Close

The Pursuit of Ultimate

May 24, 2023 1 Comment

The Pursuit of Ultimate

The Pursuit of Ultimate

We started by asking the question, “What qualities does a kayak need to be the best… the ultimate, touring kayak?” We asked all our fans and thousands of kayakers. We got lots of feedback, then we went to work. That was in 2015 and it has been our relentless pursuit since.

Honouring Beginnings

Reinventing a watercraft that's over 4,000 years old has not been easy. But it's been a fun challenge and one heck of a journey. Honouring the Inuit origins of the skin-on-frame kayak is something that we know makes our modern watercraft unique and special.

 

 

How To Begin

Our team started out by compiling hundreds of survey submissions from our community to learn what features, qualities and capabilities a portable skin on frame kayak would need in order to be worthy of the title "Ultimate".

We arrived on the following Benefit / Experience / Perception qualities in order to rank importance and must-have characteristics for the TRAK.

 

  1. Tough, Durable, Rigid, Lasting
  2. Quality Construction, Components, Well-Designed
  3. Stores Easily, Available When Needed
  4. Performance, Paddles like a Hardshell
  5. Easy of Setup, Assembly
  6. Portable, You can take it with you
  7. Versatility, Changes Shape, Suitable for a Range of Paddlers

 

These features were measured in a number of ways, and compared to other kayaks in the current market place. We compiled that all into a big spreadsheet.

 

Expanding the idea of the Touring Kayak

When we think of a "touring kayak", most paddlers think of long trips, expeditions and weeks long adventures. While we love those journeys as well, we wanted a boat that travels to and from those adventures just as seamlessly as it paddles. TRAK Kayaks were developed to re-imagine that idea of a touring kayak that tours well itself!

 

Unexpected Uses

While developing a "touring kayak" for oceans, lakes and hard to reach waterways, we stumbled upon more and more TRAK paddlers who loved the ease of portability for urban storage, or transportation by bicycle, or not needing a roof rack to transport as key aspects of their boat. We've since incorporated those aspects as a key focus of our development.

 

 

Next Month's TRAKing Our Course

Do you know the SOURCE of the kayak? We've discovered that its history is as brave, resilient, and raw as the people who created it. We are honored to share this history with you, and we believe that in order to evolve, you must venture back to your roots to identify where you came from.



1 Response

Pedro Julian  Castro Martinez
Pedro Julian Castro Martinez

September 02, 2023

I’m existed to become a TRAK kayak owner soon. I’m traveling from Italy to Florida’s Lake Placid to pick it up in my sister’s house. I did previously paddle extensively in a feathercraft folding kayak extensively in South Corea. Unfortunately I had to cut the structure in half to be able to transport it bak to Italy. The aluminum stringers have been rust frozen…!!! Since then, 2011, I have living with the intention to replace the kayak and did search around the world until I found the TRAK kayak as the best replacement of my previous folding kayak.
Thanks to all the people involved in the manufacture of TRAK kayaks.

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Blue Friday - Celebrating 5 Years of Turning Black to Blue
Blue Friday - Celebrating 5 Years of Turning Black to Blue

We're moved by water. We honor water and the traditions which surround it. So this Friday we're turning black to BLUE. Let’s...

Read More

Solitude in Desolation Sound
Solitude in Desolation Sound

All of us have that one trip which floats in the back of our minds, teasing and enticing us to...

Read More

Remembrance Day 2023
Remembrance Day 2023

On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to...

Read More