Over 30 years ago, Astral’s Phillip Curry worked as a raft guide on Section IV of the Chattooga River. And since then, Curry has thought about how he would design a sandal that could stand up to heavy use on and in the water.
Then, he stumbled upon a pair of sandals made in Japan that looked like a PFD.
“These look like something we’d make by strapping our PFD (personal flotation device) to a Loyak bottom to create a high-performance sandal,” Curry noted.
And so the seed was planted for Astral’s latest products: the PFD and Webber Sandals.
Both sandals have a shoe-like fit with webbing, buckles, and adjustable straps, a zero-drop Level footbed, roomy toebox, Astral’s proprietary low-durometer sticky rubber, closed-cell EVA foam midsoles with antimicrobial treatment, and 100% recycled uppers.
In short: These sandals were a highly anticipated release from this brand. So I — like many other paddlers, probably — was stoked to try them. These sandals do exactly what they were designed to do, and then some: awesome protection, two styles to choose from, lots of adjustability, grip, and more. They are comfortable in the water, on a SUP or kayak, and on shore.
Astral PFD Sandals Review
Specs
PFD Sandal:
- Materials: G.ss rubber outsole, EVA midsole, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester webbing and canvas straps, recycled polyester and mesh upper pad, Bluesign-approved PFD-grade buckles
- Available sizes: 6-11 (women’s), 8-14 (men’s)
- Verified weight: 7.9 oz./222 g per shoe (size 8)
Webber Sandal:
- Materials: G.ss rubber outsole, EVA midsole, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester webbing and canvas straps, Bluesign-approved PFD-grade buckles
- Available sizes: 6-11 (women’s), 8-14 (men’s)
- Verified weight: 7.6 oz. / 215 g per shoe (size 8)