Thanks to modern technology and design, the lines between watercraft categories have become increasingly blurred. SUP boards can be kayaks. Kayaks can be inflatable packrafts. And now, evidently, packrafts can also be sea kayaks.
The minds behind Alpacka — a Colorado brand that has dominated the packraft category with sturdy, lightweight, inflatable boats for 25 years — has now made a sea kayak. An inflatable sea kayak, to be more specific.
With its latest model, Alpacka’s lead designers said they’ve invented something new, or at least designed a watercraft that can take coastal explorers to new places — without lugging around a heavy boat to do it.
The Aleutian is made with many of the same materials and design principles found in Alpacka’s packrafts. But its elongated shape, baffling, and removable skeg (rear fin) make it the brand’s fastest boat on flatwater, its designers said.
“I love this boat because it makes flatwater paddling fun,” Alpacka design engineer Dustin Partridge said in the explainer video below. “There’s nothing else like it in the packrafting market.”
Alpacka Aleutian: Details
The Aleutian has long been a project of Sheri Tingey, who co-founded Alpacka with her son in 2000.
In its materials and baffling, the Aleutian resembles many of Alpacka’s packraft models, which dominate GearJunkie’s list of the Best Packrafts. But by creating an elongated bow and stern, and then adding baffles to them, Tingey and Partridge created a shape similar to that of hardshell sea kayaks. Combine those elements with an attachable rear fin, and you’ve got an inflatable kayak that functions well even against the wind, according to Partridge.
There’s also an inflatable pad that sits below the tubes, creating an edge that adds additional stability while paddling. Of course, a genuine touring kayak will need room for gear storage, and the Aleutian accommodates that with “tons of storage” that can be packed into the bow, Partridge said. It also has plenty of attachments, including four-point thigh straps, ankle loops, D-rings, and strap plates.
However, Aleutian users need to make sure they pay attention to the boat’s air pressure.
“This boat is ‘Pack-a-Pump’ required,” Partridge said, referring to a handheld pump made by Alpacka. “Because of the additional length on this boat, you need higher pressure to keep the stiffness when you’re in choppy water. If you’re in a flatwater lake, not really a big deal. But in a windy environment … I would highly recommend you pump it up to full pressure.”
Comparison to Other Models
There’s a lot to like about the Aleutian, but its weight stands out from the other features: a mere 12 pounds. If it turns out that the Aleutian can truly maintain a straight course even while paddling, even at this insanely low weight, it will be an enticing option for exploring coastlines that vehicles can’t reach.
Oru’s origami kayaks are now quite popular for the same purpose, and they do everything an inflatable kayak does, except better, according to GearJunkie reviews of the Best Inflatable Kayaks. But GearJunkie’s top Oru pick, the Beach LT Sport, still weighs 28 pounds — more than twice the weight of the Aleutian. And GearJunkie’s top inflatable kayak pick, the Advanced Elements Airvolution Recreational, weighs 39 pounds.
If the Aleutian actually cuts through flatwater and even choppy coasts with decent tracking, it might merit a sub-category of “best inflatable sea kayak,” or perhaps “best lightweight inflatable.” We’ll have to test it to find out.
The Aleutian ($2,150) is currently available on the Alpacka website.
