NRS PackRaft Review

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NRS PackRaft

The ultralight NRS PackRaft is a fun, stable, and super convenient inflatable boat that is a great companion to bring along when you’re out exploring.

Despite being small and lightweight, the PackRaft is still fairly durable. While not on par with the durability of other more expensive options, this is an affordable choice that is a lot of fun in the water.

Northwest River Supplies (NRS) has a great reputation for their top-shelf gear and excellent customer service. NRS is a bit unique as far as companies go because they’re employee-owned. Since NRS employees have a vested interest in the long-term success of the company, customers can look forward to great customer service and a wide range of high-quality products.

In this NRS PackRaft review, we’ll go over this popular ultralight inflatable boat’s pros and cons, specs, top features, what’s included with it, and more.

In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary…
ProsExtremely lightweight
Packable
Stable
Easy to inflate and deflate
Affordable
ConsNot self-bailing
Paddle not included
Not as durable as higher-priced packrafts
Price & Where to Buy itCheck Price or Buy Now

NRS PackRaft Review: Boat Overview

NRS PackRaft Floor

The NRS PackRaft features two inflation chambers which are located in its tubes, an inflatable seat, and a removable floor insert. Although this model is a smaller boat with space for only one paddler, there’s still room for bringing along some gear.

NRS’ PackRaft comes with a total of 6 webbing tie-down points (4 are located at the front and 2 are located at the rear of the boat). These are handy additions that allow you to secure all of your gear.

Inflation and deflation are easily accomplished thanks to the large openings of the boat’s tube chambers, inflation/deflation valve, and smaller second twist valve.

NRS PackRaft Bottom

In the future, we’d really love to see a handle added as this would make it a bit easier to get in and out of the water.

Packing the NRS PackRaft down is a breeze and it can fit into a space of 18″ x 15″ x 5″. The boat also comes with a handy storage bag for added convenience.

Construction

PackRaft

The tubes of the NRS PackRaft are made of durable 70D polyurethane-coated nylon, while the removable floor is made of 210D polyurethane-coated nylon. This lightweight material provides decent resistance to scrapes and scratches, but it’s definitely not bulletproof.

Measurements

Fully inflated, the PackRaft measures 6’10” in length and is 36″ wide. The diameter of the boat’s tubes is 11″, and it weighs in at just 7.4 pounds.

Top Features

In our opinion, the most impressive feature of the NRS PackRaft is that it’s extremely lightweight. The boat itself weighs only 5.6 pounds, while its removable floor insert adds another 1.8 pounds.

We also like the large openings of the two tube chambers, deflation and inflation valves, and additional smaller twist valves. These make it easy to quickly inflate and deflate the boat, and provide a convenient way to change inflation pressure.

Included Accessories

The NRS PackRaft comes with a convenient storage bag and an inflatable raft repair kit. Also included is NRS’ 2-year warranty.

NRS PackRaft Rating
  • Durability
  • Features
  • Versatility
  • Stability
  • Speed
  • Portability
  • Warranty
  • Customer Service
  • Price
4.5
User Rating 3.13 (8 votes)
Sending

Specs

Length6'10"
Width36"
Weight7.4 lbs
Max Weight Capacity400+ lbs
Passenger Capacity1 person
Price

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the world of lightweight packrafts, the NRS PackRaft is not the best of the best. However, this is a fun and affordable option that is a nice alternative to higher-priced models. This boat doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but all the basics are there making it a great choice for beginners.

The two inflation chambers which are found in the boat’s tubes, removable floor insert, and inflatable seat all add to the boat’s safety rating. We also like the tie-down points, but wish it came with a grab handle.

At the end of the day, the NRS PackRaft is a fun and affordable way to start packrafting.

Click Here to Buy the NRS PackRaft

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