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#4 in Life Jackets

Astral YTV PFD

Name: Astral YTV PFD
Brand: Astral
Rating: 8.7 (1 reviews)

Astral

$99.00 – $139.00

USCG Type III minimalist PFD with Astral's patented Thin-Vent Back foam design for maximum mobility. Features a thin profile that does not interfere with paddle strokes and weighs just 1 lb 6 oz. The Y-harness design keeps the PFD from riding up.

8.7

Excellent

Consensus

Our Analysis

Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.

Score Breakdown

Expert Score

8.8

User Sentiment

8.7

Value Score

8.1

Complaint Risk

9.1

Freshness

7.5

Community

8.5

Availability

9.0

Pros

Ultra-thin profile for unrestricted paddling
Ultra-thin profile for unrestricted paddling
Y-harness prevents ride-up
Y-harness prevents ride-up
Extremely lightweight at 1 lb 6 oz
Extremely lightweight at 1 lb 6 oz

Cons

Thin foam provides less impact protection
Thin foam provides less impact protection
Fewer pockets than full-featured PFDs
Fewer pockets than full-featured PFDs

Don't buy this if…

The minimalist design provides less thermal protection in cold water compared to thicker PFDs.
The minimalist design provides less thermal protection in cold water compared to thicker PFDs.