How to Inflate and Deflate Your NRS Packraft

ArticleMarch 13, 2025

Packrafts open the door to a whole new world of paddling possibilities with their easy and convenient packability and lightweight designs. Here are some best practices for inflating and deflating your packraft, whether you’re at home or about to hit the water.

Inflating the Packraft

Unroll your packraft on a clean, abrasion-free surface and locate the Bravo valve, which is typically positioned near the stern. Remove the valve cover to expose the inner portion of the valve. You should see a white-tipped, spring-loaded plunger that opens and closes the valve when pressed.

To Inflate With a Pump:

  1. Make sure the plunger is in its closed position (popped up). This allows air to pass into the packraft but won’t allow air back out.
  2. Connect your pump to the valve and begin pumping. The maximum air pressure is 1.5 psi.

To Inflate With the Inflation Bag:

  1. Make sure the plunger is in its open position (pushed down).
  2. Attach the inflation bag to the valve, then open the bag so it can fill with air.
  3. Capture that air by quickly closing the bag and squeezing it gently to push the air into the packraft. Tip: roll the bag from the top down a couple of times to help secure the air in the bag. Repeat until the packraft is mostly inflated.
  4. After your last bag roll, disconnect the bag from the valve and quickly press the white-tipped plunger so it pops back up into its closed position.
  5. Use the accompanying mouth inflation tube to get the packraft to the desired 1.5 psi.

Reattach the valve cover, stash the inflation bag and you’re ready to paddle!

Inflation Troubleshooting Tips:

  • If your packraft isn’t holding air, double-check your valve position.
  • If your valve is in the open position, check to see if there is any sand or grit obstructing the valve.
  • If air is going in but not holding, check your packraft for leaks or damage.
  • If your valve opens during pumping with a pump, reduce the amount of pressure in each pump.

Tempering Your Packraft

You may need to top off your packraft with a little more air after a few minutes on the water. This is because cool water temps can slightly reduce the packraft’s internal air pressure if the water is colder than the ambient air temperature. The mouth inflation tube is ideal for a quick top-off.

Deflating the Packraft

When it’s time to deflate the packraft, there are two options.

Deflate Your Packraft With the Valve:

  1. To deflate the packraft using the Bravo valve, simply remove the valve cover and press the plunger into its open position. The packraft will automatically start deflating.
  2. To speed up deflation, fold or roll the packraft toward the valve.
  3. Reattach the valve cover once the packraft is fully deflated.

Deflate Using the TIZIP® Zipper:

  1. Simply unzip the zipper on the stern of the packraft a few inches to deflate the packraft.
  2. To speed up deflation, fold or roll the packraft toward the zipper.

Once the packraft is fully deflated, you can roll or fold it for transport or hang to dry.

Inflating and Deflating the Packraft Seat

The seats included with NRS Packrafts use the same Bravo valves as the packraft’s main chamber. Use the technique listed above to inflate and deflate your packraft’s seat.

Maintaining the Packraft Valve

NRS Packrafts use Bravo valves, which work similarly to other spring-loaded valves on rafts and stand-up paddleboards. Bravo valves are compatible with a variety of pumps like the NRS Super 2 Pump and K-Pumps and also work with the ultralight NRS Packraft Inflation Bag, which is ideal for inflating on the shoreline.

Your packraft’s valve will work better and last longer if it’s regularly cleaned and maintained. After each paddle, check the valve and make sure it’s free and clear of debris. Sand, silt, and dirt can impede the valve's function, cause premature wear, or lead to a leaky valve. For tips on diagnosing a leaky valve, check out our article on finding and fixing valve leaks noted in the “related articles” section below.

Storing Your Packraft

Like all inflatables, it’s important to make sure your packraft is clean and dry before putting it away for the season. This will help prevent mold and mildew buildup while assuring your packraft is primed and ready to roll as soon as spring hits.

  1. Rinse your packraft with fresh water and remove any remaining debris with a non-abrasive sponge or a soft towel.
  2. Give the packraft a quick wipe-down with a dry towel and let it sit in a ventilated area for a few hours for the remaining moisture to evaporate.
  3. Once it’s completely dry, proceed to roll, fold, or hang your packraft in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight.

Note: avoid leaving your packraft or packraft seat fully inflated for extended periods of time when not actively in use on the water. Long exposure to the sun and high temperatures can increase air pressure in packraft seats, leading to overinflation. Overinflation can damage seams or worse, pop the seat. We suggest bleeding off air pressure or fully deflating in these conditions.