The human relationship with water is so personal, yet so universal. Some of us venture out to the water for serenity and calm, some for whitewater and adrenaline, but we all have one thing in common — the need for safety.

I choose the calm route, enjoying days on the pond or the stream in my little yellow kayak with my pup in my lap slowly (being rocked to sleep by the water around us). From the minute I decided she would be my kayak co-pilot, I knew she needed a life jacket, that’s why I chose the Float Coat™ from Ruffwear. She’s extremely fit and capable, strong and an absolute water bug, but even then our favorite pond is deep and wide and in the case of emergency I want to make sure she will make it to shore safely. I love her dearly and she is my best friend, so it was a no-brainer for me. The Float Coat™ is my top choice for Fern’s protection not only because it perfectly matches mine, but it is extremely high quality. The yellow handle makes lifting her in and out of the kayak a breeze and the fit is easily adjusted to ensure a secure fit.

It wasn’t until an old-timer at the pond reprimanded me for not having a life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) for myself that I realized how dumb I was going about my water recreation. In many states it’s illegal to not have a PFD on a water vessel. This is where the Astral Layla PFD comes onto the scene.

I didn’t want a PFD that was clunky or cumbersome, ugly or outdated — I wanted something cute that fit me right! The Astral Layla features a multi-panel hinged fit with internally sculpted breast cups for those of us with a bust. With their polypro webbing on the sides I can still breathe while not completely losing my feminine shape. Being a woman with a smaller bust, I wasn’t sure this would be the right PFD for me but after I put it on, I was immediately proved wrong. I didn’t feel like I was swimming in extra fabric or that it was in my way when sitting in my kayak. Though I am not ripping it up in the whitewater, I have full confidence this PFD would keep you safe in that scenario as well.

This PFD is lightweight and comfortable, plus it doesn’t rub my shoulders or sides raw, and it’s fully complete with a wide range of adjustable straps. I’m about six feet tall and feel like this fits my long torso well and would do the same for someone shorter thanks to the adjustable shoulder straps. Another feature that was important to me was a solid pocket. I like to have my phone with me on the water and it’s always helpful to have dog treats on board. With the stretchy front pocket, I’m able to fit plenty of treats, my phone and more without an issue. With a variety of looped points that are helpful yet low-profile, I’m able to secure my dog’s e-collar remote or my keys without worry.

The Layla is not only unique with its fit geared to the female body — but it’s made with Kapok for buoyancy, Kapok is an all-natural fiber pulled from the top canopy of rainforests. Not only does this fiber not disintegrate overtime in the same way plastics do, but it also doesn’t leech chemicals into our beloved waterways. Peace of mind for your safety and the environment!

If you’d like to check out the Layla Astral or any other products from Astral you can purchase on Backcountry, REI or Amazon!

Gear Hub: Astral Layla PFD + Ruffwear FloatCoat Life Jacket