Category: PFDs (Page 1 of 8)

Astral Green Jacket Vs Kokatat Hustle R

August 5, 2020 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

From L to R:
Astral Green Jacket, Palm Nevis, Kokatat Hustle R, and Yak Taurus PFD

When I’m at paddling events or on a river when I meet other paddlers it is pretty much guaranteed that someone will be wearing an Astral Green Jacket. After all it is a stand out design that works really well. However I have recently picked up a Kokatat Hustle R and wanted to take the opportunity of comparing the two in a little more detail.

The Astral Green Jacket and Kokatat Hustle R I have here are EU versions. For the European market the Green Jacket has a side entry feature where as the US version does not. The Kokatat Hustle R has some additional reflective SOLAS tape on the shoulder straps to meet newer ISO requirements in the EU.

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Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look

July 17, 2020 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

The Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD is the latest fully featured PFD from Hiko. It is an anatomically shaped rescue PFD with a tonne of features. This one was supplied by the guys at Good 2 Go Paddlesport.

Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD - First Look — Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look

Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD - First Look — Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look

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Kokatat Rescue Life Vests – Carson Lindsay

July 11, 2020 / Unsponsored / 1 Comment

Carson Lindsay runs through is 3:2:1:1 rescue equipment carry and how he loads it in two different PFDs.

Kokatat Rescue Life Vests – Carson Lindsay

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Palm Equipment Nevis PFD – First Look

June 22, 2020 / Unsponsored / 1 Comment

Hot on the heals of the Kokatat Hustle R is the Palm Equipment Nevis PFD. We now have one of the very first at Unsponsored HQ for review.

Palm Equipment Nevis PFD - First Look — Palm Equipment Nevis PFD – First Look

The Nevis is an over the head slab PFD with a number of features I have not seen before in a PFD.

The Nevis PFD is the culmination of research from UCLan, design by Barney Caulfield and testing worldwide by Bren Orton. At its core is the Delta Fit adjustment system. Two wings that wrap your ribs, reducing pressure on your abdomen, helping you to breathe and increasing mobility. Set-up to go in five fluid steps, with fewer buckles (including new load tested aircraft grade aluminium hardware). The Nevis has the world’s first Piggyback adjustable quick release chest harness, improving upon the latest research, so that releasing your harness doesn’t affect the fit of your PFD. The Nevis sets a new standard in fit and safety.
Palm Equipment

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Kokatat Hustle R PFD – First Look

June 8, 2020 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

This lichen green Kokatat Hustle R PFD arrived last week at Unsponsored HQ. It was purchased here in the UK from North East Kayak and Paddles. It also arrived with a free gift. I chose the Peak UK rescue tape.

Kokatat Hustle R PFD - First Look — Kokatat Hustle R PFD – First Look

The Hustle R is Kokatat’s latest whitewater rescue vest.

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A New Vision With Palm’s Nevis PFD

March 6, 2020 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

Introducing the new Nevis PFD from Palm Equipment. Featuring the world’s first Piggyback harness and the brand new Delta Fit system, this award-winning PFD raises the bar for whitewater safety.

Palm Equipment - Nevis PFD — A New Vision With Palm’s Nevis PFD

The Nevis is the culmination of over three years of development, based on research by University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Designed by Barney Caulfield and tested worldwide by leading whitewater kayakers including Palm athlete Bren Orton.

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PFD Chest Harness Best Practice

March 2, 2020 / Unsponsored / 1 Comment

Chest harnesses are a familiar part of all whitewater rescue PFDs these days, allowing you to enter the water attached to a tether, or to help with bank belays.

PFD Chest Harness Best Practice

Research by Loel Colins and Chris Onions at the University of Central Lancashire found that 25% of chest harness releases failed to release properly under low load.

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Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition

February 19, 2020 / Unsponsored / 1 Comment

Check out the this latest iteration of the Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition. This design comes from paddler and designer Marcus Cline.

Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition

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Astral Greenjacket 2020

January 10, 2020 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

For 2020 Astral have made an update to the colours of the Greenjacket. In addition to the all black colour scheme from 2019 they also have this blue/red combination.

Astral Greenjacket 2020

What do you think? It also matches one of the new colour ways for the Serpent 2.0.

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Astral Serpent 2.0 PFD

January 9, 2020 / Unsponsored / 6 Comments

A long time ago HF produced the Serpent PFD that was designed and developed by Allan Ellard. It was a great piece of gear that had a huge following. For 2020 Astral has developed the Serpent 2.0.

The new design is extremely similar to the original with an update in materials, some of the ergonomics and and increase of 20N in buoyancy to a total of 70N.

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Yak Taurus PFD – Review

December 26, 2019 / Unsponsored / 1 Comment

A brand new Yak Taurus PFD landed at Unsponsored HQ at the end of August 2019. Since then it has seen a hundred hours of use.

Yak Taurus PFD - Review — Yak Taurus PFD – Review

When it first landed I thought that it was one of the best looking PFDs I had seen in some time. It reminded me a great deal of some of the Lotus PFDs from the 1990s in both its shape and size.

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Astral Greenjacket LE11 Cobra

October 1, 2019 / Unsponsored / 0 Comments

We shared a few images of the LE11 a couple of weeks ago on Unsponsored. However it has now been officially released.

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IT'S HERE! The long awaited Limited Edition 🐍 Cobra in collaboration with @aniolserrasolses has arrived. The LE11 GreenJacket is available in extremely limited quantities 👉🏽 Link in bio 👀 Swipe to see. The front of the PFD highlights the Curarrehue Valley, with Las Peinetas mountains towering above the Puesco river. Along the riverbanks, an Araucaria, the national tree of Chile stands tall under a full moon—an homage to Aniol’s love for moonlit laps. The back reveals one of Aniol’s latest adventures, La Leona Waterfall. Upon landing, the cascade becomes one with the cobra, symbolizing Aniol and his infinite connection with the river. In @aniolserrasolses' words, "The 2019 Limited Edition GreenJacket is a tribute to Chile and all its wild places. Over the past decade I’ve come back over and over again to the remote region of Patagonia. There is something about this land that inspires exploration. I was never the same after my first trip to Chile. Here is where I decided to make kayaking my life journey and where I keep coming back to push the limits of the sport. Puma, Newen and La Leona have definitely been some of my most special first descents.” Shoutouts to Aniol and the incredibly talented artist 🎨 @elizacarver for making this rad LE to add to the collection! #naturefirst #limitededition #cobra

A post shared by Astral (@astralfootwear) on Oct 1, 2019 at 8:06am PDT

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