The restyled Travelight has updates including a new inflator and weight system, but here’s what hasn’t changed: it still offers enough stability, comfort and amenities that it’s easy to forget it’s not a full-featured jacket BC with a rigid backplate. The Travelight earned high marks for its secure but easy-ditch weight system and its stable ride. Divers appreciated the details you don’t often find on lightweight travel BCs, like no-fuss trim weight pockets, 10 alloy D-rings in assorted sizes, and a right-shoulder exhaust with a pull handle that, as with the lower-right valve, is nicely routed to the front of the BC. The Travelight weighs in at just six pounds, and folds up for packing. Despite being on the lower end of the price range in this grouping, it very nearly won a Testers’ Choice, and could have done a credible job competing against full-feature jacket BCs you wouldn’t want to try squeezing into your suitcase. For that, we named the Travelight our Best Buy.

Buoyant lift: 20.2
Inherent buoyancy: 1.75 pounds
Contact: cressiusa.com
MSRP: $425.95