I also noticed that the sides of the PFD fit slightly higher than normal, preventing any spilling out on the sides, a very common problem with unisex PFDs. It easily fit a DD cup and would fit well even on much bustier women. The “boob cup” cut outs in the foam panel also worked as advertised. The foam is distributed over a wide area to provide plenty of buoyancy without feeling constricting in the chest area. Putting it on, I was impressed with the fit. I also love that it’s rescue belt compatible it’s always nice to see a piece of women’s specific gear that’s designed with a serious user in mind.
#ASTRAL PFD FREE#
The colorways are fantastic (feminine without being too girly), the thin foam inserts and princess seams give it a bulk free appearance, and the interior “boob cups” made me optimistic that it would fit beautifully. Just picking it up, I immediately loved the Layla. I was even more thrilled to find out that it’s actually a redesign of the iconic Lotus Lola, one of the best fitting PFDs for curvy women. As a huge fan of Astral’s fit, I was excited about the release of the Layla PFD. Women tend to have more complex and variable body shapes than men, so this approach leads to a design that fits both men and women beautifully. This novel approach may seem strange at first but it makes perfect sense. All of their PFDs (women’s specific or not) are first built to fit women and then sized for men. While many “women’s” gear manufacturers start with a men’s product and take a “pink it and shrink it” approach to women’s design, Astral does just the opposite. Let me start out by saying that Astral makes some of the best PFDs for women on the market.
Today’s project: PFDs, specifically the Astral Layla. To help you sort through the hype and find the essentials, we’ve tested several of this season’s women’s specific gear offerings. While we’re thrilled with this variety, it raises a common question: does it really matter if my gear is designed specifically for women or not? The answer is far from simple and depends on a variety of factors including your build, personal preferences, and the type of gear. Just about any piece of gear that you can imagine is now available in a women’s specific version. Now, women’s specific gear is one of the fastest growing segments in the outdoor gear industry. With the focus on comfort and style, the Layla is a PFD you’re actually going to want to wear on the water.Not too long ago women who loved the outdoors had to make do with (often ill-fitting) unisex gear.
The large pocket on the front is big enough to fit phones, cameras or anything else you might need close at hand on the water. For the latter, a quick release rescue belt can be fitted. The Layla is a multi-purpose PFD, equally at home on a recreational paddler, touring trip, SUP adventure, or on a white water river. The hinged “princess cut” on the front and rear panels, as well as Astral’s self styled “boob cups” give the Layla a figure hugging feel which allows you to get on with paddling, rather than fiddling and fighting to make your PFD fit you properly. The Layla is designed to articulate perfectly to fit any female figure. Based on a style introduced by the Astral founder back in the 90s and refined over the years, the Layla is arguably the world’s best fitting female specific PFD on the market.
0 kommentar(er)
