Hello! I’m a new packraft owner - just picked up an Alpacka Caribou - and intend to use it almost exclusively on lakes and calm water.
I’m considering installing a skeg kit on it to improve tracking and cruising speed but does anyone here have experience with installing a skeg on a packraft? How was tracking before and after? Was it noticeably different?
Both boats are used. For more info, lots of pics, and a video I made of the Wolverine, see my post here. DM me through Reddit, or email me from that blog post if you're interested.
Asking $900 (OBO) for Wolverine and $400 (OBO) for Curiyak.
Venmo or Paypall FF, add G/S fee if you want. I'll ship to Lower 48 but hit me up if you’re in Alaska and we can figure out shipping.
This is a high-volume but lightweight (2lbs 13oz) load hauler backpack. The pack has been used about 12 days. It’s slightly dirty in places but is in otherwise good condition with no holes or tears.
The suspension is a lighter and simpler execution of the Exo Mtn Gear K4 hunting pack. It uses twin 25” 1/2”x1/8” 7075 aluminum stays that can be customized to the shape of your back. The stays insert directly into a full wrap hip belt with an 13” wide HDPE-reinforced lumbar area. The lumbar pad has removable dual-density foam that can be adjusted in thickness or replaced. I’ve used this suspension design on multi-day trips with 50 pound loads and have been pleased with how it carries.
It’s ideally set up for packrafting. The 90L volume will swallow bulky packraft and camping equipment. Large side pockets swallow paddles and other gear. The compression straps are compatible with a Sockdolager Equipment bow bag. The pack collapses easily to fit inside a packraft tube. While designed with packrafting in mind, it can be used for any application involving a bulky or heavy load.
The main pack is constructed from Ultra 200x, with a 400x bottom. Side pockets are Venom 210d Gridstop fabric with a UHMWPE grid pattern. All main pack seams are stitched and then bound with 1” grosgrain (so double stitched). The side pockets are dimensioned to give them significant useable volume (easily hold two nalgenes). They have replaceable shock cords, bottom corner drains, and pass through slots for the compression straps.
Hip belt and shoulder straps are made from Venom 210d Gridstop and 1/8” spacer mesh. The shoulder straps use 10mm genuine Evazote EV50 foam, and the hip belt is a slightly denser 17mm Evazote foam taken from an Exo Mtn Gear hip belt. Shoulder straps are attached ~20.” from the bottom of the hip belt. I have a ~19” torso and this is a good fit for me. It should fit an 18-20” torso depending on how you like the pack to ride. Best bet is to measure this same distance on a pack that fits you (assuming it has load lifters). The conical hip belt is ~31” long and should fit down to a 34” waist and up to a 38” waist. It has two independently adjustable 1” buckles for optimal fit.
A removable shoulder pocket is included that will fit a normal-sized smartphone, as is a removable hip belt zip pouch.
I’ve built well over 20 load hauler backpacks, and have been using them exclusively for my personal packrafting and extended backpacking trips for around 5 years. I am an amateur MYOG enthusiast who occasionally sells packs to fund the next project. MYOG is an expensive hobby! I use an industrial sewing machine, 1/2” seam allowances, and heavy-duty, bonded poly V69 tex 70 thread. I am not a pro but I’ve used my packs enough to feel good about the construction. If something fails due to my workmanship, I’ll make it right up to and including a refund. You can see other packs I’ve made at https://www.instagram.com/sew_dreamy__designs/
Asking $300 shipped to the lower 48. Inquire about shipping to AK. Payment via PayPal, I’ll cover the G&S fee.
Details:
Trying to choose between these two; Mekong that is 15L and Anfibio that is 32L (thanks to that guy who has made a chart to compare!).
I am mostly hesitetating because of size and price. Mekong's is 137€, Anfibio is 100€, so technically not so big difference in price, but what about the size? So far I have been using a 13L drybag and it is a bit of pain in the ass to tie and untie it to get access to my stuff. The size seems to be quite optimal, since I am doing mostly day trips. But I make one or five at max overnight (up to 2 nights) trips so then I guess that 32L would be better? I also don't have internal storage.
I also live in Europe and am not ordering anything from the US because of delivery times.
Crew of 8 of us rallied for a lap of the Young when it was unconditional at the beginning of the season. Heaps of fun. Been sat on this edit for a while, please to finally get it out there! Hope you enjoy 😉
Stoked to paddle this one clean. I hit it 2 years ago and flipping over on the landing, it felt so good to come back and land it clean.
Built my own tandem from a kit from DIY packraft. Took me 3 whole weekends.
Rewarding project, but not sure i want to do it again 🤣
I went to France with some friends to paddle the Ardèche. Three DIY packrafts and three Anfibios. However, there was very little water in the river due to a lack of rain in recent weeks, so we had to walk a lot. I would recommend the river to beginners because it has level 1 and 2 sections and lots of campsites.
Looking to do a chill solo packrafting trip starting at Cisco landing and ending in Moab. Would be looking to head back Sunday the 5th in the morning to noon. Curious if anyone will also be heading that way and wouldn't mind me tagging along. For locals or those familiar with what I'm trying to do, what do you think my chances are of making it to the Cisco pump house before dark?
Looking for ultralight PFD to pair with Alpacka Mule. This summer will be packing it 7 nights 70 - 80 miles. Always high alpine smaller lakes, never on the river.
Right now I'm looking at the Astral Airbelt 2.0 or the Astral EV-Eight. The latter could maybe be used as a pillow? My concern with the airbelt is it might dig into my back given the layout of the Alpacka blow up seat.
NRS Chinook will be used for shorter trips, just need something that doesn't make my pack weight even worse.
One month fully self-supported in the Finnish wilderness — food loaded on the packraft, fishing rod for backup. May in Finland means all four seasons at once: snow and sub-zero temps, rain, wind, 26°C days, thunderstorms.
I planned the route blind from satellite imagery at home, which made for some interesting surprises. Endless downed trees across the rivers, beaver dams, lots of unplanned portaging. Not enough sunny days to keep the solar panel happy, so the phone stayed off except for GPS.
Wildlife along the way: beaver, moose, capercaillie. All of it on the Pablo Mekong.
Great trip!
As the title says, I'm wondering how well the SB Mage performs in bigger, splashier water, particularly compared to something like a ducky.
Context: I'm looking into getting a Mage, and see a lot of people hyping up self bailing for a lot of reasons. I haven't done much packrafting but I have done a good amount of ducky runs in continuous class IV such as #s on the Arkansas and slaughterhouse on the Roaring fork, and the biggest problem I've had is getting swamped in the middle of a rapid and having to work super hard to be able to get through the rest of the rapid.
Right now I'm planning on getting a custom SB + decked combo but wanted to get some opinions from people who have run more continuous/technical class IV in the SB model.
Thanks!
Hey Yall I have an original Alpacka(classic/small) from 2013 which I love and am looking to pick up a new one that's a bit bigger for using with my dog who I didn't have when I got the original, mainly to be used to for day and multi day trips in Alaska in lake and river systems with portages as a canoe alternative.
Will likely go with a custom lab Mule, and am trying to decide on getting the outfitting option that includes backband and 3 point thigh straps. I don't plan on doing much whitewater, maybe some class 1-2 at some point, but more thinking for the added control this set up would bring to make paddling in rougher conditions on lakes more manageable. It's 250 for this set up, 125 for just the backband. I'm not sure if it's worth it not as much for the money, but for the extra bulk, weight, complexity. I like my alpacka because it's simple, and I'm looking to keep the Mule along those lines: Open boat with no self bailer floor, and no cargo fly. This would be around 7 lbs, or 7.5ish with 420D fabric. Thigh straps and backband would probably bring it up to about 8-9lbs.
Looking for opinions and experience from anyone on whether I should go with or without the thigh straps. And if the benefit will outweigh any drawbacks.
Also opinions on backband are welcome. I have back issues and am used to kayaks with excellent outfitting so would prefer something I can sit comfortably in for hours at a time, if backband makes a notable difference for your comfort would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
Edited to add: Thanks so much for the quick and helpful responses! Am planning to go with both thigh straps and backband based on the feedback received!
Looking to purchase my first packrafts. (1 for me and 1 for my kids to share) I am in Canada and was looking at Stikine Packrafts, anyone have any experience with them? Quality, customer service etc. Thanks.