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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 5, 2014 - 02:36am PT
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I'm looking to get into packrafting. Most of its use will be floating and drinking beer after climbing. Might get dragged along into more serious crap in the future.
Best brand? Good things to look for?
Other associated gear?
tips?
Do they make any with beer holders? If not, what is the best way to cut, stitch and seal a cup holder into one? On that topic, how hard would it be to sew in a soft insulated cooler compartment?
...Do big coolers float pretty well?
How much is a paddle for my cooler?
I live in alaska, so most of our water is cold... if that means anything. I"m assuming it does.
Cheers,
5.6
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bergbryce
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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You won't find anything about it here.
Alpaca Packrafts are the brand.
Here is the forum...
http://packrafting.org/forums/
Packrafting was essentially born in Alaska. I doubt you'll have any hands free doing a run on Glacier Ck. in Girdwood.
20 mile River more so, but you can float and drink Falls City on a $30 wal mart raft. packraft is a ~$1000 investment in AK, you need a paddle suit on top of the raft with spray skirt. if you want to float and drink, just get a wal mart junker and maybe think about finding some warmer water.
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rimeiceusa
climber
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sshhhhh . . . maybe happen' in Maine also.
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Chugach
Trad climber
Vermont
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Troll. Who needs a cooler in AK or paddles a cooler? What's there to climb in Hope outside of winter anyways?
Just in case you are serious...agreed with comments above, floating and drinking; go with the Walmart special. Plenty of people have raced the AMWC with a walmart special. For more serious, again, Alpaca.
I encourage you to pursue the sport, it's a blast and a great way to get deep in the bush with minimal weight and headache. But if you're into road-to-road creek running, I'd go with a regular old kayak.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Dont get any other than an Alpaca. I have had mine for about 6 years and it's bomber. You will love it. I did 7 days self supported through Labyrinth Canyon a few years ago. Cant wait to go back with climbing gear.
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MisterT
Trad climber
little gold truck
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Alpacka rafts are sweet, but a big investment. You might want to check out kokopelli (they are new, but look promising) for a step down in $, and maybe not much in quality. Another bigger step down would be klymit - not nearly as good for WW, but a big step up from a pool toy and pack tiny (35 oz). For cold water you want some sort of insulation on the floor.
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John M
climber
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This kind of cracked me up..
You won't find anything about it here.
since it was followed by..
Alpaca Packrafts are the brand.
just struck me as funny. Nope.. no information here.. no sirreee. oh.. but Alpaca is the brand.
heh heh.. and here is a forum about it.. but no information here, so ignore what I just said.. hahaha..
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Nothing better than a hot afternoon river run with a cold beer after climbing. This setup might be a bit light in the glacier fed stuff up there on a beautiful warm 65 deg day.. heh.
Still am doubting the river running after climbing near Hope AK. The Kenai maybe? Rest of the stuff seems like it might be a bit more involved for access. But where is the climbing around that..hmm
Anyway pack rafts ARE very popular in AK.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Pack rafting is popular in the Grand Canyon. Since boating requires a permit they make exceptions for pack rafting, there is a 5 miles per day limit and I think the raft has to be "low value" I think, the nice fancy ones disqualify you from the exception. Federal law requires a personal flotation device also. In the canyon you will be carry it in and out cheap and light is the ticket. Harvey Butchart was the pioneer with his crossings on inflatable mattresses.
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bobinc
Trad climber
Portland, Or
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The Supai Adventure gear packraft weighs under 2 lb and has so far stood up to some Grand Canyon abuse. It is also relatively compact. But if weight isn't a huge issue, the Alpaca should almost certainly last longer.
Also note the 5 mile packrafting limit in the GC is per permit, not per day.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Haitians are the experts on rafts although they call them bateaux.
I think you can buy their used ones through the Coast Guard.
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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May 12, 2014 - 03:43pm PT
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Hey fivesix,
I just came across your "10k dirtbag" thread. Is there a TR? Did you ever cut ties and sail the seas of fancy?
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thebravecowboy
climber
in the face of the fury of the funk
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May 12, 2014 - 03:53pm PT
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mhay
climber
Bishop, CA
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May 12, 2014 - 04:14pm PT
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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2014 - 03:28am PT
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Flip flop, the friends I was planning with did indeed sail. I threw away everything I owned except climbing gear, guitars and winter gear. Down sizing my life made me realize how limiting the sailing path was. Amazing, but, you're broke and restricted from a lot of things. I've taken up work in Australia and months off at a time. Thanks for asking.
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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May 25, 2014 - 10:15am PT
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interesting boat.
TFPU!
Edit: I want one.
Double Edit: Looks like about $1800 for the "perfect" white water rig.
Westwater Canyon anyone?
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Anxious Melancholy
Mountain climber
Between the Depths of Despair & Heights of Folly
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Jun 16, 2014 - 01:34pm PT
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I started with a <$20 pool toy Sevelor. Here's Stem on one in the grand Canyon after descending Cove Creek and on our way to Lava Falls "trail" exit.
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Then I got a used German rescue raft for $200. Heavy and bulky, but I didn't have the bucks fro more...
Can't say where...
GCNP Shinumo Descent
Then, since I'm a big guy, I got the NRS while my buddies got a Supai.
GCNP Cove Creek descent
Now a couple of them have switched to the Klymit rafts. On our last trip through GCNP we did 23 miles on the river and four canyons. While we each got tossed out on a rapid here and there, and portaged around a few others, I was really impressed with the apparent stability of the Klymit. (Not that I would ever fit in one!) And I'm not convinced they would be appropriate for cold or extensive white water because while I was mostly high and dry, they had to pull over and dump water out of their Klymits (or bail and bail) after ever class II event.
And anyone who can't figure out how to craft a cup holder should be ashamed of themselves.....
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
where the wind always blows
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Jun 16, 2014 - 02:05pm PT
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Jul 27, 2017 - 10:50pm PT
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Just saw a mention of this site over on wildsnow.com. I know little about this, but it looks interesting and possibly an inexpensive way to build a boat!
https://www.diypackraft.com/diy-packraft-overview/
If you want a high quality packraft without the high price of a manufactured model, you can save 80% by making your own using the same materials used by the best packraft suppliers. DIY Packrafts are made with heat-sealable fabric so no sewing and no special skills are required. An inexpensive heat sealing iron is the only tool you’ll need – if you can iron a shirt, you can make a packraft!
Is there anyone on the Taco who has tried this, or knows anyone who has gone the DIY route?
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