The WebToe…Now with the Petzl ‘William’ Locking Carabiner!

At Astral it is our goal to create products that are both unique and necessary. This goes for not only our lifevests, but also for the accessories that are designed to be used alongside them. One of the original accessories that we produced for rescue was our towing system dubbed ‘the WebToe.’ We’d like to take a moment to explain how this product works, and to introduce an important update that we have made for 2012.

How it Works:

The Webtoe is essentially a 6′ Spectra Tow line with a carabiner on one end and a stainless steel O-ring in the other. The webtoe was designed to be stowed safely inside the side pocket of Astral rescue vests, reducing the chance of snagging while remaining easily accessible. There is a knot tied approx 6’’ from the O-Ring acting as a stopper to keep the webtoe securely inside the side pocket. We have found that for most whitewater towing applications, the Webtoe used in conjunction with an Astral rescue PFD is ideal as it provides the best method of stowing the line to avoid entanglement.

New Locking Carabiner for 2012:

After extensive field use and consultation with some of the nation’s best Swiftwater Rescue educators, we have decided to upgrade the WebToe from a non-locking carabiner to the Petzl ‘William’ screw lock. Using a locking carabiner helps to eliminate the chance of unintentionally snagging during a rescue situation. Since the webtoe can be used in many different scenarios, we wanted to make sure that the carabiner offers the ability to lock.

Always use a locking carabiner when connecting any line to a rescue PFD to prevent snagging!

“As a principle of SWR education, you want a strong, light, large mouth carabiner that has a warning line to show the gate is unlocked. Easy to use with gloves and underwater rigging. That type of function compliments the function of ASTRAL technology.”

- Justin Padgett, ACA, SWR Instructor Trainer, Paramedic

Landmark Learning

Get Trained:

For specific info on these uses we highly recommend taking an accredited swiftwater rescue course. These are available from both the American Canoe Association and Rescue 3 International.

You can also check out the ‘Uses and Techniques’ manual that accompanies each Astral Rescue PFD. This booklet contains additional info about finding a course, and outlines basic techniques associated with Astral Rescue PFDs (click here for online version.)

For years Astral has partnered with Landmark Learning based in Cullowhee, NC. They have led our staff in swiftwater rescue workshops and have helped to keep us up to speed with the latest news in the realm of ACA swiftwater rescue curriculum. Here’s a video showing some highlights from their courses: