Introducing the Packrafting Forum

BPL will be creating a number of portal pages this year, where we consolidate a bit of information across the site about a topic.

We’re giving the first one a go on the topic of packrafting:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/packrafting

Your feedback would be welcome – what would you like to see on these types of pages that would be useful? I know on the list for this page is recent forum posts about the topic — coming soon!

Ryan

All of the packrafting articles I read on here are in Alaska or in the NW US. I'd like to see articles about trips in other parts of the US, or even other countries. I've asked several boat rental outfits here in TN about packraft rental. The usual response is "A what?" or after describing one, "Someone should start making those." Most of the whitewater trips are out west, but there are plenty of photogenic trips elsewhere, and many with good fishing/hunting.
Most of all, I'd like to find a packraft rental outfit that is willing to ship through the mail. I'd even be ok with just taking one out on the lake for a day. It seems that short of buying one, taking one for a test drive will require a trip to the left coast. Reading all these stories about hiking with a boat in my pack has me eager to buy one, but a home purchase is slated for later in the year, so a packraft in my outings will have to wait until next spring/summer. Until then, I'll have to live vicariously through the text and photos of others.

Hey Ryan,

Great idea to create the packrafting forum. By the way, will BPL be introducing gear for packrafting? Also, will you be changing? tweaking? or redesigning your Arctic Dry Pack anytime soon? Mike

Christopher,
The Sevylor Trail Boat is a $70 packraft. It's lighter than the Alpackas (also much less sturdy and not suitable for white water). I know of one guy who used a Trail Boat to cross the Colorado in the Grand Canyon during a backpacking/climbing trip – in a flat water spot of course.

I've heard Alpacka rents boats but have not confirmed that. Alpacka HQ recently relocated to Colorado from Alaska so shipping will be much less.

Interesting boat, but the weight limit is 220lbs. Let's see… 210 lb. guy…. I'm going to have to get to a 10lb pack.

The trail boat is also very small. I am 6'3" and 225 and it feel like I am using a pool toy than a real boat. But it has taken me and a day pack 10 miles down the Eel River here without incident. YMMV

Carol,
Thanks for the tip, but I'll keep looking for something with a greater carrying capacity. In the meantime, I will look at other vessels for calmer waters.
Chris

found the Sevelor packraft. http://www.amazon.com/Sevylor-HF160-Inf … 760&sr=8-1
$52