Alpacka Scout Review

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Introduction

The updated Alpacka Scout (3.8lb / 1.7kg, MSRP $695) is a new version of a packraft that was last updated in 2019. This new iteration addresses several performance and design issues in the 2019 and 2017 versions. While the new Alpacka Scout is slightly heavier than the previous version, the performance upgrades are well worth it. See our previous Alpacka Scout review here.

The 2022 Alpacka Scout packraft will appeal to any packrafter that needs a light and durable packraft capable of performing well in flat water and gentle (~Class 1) whitewater.

An Alpacka Raft Scout against a white background. — Photo: Alpacka Raft

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Highlights

larger than previous Alpacka Scout packraft iterations
many paddlers up to six feet two inches (188 cm) tall can extend their legs straight
now with Alpacka Classic Hull design
improved paddling performance, especially in gentle (~Class 1) whitewater – it’s possible to edge the boat while paddling
very light for a packraft at 60.8 ounces (1.7 kg)

Review context

The Alpacka Scout packraft is a boat I have always wanted to believe in. I’ve carried larger boats – most in the 6.5-pound (3 kg) range – through long, dry canyons and over big mountain passes, often wishing for something lighter. I’m sure many Backpacking Light readers have had similar experiences.

In the past, when I’ve tried to supplant my larger boats with previous versions of the Scout, only my walking experience has improved, not my paddling experience. The new Alpacka Scout packraft seeks to balance those scales. It’s still light in my pack – just like previous models – but now it performs well on the water too.

This Alpacka Scout review is based on my experience with the updated Alpacka Scout in various paddling conditions. Read more about our types of reviews here.

An Alpacka Scout on the shores of a river in a canyon. — The Alpacka Scout was the ideal boat for Labyrinth Canyon where the water was flat and the hike was long.

The history of the Alpacka Scout Packraft

To get the most out of this Alpacka Scout review, it is crucial to understand the Scout’s previous design iterations.

The Alpacka Scout packraft has undergone many changes over the years, most variations hinting at high performance but never quite achieving it – in my opinion. The first iteration of the Alpacka Scout packraft was shaped a little like the original Alpacka Classic with its symmetrical cockpit but with an extended stern to balance the weight. The hull was pretty much flat, meaning it sat in the water a little like an inner tube.

This version was constructed of the same 210d material as the Alpacka Classic but had a slightly thinner floor. This original Scout weighed around 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) but was small and sluggish. It excelled at river crossings and canyoneering but was difficult to maneuver in quicker water.

Three packrafts arranged outside on a porch. From left to right they increase in size. — Right to left: 2017 Alpacka Scout, new Alpacka Scout, medium Alpacka Classic.

In 2017, Alpacka took roughly the same design and gave it lighter tube material (a lightweight version of its 210 denier nylon). This lightened up the whole package, but the performance remained mostly unchanged. The boat still sat flat in the water, and the bow would dig in like a snowplow when a pack was either in the cockpit or strapped atop the tubes.

I owned the 2017 Alpacka Scout (the red boat in the photo above) and used it on several multiday flatwater trips and Class I+ perennial creeks that cut through the Colorado Plateau. I tolerated it because it was light, but I never loved it. Ryan Jordan tested this version of the Scout, and you can watch his video review here:

In 2019, Alpacka Raft made some questionable tweaks to an already insufficient design, leaving many of us in the packrafting community completely baffled. It shrunk the side tubes and basically stuck two Scout sterns together. This boat looked a little like a shortened version of the old Curiyak, which was designed for bikepacking. This boat accommodated heavier packs on the bow but retained all the handling and sluggishness issues of the previous version.

Four years later, Alpacka Raft has completely redesigned the Scout packraft. It is now shaped like a Classic but uses 10-inch (25 cm) instead of the 11.7-inch (30 cm) tubes on the Classic. (In the above photo, the green boat is the new Scout and the blue boat is a medium Classic.)

The updated Alpacka Scout has an extended stern, but it is not as long as the stern of the Classic. Its stern appears to be proportionally about the same length as what I might call the “second generation” Classic, which ran from about 2010 to 2013. (The Classic was given an even longer stern in about 2014.) The Alpacka Scout’s bow is now upturned as well, just like the Classic’s. In short, you can think of the Alpacka Scout as a shrunken Classic constructed of slightly lighter tube material. This redesign increases the overall paddling capabilities of the Scout immensely with a minimal weight penalty.

Features

hull design based on the successful Alpacka Classic hull
10-inch (25 cm) tube diameter
Scout Seat included
1 stern grab loop and 1 seat toggle
additional attachments available through Alpacka’s Custom Lab (recommend four bow grab-loops)
temper assist valve for inflation and deflation
open cockpit configuration
includes inflation bag, stuff sack, and basic repair kit

Specifications

exterior length: 86.25 inches (219 cm)
exterior width: 34.25 inches (87 cm)
interior length: 46.25 inches (117 cm)
interior width: 14.25 inches (36 cm)
weight including seat: 60.8 ounces (1.58 kg)
packed size: 12 x 6.25 inches (30 x 16 cm)
max capacity: 250 pounds (113.39 kg)
materials: proprietary lightweight 210-denier high count nylon hull and 420-denier nylon floor
country of manufacture: USA
MSRP: $695

Description of field testing

I used the new Alpacka Scout packraft in several different environments to get a good idea of its breadth of ability. I took day trips down the Provo River, which is swift but pretty shallow. There, I learned that the Scout is capable of edging – pushing one tube down into the water so that the river can more easily grab the boat.

I also paddled the shore of the threatened Great Salt Lake, inspecting microbiolites from the packraft. Then, in February, I paddled a twelve-mile section of Labyrinth Canyon in southern Utah, easily keeping up with my friends paddling Alpacka Classics.

Also in February, I took the Scout on an early-season Dirty Devil run, a perfect test for this boat. I carried the Scout about 25 miles (40 km) across the Utah desert to get to the put-in, allowing myself to get a feel for how it carried in a pack.

An Alpacka Scout sits on a rock in the middle of a receding lake — Investigating the endangered Great Salt Lake with the new Alpacka Scout.

Environmental conditions

Provo River: Class I+
Green River: Class I flatwater
Great Salt Lake: Open water crossing
Dirty Devil River: Class I+

Water was cold in each of these cases, and the air temperature was often cold as well. I wore a rain jacket and pants on the Provo River and the Great Salt Lake. I wore a dry suit on the Green River and Dirty Devil River. Because this boat has an open configuration, some protection is needed from paddle drips and splashes. At the end of this article, I will compare the Alpacka Scout packraft to the new Alpacka Refuge, which is an even higher-performing cold-water boat.

How many user days?

Performance analysis

For this Alpacka Scout packraft review, I measured performance based on the following criteria:

hull design & (new) shape
paddling performance
fit & size
durability
weight
packed size
finish quality & aesthetics
price

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This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 5 months ago by Jens Hallermann.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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Sep 16, 2022 at 10:32 am #3760098

Ben Kilbourne
BPL Member

@benkilbourne
Locale: Utah

Companion forum thread to: Alpacka Scout Review

The Alpacka Raft Scout (2022 model) packraft weighs less than four pounds. We review its durability and stability for both flatwater and Class 1 river running.

Sep 16, 2022 at 2:04 pm #3760123

Chad Lorenz
BPL Member

@chadl
Locale: Teton Valley, Wydaho

A nice iteration from Thor et al.

For frequent low-flow desert use (Dirty D, Escalante, San Juan, others…) this boat ordered with an 840d floor could make a lot of sense without adding too much weight/bulk. It sure would save a lot of time (re)applying Aquaseal to pinholes.

Sep 18, 2022 at 12:01 pm #3760212

Scott Cerreta
BPL Member

@sdcerreta

Very nice review. Thanks Ben! I am looking forward to your review of the Refuge, which I just recently bought and received (I am 5’6″ 150). I also bought the Alpacka Classic small for my wife (5’1″ 120). I too compared these two boats, both with a cargo fly. I was a little hesitant to buy the Refuge based on previous Scout version experience. The new Scout is a new design boat and probably deserves a new name, but buyer beware, the new Scout 22 and Refuge are very capable boats and nothing like previous versions of this model line.

I do want to contribute that the rocker hull on the Scout/Refuge is indeed upturned, but it is not comparable to the Classic. I did not measure, but it appears to have about a 3″ rise difference from the front tip bottom to the floor. The Scout/Refuge does sit much flatter in comparison between these two boats, but improved over previous models. The photo with this caption gives the best view of the rocker shape comparison “The Alpacka Scout and Alpacka Classic are now so similar in basic design they’re visually indistinguishable at times. Alpacka Scout is on right, Alpacka Classic is on left.”

I think this will likely be apparent when front loading the boats with a heavy pack or bike. I do plan to carry a bike at some point and my plan is to load gear into the tubes and weight the bike on the front. My bike, like most of my gear is ultralight. It is a 19 pound FS Scott Spark, which is less wight than most peoples (including mine) multiday backcountry backpack.

My goals are to have only one boat. Most adventures will be Class 1/2 with occasional Class 3 sections and I do not want to be in the water. So, I am willing to carry more weight for a sturdier boat. The Refuge also offers the oppotunity to not use the whitewater deck and to leave it as a semi-open design for flatwater and Class 1 rivers. So, far I am very pleased with my choices, but do need to get these boats out on more adventures.

I would also like to contribute to conversation regarding the bow grab loops and seat back. The seat back is necessary in my opinion for any paddling times over 2 hours. However, I do not think these two options should be standard. I think the Scout should be designed for TLO (the lightest one). Some users may not need these options and their goals may be different. As Ben mentioned, you can add these options in the custom lab or you can add these yourself. I prefer the latter and modify everything I own. Alpacka does an excellent job of selling everything you need to customize your boat for your own needs. So, you don’t need the custom lab for simple modifications like this. It will also cost less to DIY and it won’t require longer build wait times.

I added the adjustable backband option (upgrade from the inflatable seatback) and grab handles to my Refuge. It took a couple hours to complete and was fun.

I am really looking forward to your Refuge review. I think you will love it and find that the additional weight for your type of adventures are the best of both worlds. I hope to discover the same.

Sep 18, 2022 at 1:01 pm #3760214

James Taylor
BPL Member

@james-taylor
Locale: Indy

I’ve had some time to test my Scout on lots of Class II and a single Class III rapid on the Nantahala River. The hull shape is great for easier whitewater like this. It’s really fun to paddle. The boat edges and carves, and can hit eddies and punch moderate holes. It doesn’t have the bow rocker of a Wolverine or Gnarwhal, which limits its hole-punching ability to small or medium Class III holes. Because it’s open, it takes on water and has to be emptied after every splashy rapid. It takes on noticeably more water than a Classic because the tubes sit lower in the water. It’s also “sportier“ in feel than a Classic.

According to Alpacka’s marketing the Scout isn’t designed for whitewater (get the Refuge instead), but for skilled paddlers interested in occasionally stretching the boat by doing short rapids up to Class III in difficulty, the Scout can be coaxed into it and will perform well.

Sep 26, 2022 at 7:21 pm #3760767

Anne Flueckiger
BPL Member

@annefluke
Locale: Northern Minnesota

Older model of the Scout (pre-2015) with 4-yr old on Lake Superior at Split Rock State Park, MN. I use mine for leisurely paddles on small inland lakes or Lake Superior. I’ve biked to a lake with the Scout in a backpack, but I haven’t hiked or backpacked with it.

Sep 27, 2022 at 12:09 pm #3760838

Philip Tschersich
BPL Member

@philip-ak
Locale: Kodiak Alaska

Good review. Well done.

I own a few Classic Alpackas and have done many trips in them. I’m 5′ 11″ and actually like the smallest size rafts and I just skip the inflatable back band. This summer I picked up a custom Refuge. I generally agree with Ben’s take on the hull design (same as the new Scout). The smaller diameter tubes (10″ on the Refuge/Scout vs 12″ on the Classic) is noticeable and provides a splashier/wetter ride, and the reduced bow rise does mean a bit more water coming over the front, especially if there is a backpack sitting up there. The new hull shape is much (much!) nicer to paddle than the old Scout/Curiyak shapes and offers better tracking and speed. I’d say it actually paddles a lot like the current Classic hulls.

I’m a somewhat recent convert to the cargo zips. For many years I just stuck my pack on the bow and that worked fine for my applications. But eventually I became zip-curious and picked up a Classic with one, and wow, what an improved paddling experience for longer paddles or rough-water stints in the boat. It does complicate the transition from land to water or vice versa a bit, so I only do it if I’m going to be in the boat for an hour or longer. For a quick crossing of a bay or river I wouldn’t bother, but if you are looking at a 10-mile coastal paddle in choppy conditions, it sure is nice to tuck all your junk inside the tubes. This is especially true with the smaller diameter tubes on the Refuge/Scout if you have a multi-day load. The zipper length on the Refuge is shorter than on the Classic (14″ vs 18″ I think) makes getting your backpack through the aperture a bit more difficult, but I can wriggle my empty Flight 2 through the hole decently easily now with some practice. Of course this does start to complicate the operation and add weight, so maybe the Scout is best left as a minimalist setup and leave the cargo zip to a light expedition boat like the Refuge. But as Ben pointed out, it would be incredibly foolish not to at least get the 4 gear loops on the bow of a Scout.

Anyway, it’s cool that Alpacka is improving the hull shapes of their lighter boats and filling in a few gaps in their lineup.

This is the only trip I have done in the Refuge (10″ tubes like the Scout) so far. All the paddling sessions were long enough that I always put my gear inside the tubes. A few of the portages were short enough that I just carried the boat with my stuff still inside the tubes. This will give you an idea of how the Scout would ride:

This is using the Classic (12″ tubes). Unlike with the Refuge, I didn’t feel the need to put my gear inside the tubes for any of the paddling sessions until the second to last day where I was looking at a 10-mile paddle up the coast.

Nov 13, 2022 at 5:42 am #3764910

Jens Hallermann
BPL Member

@jenhal

“…the Refuge, which I just recently bought. (…) I do plan to carry a bike at some point and my plan is to load gear into the tubes and weight the bike on the front.”

Scott,

have you had the opportunity to try bikerafting with the Refuge in the meantime? Does that work or is the Refuge too short with a bike on the bow?

Any insights (from other users as well) would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance,

Jens

Nov 13, 2022 at 10:09 am #3764958

Scott Cerreta
BPL Member

@sdcerreta

Jens, i have not loaded a bike on the bow, but I am confident it will work just fine. I have loaded about 20 pounds in the bow bag and there was no significant drop in the bow. i should also clarify that my bike is ultralight at 20 pounds, full suspension, MTB size small, 27.5er. i am also small at 5’6″. hope that helps.

Nov 13, 2022 at 10:16 am #3764969

Jens Hallermann
BPL Member

@jenhal

Scott, thank you very much for your answer, that helps a lot regarding load capacity and trim.

My concern was more about length of the Refuge: Do you think a bike on the bow would inhibit normal paddle strokes? (Please excuse my English, I am not sure if that is described correctly.)
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