It depends on the model. I have an Astral V-Eight that I really like for kayaking, but it has the high back. I’m not crazy about that feature for canoeing, plus my arms get scratched on the V-Eight scratchy pockets as I paddle. The mesh back is really nice, but the trade off for that is the big slab of foam up at my shoulders. So I just ordered an NRS Ninja, because everything I read says it’s great for canoeing, and doesn’t get in the way. The Astral I have is a lot lighter - I think the foam is different.
I don’t have a ton of options in my area, so I did a lot of reading online. I narrowed it down to the Ninja vs the Astral YTV, and decided to go with the Ninja. I was in Minneapolis last weekend, so I was able to try on both PFDs, and decided to keep the Ninja. The YTV was very similar, but had to go on overhead, which was a pain, and the pockets were a lot less useful.
Astral makes a lot of models, though, so if you have access to someplace where you can check them out, I’d recommend that. They are well-made, and based on the one I have, I wouldn’t hesitate to stick with the brand.