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On Skurka's gearlist for this AK/YK trip, he mentions removing the backrest to save 2oz, and in turn this allows him to size down to a Yak and save another 6 oz. My sizing is right on the cusp between a Yak and Llama with a 33" inseam. I got a Llama in the mail, and when I remove the backrest, I feel like i"m swimming in this thing with about 3" to spare between my feet and the front tube.
So so…has anyone else here done trips without the backrest, and if so, was it uncomfortable?
Here's a trick I picked up from the Alaska crew, who moved their seats forward for better centering in older boats with thigh straps:
I glued a lash point onto the back inside of my boat, right behind the backrest. On day trips where I hike in and raft out, my pack is usually almost empty when I'm ready to boat. So I don't inflate the backrest, roll my pack up, and tie it to the inside lash point. Works as a backrest and keeps the floppy pack out of site and any situation where it might tangle.
Otherwise, I'm keeping my backrest. I find it very comfy and worth 3 oz.
I'm using a fairly large PFD (Astral Tempo 200), and I found that the back panel of the PFD when leaning on the stern of my Yak would support my back just as well as the provided back rest does, so I got rid of it. I've spent 10+ hour days sit in the packraft and found it really comfortable. Obviously this may not hold with a lighter/smaller PFD.
http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/products/men/tempo200/index.html
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