a key element in the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision to certify the Level 50 standard. That’s where the new standard’s key stipulation comes in: Level 50 buoyancy aids must be worn to count toward U.S. carriage requirements. The U.S. Coast Guard had approved the Level 50 standard, but Travel Canada had not.