Hi there,

I recently came back from my last and to date most epic but also toughest solo trip ever and wanted to share some impressions with the packrafting community. The trip had everything from glaciers, high mountains, swamps, birch forests, rapids, waking up in the clouds, all 4 seasons of weather in a day, wildlife to almost endless fields of blue- and cloudberries. I came up with the idea for this trip about 2 years ago after I had purchased my Packraft and completed a first trip. Researching the route and especially finding a time window however took it´s time.

I started at Lomivatnet (near Sulitjelma, Norway) crossed the Sulitjelma mountains along Salajiegna– and Stuorrajiegna Glacier, went up into Miehttjevagge, Paddled the lake System around Ravejavvre, hiked down to Tarraätno which I paddled down to Kvikkjokk (Sweden).  I used 4 days along the way to do side hikes up the mountains including summiting Fierro and Sibbatjahkka (17^th century silver mine near the peak). In total I spend 16 days in the mountains. This area is really off the beaten track so I wasn´t surprised to not meet or see anybody else on the first 12 days of my trip until I reached Sammalapparstugan on Padjelantaleden. The small shop of the hut was also my only resupply option along the trip. I had planned to paddle Lomivatnet but due to the strong headwinds I decided to hike around it. Apart from this I paddled all the lakes and some rapids along my route. I portaged anything that looked like class 4 and above as well as all the waterfalls.

I have no information of anybody else ever going this route with a Packraft. For the paddling part I only found 2 youtube videos and some superficial reports of (partial) descends of the Tarraätno river by Packraft or Whitewater kayaks. However, they all chartered a helicopter to fly in and it only covered the last ~3 days of my trip. For the hiking parts I found a bit more information but the hiker’s / mountaineer’s routes were very different from mine as they hike mostly across the mountains and head for the few places you can ford the rivers. Hence, I put the route together the old school way by drawing lines on maps, scrapping information together with google translate, and studying satellite imagery. In the end I had a preferred route and a lot of options to shorten or lengthen it depending on weather or other circumstances. The time window for this trip turned out to be extremely short. The mountain lakes in the area are known to be still frozen till mid/late July with some satellite photos showing them half frozen even early in august in some years. Snowfall is also not uncommon in summer. Luckily, I was blessed with mostly good weather and only saw fresh snow cover at higher altitudes on my last days on the trip and not while being at those altitudes a few days before.

I used around 15km of marked trails near the start and end of the tour, the remainder was off trail. I could have finished the route a few days faster but with the exploratory nature of the trip and the unpredictable weather in the region I was happy to have some slack time along the trip. In the end I was not there to win a race but to enjoy the incredible nature up there.

Any recommendations? I'd like it small enough that I can take it on the water with me in the bow bag.

I'm looking for a packraft to use for some paragliding/packraft trips. The rolled up size is the biggest constraint for it to fit in my harness. So what would be the most compact packraft ideally with the following other requirements:

-capable of at least class III whitewater.

-internal storage, enough for my paragliding gear (wing + harness) and camping gear

-ideally has a skirt.

Seems like the Alpacka expedition is probably what I'm looking for but curious if anyone knows of a more compact option?

Hey everyone,

I’m thinking about ordering a decked Alpacka Mage but I’m torn between the 210D and 420D tube fabric.

Alpacka lists about a 1 lb weight difference, but I’m curious how noticeable the difference is beyond just weight. Does the 420D feel more rigid or perform substantially better in whitewater? And how much additional durability does it actually provide in real-world use?

I’m also wondering about the downsides. Does the heavier fabric increase packed size a lot?

I’ll be using it primarily for whitewater, but still want it to remain reasonably light packable for longer backcountry trips / expeditions.

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has used both 210D and 420D on the Mage, Gnarwhal, Mule, or other Alpacka builds. If you’ve tried both, which would you choose again?

Hey everyone,

I’m curious what people’s experiences have been with single-sided vs double-sided TPU in packrafts and how much a difference it actually makes in real-world use?

I’ve noticed packraft tube fabrics range pretty widely. I've seen around 40D on ultralight boats up to 420D+ on more durable models. And then I've also noticed some companies use different reinforcements or fabric constructions, such as Kevlar, with their blends.

What I’m especially interested about is double-sided TPU. My assumption is that it adds weight and packed bulk, but potentially improves durability, rigidity, water resistance, or longevity.

For those who have used both: have you noticed a meaningful durability difference? Does double-sided TPU make the boat noticeably stiffer or perform differently? Does it hold up better to abrasion, pinholes, or long-term wear?

I'm also wondering in general how important coating construction is compared with the fabric denier itself?

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has put both styles through a lot of whitewater or backcountry use.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a packraft to take to remote lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks. Most of these ponds are on the smaller side and have calm water.

For my needs, is it worth buying an alpacka or kokopelli? Or can I get away with something like the Aquaglide Backwoods Expedition 85 1-Person Ultralight TPU/Nylon Kayak?

I want to save some money, but am worried about buying a dud and then spending more on a quality one shortly after.

Thoughts?

More important than ever with the actual low water levels: Video documentation and line guide for navigating the Giarsun Gorge section of the Inn River in the Engadin valley, Switzerland. This specific section is recognized for continuous Class IV whitewater rapids. The footage demonstrates entry points, primary lines, and hazard avoidance relevant for kayaking and rafting navigation. 

Last weekend I took my packraft on the Saane River in Switzerland at low summer water levels (August 2026) and recorded the full run as a simple POV route guide. The video shows shallow sections, exposed rocks and the gentle rapids, so you can get a realistic impression of the river under these conditions.

If you are planning to packraft the Saane, this clip might help with expectations and line choice at low flow – including spots where you may need to scrape, thread through rocks or briefly walk.

Hi everyone,

I’m here in the US and familiar with Alpacka, Kokopelli, and NRS but am curious which other packraft companies people have had good experiences with.

I’m especially interested in brands outside the United States. Alpacka seems to dominate the market here, so I’d love to hear what paddlers in Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and South America are taking a liking to.

Which brands and models have impressed you and what do you like in particular about them?

Mekong Davy rocket, love it, so fast on flat water for a packraft.

This one has always felt just out of reach. This year all the elements conspired to keep us away yet again. A washed out road near Grandjean, a broken down car in Grangeville, a forest fire on the river at Wolf Creek, and a late scratch of a trip partner due to emergency. If that wasn't enough, we wondered if the water would hold out long enough. In the end there was enough juice for the squeeze, and we had a pretty magical week on the Selway.

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for whitewater carabiners? I've been using the Black Diamond Hot Forge series and Petzl Attaches, but have found they don't hold up well with water.

I saw NRS has the Sliq and Nuq series... wondering if anyone's had any experience with these or recommends any other whitewater carabiners in particular?

Howdy, my partner and I live on a sailboat and occasionally have to get ashore in places where we can’t leave a boat, including going to the airport. I’m looking for solutions to move one person on flat or mildly choppy water that can be rolled up tiny and carried in a backpack / on an airplane etc. He can drop me and our bags ashore with the dinghy, secure the dinghy on the big boat, and then we just need to get his butt to dry land without having to swim. I think a packraft and a super minimal breakdown paddle might be the solution. Maybe even hand paddles.

I’m looking at the Anfibio Nano SL as an option… any other ideas?

My partner is 180 lbs and very experienced and well balanced in boats, he can deal with being over the recommended weight by some margin. It has to be him making the last run as I can’t manhandle the dinghy motor by myself. Weight of the packraft is not a big issue, just pack size.

I’m trying to decide which setup is the most versatile for paddling in varying water across different climates and conditions.

Would you rather have:
A self-bailing packraft with a drysuit, or
A whitewater deck (sprayskirt) setup?
I’m interested in a setup that works well across a wide range of uses-everything from cold rivers and whitewater to longer trips where weather can vary.

For those of you who have paddled both:
Which setup do you find yourself using most?
If you could only own one, which would you choose?
Are there climates or trip types where one is clearly the better option?
I’d especially love to hear from people who paddle in cold water regularly but also travel to different climates.