The Ultimate Touring Kayak?? | Trak Kayak Review

Touring kayaks, or sea kayaks, are designed to travel fast and smooth across the water. And so what makes the 'Ultimate Touring Kayak'? Trak believes they've done it, and they definitely make a good case for it, because Trak kayaks do something that no other kayak does! Watch to find out what makes it so special. But, does it make the Trak kayak the Ultimate Touring Kayak?

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[patgarrett]

I have a TRAK. A few years ago I took it to Alaska for a week long solo paddling trip. It held up beautifully. As far as skin punctures go, I haven't had one yet, but there is a lot of information out there on how to repair them. This kayak was very easy to travel with and I had the old style bag, this new bag is much lighter and easier to handle. The kayak carried all of my gear and was still very manueverable and stable. Basically, I trusted my life to the TRAK kayak and it didn't let me down. Also, if you look at other comparable hard shell kayaks, like the Cetus, Romany or Expedition, they are all in about the same price range. The difference being, you can travel on a plane with the TRAK, which gives you the whole world to explore.

[tananam]

Some years ago, George Dyson did a whole lot of research and experimentation with what is probably the very best sea kayak tradition ever: Aleut bidarkas.
By the late 80's, early 90's, he had built several successful designs, using modern synthetics (replacing seal skin) and aluminum (replacing drift wood) to make flexible boats that were fast, efficient, sea worthy in the worst seas any canoe would see, and quiet.
For years now, I've longed to build his two-hatch bidarka, but I don't have the shop space.

Anyway, the Trak seems to have quite a lot in common. Aluminum frame, flexible covering (which Dyson says is faster on the ocean than a rigid skin).

If Trak can produce a portable version of Dyson's bifurcated "fish mouth" square stern 17 foot single hatch bidarka, with a flexible frame, capable of carrying, say, 350 pounds... Well, I'm not a rich man, but they will have to fight me until they take my money.

Btw, Dyson proved that this single hatch could plane with a fit paddler, and with most of his bifurcated bow designs, they produced more lift than a simply buoyant prow, meaning the bow was more resistant to diving into a wave.

Like I said: Trak, make a baidarka. Please!

[nicolaslemay]

That camera angle when you are "jacking" your kayak! 😂

[arcana]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has to let my NRS Vibe shoes drain out before I enter my kayak.

[Phrancis]

If only that was more affordable and inventory actually available...

[cpfpv]

Ken!! …thank your for all you do!!

I ordered my Trak 2.0 yesterday for March delivery. I’m so stupid stink’s flip’n excited!!

[rickquist]

When any product claims to be
"The Ultimate"...
I recoil just a bit.
This boat has a lot going for it, and will appeal to some with disposable assets. I'm not convinced that an "ultimate" boat exists in our sport.
Some fit the needs of a specific paddler better than others, but I'm not seeing my personal "ultimate" here.
Great review of a very interesting boat.
Thanks!

[darkskys]

It always gets me when something costs for example $3599.00 it is put forward as $3500.00 when it’s just a penny away from $3600. I guess it’s a psychological way of making anything seem just a little bit less expensive. Very nice kayak nonetheless.

[hiddenlawyer]

Thanks for the honest review! I was super curious what your thoughts were and you did a great job informing us on the strengths, weaknesses and unique features.

[exsism]

I'd say you forgot another category of portable kayaks, the dividable kayaks like the Point65 Mercury, Point65 Martini and the Pakayak. I know they won't go as small as a lot of the inflatables or foldable models, but they are still a lot more portable than the regular kayaks, no roof rack needed.

[MC-nyiw]

With that price tag, I expect the kayak to take me home, on a trip and back !

[ashleighmason]

Wow, adjusting shape of the kayak on the go is insane 🙆🏼‍♀️

[brianvail]

Amazing review. So well explained. Thought a boat without a skeg or hatches would be a hard no for me, but you showing how the adjustable frame works got me thinking. With this boat I could fly around the world and still paddle my kayak. I Love my Gearlabs KALLEQ!! (Try a slightly longer stroke while using it.)

[tominnenPL]

Ahoy! Great review of that lovely kayak, really. Beautiful, well made boat. I'm loving it, but... the price make me so sad, but I think it is fair to product and company. Again, big thumb up 👍🏻 PaddleTv! Bravo!

[chris-terrell-liveactive]

Useful review, thanks. I use these Trak bags in my self-made skin on frame kayak and they're excellent . This is a kayak I'll definitely consider if I have to move back into an apartment &or stop owning a car. Keep going with that Greenland paddle by the way! :)

[andrewoh]

Someone bought one here. Two problems: The connections seized in salty water and wouldn't come apart and they struggled to get it together one and ruined the zip.

[hoangvu]

I learn a lot from watching these videos. Thanks for the excellent fountain of info, but I most appreciate the sense of humor. Thanks to you, I may pick up the sport (although I do not swim). Is that a good idea?

[wisenber]

One of the advantages of folding skin on frame kayaks (like Kleppers and Feathercrafts) is the ability for the frame to flex when hit by heavy waves or conform to them when going over them. That flex allows the soft hull to absorb a lot of the shock that a hardshell does not.
The old nonfolding skin on frame baidarkas were known for this as well, and it helped them deal with the rough Pacific Northwest conditions.

I've been curious if you noticed the same with the Trak? Does it feel like it's conforming going over waves, and does the hull flex when being hit by them?

I've made a few folding and nonfolding skin on frame boats. I really like Trak's answer to tensioning the hull.

Regarding your seat issue, there's no rule that you have to keep the stock seat. Buy a Bumfortable or carve your own out of closed cell foam. That'll also let you add a couple of inches so your lean back on that rear deck to roll. I rarely keep the stock seats since I discovered how much better a replacement seat can be.

[DrWellBeing]

Love your work! Could you please give me your feedback about 3 issues:
1) If Trak kayaks get flooded with expedition gear inside the floaters, will they still float and be navigable? Had this experience in an recent expedition, when I was at open sea with rather rough sea conditions. Due to a damaged spray skirt the cockpit got flooded, but the carbon-kevlar fiber sea kayak I own behaved really well. Since they do not have watertight compartments (bulkheads) and only floaters, could you please confirm if Trak kayaks perform well in such conditions?
Question edited: is the TRAK Sea Sock able to solve this issue if its capacity is not exceeded (350LBS/159Kg)?

2) Talking about rough sea conditions, how well do Trak kayaks perform? Asking in a different way, what would be the maximum rough sea conditions Trak kayaks can handle, if the paddler is able to surf, roll and masters self-rescue techniques?

3) How about landing in rocky areas? Here my composite kayak raises lots of stressy concerns... would the skin of Trak kayaks resist landing in rocky areas with rough sea conditions?
Thx

[oldhardrock]

No skeg, no rudder? For 3600, I'd have expected either but, customizable rocker and trim should accomplish the same. Almost. In spite of "aircraft" aluminum tubing, I still think there's a chance of kinking/bending the tubes.