Founder: Philip Curry
Site: Astral
Lowdown: Gear for water sports enthusiasts
Awesomeness: Exclusive PFD sponsor of the 2013 US freestyle kayak team
After modernizing the blocky orange PFD into a more advanced design for today’s water sports enthusiasts, Philip Curry sold his first company Lotus Designs to Patagonia at age 27. He later founded Astral in 2002 and is responsible for many of the innovations used in modern day life jacket technology, from pioneering the use of CORDURA® fabric to breathable technology. Using only high-performance, non-toxic materials, Astral has revolutionized paddle-sports equipment from the river-shoe to the life-jacket. Sales have more than doubled since 2007 with products now sold all around the world.
Press:
Capital at Play: Growing Number of Outdoor Gear Builders Call Asheville Home
Rapidmedia: Field Test-Astral Greenjacket
Alder Creek: Rassler Review
Rapidmedia: Field Test-Astral Greenjacket
Alder Creek: Rassler Review
