I tried a prototype of that Kokepelli packraft at the APA Roundup, bought it and took it to Canada for a big trip. I liked what I saw.
1. The raft holds air better then Alpackas and can get very stiff which is nice for punching through whitewater.
2. The current deck/skirt combo is okay but the version coming out in 2016 is VERY good.
3. The two chamber setup saved my raft and gear when the front chamber was cut and the raft went on a 5-6 mile Class 4 run without me (long story). The short story is it would be hard to convince me to go back to a single chamber boat for a long wilderness trip. Next year I expect to be paddling either my repaired prototype or the updated 2016 version.
4. The tubes on the Kokepelli are a bit smaller then Alpackas, I think 11 inches versus 12. It doesn't seem like much but it is different. The boat was easier to get back into after I tipped over. It also is less affected by wind IMHO (I paddled it down a rather long lake in B.C). Waves break over the boat more but with a good spray deck that is not a problem, except in some cases when they push the front down in big whitewater. My understanding is they plan on turning the bow up a bit more in order to solve this problem (it didn't affect me or my friend who also paddled a Nirvana through Class 4 water).
5. The one way "Boston" valve is really nice for inflating the boat.
Bottom line is I think Alpacka is about to have some real competition. Other plans I've heard discussed but not officially announced are for a bare bones budget packraft which should be good for people looking to enter the sport for the first time.
