Description

The Gnarwhal is the quiver killer of packrafts. The rally hull has been a leap forward for packraft design that provides stability and forgiveness for novice paddlers whilst the outfitting and 3 point thigh straps allow for plenty of progression and performance from more experienced river runners. A lot of people are not entirely sure where their packrafting journey is going to take them when they first start but after answering a few questions they arrive at the gnarwhal being the perfect boat for them. Lightweight enough for simple hiking and paddling day trip, overnighters or longer epics high performance enough for pushing your grade into some gnarly whitewater and stable enough to graduate into bikerafting for that special trip you’ve been eyeing up.

Whilst there are lighter boats like the classic for simple trips, they will not handle even grade 2 water like the gnarwhal. There are higher performance whitewater boats like the Mage, but they are not as stable as the gnarwhal. There are boats with purpose built load baring bows like the Caribou, but they won’t paddle as well as the gnarwhal. There’s nothing this boat can’t do. Except your tax returns, you’re shit out of luck on that one…

You are unsure between this packraft and the Mage. If you’re looking for every last bit of performance out of your packraft to boof of lips, carve into eddies and play on every feature the Mage is going to be a better option, although the Mage is certainly not as easy to learn in if you’ve not paddled before. For a lot of people the Gnarwhal is the perfect starter boat. As fun or as functional as you need it to be.

Weight: 3.8kg