In 2002, I began Astral. We were deeply committed to building the best performing products for wilderness athletes, and we focused on building them in the least toxic, lowest impact way. I loved creating a company where cool, creative people could work together to benefit soil and water.
Since then we’ve grown a lot and done good things along the way. We basically eliminated toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for our paradigm changing footwear designs, and we’ve developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock – just to name a few.
In the most simple terms, we are athletes, artists and craftspeople. With your support we will continue to build the cleanest, most beautiful and highest performing products you can buy.
Philip Curry, Founder + CEO
Astral discontinues the use of highly toxic chloroprene (aka Neoprene). Astral Introduces Airscape as a patent for the world’s first breathable life jacket. Astral Introduces Foam Tectonics™, which sets a new paradigm for fit and performance amongst whitewater paddlers. Our infamous GreenJacket and BlueJacket use this technology.
Serving a critical need for better performing river footwear, Astral introduces 4 ultra performance shoes named for the working class of Porters, Bakers, Brewers, and Rasslers. They all use 5.10 rubber, ~70% less glue, and no heat to manufacture. Kayakers and raft guides destroy them. Astral’s first shoe, the Brewer™ wins Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year Award.
Astral completes the rigorous third-party certification process to become a bluesign® System Partner and introduces the most environmentally friendly PFDs on the market; Ceiba™, V-Eight™, E-Ronny™ and E-Linda™. All featuring the world’s first 100% recycled bluesign® approved PFD shells.
Astral archetypes, Nouria Newman and Aniol Serrasolses, win Female and Male Riders of the Year. It is Nouria’s fifth consecutive year winning Rider of the Year.
Astral opens their Seattle Headquarters and moves to a new office in Asheville, further cementing their coast-to-coast presence in the industry.
World record breaking big wave surfer and waterman, Garret McNamara learns about Astral’s use of hemp in shoes and becomes an ambassador and advisor.
Philip Curry
Founder & CEO
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Long Distance Trail
Ken Kaplan
CFO
Cooper Lambla
Head of Brand + Marketing
Jack Liu
Product Development
Baylor Manning
National Accounts Lead
Benny Marr
Whitewater Kayaker
Michelle Martini
People + Planning
Garrett McNamara
Big Wave Surfer
Emily Murray
Dealer Support Specialty Account Lead
Jason Michelotti
CMO
Nouria Newman
Whitewater Kayaker
Regina Nicolardi
Photo Editor
David Orr
CRO
Bryan Owen
Sales Manager
Aniol Serrasolses
Whitewater Kayaker
Ollie Smithers
Sourcing Manager
James Trombley
Operations Manager
Anna Walsh
Creative Manager
Daniel Windham
Product Line Manager