The Astral Indus PFD is a high float whitewater life jacket with 22 pounds of flotation. That is 33% more than Astral's GreenJacket, and it is the whole point of the vest. Big water pushes you deep and holds you there. More flotation gets you back to the surface faster. Astral calls the architecture FoamTectonics. It is a freestyle-inspired two-panel layout that keeps foam off the parts of your torso that need to rotate, so you get the buoyancy without paying for it in mobility. The shell is 500 denier Cordura nylon canvas over PVC-free Gaia foam and recyclable polyethylene, with a YKK auto-locking Vislon zipper, heavy duty acetal adjusters and stainless hardware. This is a rescue vest. The quick release harness is integrated into reinforced shoulder straps rated to 1,100 pounds, there is secure storage for a throw rope behind the front panel, and a leashed knife pocket with an exterior tab. Swiftwater rescue training is required to use the harness. If you have not taken the course, take it before you clip into anything. Videos Astral Indus High Float Rescue Vest Sizing Size Chest S/M 31" - 37" M/L 38" - 44" L/XL 45" - 51" Measure your chest at its widest point with a soft tape. Astral patterns each size to real body dimensions in a paddling posture rather than scaling one shape up, so go by the chest number and not your shirt size. Between two sizes, call us at (615) 696-7887. Specifications Design Buoyancy: 22 lbs Approval: USCG Type V Intended Use: Whitewater, swiftwater rescue Entry: Pullover Foam Insert: PVC-free Gaia foam and recyclable polyethylene foam Shell Fabric: 500 denier Cordura nylon canvas Liner Fabric: 200 denier high tenacity nylon Webbing: Nylon Zipper: YKK auto-locking Vislon Hardware: Heavy duty acetal and stainless steel Shoulder Strength: 1,100 lbs Weight: 3.0 lbs / 48 oz / 1365 g Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL Key Features High Flowt: 22 lbs of flotation, 33% more than the GreenJacket, built for high volume and high flows. FoamTectonics: Freestyle-inspired two-panel architecture that puts mobility first. Quick Release Rescue Harness: Integrated chest harness. Swiftwater rescue training required. Reinforced Shoulders: Shoulder straps tie into the chest harness for 1,100 lbs of strength. Torso Fit Adjustment: Dial in the fit without straps near your face. Flotection: Back foam that takes the hit when you get pushed into rock. Rope Ready: Secure throw rope storage behind the front panel. Quick Knife Access: Exterior tab plus a leashed knife pocket. Web-Toe Storage: Side pocket or front pocket quick release tab. Low Profile Pocket: Keeps storage prioritized and your feet visible. Cordura Shell: 500 denier Cordura nylon canvas for abrasion resistance. Astral Indus PFD Questions, Answered How much flotation does the Astral Indus have? 22 pounds, which is 33% more than Astral's GreenJacket. That extra buoyancy is what gets you back to the surface faster after a deep hit in high volume water. It is the reason to choose this jacket over a standard river vest. Do I need swiftwater rescue training to use it? To use the quick release harness, yes. Astral requires it and so do we. A harness you have not trained on is more dangerous than no harness at all, because it puts you on the end of a rope in current. You can wear and paddle the jacket without ever clipping in, but take the course before you use the harness. Does all that foam make it hard to paddle? That is the problem FoamTectonics is built to solve. The two-panel layout keeps foam off the parts of your torso that rotate, so you get 22 pounds of flotation without the vest fighting your stroke. It came out of freestyle design, where mobility is everything. What size do I need? Go by chest measurement, not shirt size. S/M is 31 to 37 inches, M/L is 38 to 44, and L/XL is 45 to 51. Astral patterns each size for a paddling posture rather than scaling one shape up, so the chest number is what matters. Where does a throw rope go? Behind the front panel, in dedicated storage Astral calls Rope Ready. It keeps the rope out of the way while you paddle and reachable when you need it, instead of clipped to the outside where it can snag. Does it protect my back? Yes. Flotection is foam placed across the back specifically to absorb impact when you get pushed into rock or the deck of your boat. It is not armor, but it takes the edge off the hits that come with big water. How do I carry a knife on it? There is a leashed knife pocket with an exterior quick access tab, so a river knife rides in a fixed place and comes out one-handed. The Web-Toe stores in the side pocket or on the front pocket quick release tab. Is this overkill for regular river running? It can be. The Indus is built for high volume water and for people carrying rescue gear. If you paddle moderate rivers and do not need a harness, a lighter vest like the YTV 2.0 does the job for less money and less bulk. Buy the Indus when the water is big or the job calls for it.
