With the advancement of modern fabrics and materials there is room for innovation at a seemingly unlimited rate. \u00a0There exist today amazing materials to make new things from and bring to reality what were previously only visions. \u00a0Imagine a flotation device with similar capabilities as a kayak that weighs ~10-11 lbs. \u00a0Then think about this raft in a form that is packable, yet extremely durable. \u00a0Next, envision the ways it can be used for great adventure and you have the packraft. \u00a0This concept has in actuality been around for a long time, never has it been so easily or safely achievable.<\/p>\n
Where solo float trips were impossible because of logistics, they are now very much doable. \u00a0No more need for a second car to get you back to where you where. \u00a0If you have a packraft, lifejacket, backpack and bike you are good to go. \u00a0Take the wheels off the bike, strap everything onto your raft and get on the water. \u00a0When you reach your end point on the water, take out, assemble bike and ride back. \u00a0No more paying for a driver to go from one point to another. \u00a0The days of needing another person for their car are gone. \u00a0This is a game changer!<\/p>\n
Kayaking is so much fun, right?! \u00a0There is a small local river than would be very cool to go down but there is no insertion point where I can park and walk 20′ to put my kayak in. \u00a0No problem. \u00a0You can now hike to where you want put in, inflate packraft and go. \u00a0When you are ready to get off the water, take out, pack up and hike back. \u00a0Seriously, this has never been easier to do. \u00a0This beats a long walk over rocky terrain with a 20 pound solid kayak any day of the week.<\/p>\n
Even the sport of hunting in remote areas can be made easier by use of packraft. \u00a0Think of how much easier it would be if you could float your harvest to the nearest point on a waterway by where your vehicle is parked? \u00a0This is a huge improvement over hauling it back on foot or by bike. \u00a0Using a packraft allows you to go further and access more areas in less time that over wise are untouchable. \u00a0It doesn’t get much better than this.<\/p>\n
Concepts such as inter tubes, small floating inflatable devices and other such items have been around for a very long time. \u00a0The realization of the packraft is arguably first seen used by Dick Griffith in his exploration of Copper Canyon in Mexico. \u00a0He used an inflatable raft to access and traverse the terrain here in 1952. \u00a0Since Dick’s first trip, there have been a cascade of innovation on these rafts and their design. \u00a0Many people with many uses have utilized these amazing crafts to their advantage in order to access more.<\/p>\n
A few small, made-in house outfits or departments of larger companies have popped up to market and produce packrafts. \u00a0The big ones are Alpacka Raft, Kokopelli Packraft, NRS, Feathercraft, MRS, Nortik, Aire, Koaro, Ironraft and DIY Packraft. \u00a0The last one isn’t a finished product company and as the name suggests, DIY Packraft sells kits for the end users to assemble at a highly reduced cost. \u00a0My experience with Alpacka Rafts has been wonderful, no problems and I would highly recommend them. \u00a0At the moment, I have an order in production for a Caribou with their internal gears storage system. \u00a0Also, I have been building (for a long time) a large raft kit from DIY Packraft.<\/p>\n
There are places these crafts can be rented from, some companies do loaner programs for certain uses or expeditions. \u00a0Look into what your options are if the price is too rich. \u00a0They are not inexpensive but for what you get with them and the quality on some, I can say they are worth the cost. \u00a0Packrafts open up doors to adventures and modes of travel that before where locked closed. \u00a0The access you get from using them is almost unbelievable. \u00a0I greatly dislike this over used cliche but it fits here- packrafts are a game-changer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"