The Global Paddling Community

Independent Review: NRS Anti-Gravity Shirt.

Hype

The official NRS text:

" Stay warmer - float higher. The Anti-Gravity Shirt is designed to supplement the flotation of your PFD, lifting you higher without restricting your mobility. Our windproof Mystery™ material provides a thermal layer that is comfortable next to the skin and can be worn over other layers. Polyolefin-foam flotation panels are arranged in an ergonomic pattern in the front and back to move with your body as you paddle. A perfect way to add flotation on big-water days or increase impact protection for those Drops! Flotation: 10 lbs. This shirt provides supplemental flotation but is not a Coast-Guard approved flotation device. It is not intended to replace a life jacket."

Our take

So, even though it looks more like a PFD than any shirt I've ever seen, the NRS anti-gravity shirt is not a PFD. This has to do with insurance issues I'm sure, as the anti-gravity does not have an American coastguard or a European CE approval stamp on it. This means that it cannot be marketed as a PFD, even if that's exactly what most playboaters will use it for. The anti-gravity just looks too good to wear it as an inner layer. It emphasizes the masculine body lines and suggests a six-pack underneath, no matter who's wearing it - very sexy.

In our tests, we just wore a thin rash guard as an inner layer (which we highly recommended) and the anti-gravity shirt. This is a perfect combination for warm summer days, in which it acts as a PFD replacement. Of course you should not use it this way on serious whitewater or when paddling with beginners. Rescue operations, both passive and active, are completely impossible if this shirt is your outer layer. Also, it offers less floatation than a real PFD.

That said, you can of course also use it the way NRS suggests: to supplement the flotation of your PFD on big-water days or as an extra thermal layer (be prepared for a very thick thermal layer though).

Pros

• Looks sexy and exclusive.
• Very flexible material.
• Lightweight.

Cons

• The anti-gravity is difficult to get into and out of, as it has no zippers or similar. This takes a little getting used to.
• It doesn't keep the water out very well, especially at the neck (see photo).

Conclusion

All in all, we love the anti-gravity and can highly recommend it (if you can live with its limitations) at a retail price of USD 125.