The primary reason to not use dual coated TPU fabric in a packraft is because of it's reduced tear strength. TPU coatings reduce the flexibility of the nylon yarns, which has the effect of reducing tear strength. Think of it like a strand of rope, try and cut it with scissors while it is loose, and it's very difficult. Pull the strand of rope tight, and it's easy to slice. Single coatings reduce the tear strength already, but double sided coatings reduce it even more. So while dual sided allows for welding without seam tape on the exterior of the raft, it does make the raft more susceptible to tears and punctures (all else considered equal in the woven fabric.) And of course, single coated TPU has a huge advantage for a packraft because the packed volume is greatly reduced. In regards to deniers of fabrics, there are multiple Alpacka models that can be ordered stock with 420d. And of course, you can have any Alpacka boat built to whatever specifications you would like. Custom colors, 420d fabric, graded sizing, full length floors, short floors, two point thigh straps, four point straps, decked boat, self bailer, or pretty much whatever else you can think of.
We love our Alpacka Gnarwahls Selfbailers (in 210d for more safety in some aspects). We would for us never choice a boat with spraydeck. There are so many benefits with a self bailer. How I can see, the Alpacka has much more holes then the NRS, maybe that helps to drain faster. On the other hand, you have always some water on the deepest point in the boat, what can give you some more stability. I can also see, that a lot of very good white water paddlers here leaving the spry deck behind and going with a self bailer. Our Gnarwahls are now more than 4 years old, we had a lot of contact with stones etc., but there was not one punctuation or anything else. :-)
Sorry to here about your shoulder, love your videos, i continue to learn and your reviews have been helpful in updating my paddling gear. If you are continuing to do reviews, while your are recovering would it it possible to do a review of wing/teardrop paddles vs euro and Greenland paddles?
Thanks Jeff. You know what... I am overdue to do a video about wing/teardrop paddles. I don't think I've ever done one. I might wait until I can paddle again though, as I haven't used one in over a decade, and would love to get the 'feel' back before talking about them. Thanks for the idea.
Other than your videos I had never seen those types of water craft. 'Who knew'?🤔 Thanks again for your gear reviews tips and tricks for safe paddle adventures.
I don't agree with your comment that the open cockpit self-draining packraft allows hundreds of pounds of water to enter. Now I've never paddled the NRS model but I have the Kokopelli equivalent (Recon) and because my body and the inflatable floor/ seat take up so much Cockpit space of the boat I find that when I do get swamped by a wave it's maybe 20 litres of water and it drains in less than 3 seconds.
I think you're probably underestimating how much water it takes to fill your cockpit. 20L is not very much water - but it still weighs around 45lbs. As for the time it takes to drain water... I agree that they do a great job of draining water, but 3 seconds is a long time (too long) if you're in big, technical whitewater. It's not a big deal if the whitewater isn't technical, and you can wait 3 seconds for it to drain.
I said 100s of pounds, not gallons. 10 gallons of water is 84lbs. I'm sure you get 20-40 gallons of water in a packraft when it's swamped, which is 170 - 340lbs. It's not an 'issue'. It's simply a limiting factor. If you're paddling in big, technical whitewater, where you can't afford any loss of control/maneuverability, then a self-bailing boat is the wrong choice. This is when a decked boat makes sense. I'm not knocking the self-bailing boat, I'm just identifying a limiting factor.
From the jump the alpacka looks like a way more whitewater worthy beast. However ive never been disappointed in any of NRS's products. Not sure about the price range but i love look and Aesthetics of the alpacka! So cool.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
The primary reason to not use dual coated TPU fabric in a packraft is because of it's reduced tear strength. TPU coatings reduce the flexibility of the nylon yarns, which has the effect of reducing tear strength. Think of it like a strand of rope, try and cut it with scissors while it is loose, and it's very difficult. Pull the strand of rope tight, and it's easy to slice. Single coatings reduce the tear strength already, but double sided coatings reduce it even more. So while dual sided allows for welding without seam tape on the exterior of the raft, it does make the raft more susceptible to tears and punctures (all else considered equal in the woven fabric.) And of course, single coated TPU has a huge advantage for a packraft because the packed volume is greatly reduced. In regards to deniers of fabrics, there are multiple Alpacka models that can be ordered stock with 420d. And of course, you can have any Alpacka boat built to whatever specifications you would like. Custom colors, 420d fabric, graded sizing, full length floors, short floors, two point thigh straps, four point straps, decked boat, self bailer, or pretty much whatever else you can think of.
Always enjoy your videos! I hope and pray your shoulder heals up well.
Thanks Chris! Look forward to getting on the water with you one day.
@@PaddleTV that would absolutely make my day. Even if it's a lazy paddle, I'm down. 👍👍
Love to see so much Packraft content!
Cool to hear about the ACA program. Wasn’t aware of this.
A wild Dan appears!
We love our Alpacka Gnarwahls Selfbailers (in 210d for more safety in some aspects). We would for us never choice a boat with spraydeck. There are so many benefits with a self bailer. How I can see, the Alpacka has much more holes then the NRS, maybe that helps to drain faster. On the other hand, you have always some water on the deepest point in the boat, what can give you some more stability. I can also see, that a lot of very good white water paddlers here leaving the spry deck behind and going with a self bailer. Our Gnarwahls are now more than 4 years old, we had a lot of contact with stones etc., but there was not one punctuation or anything else. :-)
Thanks for sharing!
Love the Alpacka Expedition, thanks for the review.
Here in Finland, the MRS packrafts are the most popular ones
would love to see a reveiw of the new nrs vector vest;D And you should try the alpackaraft valkyrie, a more kayaklike packraft.
Sorry to here about your shoulder, love your videos, i continue to learn and your reviews have been helpful in updating my paddling gear. If you are continuing to do reviews, while your are recovering would it it possible to do a review of wing/teardrop paddles vs euro and Greenland paddles?
Thanks Jeff. You know what... I am overdue to do a video about wing/teardrop paddles. I don't think I've ever done one. I might wait until I can paddle again though, as I haven't used one in over a decade, and would love to get the 'feel' back before talking about them. Thanks for the idea.
Hey Ken love your videos, sorry you always say the link is in description but I can't find any youtube video link, is it a technical issue?
Alpacka also has the Gnarwhal which is available in 420 denier nylon tubes, A very similar boat to the NRS but an alpacka version 😏
Alpacka has something called a Valkyrie which is like a mix between a kayak and a packraft, have you ever tried it?
Haven't tried it. I've researched it though. Looks like a high performance packraft! Fun!
Not my jag but great info as always.
Other than your videos I had never seen
those types of water craft. 'Who knew'?🤔
Thanks again for your gear reviews tips
and tricks for safe paddle adventures.
If you search for packraft you will find hundreds of crazy adventure videos done with them. They became very popular around 2019.
I don't agree with your comment that the open cockpit self-draining packraft allows hundreds of pounds of water to enter. Now I've never paddled the NRS model but I have the Kokopelli equivalent (Recon) and because my body and the inflatable floor/ seat take up so much Cockpit space of the boat I find that when I do get swamped by a wave it's maybe 20 litres of water and it drains in less than 3 seconds.
Yup the 100s of gallons is nonsense
I Also have the Rec and never had a draining issue
I think you're probably underestimating how much water it takes to fill your cockpit. 20L is not very much water - but it still weighs around 45lbs.
As for the time it takes to drain water... I agree that they do a great job of draining water, but 3 seconds is a long time (too long) if you're in big, technical whitewater. It's not a big deal if the whitewater isn't technical, and you can wait 3 seconds for it to drain.
I said 100s of pounds, not gallons. 10 gallons of water is 84lbs. I'm sure you get 20-40 gallons of water in a packraft when it's swamped, which is 170 - 340lbs.
It's not an 'issue'. It's simply a limiting factor. If you're paddling in big, technical whitewater, where you can't afford any loss of control/maneuverability, then a self-bailing boat is the wrong choice. This is when a decked boat makes sense. I'm not knocking the self-bailing boat, I'm just identifying a limiting factor.
@@PaddleTV my mistake , I meant pounds not gallons. Nevertheless, my Recon has zero issue with draining any water that comes in.
One is made in the US by a small business… the other…is not. The choice is easy.
From the jump the alpacka looks like a way more whitewater worthy beast. However ive never been disappointed in any of NRS's products. Not sure about the price range but i love look and Aesthetics of the alpacka! So cool.