Rapid Raft from Uncharted Supply Co.

Rafts come in use for many types of outdoor people. A lightweight, compact raft is essential, from the weekend camper wanting to relax or fish on a lake to hunters or backpackers who need to cross water channels and keep their gear dry. Uncharted Supply Co.’s Rapid Raft steps into the gap and supplies a toolless solution for various situations.

“The lightest and most packable raft to ever be made available to the public.”~unchartedsupplyco.com

The Rapid Raft measures 5 inches wide and 15 inches long in its packed configuration. The size is comparable to a packed one-person backpacking tent. A sizeable heavy-duty buckle keeps the compact raft secure and prevents it from unraveling while traveling. The raft also weighs a little over 3 pounds. The raft’s lightweight makes it ideal for backpacking over several days, single-day hikes, or overlanding.

Rapid Raft for rapid deployments

To deploy the raft, first unbuckle the buckle and roll out the raft. Make sure to layout the raft before beginning to fill it with air. At the raft’s top end, where the buckle is, the raft’s “mouth” is found above the raft’s body. To inflate the raft, grab the mouth with both hands and open it. With the mouth open, pull the raft to inflate it. One of Uncharted Supply Co.’s demonstration videos shows that it is easier to do a little run while holding the raft’s mouth open. When I was testing the raft, it took me a couple of attempts to get familiar with the pulling method to inflate the raft.

Once the raft is inflated, close the mouth, and start rolling it towards its body. Ensure that the roll is tight to prevent air from escaping the raft. Once the roll is at the body, snap the buckle to lock the air in the raft. To top off the air pressure in the raft, use the one-way valve on the raft’s top right side. It took me only a couple of minutes to inflate the raft compared to inflating a stand-up paddleboard with an air pump. The ability to inflate the Rapid Raft quickly and without any tools is an outstanding feature of the Rapid Raft.

“Extremely durable 3 pound raft inflates in seconds and can hold 400 pounds.”~unchartedsupplyco.com

With the raft inflated, it measures 8 inches high, 33 inches wide, and 72 inches long. The interior of the raft measures 21 inches wide at the raft’s back, 8 inches wide at the front, and 49 inches long. The raft is rated to carry 400 lbs. which consists of the occupant plus gear. The raft’s material is Nylon Oxford TPU Laminate, which can withstand rocks scraping against the bottom. The raft also has four tie-down points at the front to secure gear in the case of the raft flipping.

My wife and I went to our News Year polar plunge location to evaluate the raft and spent the morning on the water. On the water, the raft handles well. With a kayak paddle, I could paddle at a steady pace without any difficulty. The raft was stable while floating on the water. I did not face any problems when encountering small wakes from passing motorboats. I noticed while using the raft that the raft did lose a little air while on the water. However, I was not at risk of sinking while on the water.

 

To deflate and pack the raft, start with undoing the buckle and unrolling the raft’s mouth. With the mouth open, the raft deflates. Then roll the raft to remove any remaining air. After the first roll, unroll the raft and fold the body, everything up to the raft’s neck, in thirds. Then roll up the raft again, making sure that everything is tight. Once the raft is rolled up, connect the buckle again to secure the rolled raft.

Uncharted Supply Co. Rapid Raft Specs courtesy of unchartedsupplyco.com

• Weight: 3 lbs. 13 oz
• Length: 72″
• Width: 33″
• Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
• Pack size: 5 x 5 x 15
• Chambers: 1
• Fill Time: >1 Minute
• Materials: Nylon Oxford TPU Laminate
• MSRP: $479.00

Final thoughts:

The Rapid Raft is a lightweight and compact raft that is excellent for a wide range of outdoor-oriented people. In the summers, my wife and I enjoy hiking to alpine lakes and enjoying the water and views. With the Rapid Raft, we now have something to take and relax on the water.