packraft

Decathlon entered the packrafting segment with the Itiwit Packraft 500 at the end of 2021. Now, with the Itiwit Packraft 100, another model has appeared, which is aimed more at beginners, both in terms of price and equipment. In this review you will find out what the new Packraft from Decathlon has to offer and what experience we have already gained with this packraft.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Itiwit Packraft 100 from 2022

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Itiwit Packraft 100 ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Packraft is supplied with a transport bag, which not only makes a robust impression, but also fulfills several functions at once: transport bag, air pump and dry bag during the tour. Itiwit has already applied this concept to the Adventure 500, which we really like.

The roll closure allows the Packraft to be stowed in a space-saving manner. Excess air that remains in the packraft when the closure is rolled up can then be released via the valve on the front of the bag. This results in a securely packed Packraft in a maximally compressed state.

Besides the packraft, the transport bag contains the seat, the pump hose and some self-adhesive repair patches. None of this is additionally packed in PVC film or a bag. We like this quite a bit because it means there is no unnecessary packaging waste.

The Packrafts assembly instructions are also sewn into the upper edge of the transport bag, which serves as a handy quick reference guide for on the go in addition to the actual instruction manual.

Decathlon advertises the light weight of the packraft and states a total weight of 2kg. Since the weight plays an important role in packrafting, we weighed the individual parts. The packraft itself weighs 1630g, the seat 300g, the pump bag 290g and the pump tube 60g. This gives a total weight of 2280 g and is thus slightly above the stated total weight 2 kg on the part of Decathlon. But even about 2.3 kg total weight is not much for a packraft. However, the pump bag with pump hose weighs more than usual inflation bags of Packrafts from other manufacturers. Due to the multifunctionality of the pump bag and the easy handling as a pump, it’s a real benefit.

The assembly of the Packraft is very simple and thanks to the ingenious pump bag, it is even easier for beginners with the Itiwit Packraft. First you have to unfold the Packraft. It is common for inflatable boats to have a compression strap around the boat to prevent it from rolling out on its own and to make it easier to stow away at the end. With the Itiwit Packraft, no additional compression strap was used, but the strap that is later used for seat attachment is also used as a compression strap. This is a small detail, but pretty well thought out. The weight saved is negligible. The real advantage of this implementation is that you cannot lose the strap, because it is firmly attached to the boat.

Usually a packraft is inflated with a simple inflation bag, because this is very light and compact. An air pump would be impractical for a packraft, because it would quickly exceed the pack size of the packraft. The disadvantage of a inflation bag is only that the inflation with that requires some practice and habit. Thus, beginners often find it somewhat difficult to efficiently fill a packraft with air using a inflation bag.

Itiwit has come up with a good compromise between an inflation bag and an air pump for its packrafts. The transport bag serves as a pump bag during assembly. To do this, you open the valve at the bottom of the transport bag and attach the supplied pump hose. The other end of the pump hose is attached to the valve of the packraft.

Thanks to the air hose, the pump bag can be placed on the ground and used like a hand pump. You simply lean on the air-filled pump sack and pump air into the packraft. You roll the pump bag a little bit again and again, so that a sufficiently high air pressure is generated in the pump bag, which you can push in the packraft.

You repeat this pumping process several times, more precisely according to the manual “10 – 12 times until the pump bag no longer allows it”. Usually with Packrafts (also with such Boston valves) you generate the final air pressure with your mouth or with a separate small hand pump. We use the Itiwit pump bag for this and apply small jerky impacts to the pump bag to get the air tube of the packraft nice and tight. So, from our point of view, it is not absolutely necessary to create the final air pressure with the mouth or with a small separate hand pump, as with other packraft. Here you should be careful not to create overpressure, because otherwise material damage can occur.

We therefore recommend that you create the final air pressure with your mouth or with your own puff during the first set-up, because this way you will not create overpressure. Then reach into the air tube to get a feeling of how the packraft feels with the correct air pressure. You can use this firmness as a guide later on when you want to create the final air pressure with the pump bag.

The bottom of the pump bag is much sturdier than a common inflation bag of many other packrafts, so you can put it on the ground without damaging it. Both the valve of the packraft and the seat cushion are high quality. Both valves have a check valve, so that the air can not escape when inflating.

After inflating the packraft and seat cushion (by mouth or 1-2 pushes with the pump bag), position the seat in the boat. When the packraft and seat are tightly inflated, the seat cushion sits fairly tightly in the packraft. Attach the seat to the boat via a loop on the bottom of the seat using the strap. Make sure you pull the strap tight so that the seat does not slip while paddling.

Compared to many other packrafts, the seat consists only of a seat cushion and comes without a backrest. Because the seat cushion is placed so far back in the interior of the boat, you can lean against the tube. Because the Packraft does not have an adjustable backrest, you have to take into account that the seat position cannot be adjusted individually. You can find out how well this works in practice and how comfortable the seat is in the section on experiences on the water.

In terms of workmanship, the Itiwit Packraft 100 makes a very good impression for an entry-level model. You don’t have to make any compromise compared to the higher priced Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500. The boat is at least as well-made as the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500. We could not find any weak points or flaws in the workmanship of our specimen. The material of the boat’s skin also feels high-quality and robust and rounds off the high-quality first impression of the Packraft.

The packraft itself is made of a coated nylon fabric. The fabric has a thickness of 420d (= denier) in the bottom and 210d in the side tube. These are typical values for packrafts in this segment. The outside of the side tube and the outside and inside of the bottom are coated with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which has a high abrasion resistance and is also used in other brands of Packraft.

The inside of the side tube, which is not accessible, is coated with PU. If deeper scratches damage the outer coating, the tube is still waterproof and airtight due to the second inner coating and does not need to be patched. However, other manufacturers (e.g. Anfibio, MRS, Alpacka) do without this inner coating in order to preserve the elasticity of the carrier material (which is made of nylon or polyester) and thus achieve a higher tear resistance of the material.

On some packrafts, it is common for the underside of the bottom to overlap the side tube to further protect it from damage in the event of grounding. This concept is common practice, especially with packrafts for whitewater use. However, since the Itiwit Packraft 100 falls more into the category of ultralight packrafts, it is understandable that Decathlon has dispensed with it for this model.

Packrafts are available as open and closed (= with spray deck) boats. The Itiwit Packraft 100 is an open packraft. A spray deck is otherwise used as a splash guard or to attach a splash skirt to completely prevent splash water from entering and also protect the paddler from the cold. In addition, luggage can be easily attached to most spray decks. You will have to do without these advantages with the Itiwit Packraft 100. Decathlon’s Itiwit 100 is aimed primarily at beginners looking for an inexpensive packraft, and a spray deck would add to the price (as well as weight). In addition, recreational paddlers who use the packraft mainly in good weather in calmer and shallower waters can easily do without such a spray deck. Therefore, this design implementation of Decathlon is also well understandable with the Packraft.

The Packraft has a total of 4 day handles (two at the bow and two at the stern). Whether in a capsize, when pulling the Packraft to shore, when transferring two on river trips or when carrying the boat alone on the water on the shoulder, there is always a way to grip the Packraft properly. At the bow there are two additional loops to attach luggage on the bow. In connection with the two carrying handles, the luggage attachment on the bow works very well. So you can easily attach the pump bag, which also serves as a dry bag, there. Therefore, you can also transport some luggage with the Itiwit Packraft 100 without a spray deck.

Review of the Itiwit Packraft 100 on the water

The Itiwit Packraft 100 can be carried well alone to water. To do this, you shoulder the packraft and can also use one of the carrying handles. Alternatively, you can carry the Packraft via the side tube. If you have loaded the packraft with a lot of luggage, it is still recommended to set up the packraft close to the water. If there are two of you, both people can easily carry the packraft with the carrying handles at the bow and stern.

The interior of the Itiwit Packraft does not look very spacious at first glance. We with a height of 186 and 189 cm / 6’1″ and 6’2″ can not fully stretch our legs even without shoes. Nevertheless, the Packraft offers enough space for us to sit. Due to the fact that it is cut wider and the air tube is less voluminous, you can bend your legs very well and paddle comfortably for a long time even in this position. We do not miss a footrest or thigh straps, because due to the shortness of the Packrafts you can also support yourself well on the bow of the packraft.

However, we also like to paddle with our neoprene socks in the summer. If you paddle with shoes or even hiking boots, as a tall paddler you will surely long for a bigger Packraft in the long run. Also, those who do not like to paddle with more bent legs, will find the bigger brother the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500 more pleasing.

Since the Itiwit Packraft 100 does not have a T-Zip for stowing luggage like the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500, the luggage must be stowed on the boat itself or, if necessary, between the legs. However, this works out very well. Over the carry handles and loops on the bow, we attached our Ortlieb Gearpack 40 L and a small dry bag. While paddling this did not bother at all, because the side tube of the boat is high enough and the luggage rests on it. Thus, the legroom remains completely unrestricted.

Decathlon recommends the Itiwit 30 L backpack for the Packraft. This can not only be attached very well to the bow of the Packraft, but it is also well suited for transporting the Packraft. Inside the backpack is enough space to store the boat. With the help of the side straps, the paddle can also be attached. However, we prefer a packraft backpack with side mesh pockets for better stowage of the paddle.

The dry bag, which also serves as a inflation bag / air pump, can also be attached to the bow. However, since it can only be attached to the bow via the roll closure, it then hangs inside the boat. We find this rather impractical, as it restricts legroom. To attach it to the bow, there are no other attachment points on the dry bag. Therefore, we recommend a packraft such as the Ortlieb Gearpack or the Itiwit Backpack 30L, which has multiple attachment points to secure it to the bow using the 4 attachment loops.

Although the packraft does not have a backrest, we feel that the seating comfort is very good. So we do not miss a backrest. One finds with his lower back good hold on the air tube. The seat height is also comfortable, so that a clean paddle stroke can be performed. The seat also stays in position when paddling and does not slip.

In addition to space and seat comfort, the boat’s handling characteristics are, of course, another important aspect we’d like to discuss in more detail. Like many Packrafts, the Itiwit Packraft 100 feels most at home on gently flowing waters. With some current, you can make good progress with fewer as well as somewhat steeper paddle strokes, and paddling is fun. The maneuverability is very good due to the shortness and width and you navigate even through narrower passages or past obstacles safely and well.

On stagnant waters such as lakes, the usual weaknesses of packraft handling characteristics become apparent. Paddling too hard will cause the boat to sway left and right. Therefore, you should rather paddle steeper and less forcefully, but this leads to the fact that you naturally do not reach great speeds with the packraft. 3 – 3.5 kmh / 1.9 – 2.2 mph is a realistic average speed. Above 3.5 kmh / 2.2 mph, paddling becomes too inefficient because the packraft sways too much to the left and right. Due to its shortness, the Itiwit Packraft 100 is even more noticeable for its rather mediocre handling characteristics on such waters than the Itiwit Packraft Adventure 500, which is somewhat longer and narrower in design. Moreover, when you stop paddling, the boat drifts away immediately to the left or right. So it’s very easy to turn.

From our point of view, the most important thing when considering the driving characteristics of the Itiwit Packraft 100 are your own expectations and requirements. If I want to cover a long distance with such a compact boat and expect the best possible speeds, I will be disappointed. Most Packrafts are not designed for that (except for models like the MRS Nomad S1). However, if I primarily enjoy such a compact and lightweight boat, which I can take with me everywhere without much effort to always have the opportunity to take a small leisurely paddle tour, then I will also be very happy with the boat. Then it is also ok if the boat runs slowly on the lake. So you should use the strengths of a packraft in the first place to come to terms with the driving characteristics. Ideally, you also combine hiking with paddling to benefit from the lightness and compactness of the packraft.

The Itiwit Packraft 100 can also be a good choice for paddling beginners. It offers namely a high tipping stability. The voluminous air tube, the flat bottom and the high hull width ensure that it is very difficult to capsize with the Packraft. As a beginner you will feel safe right away in the packraft thanks to the high tipping stability and the good seating position.

As usual with open packrafts, splashing water gets on your clothes and into the interior on longer trips. Double paddles with drip rings provide some relief here, but keep only part of the splashing water away. So in the summer it is best to paddle barefoot or with neoprene socks and shorts. Since the seat cushion is quite high, you don’t have to worry that your buttocks will quickly get wet.

In the off-season we recommend you to wear at least rain pants or better a proper cold protection in the form of a dry suit. If you often paddle in the off-season, a packraft with a spray deck might suit you better (e.g. Anfibio Rebel 2K, nortik TrekRaft Expedition). This is because a spray deck serves as protection against splashing water, rain and cold. The Itiwit Packraft 100 cannot offer you this protection without a spray deck.

Upgrading the Itiwit Packraft with a fin

We have already mentioned that the Packraft is very easy to turn. To improve the handling characteristics, the use of one or more fins is common, especially for inflatable kayaks. For some packrafts, a fin is even offered in addition. The Itiwit Packraft 100 does not have a fin and also no fin holder to attach such a fin. However, such a fin holder can be retrofitted. For example, in the Packrafting Store there is a fin holder with fin, which can also be attached to the Itiwit Packraft.

Accordingly, we bought a fin with a fin holder and attached it to the underside of the packraft. In the process, the holder is permanently attached with a 2-component adhesive. Before use on the water, the fin is then simply pushed into the holder.

In terms of speed or straight-line paddling, the fin makes no noticeable difference. However, it does make a big difference in turning ease as soon as you stop paddling and drift. Without the fin, the boat drifts away to the side right away. With a fin, the boat stays on track and continues to glide straight ahead. Since you are not constantly paddling on the water, but also sometimes take small breaks to enjoy nature, drink something or take pictures, this improvement is a real plus. Therefore, we recommend the use of a fin on the packraft when the water is deep enough. Because if you are on a very shallow river, a fin is rather a hindrance, as you can get stuck with it.

Dismantling the packraft

Dismantling the Itiwit Packraft 100 is quick and easy, as usual with packrafts. You unscrew the valve from the thread of the packraft and release the air. A large part of the air already escapes by itself. The rest escapes during folding and rolling. On the seat, you open the valve. There is a push button here that you have to push in to be able to push the air out. Theoretically, you can leave the seat in the boat and fold the packraft that way. But we take it out and put it separately in the transport bag.

First, fold the packraft lengthwise. Make sure that it is not wider than the transport bag. Then you can roll up the packraft from the front to the rear. Afterwards you can compress the Packraft a bit with the seat strap at the rear, which also serves as a compression belt. This will prevent the packraft from unrolling on its own.

When the packraft is folded narrowly, it fits perfectly in the carry bag along with accessories and can be compressed to the original pack size.

Sometimes you just want to transport the packraft to the car and dry and fold it at home in peace. Since the transport bag is generously sized and can be varied in size by its roll closure, it is no problem to pack the packraft even in a less well compressed state. The transport bag can be closed at the top like a conventional dry bag with roll closure and can be used as a handle for transport.

Strenghts and weaknesses of the Itiwit Packraft 100

The biggest strength of the Itiwit Packraft 100 is its attractive price-performance ratio, which makes packrafting affordable, especially for beginners. The easy assembly thanks to the pump bag is another aspect that beginners will surely enjoy. Although the packraft is offered cheaply by Decathlon, as a customer you do not have to make any compromises in terms of workmanship and material. We find that particularly good.

We could not find any major weaknesses in this packraft. With the name ultralight, with which Itiwit advertises, it may be noted that not the last gram of weight has been saved here by the pump/transport bag and the seat cushion to make it really as light as possible. Other manufacturers such as Anfibio optimize here even more in terms of weight.

Without a fin, the boat is also very easy to turn. As soon as you stop paddling, the boat turns to the left or right. However, this can be remedied by retrofitting a fin. Large paddlers should also consider whether the space in the boat will be sufficient for them in the long run.

Conclusion on the Itiwit Packraft 100

With the Itiwit Packraft 100, Decathlon has brought a solid entry-level packraft onto the market, which is unparalleled at this price. Those who have so far given packrafts a wide berth due to the high investment costs, will find exactly the right model with the inexpensive Itiwit Packraft. It is focused on the essentials without big features to keep the price low. In addition, it is also light and compact with a total weight of about 2 kg / 4.4 lbs to benefit from the greatest advantages of a packraft. Precisely because Decathlon has not skimped on the material and workmanship, we can recommend the boat to the price-conscious beginner.

However, if you are willing to invest a little more in a packraft, you should definitely take a closer look at other packrafts and compare which boat best meets your requirements. For a little more money, Itiwit offers the Packraft Adventure 500, which also has a T-Zip for luggage stowage and is equipped with a front spray deck and thigh straps.

Alpacka Packrafts are very popular and have a high reputation in the packraft scene, especially among packrafters who do a lot of whitewater. In addition, Alpacka Raft promises to produce one of the best packrafts. In this review, we would like to take a closer look at the Alpacka Expedition and summarize our experiences with the packraft on the water. In particular, we have reviewed the Alpacka Expedition in size Large and with a removable whitewater deck.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Alpacka Expedition with removable whitewater deck from 2020

How did we organize the review?

The Alpacka Expedition was provided to us on a rental basis by Packraft Europe. Packraft Europe is the Alpacka Raft dealer for the EU and delivers Alpacka Packrafts and packrafting equipment to any country within the European Union. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or store and reflects our own opinion of the boat.

How intensively has the product been tested?

Assembly and first impressions

The Alpacka Expedition is available in several color combinations (or custom color scheme for an additional charge), three sizes, and with a fixed or removable whitewater deck. You choose the size based on your required seat length. Depending on the size, the Alpacka Raft has an outer length of 231 to 246 cm. The width is identical for all three sizes.

Of the two deck options, the fixed whitewater deck provides the most effective splash protection and is ideal for paddlers who do a lot of challenging whitewater. For an additional cost, the Alpacka Expedition comes with a removable whitewater deck, giving you the ability to customize the packraft to suit your needs. We’re curious to see how well the removable deck keeps out the water on our model.

Alpacka completely eliminates the need for a plastic bag as packaging and packs the packraft and accessories in a lightweight thin fabric bag that you can use elsewhere. We think the idea of avoiding plastic is really great. A more robust bag for permanent use would have been even better, because the size of the bag is optimally adapted to the packraft and its accessories.

The Expedition series is standard equipped with a Cargo Fly (luggage compartment accessible via a T-Zip zipper in the rear). A T-Zip is a waterproof and airtight zipper, which allows you to store your luggage inside the hull dry and safe. You must place the luggage in the inner tube before inflating the packrafts.

The packraft can be inflated with the supplied inflation bag.The dark green inflation bag is lightweight and makes a robust impression. Make sure that the T-Zip is completely closed before inflating.

The valve of the boat makes a very high-quality impression. The screw thread is very easy to handle. The valve can be opened and closed via the blue thread. To inflate with the inflation bag, you have to turn the blue thread slightly counterclockwise and screw on the thread of the inflation bag. Here we are missing the obvious marking that shows whether the valve is open or closed. With the inflation bag you get the packraft filled to about 80% with air. Then you turn the airbag off and create the final air pressure with your mouth. Here you should blow as hard as possible to get a good stiffness. Inflating the packraft with your mouth also works very well. No separate mouthpiece is required.

Then inflate the seat cushion via its air hose. It is best not to inflate it completely so that it is easier to place in the interior. The seat cushion is attached to the floor so that it cannot slip during the paddling tour. Then you inflate the seat according to your desired thickness. This is very easy, because the air hose of the seat is long enough.

The backrest (or back strap) is attached via four attachment points. You can adjust the backrest forward and backward via the two front straps, so you can adjust the packraft to fit your height and clothing (neoprene socks vs. hiking boots). Thanks to the generous dimensions of the seat cushion, there is still enough seating space when you put the backrest all the way forward.

The deck is attached via four zippers and two Velcro fasteners. The attachment and removal of the deck is very simple and works easiest when the packraft is not yet inflated or only slightly inflated.

The mounting of the coaming is simple and cleverly solved. The coaming is stiffened with an plastic ring. On the coaming there are two large insertion openings, each of which can be opened via a zipper. Here you can insert the ring, which is a robust plastic tube. The two openings make handling very easy. The second opening helps you to “push” the tube around better. When the plastic tube is back in the first opening, you can connect the two ends of the tube and close the zippers. This will give you a stiff coaming. The plastic tube stays in place and cannot come loose. This concept is very well thought out.

When using the deck, you don’t have the full length of the interior available. The back rest can be set very far back, but then the deck is in the way, so you would be leaning against the coaming. For tall people, it would have been handy if the seat hatch started a little further back.

Alpacka offers 4-point thigh straps and a foot brace as accessories for maximum performance in white water. The thigh straps can be adjusted very well. The footrest can be adjusted individually via the air pressure, so that it fills more or less space from the bow.

The floor is made of 840D ballistic nylon coated on both sides, which is a high value for a packraft and makes an extremely robust impression. Ballistic nylon is one of the most durable weave patterns, which gives the material a very high tightness and tear resistance.

The hull is made of a 210D nylon, which is coated on one side (i.e. only from the outside). The one-sided coating saves weight on the one hand and on the other hand it increases the tear resistance of the material in contrast to a material coated on both sides (the fabric is not too embedded in the coatings and can react more flexibly when stressed. Thus, it does not tear until later). The only disadvantage of a one-sided coating is that it can leak more quickly in case of damage.

To prevent this, Alpacka has placed the floor very generously on the hull, so that it is additionally protected. This makes perfect sense, as the highest stresses occur on the bottom of the packraft.

The hull material is sewn together, taped and double welded. The bottom is both glued and welded to the hull.

Dry bags are included in US and available as option in Europe. They can be attached inside the boat tube with a clip. They are used for safe and watertight stowage of luggage in the air tube. In addition, they additionally serve as separate air chambers in the packraft and thus increase the safety of the packraft.

you buy the dry bags separately they are a pretty expensive. We could not identify any special features of the dry bags compared to conventional dry bags. We recommend that you do not buy the dry bags if they are not included for the moment and buy them later if necessary. We had stowed luggage in the tube without the dry bags on several tours, which worked without problems. On a multi-day tour with sleeping bag and sleeping pad the dry bags were a useful addition, so that the camping equipment would stay dry in case of a tear in the boat skin. However, inexpensive dry bags are also sufficient here.However, these can then not be fixed inside the boat.

Very practical are also the attached red carrying loops at the bow and stern. Thus, the packraft can be carried comfortably to the water even in fully loaded condition by two persons.

Review of the Alpacka Expedition on the water

We have done very different tours with the packraft (from a small afternoon trip on a lake or river to whitewater tours between WW1-2+ and a multi-day tour with camping and hiking part). Depending on weather and use, we used the packraft as an open or closed packraft.

If you don’t got whitewater paddling and good weather is announced, you can leave the deck at home. Without the deck you not only save weight (about 300g) and space in the hiking backpack, but also have more space in the Alpacka Expedition as a tall person.

We carried the bow bag (optional accessory) with us on every tour, as it proved to be very practical. It holds 24 liters, is easily accessible on the water and is securely attached to the bow via four carabiners. The bag opens via a waterproof zipper. It is ideal for storing camera, drinks and break snacks that you want to have at hand during the tour.

The opening of the deck is very large, so that getting in and out is possible without any big problems. With the deck up, we (189 cm / 6’2”) find the footwell a bit small, or just enough. After a while, we mostly paddled with our legs bent so that our knees stuck out. Without the deck, the space is much better for taller people.

We initially had to get used to the backrest because it sits very low. For comfortable paddling tours, we would have liked a higher backrest, because we are probably just used to it from other inflatable kayaks. Nevertheless, it is very easy to relax or paddle relaxed in the Expedition, because you can loosen the backrest on the water and thus lean on the tube.

In calm waters, the straight-line characteristic and speed is that of a 1-person packraft usual and does not differ from other packrafts without fins (e.g. nortik TrekRaft Expedition).  Packrafts with fins (e.g. Anfibio or MRS) have better straight-line characteristic in calm water. 

We had tested the Alpacka Expedition on different whitewater rivers. In this water we liked the paddling performance best. The handling in white water is very good. It reacts more precisely and you can use more technique than, for example, on a nortik TrekRaft Expedition or Kokopelli Rogue. First, you sit higher due to the high seat cushion. Second, the Alpacka is minimally more tippy, but it’s easier to edge as a result.

The precisely adjustable backrest allowed us to adjust the packraft exactly to our height and needs. The thigh straps give even more control from whitewater 2 and 3. In whitewater, we found the interior space to be optimal in combination with the deck. It is a bit narrow, but offers such a good hold.

Attaching the spray skirt is really easy. It is extremely light and yet it made a robust and high-quality impression. The splash skirt has not slipped off us even once in the white water, even if you push against it with your knees. Nevertheless, it can be pulled down very quickly and easily with the help of the front loop, if it should be necessary.

The protection against splashing water by the removable whitewater deck in combination with the splash skirt is very effective. We had slight concerns at first that some water would get into the boat over time, especially in whitewater due to the water-permeable zippers. In whitewater level 2, we could not perceive any disadvantage to a solid whitewater deck. Although the zippers are not waterproof, the front and rear Velcro covers protect it from water. There is also an additional cover under each zipper so that the water is blocked from entering and is drained away again.

Dismantling the Alpacka Expedition

The seat cushion and the backrest can be removed from the boat very easily. For the seat cushion, you open the air hose and press out the air. You can leave the deck on the boat. Only the hose of the coaming should be pulled out before rolling up the packraft.

Now open the valve of the boat and push the air out of the packraft while folding it. The Packraft can then be rolled up again very easily into its original packing size, so that it fits into the supplied bag again without any problems. However, make sure that the T-Zip is closed and does not bend when rolling up.

Strengths and weaknesses of the packraft

The packraft’s greatest strength is its high quality, which is reflected in the material, workmanship, design and equipment. You can see that Alpacka has the ambition to build the best packrafts. If you look at the manufacturers or dealers website, you will quickly see that it is a boat made by packrafters for packrafters. We could not find any real weaknesses. At most points there are rather things that we liked less. But even that is complaining on a high level.

Conclusion

The Alpacka Expedition is a very high priced and extremely high quality packraft. The material and workmanship indicate a long life. Alpacka rafts are among the most expensive packrafts on the market. Packrafts generally have a high price, at which outsiders can probably only shake their heads. The question arises whether the extra price is justified here. After testing and comparing it with other packrafts, we can say: Yes, the extra price is justified. You get an almost perfect packraft here, which is hardly anything to complain about. Nevertheless, you should consider whether you really need such a high-end packraft before buying it. It would be a shame if it is only used once or twice a season.

If you only want to paddle calm rivers or lakes, you can also choose a cheaper Alpacka Raft or packraft of another brand. However, for those who will use their packraft a lot and will put a lot of stress on it (e.g. whitewater), the Alpacka Expedition is a good choice.