TRAK Kayaks Have Arrived: High-Performance Sea Kayaks Built to Travel

We have added TRAK Kayaks to the FarOut Wilderness lineup.

TRAK makes a folding sea kayak for people who still care about how a boat performs. It packs into a rolling travel bag, fits inside a vehicle and can travel as checked luggage, but it is not a recreational kayak dressed up for touring. The TRAK 2.0 is built for open water, coastal trips and paddlers who want a responsive boat.

What is a TRAK kayak?

The TRAK 2.0 is a skin-on-frame sea kayak. A polyurethane skin is tensioned over a frame made from carbon fibre and aircraft-grade aluminum. The design takes its cues from the traditional Inuit qajaq, using a light frame and tensioned skin to create a hull that feels lively on the water.

It assembles in about ten minutes once the process is familiar. Packed down, it stores in a rolling bag rather than taking over a garage wall or permanent roof-rack space.

What makes it different?

The most unusual feature is the adjustable rocker. Rocker is the curve of the hull from bow to stern, and it has a direct effect on how a kayak behaves. Add rocker and the boat becomes easier to turn in surf, rock gardens and tighter water. Flatten the rocker and more of the hull sits in the water, improving tracking and efficiency over distance.

TRAK uses hydraulic jacks to tension the frame and adjust that hull shape from the cockpit. You can set the boat up for the conditions rather than accepting one fixed hull profile for every trip.

The hard-chine shape also gives the kayak clear feedback when edging. Experienced paddlers will recognize the control of a proper touring kayak; newer paddlers have a boat they can continue to grow into.

Why we chose TRAK

There are cheaper folding kayaks, and there are simpler boats for occasional flat-water use. TRAK sits in a different category.

Many folding kayaks are designed around portability first. TRAK started with the handling, stiffness and durability expected from a serious sea kayak, then worked out how to make that boat packable. It is a better fit for someone who wants one adaptable, repairable kayak instead of several boats for different conditions.

The seven-year tip-to-tip warranty also says something about the intended lifespan. This is equipment to learn, maintain and use for years.

Things to consider before buying

• Where you want to paddle: TRAK makes sense for touring, coastal water, surf, multi-day trips and travel. If your plans are limited to short, calm-water outings, you may not use much of what you are paying for.
• Your experience: The boat is capable, but it does not replace judgement or training. Around Vancouver Island, cold-water clothing, rescue practice, navigation and weather awareness remain essential.
• Fit: Contact at the feet, thighs and hips affects both comfort and control. Adjustable foot pedals and thigh braces are included, and further cockpit outfitting is available.
• The setup routine: Ten minutes is realistic with practice. The first few assemblies will take longer. Sand and salt should be rinsed away, and the skin and frame need to be dried before storage.
• How you travel: The packed format is particularly useful for apartments, flights, ferries and vehicles already carrying a roof top tent or other equipment.

TRAK and overlanding

A conventional sea kayak is nearly five metres long. Carrying one can dictate the whole vehicle setup, especially when the roof is already occupied by a tent, awning, cargo box or recovery equipment.

A packed TRAK can ride inside a truck, SUV, van or trailer. Drive to the launch, assemble it beside the water and pack it away again when the paddling portion of the trip is over. You keep the roof available and avoid carrying a long boat through every part of a road trip.

It also works well for fly-and-drive trips. The kayak travels in its rolling bag, then fits into the rental vehicle at the other end. For routes involving ferries, backroads and small coastal launches, that flexibility is genuinely useful.

What to carry with it

The kayak comes with a rolling travel bag, custom spray deck and two 60-litre flotation dry bags. From there, the equipment should match the route, water temperature and experience of the paddler.

• A properly fitted PFD
• Cold-water immersion clothing appropriate to the season
• A touring paddle and compact spare
• A sea sock if you want to reduce water entering the kayak after a capsize
• Bilge pump, paddle float and rescue equipment
• Navigation and marine communication suited to the route
• Waterproof storage for clothing, food, electronics and first aid
• A field repair kit and basic cleaning supplies
• A ground sheet for assembling the kayak on rough surfaces
• Proper rack padding and straps if carrying it assembled

The TRAK models at FarOut Wilderness

We currently carry two versions of the TRAK 2.0. The Signature Series uses TRAK’s brighter, high-visibility colours. The Rebel Series uses a quieter coastal palette. The hull, frame and on-water performance are the same.

If you are unsure whether a TRAK suits your paddling plans or vehicle setup, get in touch. We can talk through storage, transport, fit, safety equipment and where you expect to use it.

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