Check out my new RUclips channel! www.youtube.com/@KenWhitingAdventures is now the place to find all my paddling adventure videos, while PaddleTV will focus on Instruction and Gear Reviews.
Can't wait to go back and do a longer section of the Noire myself. I'm not sure what I'll use next time.... there aren't many portages, and so there are a few options... hmmmm..... :)
@@PaddleTV , my wife Dawn and I are 12 years your senior, and I am blind in one eye, have a partially amputated left foot, and suffered a stroke two years ago that substantially weakened my left side. That said, the payoff of being on the water is worth the effort!
@@PaddleTV , the only black water river that we have here in North Carolina is the Lumber River, which is a smaller river. The Black River in South Carolina below Myrtle Beach is very similar to the Lumber.
Hi Ken, Fantastic information. After watching your trip down the Noire I'm so happy to see I didn't have to wait long for this review. There's not many areas near me were you can grab some white water, however their are one or two and this packraft looks like it would be perfect for the job. Just got myself the Sea Eagle EZLite10 after watching your review and now it looks like you're going to cost me more money. I believe I now know why I'm Single. lol
Gosh, I appreciated this review, Ken. Thank you. Still on the search for a small shore boat to carry on my also small motorboat. I've looked at pack rafts before, as weight & storage volume are issues, but never felt they were suitable. This one - for a mix of reasons you mention - is probably the closest to being suitable for purpose. Very helpful review!
Glad it was helpful! I'm new to pack rafting this year, and so I'm learning a lot myself. Nothing like taking a boat on a solo multi-day trip to get a crash course on it! :)
Ken, would you be willing to share more about your current injury? I'm new to paddle sports and in my early 40s. In your long tenure of paddling have you had other injuries, what do you do to reduce risk, Ect. That type of video would be helpful. 😊
Hey Ken!! Loved the video if you’re looking for a solid lightweight Packraft that has a detachable skeg check out the MRS surveyor it’s built more streamlined like a kayak (not going to be as fast of course), it has a skeg, can hold 407 lbs, only weighs 4.3 lbs without the spray skirt and only costs $650!! Again love the video and love to see more Packrafting adventures!!
Very cool! This definitely looks like it would travel better in the flatwater! I wouldn't trust it for the whitewater on this trip as it only has a 210D nylon floor (as opposed to 840D). In there product description they also say "the coating of the fabric is extremely thin, please consider carefully when planning to use it for rafting or other activities".
You the man Ken! Summer is still around, so swimming would be nice if it’s hot😊. You could share some other whitewater tips. Would be an awesome video!
I always wanted to know, how do you begin and end your journeys? How does someone do that? Where do you leave your car? After a 3 day trip, how do you get back to it? Maybe you can do a video on this topic. How do you start and end? Thanks. Love PaddleTV!!!
Thanks Charles! A couple of options... if I'm paddling with other people, we do a shuttle, and leave one vehicle at the take-out. If I'm going solo, I'll either leave a bike at the take-out, or many rivers will have local outfitters that provide shuttle services. This can be pricey on some rivers, and so it's cheapest and easiest to paddle with someone, use two vehicles, and leave one of the vehicles at the end. You can hide the keys on the vehicle, or bring the keys down the river in a dry bag that is in a secure spot. Just don't forget the keys at the boat launch!
Great review of Neutron Ken! I’ve been considering getting one since I can purchase it locally in Alberta vs ordering Alpackaraft from US (you can get some models in Canada, just not the one that I want ha). My question is, what paddle length would suit the Neutron better in your opinion with it being quite wide (almost 40”) ? I currently own a flatwater inflatable kayak/packraft that is 35” wide and paddle it with a 240cm (per manufacturer chart)
I think I was using a 225cm paddle. You don't sit as high as you do on a sit-on-top kayak, and so that's why you don't need the paddle to be quite as long. 225 - 230cm would be ideal. Your 240cm will definitely work fine though.
@@PaddleTV thank you for your reply and advice! The reason I am using 240 is my fishing kayak ( SeaEagle Paddleski) is 48” wide with high seat so longer paddle works better. Might have to look into a versa-lok paddle in the future
If you're looking for a packraft with a removable skeg or a "fin" for flatwater paddling, my Kokopelli XPD came with one and it very definitely helps with the tracking.
Love the channel and your reviews. I recently added the MSR Barracuda R2 packraft to my fleet. I does have a detachable skeg, which is a great aid. Would love to see your review of this as it is a tandem which works really well as a single for me at 6’5” as a weight of only 11.2 pounds.
Very cool! I'll check that boat out. I haven't seen a packraft with a detachable fin, but I'm guessing they might be more common on flatwater specific packrafts.
That's cool to see! Looks like it comes on a couple of their flatwater models. I will definitely consider installing a fin box on this Neutron... really depends on how much flatwater I'll be dealing with. Thanks for sharing!
A little off topic but I've seen many drip stitch kayaks from multiple companies that look very similar and I'm wondering if they're all made in the same factories in Asia. Any idea?
Yes, there are a lot of companies that have inflatable kayaks made in the same factories. That being said, it doesn't mean they're all the same. Unique fabrics and unique construction techniques are being used in the same factories for different companies. That being said... there are a number of companies that are just kicking out VERY similar product with different branding. I'm personally not interested in those products, which is why you don't see a lot of them on my channel.
Isn't that kind of boat predominantly for people who are mainly backpacking or doing significant portages? How is that better than a kayak which is built to perform in the same water conditions (ie. whitewater)? I just don't see what the point is if you are going to go " canoe camping " in Algonquin Park. Unless it is storage capacity.
Packrafts are best if you have some sort of backpacking component to your trip. They really do enable all kinds of crazy adventures including cycling (with a bike on the boat even) or air travel etc. they are definitely not as durable or fast as an IK or as maneuverable as a hardshell but as a one boat solution to a lot of different water and some innovative trips they are an awesome compromise.
I agree with Chris. You give up some durability, speed and performance... but you gain incredible portability. For some people packrafts will make sense as a primary/only boat. For others, a packraft will make more sense as a secondary boat to have for specialized trips.
@TimeBee100 look up the Alpacka Valkyrie V3. Its a dedicated whitewater packraft with good-very good performance for Class IV and V runs. The portability advantage is a huge plus when you rely on flying to locations to paddle (like my current situation here in the northern Atacama desert) or have poor river access which requires hiking in and out. Its my next big purchase. I currently have a whitewater deck Alpacka Wolverine but it doesnt have the same performance as the Valkyrie or my kayaks (Zet Ninja and RPM).
Ha! I spend too much money on outdoor gear in general!! :) To follow up answer... the packraft is definitely not a great replacement for canoe camping in Algonquin, when you're dealing with lots of flatwater. It would be great for hiking up the rail bed along the Petawawa River, so that you can run the heavy whitewater section of the Petawawa that leads into Lake Travers. Not for everyone... but it opens up a world of possibilities.
You didn't show packing that thing up on a mountain bike or carrying a bike on it. Those are crucial details. The internal chamber wasn't baffled, it was all inflated or not. The internal storage is great, but you didn't show how to maintain internal storage trim while underway. You didn't tie down a few live chickens up front either... 🤣
Doh! Forgot the chickens!!! All very good points, but better served in an instructional video about 'how to' packraft. This video wasn't focused on the 'how' (which applies to any packraft), but was focused on explaining the features of this particular packraft, so that people can decide if it's the right one for them. Cheers!
Seems like a classic case of, less material costing more because it’s light weight, for that price I want a decent sized kayak with some features, cool product but should be half that price and probably less Edit: no bag!?? Points for self bailing, I guess lol
Check out my new RUclips channel! www.youtube.com/@KenWhitingAdventures is now the place to find all my paddling adventure videos, while PaddleTV will focus on Instruction and Gear Reviews.
Much appreciated!
Especially the fact that you did not add the ‘Unbiased’ part in the intro 👍
Looked like fun on your trip last week.
The in boat storage was a great feature.
It is pretty cool to use the inside for storage!
😊 While the pack raft isn't in our future, the Noire may very well be! Such beautiful scenery! Great video, Ken!
Can't wait to go back and do a longer section of the Noire myself. I'm not sure what I'll use next time.... there aren't many portages, and so there are a few options... hmmmm..... :)
@@PaddleTV , my wife Dawn and I are 12 years your senior, and I am blind in one eye, have a partially amputated left foot, and suffered a stroke two years ago that substantially weakened my left side. That said, the payoff of being on the water is worth the effort!
@@PaddleTV , the only black water river that we have here in North Carolina is the Lumber River, which is a smaller river. The Black River in South Carolina below Myrtle Beach is very similar to the Lumber.
Great to hear that you're still getting out there Mark! Cheers to many more years of paddling adventures for all of us!
@@PaddleTV I kind of expect an eternity of opportunities on the water. Jesus liked being on the water, too!
Hi Ken, Fantastic information. After watching your trip down the Noire I'm so happy to see I didn't have to wait long for this review. There's not many areas near me were you can grab some white water, however their are one or two and this packraft looks like it would be perfect for the job. Just got myself the Sea Eagle EZLite10 after watching your review and now it looks like you're going to cost me more money. I believe I now know why I'm Single. lol
Ha! Sorry! Packrafts are definitely unique and fun for whitewater. :)
Gosh, I appreciated this review, Ken. Thank you. Still on the search for a small shore boat to carry on my also small motorboat. I've looked at pack rafts before, as weight & storage volume are issues, but never felt they were suitable. This one - for a mix of reasons you mention - is probably the closest to being suitable for purpose. Very helpful review!
Glad it was helpful! I'm new to pack rafting this year, and so I'm learning a lot myself. Nothing like taking a boat on a solo multi-day trip to get a crash course on it! :)
I'm very glad NRS has a prodeal been tempted to get one of these at my work but wanted to see it in action
Ken, would you be willing to share more about your current injury? I'm new to paddle sports and in my early 40s. In your long tenure of paddling have you had other injuries, what do you do to reduce risk, Ect. That type of video would be helpful. 😊
I'd be happy to... in fact... I was planning on doing this, as it's 'evolved', and become a bigger issue for me.
Hey Ken!! Loved the video if you’re looking for a solid lightweight Packraft that has a detachable skeg check out the MRS surveyor it’s built more streamlined like a kayak (not going to be as fast of course), it has a skeg, can hold 407 lbs, only weighs 4.3 lbs without the spray skirt and only costs $650!! Again love the video and love to see more Packrafting adventures!!
Very cool! This definitely looks like it would travel better in the flatwater! I wouldn't trust it for the whitewater on this trip as it only has a 210D nylon floor (as opposed to 840D). In there product description they also say "the coating of the fabric is extremely thin, please consider carefully when planning to use it for rafting or other activities".
Nice review Ken, but we need to see the Neutron on the Ottawa River 😊
Fair enough... once I'm ready to go swimming again, I'll take it out. :)
You the man Ken! Summer is still around, so swimming would be nice if it’s hot😊. You could share some other whitewater tips. Would be an awesome video!
I always wanted to know, how do you begin and end your journeys? How does someone do that? Where do you leave your car? After a 3 day trip, how do you get back to it? Maybe you can do a video on this topic. How do you start and end? Thanks.
Love PaddleTV!!!
Thanks Charles! A couple of options... if I'm paddling with other people, we do a shuttle, and leave one vehicle at the take-out. If I'm going solo, I'll either leave a bike at the take-out, or many rivers will have local outfitters that provide shuttle services. This can be pricey on some rivers, and so it's cheapest and easiest to paddle with someone, use two vehicles, and leave one of the vehicles at the end. You can hide the keys on the vehicle, or bring the keys down the river in a dry bag that is in a secure spot. Just don't forget the keys at the boat launch!
Started my ACA course the other day. 😊
Great!
Great review of Neutron Ken! I’ve been considering getting one since I can purchase it locally in Alberta vs ordering Alpackaraft from US (you can get some models in Canada, just not the one that I want ha).
My question is, what paddle length would suit the Neutron better in your opinion with it being quite wide (almost 40”) ? I currently own a flatwater inflatable kayak/packraft that is 35” wide and paddle it with a 240cm (per manufacturer chart)
I think I was using a 225cm paddle. You don't sit as high as you do on a sit-on-top kayak, and so that's why you don't need the paddle to be quite as long. 225 - 230cm would be ideal. Your 240cm will definitely work fine though.
@@PaddleTV thank you for your reply and advice! The reason I am using 240 is my fishing kayak ( SeaEagle Paddleski) is 48” wide with high seat so longer paddle works better. Might have to look into a versa-lok paddle in the future
If you're looking for a packraft with a removable skeg or a "fin" for flatwater paddling, my Kokopelli XPD came with one and it very definitely helps with the tracking.
Someone else mentioned that. Very cool. The XPD wouldn't be appropriate for a whitewater trip like this, but it looks like a good flatwater packraft!
Love the channel and your reviews. I recently added the MSR Barracuda R2 packraft to my fleet. I does have a detachable skeg, which is a great aid. Would love to see your review of this as it is a tandem which works really well as a single for me at 6’5” as a weight of only 11.2 pounds.
Very cool! I'll check that boat out. I haven't seen a packraft with a detachable fin, but I'm guessing they might be more common on flatwater specific packrafts.
@@PaddleTV It's also, supposedly, the fastest due to it's length. Thank you for the creativity and good cheer you always bring to your episodes.
The Kokopelli XPD and other models come with a tracking fin and they make one as an accessory that you can install in any packraft if you need it.
That's cool to see! Looks like it comes on a couple of their flatwater models. I will definitely consider installing a fin box on this Neutron... really depends on how much flatwater I'll be dealing with. Thanks for sharing!
That is some tannin rich water right there.
A little off topic but I've seen many drip stitch kayaks from multiple companies that look very similar and I'm wondering if they're all made in the same factories in Asia.
Any idea?
Yes, there are a lot of companies that have inflatable kayaks made in the same factories. That being said, it doesn't mean they're all the same. Unique fabrics and unique construction techniques are being used in the same factories for different companies. That being said... there are a number of companies that are just kicking out VERY similar product with different branding. I'm personally not interested in those products, which is why you don't see a lot of them on my channel.
Packed size?
i lov it... i want
Isn't that kind of boat predominantly for people who are mainly backpacking or doing significant portages?
How is that better than a kayak which is built to perform in the same water conditions (ie. whitewater)?
I just don't see what the point is if you are going to go " canoe camping " in Algonquin Park.
Unless it is storage capacity.
Packrafts are best if you have some sort of backpacking component to your trip. They really do enable all kinds of crazy adventures including cycling (with a bike on the boat even) or air travel etc. they are definitely not as durable or fast as an IK or as maneuverable as a hardshell but as a one boat solution to a lot of different water and some innovative trips they are an awesome compromise.
I agree with Chris. You give up some durability, speed and performance... but you gain incredible portability. For some people packrafts will make sense as a primary/only boat. For others, a packraft will make more sense as a secondary boat to have for specialized trips.
@@PaddleTV you must have more money than me. 😀
@TimeBee100 look up the Alpacka Valkyrie V3. Its a dedicated whitewater packraft with good-very good performance for Class IV and V runs. The portability advantage is a huge plus when you rely on flying to locations to paddle (like my current situation here in the northern Atacama desert) or have poor river access which requires hiking in and out. Its my next big purchase. I currently have a whitewater deck Alpacka Wolverine but it doesnt have the same performance as the Valkyrie or my kayaks (Zet Ninja and RPM).
Ha! I spend too much money on outdoor gear in general!! :) To follow up answer... the packraft is definitely not a great replacement for canoe camping in Algonquin, when you're dealing with lots of flatwater. It would be great for hiking up the rail bed along the Petawawa River, so that you can run the heavy whitewater section of the Petawawa that leads into Lake Travers. Not for everyone... but it opens up a world of possibilities.
The warranty isn't great for the price. I'm still waiting for a Pakayak style kayak for around 1,200 bucks.
You didn't show packing that thing up on a mountain bike or carrying a bike on it. Those are crucial details. The internal chamber wasn't baffled, it was all inflated or not. The internal storage is great, but you didn't show how to maintain internal storage trim while underway. You didn't tie down a few live chickens up front either... 🤣
Doh! Forgot the chickens!!! All very good points, but better served in an instructional video about 'how to' packraft. This video wasn't focused on the 'how' (which applies to any packraft), but was focused on explaining the features of this particular packraft, so that people can decide if it's the right one for them. Cheers!
Seems like a classic case of, less material costing more because it’s light weight, for that price I want a decent sized kayak with some features, cool product but should be half that price and probably less
Edit: no bag!??
Points for self bailing, I guess lol
You are right. Lighter equals more expensive. The material TPU is more expensive than standard PVC. The Tizip is also expensive to add.
It's a packraft review but you don't bother to show it packed so people can see how big it would be to carry? FFS.
It's a valid point, but your delivery needs some work.