For Immediate Release

7/24/2012

Asheville, NC

For 10 years, Astral has pushed the design of technical whitewater PFDs to new standards. Today, Astral announces their debut into the outdoor footwear market with a single model named "the Brewer".

From its creative and engineering enclaves in Asheville, Saigon, and Bali; Astral collaborated with former Salomon line manager Reglan Brewer to create a shoe that uses minimalist upper construction, zero-drop injected midsole, and Five Ten's famous STEALTH® rubber for unmatched traction on rocks.

According to owner Philip Curry, Astral's intention with footwear is to "offer the market an authentic and unique footwear solution to life around water and rocks. As lifetime kayakers, we have always wanted to develop shoes that work exceptionally well in extreme places, while also being great for work and just walking around".

The Brewer starts shipping to Astral's key specialty outdoor shops on July 26th. Astral is also showing 3 additional models at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City from August 2-5th.

About Astral:

Astral was founded in 2002 by Philip Curry, 3 years after selling his 1st company Lotus Designs® to Patagonia®. In its formative years Astral was responsible for changing the prevailing buoyant material of PFD industry away from toxic PVC. Astral has innovated the category with functional concepts such as Airescape® breathable PFDs, Foam Tectonics, hydration and rescue compatibility. According to recent Leisure Trends data, Astral is the market leader of PFDs in the Specialty Outdoor Retail channel.

Astral currently operates out of offices in 3 countries: Asheville, NC for sales and operations, Bali, Indonesia houses its R&D center, and an office in Vietnam handles product development and quality assurance.

For media inquiries please contact Astral Brand Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 828-255-2638