TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
Also: polyurethane, PU coating, urethane
TPU is the coating that makes the nylon fabric of modern packrafts air- and watertight. It's light, abrasion-resistant and can be welded.
- 1Outer TPU coating
- 2Nylon fabric as the load-bearing layer
- 3Inner coating (on double-coated fabric)
Unlike PVC, TPU contains no plasticisers, stays flexible in the cold and is very scratch-resistant. Because it's thermoplastic, seams can be welded with heat or high frequency instead of glued. Anfibio advertises a glue-free construction, Mekong welds its boats using high frequency.
In everyday use people often simply speak of PU-coated or urethane-coated nylon.
Sources and further reading
- Anfibio Packrafting (manufacturer)
- Mekong Packraft (manufacturer)
- MRS Microrafting Systems (manufacturer)
Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.