Operation ‘Sea Wolf’ Unveiled

Submitted by: | Posted in Product Announcements |

For spring of 2012 we are proud to announce a highly anticipated and extremely versatile addition to the Astral product line…

This unique project has been underway for a couple of years with the intention of bringing the market a true sea kayak pro’s vest built on our popular Foam Tectonic platform. Its sleek profile will allow you to tuck under exploding waves with ease, offering exceptional mobility while both paddling and swimming. In many ways this is the Greenjacket of expedition sea kayaking, loaded with technically-minded features that apply to a wide audience of paddlers.

When creating the Sea Wolf we knew that it had to address some of the following design parameters:

  • Excellent mobility and comfort
  • Loads of gear storage with easy access
  • Tow belt compatibility
  • High visibility with strobe attachment
  • Hydration compatibility
  • Durable and quick drying shell material
  • Lightweight

Over the last year we field tested the Sea Wolf prototypes in a variety of exotic locations including Nova Scotia, Alaska, the Carolina Coast, and the Grand Canyon. We quickly realized that not only did we have the makings of an amazing sea kayak vest, but that it could also crossover into many other disciplines including: whitewater paddling, surf kayaking, and fishing.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the Sea Wolf is its large clam shell pocket with plenty of gear storage and organization. You can see below that it holds all the essentials needed for a Grand Canyon self-support trip.

We have added belt loops to make the Sea Wolf compatible with the quick release tow belt (sold separately), as well as two side pockets for long term gear storage and housing for the WebToe during whitewater applications.

Over the coming weeks we will take a closer look at the Sea Wolf during its field testing over the past year.

photo courtesy of JEB Hall

Ingredients:

Buoyancy is feather light 100% PE Foam

Quick drying 200d x 400d Ripstop Nylon Shell

200 Denier Nylon Liner

Acetal plastic buckles

Polypro Webbing

Sizing: (measured in inches at widest torso circumference)

Small/Medium: 31-37’’

Medium/Large: 38-44’’

Large/Extra-Large: 45-51’’

Release Date: March 2012

MAP Price $185.95

Preorder today through our dealer powered Shopatron store:


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  1. The Astral Buoyancy Sea Wolf PFD Says:
    April 5th, 2012 at 11:04 am

    [...] This is the most versatile PFD in Astral’s lineup. If you are going to do a bit of whitewater kayaking, stand up paddling, rafting, or sea kayaking…this PFD is worth looking at.  It has all of the features that you need for a day on the river (barring a serious expeditionary creek run), ocean or lake. It’s primary focus is for sea kayaking, but seeing that Astral based the framework on The Willis, we would think that this PFD will excel at most river sports. It is not the least expensive PFD on the market, but along with the price tag comes performance, features, style and safety. For more info: http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/news/testimony/sea-wolf-field-testing-paddle-to-the-ocean/ http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/news/team-news/sea-wolf-in-the-carolinas/ http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/news/product-announcements/operation-sea-wolf-unveiled/ [...]