This KAYAK fits in my BACKPACK and weighs 7 pounds - WHAT IS A PACKRAFT? Alpacka Gnarwhal Review
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Every so often while paddling in my packraft, I get all kinds of weird looks and questions. I can understand that the popularity of these watercrafts has not taken off yet, but I assure you they are a heck of alot of fun, and open up areas of exploration that most thought owuld not be possible. Join me as we go over the details of my Alpacka Gnarwhal.
Packrafts are very capable devices, with experienced paddlers running the most difficult of rapids.
A packraft shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement for a hard sided boat. Instead you should see it is a separate tool to be used when the trip logistics and conditions are appropriate.
These crafts are designed to allow access to remote camping locations where it is simply not feasible to get a hard shell kayak into, often carried in a backpack along with multiple days worth food and gear, allowing you to carry it into the backcountry to reach rivers and lakes.
Packrafting is a sport that uses an individual-size inflatable boat called a packraft that's tough and durable but also light and compact. There are numerous different companies making them, with my preference being Alpacka. They are nimble, agile, with appropriate white water kayak features, allowing them to navigate fast moving water, drops, rocks, edge into eddies.
And yes, experienced packrafters are even capable of rolling their boats similar to traditional kayaks. Let’s take a closer look at mine, which happens to be the Alpacka Gnarwhal with white water skirt.
Links and credit to video clips:
Class 5 Packrafting
• Alpacka Alpackalypse -...
@Mark Oates
Class 5 Packrafting
• Class V Packrafting: C...
@jeffreycreamer
Rolling a Gnarwhal
• Rolling a Packraft - ...
@River Kings
The worlds greatest cars are that gen of Element, Sienna vans and Honda Fits. Fits swallow cargo and have ten cupholders!!
Great informative video. Thanks.
Haha, love my Element! And my buddy Josh in my bikeing videos has a 6 speed manual Honda fit. It's awesome.
We were able to pick up one of the Sienna Limited in the AWD. Man between taking out or laying down all of the rear seats and the AWD, it's a surprisingly capable vehicle (have over 200k and it's just getting broke in.
Thank you, this was very helpful for me. Cheers mate from Australia
That's great to hear. Enjoy the packraft life!
Interesting ! Looks like a good time
I'm always a good time 😉😉😉
Thanks for the great video!! I'm looking forward to getting into bike rafting next summer!!! 🌎🚴🛶
Thanks for watching. You will love bikerafting!
@@Suluk46 I love it already I can't wait to take adventure cycling to the next level!! I packrafted the Willamette River through Oregon and kayaked the Peace River long time ago but never thought about bringing a bicycle before!! 🤘👍
I wish every youtuber was as competent and succinct. Great information in here. I'm in Canada. Where do I buy one? I was looking at the Kokopelli's but this looks better probably.
I made this video specifically because so many people ask about my packraft. I'm happy to hear it is well recieved. I've never tried a Kokopelli, but I have looked at them before. I've had 3 Alpacak rafts and all are amazing so that is where I would recommend starting. There is a Canadian Supplier called Mount Waddingtons out of BC that has them in stock. Other than that, you can buy direct from Alpacka but will get dinged with import fees.
What steps do you take when storing the raft, both shirt term and long term? Thank you for a great video. I'm researching pack rafts to keep in my truck for up to 4-day packrafting trips, to mix up the recreation I do. Outstanding content, thanks!
If it's just being packed up mid trip to be used again in a day or so, really nothing. I put it away wet and dirty. But if it's going on the shelf in my basement until the next trip, I'll inflate it in my backyard and rinse it off properly. Then dry it with a towel or sponge...maybe even leave it to air dry if the weather is nice. Then roll it up and stick it on the shelf. I have 3 packrafts now, no issues in over 8 years doing this.
@@Suluk46 Thanks!
My daughter tried to talk me into getting and inflatable kayak because I'm not strong enough to maneuver a regular kayak on and off my car. I didn't think I would trust an inflatable kayak but now I'm rethinking it. We have great rivers in our NC mountain's, come visit! Check out River Kings last video racing kayaks outside of Charlotte, NC Wilson Creek - A Race To The Bottom
These are a great option if you just want a lighter boat, but they aren't a direct replacement for a hard sided kayak, so you would need to weigh the pros and cons, depending on what type of water you are running. I'd love to come visit! But right now I'm not even supposed to leave my house 😁
@@Suluk46 Right now I have a 6 ft kids sit on top kayak that weighs 17 pounds and will fit inside my Prius!! I have to plug the scupper holes or I'm sitting in 2 inches of water because I am about 5 pounds below the 140 lb. limit. I have a kayak backpack shoulder harness and I am able to park my car at the river access, hike 3-4 miles up river and paddle back down to my car. It's a great workout but only in warm weather because it's easy to swamp being that close to to weigh limit.
My Gnarwhal looks bigger for some reason, it’s a large and 2021 model. Enjoyed your video and the one to Pangnirtung/Pond Inlet.
Hmm, maybe they changed the design, this is probably a 2018 model or something like that. Or if I just look very big compared to the boat, it's because I am gigantic, 6'3"...it's actually tight for me so I don't run the foot brace anymore to give me more room.
Would a collapsible hiking trailer fit in the raft with your gear?
Depends on the size really, they can hold alot. I put my mountain bike on the front of it frequently.
Looks like a pretty capable boat. Do you see it as a viable option for flat water paddling or more suited to river running? Looks like a much lighter option to portage over the "Pig".
I'd say it is designed for moving water, but I have used it on flat water many times. It's nowhere near as efficient as a canoe, but it is possible. It would make the pig a walk in the park.
@@Suluk46 Thanks Steve.
@@Suluk46 would it survive the Gamsby?
@@starshot5172 I don't know the river so tough to give advice. I'm sure the answer could be yes or no depending on how you paddle....and if you can avoid sharp rocks 😃
@@Suluk46 Hmm, it definitely gets tight there at many points, it will scrape across rocks for sure. How rock resistant is it? Kind of hard to explain maybe
Informative Video! Thanks! I am shopping for a Gnarwhal and notice that there is an option for the weight of the fabric (I am assuming in the tubes. The floor fabric I believe is set at 800d). The two options are 210d and 420d. Which did you get? Do you have thoughts on this? I am leaning toward getting the heavier material. Increased durability with not that much of an increase in weight. Gracias.
The Garwhal that I have is actually Vectran fabric, which is now discontinued. I also have a Refuge in Lightweight 210 and a Wolverine in regular 210D. Anything heavier than that will give you a stiffer hull when inflated because you can put it at a higher pressure. I'm not affiliated with Alpacka so this is an honest answer...I can't imagine that anyone would need the heavier 420D hull unless you truly were going in areas where there are serious puncture concerns. These things a bulletproof, AND, they are easy to fix if you do get a puncture. That said, pick what you want. I've had 6 packets, all from Alpacka, and never had a leak except for on my Gnarwhal seat where the inflatiron tube meets the fabric. And that was an easy fix with some aquaseal.
@@Suluk46 Thanks so much! Great information. Wow! Six Packrafts! Impressive. Ive been hard shell kayaking for years and have carried my boat into some runs over the years. I am very excited to get into packrafting. The possibilities seem endless. Thanks for sharing your stoke and information as well as putting some incredible adventures up here on YT!
I would have liked to see it be packed down and how it would fit in your gear...
Just take a look at any of my packrafting trip videos. Lots of examples of how I pack and carry it.
hAY algun producto para que revale el agua por los cristales de las gafas?
New GoPro 12 has the lense that does it. I picked up 2.
If I caught a minnow on fishing pole……I’m afraid it would drag me across lake… lol. But it is nice!
Lol. Sharp hooks and inflatable packrafts are not good friends :)
Deflating boat and being drug around by a minnow at same time! Crisis? Lol
I fished from my packraft many times. They are ideal fishing boats for high alpine lakes or even slow rivers! And I caught decent size trout and I didn’t get dragged around much ;)
Hi, I was wondering what drysuit your wearing hear? Is it a dry top and pants, or a whole suit?
This is a Alpacka Stowaway Drysuit made by Kokatat. It's a one piece suit, very lightweight made specifically for Alpacka. They are discontinued now, but they have a new version out now and their new one includes socks which I think is great. Head over to www.alpackaraft.com and check them out.
Did you use it on the lake? You mentioned it is high in the water unlike kayak or canoe, so I wonder how does it behave in windy condition. Can you go easily against the wind or keep direction with side wind?
One more question. Does the packraft have two or more separate compartments, so it does not sink in case it is punctured?
I have used it on many lakes. It's not ideal for flatwater and definitely will make you work hard if you are paddling against the wind. This is better suited for rivers and moving water.
Yes, just a single chamber. The storage bas that go inside are inflatable and would serve to help if you had a catastrophic puncture.
@@Suluk46 Thanks 😊, that’s the information I needed.
Now I have to rethink if saving energy on portages is worth what I loose while paddling. Most likely it will depends on the route (paddling/carry ratio) and weather condition. I am thinking about less accessible regions of Algonquin Park, Ontario Canada. So far I used canoe.
Thanks again.
They are "ok" for flatwater paddling. I have a few videos of trips where I did it. One of them is my Wildlands Traverse Series. The reality is that there are much better options but if you primarily do moving water, with large hikes between rivers, this will excel. If you have any other questions, let me know. I do big canoe trips each year and always use a traditional, albeit ultralight, canoe, as they track better and require less energy to paddle.
@@Suluk46 thanks :-)
would this be suitable for kayaking 6km along the coast?
It's certainly possible to paddle these on flat water, although they do not track well, and they do not excel outside of moving current. Paddling these into a head wind and breaking waves would be a chore in most cases.
What kind of PDF do you bring with you on a packrafting trip? Looking to be conscious of the volume and weight as I'll be either hiking or gravel biking with my packraft. Thx!
I've got the Salus Eddy Flex. It's nothing fancy, and because of that only weighs around 16oz. I also have an inflatable one, not much lighter but much less bulky that I use if gear volume is an issue - like on a long trip without insane white water.
I know in sewing they would call that white tube "Skirt" thing "boning"
*So like the plastic boning in a bra for instance
G"day. I am just restabishing my camping and trekking gear. I have watched some of your vidios and that the hole system looks very compac. can you do a trip using those storage compartments at the back of the boat in the near futer ?. it will help me to decide whitch one to buy.
Gerard from
QLD AUSTRALIA.
For sure. I am releasing a new video this Thursday where I use the internal storage system of the packraft. It was the first time I had used it, and now I can't believe how convenient and useful it is. I would highly recommend adding that option to your boat.
G"day.
Thanks for the reply. Sorry for the late reply from me. have been busy. As you know I live in Australia and everything you get on the water is expiensive. I am restabishing my camping gear as new stuff has come on the market over the last ten years and i am including a pack raft to enhance my experiance. I am not shure about bike rafting as i have a disability but l just work on what i can do and affard the perches. So for me its one or two items at a time.
Thanks again for the reply and
I have just become a subbie to your channle.
Gerard.
Where can I buy one of these rafts?
There is an entire lineup of different boats available from Alpacka Raft. This is the Alpacka Gnarwhel.
The title is a bit misleading. The Gnarwhal with spray deck is not 7lb! The WW deck medium is 9.2lb
Mine is made from Vectran fabric and weighs just over 7lbs. I think the 9.2 lbs you see on the website is the standard fabric and probably includes everything like the stuffsack. My entire packrafting kit with paddle, drysuit, helmet, pfd and such is closer to 16 lbs.
@@Suluk46 wow! Really? Did you actually weigh it? Including coming and skirt and thing straps is just over 7lb? The reason I’m asking is because I have a Wolverine Self Bailer vectran medium and that weighs just over 7lb so I’m curious how yours with whitewater deck is so light…
@@adrianboloveschi4038 Yes, I weighed mine. 121 oz with back band and thigh straps. The skirt is 7.5 oz and the combing is 5.5 oz. My entire cold water setup is 17.35 lbs, but again that would include everything like neoprene gloves and boots, drysuit, paddle, helmet, patchkit, etc.
@@Suluk46 Cool! I’ll weigh mine again then maybe it’s lighter then I thought :)
Cheapest one is $1500!
They ain't cheap!
There are DIY options as well. Building two right now myself!
Heck no! Im not paying that much
These are just too expensive. It’s about 1500 dollars without extra gear.
Check out DIY Packraft. You can build your own very economically.
Шлем для воды купи, а то 😅смешно на вас смотреть, вело шлем вашу голову не спасёт.😂
I guess you didn't actually watch the video...