17:
141:
149:
owners to shorter day trips that mix trail hiking and river and creek floats or lake paddles. In Europe packrafts are used together with train travel. Most of these hike and paddle applications are in gentler water of Class II or less. However, low-flow steep creeks rated to Class V and other whitewater runs that were previously considered suitable only for kayaks and bigger rafts, are now run frequently by packrafters. The addition of spray decks and thigh straps allow more precise control of the craft. Eskimo rolling in packrafts is now done routinely. Packrafts are increasingly popular among fishers and hunters as well as travelers who wish to carry a lightweight craft on airplanes.
59:, clothing) the entire package is designed to be light and compact enough for an individual to negotiate rough terrain while carrying the rafting equipment together with supplies, shelter, and other survival or backcountry equipment. Modern packrafts vary from inexpensive vinyl boats lacking durability to sturdy craft costing over US $ 1,000. Most weigh less than 4 kg (9 lbs) and usually carry a single passenger. The most popular propulsion systems involve a kayak paddle that breaks down into two to five pieces. Most often they are paddled from a sitting position, although kneeling can be advantageous in some situations.
310:
68:
208:
197:
25:
279:
148:
Packrafts have historically been used as portable boats for long distance wilderness travel, usage that reached its apogee in the Higman-McKittrick 7,200 km (4,500 mile) expedition along the
Pacific Coast from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands. This classical use has been modified by most packraft
95:
adventure race in 1982. Packrafts are now common equipment in that race. A variety of companies have made durable packrafts in the past including Sherpa, Curtis, and
American Safety. Furthermore, aviator emergency rafts have been used for packrafting purposes in a variety of applications. Pioneering
179:
A packraft is distinguished from a strictly man-portable raft insofar as it is designed to be light enough to represent only a fraction of the total weight an individual can reasonably carry. A packraft can be carried for extended periods, along with food, water, shelter, and other supplies that
165:
A typical cold water set-up including packraft with thigh straps and spray deck, safety lines, paddle, suitable clothing (such as a dry suit), inflation bag, helmet, backpack, dry bag weigh 7 kg (15 pounds). While they can be inflated by mouth or electric pumps, most contemporary users carry
291:
The expense of high quality packrafts costing $ US500 – $ US1000 has led to interest in using PVC inflatable boats and even pool toys costing $ US15 – $ US100 as a cheap alternative. These vinyl substitutes are not designed for anything more challenging than boating on still water no
172:
In this article, packrafts/trail boats are differentiated from pool toys or flotation devices, which are intended for use in an enclosed and controlled body of water, such as a swimming pool. A packraft/trail boat is intended for use in open bodies of water.
221:
78:
Pioneering use of packrafts is difficult to trace, as float tubes, inner tubes, and other small boats can in some of their uses be considered equivalent to packrafts, and have been used around the world for over a century, beginning with the
96:
use of packrafts generally consisted of using boats intended as pool toys or lake craft in moving water while carrying gear or passengers. The discomfort of these non-durable boats led to the invention and marketing of the modern packraft.
158:
292:
further than an easy swim to shore; they puncture easily, and they do not inflate to high pressures. For these reasons they have been described as 'slackrafts'; they do, however, offer some advantages over the even cheaper option of
104:
Alaska is generally considered the birthplace of packrafting as long distance, non-motorized, landscape travel across untracked wilderness necessitates a small, portable boat for water crossings. Dick
Griffith, Roman Dial (author of
1045:
55:. A packraft is designed to be light enough to be carried for extended distances. Along with its propulsion system (collapsible paddles or lightweight oars) and safety equipment (
180:
would enable the individual to traverse long distances through difficult terrain. All rafts listed in this article weigh less than five pounds without paddles or spray decks.
1100:
140:
1074:
137:), New Zealand, Patagonia, and tropical South America. Typically the boats are carried to cross and float rivers, streams and lakes while carried between watersheds.
1049:
1019:
16:
941:
110:
92:
1162:
1104:
1078:
1130:
967:
997:
910:
129:
have advanced backcountry packrafting in
Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Utah, and Arizona. Packrafting has become popular in
319:
1023:
1167:
1157:
56:
133:
and elsewhere in Europe. Packrafts have also been used in Mexico, Southeast Asia, Australia (including its
125:
all are, or have been, based in Alaska. In the U.S. outside Alaska, Forrest McCarthy, Nathan
Shoutis, and
126:
122:
114:
84:
67:
247:
130:
40:
945:
326:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
1101:"First Skate Ski/Raft Circumnavigation of Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado"
134:
1151:
271:
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971:
293:
263:
88:
80:
71:
993:
914:
207:
196:
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232:
44:
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24:
157:
20:
Kokopelli
Packraft on Husum Falls (IV) on the White Salmon in Washington
864:
258:
239:
874:
869:
277:
219:
156:
139:
66:
52:
23:
15:
188:
Packrafts are used in a variety of applications. These include:
87:
is documented to have used a packraft to descend Copper Canyon's
144:
A packrafter enters an ice canyon on
Matanuska Glacier, Alaska.
303:
282:
A packrafter wearing safety devices as the helmet and the PFD.
48:
43:
designed for use in all bodies of water, including technical
91:(Chihuahua, Mexico) in 1952 before introducing them to the
119:
A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski
911:"Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic Race reports"
322:may be compromised due to out-of-date information
113:, Sheri Tingey (founder of Alpacka Rafts), and
1068:
1066:
896:. Beartooth Mountain Press, Bozeman, MT. 2008
894:Packrafting! An Introduction and How-to Guide
107:Packrafting! An Introduction and How-to Guide
8:
935:
933:
931:
28:Packrafting in water from Glaciers in Norway
39:are colloquial terms for a small, portable
904:
902:
342:
213:A packrafter engaged in descending a rapid
161:An Alpacka Raft paddled via kayak paddle
885:
7:
111:Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
93:Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
14:
308:
206:
195:
1133:from the original on 2012-07-02
1000:from the original on 2007-04-06
177:Distinction from "man-portable"
1075:"The World's Finest Packrafts"
1:
166:light weight inflation bags.
968:"Adventure Travel Packrafts"
788:0.79 kg (1.75 lb)
813:0.68 kg (1.5 lb)
452:2.9 kg (6.5 lb)+
170:Distinction from "pool toy"
74:, an early type of packraft
1184:
820:110 kg (250 lb)
796:147 kg (325 lb)
763:3.4 kg (7.4 lb)
746:150 kg (330 lb)
720:150 kg (330 lb)
711:3.0 kg (6.6 lb)
685:2.5 kg (5.5 lb)
607:3.3 kg (7.3 lb)
590:125 kg (275 lb)
581:3.3 kg (7.3 lb)
564:125 kg (275 lb)
555:2.2 kg (4.9 lb)
539:140 kg (310 lb)
530:1.6 kg (3.5 lb)
461:230 kg (500 lb)
427:1.6 kg (3.5 lb)
402:1.9 kg (4.2 lb)
1046:"Hunting with Packrafts"
737:2.3 kg (5 lb)
688:210D Kevlar Nylon Blend
610:840D Kevlar Nylon Blend
378:1.8 kg (4 lb)
1020:"Packrafting Gear List"
300:Comparison of Packrafts
224:Fishing from a packraft
1163:Water sports equipment
375:Packlite Kayak AE3021
283:
225:
162:
145:
75:
29:
21:
909:Alaskan Alpine Club.
665:1000d Reinforced PVC
662:1000d Reinforced PVC
639:1000d Reinforced PVC
636:1000d Reinforced PVC
604:Nirvana Self-Bailing
533:70D & 210D nylon
281:
255:Remote river descents
223:
160:
143:
70:
27:
19:
252:Open water crossings
1018:Backpacking Light.
630:Recon Self-Bailing
121:), and her husband
524:Flyweight Designs
372:Advanced Elements
284:
226:
163:
146:
76:
30:
22:
1099:Eugene Buchanan.
992:Erin McKittrick.
856:
855:
341:
340:
1175:
1168:Inflatable boats
1158:Sports in Alaska
1143:
1142:
1140:
1138:
1122:
1116:
1115:
1113:
1112:
1103:. Archived from
1096:
1090:
1089:
1087:
1086:
1077:. Archived from
1070:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1057:
1048:. Archived from
1041:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1031:
1022:. Archived from
1015:
1009:
1008:
1006:
1005:
989:
983:
982:
980:
979:
970:. Archived from
963:
957:
956:
954:
953:
944:. Archived from
937:
926:
925:
923:
922:
913:. Archived from
906:
897:
890:
694:135 kg (300 lb)
668:135 kg (300 lb)
642:135 kg (300 lb)
633:7.2 kg (15.9lb)
616:135 kg (300 lb)
513:200 kg (441 lb)
504:3,4 kg (7,5 lb)
487:200 kg (441 lb)
343:
336:
333:
327:
320:factual accuracy
312:
311:
304:
248:Adventure racing
235:(up to Class IV)
210:
199:
131:Nordic countries
100:Contemporary use
1183:
1182:
1178:
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1001:
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986:
977:
975:
965:
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960:
951:
949:
942:"Alpacka Rafts"
939:
938:
929:
920:
918:
908:
907:
900:
891:
887:
883:
861:
840:Floor Material
659:6.4 kg (14 lb)
385:113kg (250lbs)
355:Floor Material
337:
331:
328:
325:
317:This section's
313:
309:
302:
289:
229:River crossings
218:
217:
216:
215:
214:
211:
202:
201:
200:
186:
155:
153:Characteristics
123:Bretwood Higman
115:Erin McKittrick
102:
65:
41:inflatable boat
12:
11:
5:
1181:
1179:
1171:
1170:
1165:
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1091:
1073:Alpacka Raft.
1062:
1044:Alpacka Raft.
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984:
958:
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879:
878:
877:
872:
867:
860:
857:
854:
853:
850:
849:Multi-chamber
847:
844:
843:Side Material
841:
838:
835:
832:
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824:
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816:
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478:2,7 kg (6 lb)
476:
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369:
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365:
364:Multi-chamber
362:
359:
358:Side Material
356:
353:
350:
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339:
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332:September 2021
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154:
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135:Franklin River
101:
98:
64:
61:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1180:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1132:
1128:
1121:
1118:
1107:on 2007-04-19
1106:
1102:
1095:
1092:
1081:on 2006-10-28
1080:
1076:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1052:on 2011-07-07
1051:
1047:
1040:
1037:
1026:on 2012-12-09
1025:
1021:
1014:
1011:
999:
995:
988:
985:
974:on 2007-05-23
973:
969:
962:
959:
948:on 2007-04-07
947:
943:
936:
934:
932:
928:
917:on 2004-11-12
916:
912:
905:
903:
899:
895:
892:Dial, Roman.
889:
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876:
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871:
868:
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798:
795:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
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776:
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771:
768:
765:
762:
760:NRS PackRaft
759:
756:
755:
751:
748:
745:
742:
739:
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733:
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725:
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719:
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629:
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512:
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489:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
470:
466:
463:
460:
457:
454:
451:
448:
446:Feathercraft
445:
444:
440:
437:
435:
432:
429:
426:
423:
420:
419:
415:
412:
410:
407:
404:
401:
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348:
345:
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335:
323:
321:
315:
306:
305:
299:
297:
295:
286:
280:
273:
272:Rock climbing
270:
268:Aviator boats
267:
265:
262:
260:
257:
254:
251:
249:
246:
243:
241:
237:
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152:
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142:
138:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
112:
108:
99:
97:
94:
90:
86:
85:Dick Griffith
82:
73:
69:
62:
60:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
26:
18:
1135:. Retrieved
1127:"Slackrafts"
1120:
1109:. Retrieved
1105:the original
1094:
1083:. Retrieved
1079:the original
1054:. Retrieved
1050:the original
1039:
1028:. Retrieved
1024:the original
1013:
1002:. Retrieved
987:
976:. Retrieved
972:the original
966:Kayak Asia.
961:
950:. Retrieved
946:the original
940:Backpacker.
919:. Retrieved
915:the original
893:
888:
552:Hornet-lite
329:
318:
290:
287:Slackrafting
264:Canyoneering
244:Travel boats
238:Remote lake
187:
176:
175:
169:
168:
164:
147:
118:
106:
103:
89:Urique River
81:Halkett boat
77:
72:Halkett boat
36:
32:
31:
994:"Packrafts"
743:210D nylon
740:420D nylon
717:210D nylon
714:420D nylon
691:210D nylon
682:Rogue Lite
613:210D nylon
587:210D nylon
584:840D nylon
558:210D nylon
527:Crossflyte
510:210D Nylon
507:840D Nylon
484:210D Nylon
481:840D Nylon
458:210D nylon
455:840D nylon
127:Ryan Jordan
117:(author of
83:. However,
1152:Categories
1125:S, Chris.
1111:2007-04-15
1085:2007-04-15
1056:2007-04-15
1030:2007-04-15
1004:2007-04-15
978:2007-04-15
952:2007-04-15
921:2009-11-26
881:References
852:Available
708:Microraft
679:Kokopelli
653:Kokopelli
627:Kokopelli
601:Kokopelli
575:Kokopelli
561:70D nylon
549:Kokopelli
536:70D nylon
501:Berserker
498:Norseraft
472:Norseraft
367:Available
233:Whitewater
47:and ocean
45:whitewater
37:trail boat
846:Capacity
578:Castaway
449:BayLee 2
361:Capacity
1131:Archived
998:Archived
859:See also
421:Alpacka
399:CuriYak
396:Alpacka
63:Pioneers
33:Packraft
865:Coracle
810:Canyon
785:Matkat
475:Viking
294:Liloing
259:Hunting
240:fishing
109:), the
834:Model
831:Maker
807:Supai
782:Supai
424:Scout
349:Model
346:Maker
274:Access
53:fjords
1137:8 Oct
875:Canoe
870:Kayak
837:Mass
766:210D
734:Tulo
433:200D
430:800D
408:200D
405:800D
352:Mass
184:Usage
1139:2013
826:Yes
802:Yes
791:70D
777:Yes
774:Yes
769:70D
757:NRS
752:Yes
731:MRS
726:Yes
705:MRS
700:Yes
674:Yes
656:XPD
648:Yes
645:Yes
622:Yes
619:Yes
596:Yes
593:Yes
570:Yes
519:Yes
493:Yes
441:Yes
416:Yes
391:Yes
388:Yes
51:and
49:bays
35:and
823:No
799:No
749:No
723:No
697:No
671:No
567:No
542:No
516:No
490:No
467:No
464:No
438:No
413:No
57:PFD
1154::
1129:.
1065:^
996:.
930:^
901:^
296:.
1141:.
1114:.
1088:.
1059:.
1033:.
1007:.
981:.
955:.
924:.
334:)
330:(
324:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
