Strange headline? The packraft that can withstand water.
Yes, that has actually become the case. We actually have to write a separate tab with this theme.
Already in 2021, we wrote an article on fb about this.
So to the point. Most of the packrafts on the market come in the material we know as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which is what most people sell. Some also come in PVC. It's cheaper and heavier.
Then there's the TPU material. Can you say that TPU is TPU? In many ways, yes.
BUT we operate with 2 different coatings. Polyester (or oil coating as some call it) and polyether.
Does it matter what's on your packraft? Yes, there are widely differing applications for these. In short, you can say that polyether can withstand water and polyester cannot. In other words, it's polyether that you should have on your packraft. What happens if it's polyester? The coating will react with the water and eventually disappear, and the packraft will fail because it cannot withstand water.
In recent years, the market has been flooded with different suppliers of packrafts.
Can you be sure of the quality and why should packrafts be produced in a material that cannot withstand water? There are probably several reasons. One important reason is that the material costs half as much as polyether, which means you can sell packrafts very cheaply. After all, it's TPU and seems very sturdy, and in most cases the coating will last for a limited period.
Another reason is that manufacturers and suppliers don't know the difference. Some manufacturers don't disclose what it is because they want to sell goods cheaply.
Why are we writing about this? We want customers to know that Kipara sells packrafts that can withstand water. i.e. we sell polyether tpu. It costs more, but will last. Also for the customer's sake, they can check what they are buying.
How do you know which is which? It can be tested, but also if you feel the material, polyester will feel slightly oily. If you feel both coatings at the same time, you will feel the difference.
In 2021, we wrote about packrafts that couldn't withstand water. This was due to cheap material with a coating that would dissolve. This means you would notice the packraft developing small perforations over time. We knew this was true and would happen. We couldn't prove it then, as time had to pass. Now, such problems are being written about «all over.» This problem will only increase in the future. If you buy used packrafts from these suppliers, you will simply inherit the same problem. Most other Norwegian packraft suppliers use the same factory, and they supply packrafts that CANNOT withstand water.
Kipara has always used its own factory that only produces for us, and with a water-resistant coating. When it comes to our Char models, we are the only ones who supply this material apart from Alpacka and Mrs. Kipara.
So buy Kipara! 🙂 The packraft that can withstand water!