First Impressions of the Astral Indus PFD

[@montet202]

Got mine in time for an eight day Main trip and found the Indus to be a great PFD. Super comfortable wearing it all day. I’m 6’, 230lbs. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.

[@Fireguy2780]

What size did you get? I’m between sizes (M/L and L/XL). I will be using it mostly with a wet suit for swift water rescue.

[@montet202]

@@Fireguy2780 Im 6’, 230lbs. I got a L/XL and it fits great.

[@blitz4711]

I exclusively kayak, and am heavily considering this one as I need a new pfd anyway. I would love to hear what you think of it after kayaking a little. The pocket limitations isn't a big worry for me as I never really use the ones I have. Thanks for the amazing content and store, I just picked up a rope and pulleys+prussic set on your recommendations and they are fantastic!

[@johnadams87]

I like the pockets but being an older, bigger guy, I don't like having so much bulk up front getting in the way when having to climb back into a raft after I've dumped it. I know a lot of whitewater guys that don't like the inflatables but Mustang makes a streamline inflatable (the Khimera?) that that they made for game wardens and SF operators that has 10lbs foam floatation and 21lbs when inflated. If they could make something like that with side pockets or a rip off velcro safety pocket across the upper back, that would be ideal. Do you know of anything similar?

[@Cary_Glenn]

This PFD ignores those of us who are left-handed. The knife pocket and zipper seem to be near impossible to use with the left hand. If you choose to use a tow tether the quick release on the front makes it difficult for left-handed paddlers to reach.

[@thesquirrel082190]

I mounted my knife on the shoulder strap, feels way better than they horizontal mount location

[@michaellewis4632]

Most people aren’t left handed

[@Cary_Glenn]

@@michaellewis4632 That is a non-sequitar. I made a point that the a device designed to keep people alive is unusable to left handers and your response seems to indicate that left handed people don’t deserve to have something that could save their life because there are not enough of us.

[@montet202]

@@Cary_Glenn I’m left handed and love the jacket. Like most things in this world, it isn’t perfect for lefties, but I don’t think it’s a deal breaker.

[@hb_2508]

How do you feel this compares to the Palm Nevis for the larger WW Kayak paddler?

[@GearGarageTV]

The Indus has more flotation. The Nevis is better.

[@joekirkendall1345]

I was just wondering what you thought about this life jacket. Thanks man! Great review.

[@ConorKayaks]

I've got 4 days kayaking in it and I'm really digging it. The extra side floatation doesn't get in the way when you're paddling hard like I thought it would. Honestly, I never thought about it after I put it on; feels dang near the same as my green jacket. I think that the future for kayakers is having a daily driver and a high float. That should also prolong the life of the daily driver.

[@complex2034]

I dont do kayak i mostly raft or sometimes packraft, i have large ribs and most pfds are too tight around the chest for my taste. What you said about flotation is famn right too. Do you have other options for 22lbs buoyancy with a more « rafting belly oriented » cut? It seems extremely hard to find something doing google searches

[@GearGarageTV]

Also check out the NRS Big Water Guide PFD

[@brentwade9346]

I have a Bluejacket as a day-to-day, goof around PFd, and I replaced my Greenjacket with a HIKO Guardian 3d specifically for the flotation. As soon as I saw the plans on this one last summer I went on the pre-order. Astral fit and finish is above an beyond.

[@josephliberatore5458]

Any issues with the side pocket zippers not properly locking and staying closed when zipped up? Just got mine and im pretty disappointed. The zippers are going to self open and I’ll loose all my safety gear. Any thoughts?

[@1utahRN]

Glad to see Astral giving a nod to safety. As you said those 16 lb pfds just don't work for bigger folks. I watched a guy get tossed out of his 12 foot cat at the ledge on the Green Wall on the Illinois and proceed to swim the rapid WITH HIS NOSE AND MOUTH UNDERWATER. Huge guy and all I could see was his helmet. Fortunately his buddy was on point with a throw rope and fished him out pronto...but it really illustrates the point. 16 lbs just isn't enough for aerated water. Even for a person less than 200 lbs this could potentially be a life saver. Thanks for the review!

[@human.rationally]

How much flotation does the palm have?

[@GearGarageTV]

The XL has 18 lbs

[@michaellund3440]

If you could have only one: Palm or Indus? I’m not a huge guy but extra float doesn’t seem bad?

[@GearGarageTV]

Indus has more float. Palm has better pockets.

[@michaellund3440]

@@GearGarageTV which do you think matters most? I ask because my budget only allows me to have one. I want to make the correct choice.

[@GearGarageTV]

It really depends on your body type and the type of boating you do. I personally prefer the Palm because I struggle getting myself back in rafts with the Indus.

[@icelandicwhitewater]

I just don’t get it why they changed the pocket. Ad a kayaker, I love the clamshell pocket, especially how easy it is to access it from both left and right.

[@treswright142]

I tried this on the other day and I was really disappointed in the pocket situation. The Astral rep was there and told me that it was the same amount of storage as the Green Jacket, but I didn’t see how that could be true. This was a swing and a miss. Not sure how these companies don’t understand rafters need for good pockets and better float, after all, rafters are always fatter and carry too much gear.

[@jamesbultitude7190]

You want to add a way to light a fire. If someone’s dry suit fails (open fly for example) its easy to get real cold real fast.

[@GearGarageTV]

Do I need to light a fire in the summer, on a commercial day trip, or on a multi-day trip with tons of rafts and ways to start fires? Also, couldn't I just put that in a dry bag in my raft?

[@Dan-rp7il]

great review

[@pathickey2553]

I went to the store and tried it on. As a 225lbs pear shaped guy it doesn’t get down low enough on my body to fit right, same problem as the green jacket. Oh well!

[@harrywatsonpaddle]

Tall people too, it just sits so high. Don’t get why they don’t have adjustable shoulder straps.

[@josephmyers64]

Actually some of us do not want more pockets. I just got this pfd. I kayak. It's perfect

[@GearGarageTV]

Cool. If you watch my latest review you'll see I say the same thing kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYPUpKmGdpybeLs.

[@derichhofmann4667]

Sure looked like your knife easily sipped out of the pocket, took little effort on your part. Either your clip is bent or weak steel or Astral didn’t provide a sufficient lip to help retain the clip? Besides the unconventional look, I don’t understand why someone hasn’t made a pfd with pockets on the shoulder straps just behind the peak height of the shoulders. Similar size to the waist pockets to hold pin kit components snacks etc. Then floatation could be added at the waist pocket area where it’s needed down low and the PFD would still retain adequate pocket space just in a non traditional location but accessible and they wouldn’t interfere w rolling or paddling strokes. Sadly ppl are afraid to think outside the box because of illegitimate peer pressure. Corran Addison, please enter the market! 😂

[@drumtekguy]

I wonder if the reasoning is to keep a lower center of gravity for flotation?