Packrafting

When the snow starts to melt on the high plateaus above the canyon country of Utah, intermittent rivers start to flow, and I start refreshing the USGS site every few hours looking for an upward trend that means it’s time to go boating. Often these rivers flow between February and …

Don’t let the goofy appearance of the Klymit LiteWater Dinghy (LWD) fool you. This oddly shaped inflatable boat is masterfully designed for flatwater use even though it looks much different from other packrafts. Affordably priced, it provides an enormous amount of value and should definitely be on your shortlist if …

The Supai Adventure Gear Matkat is an ultralight single chamber packraft designed for flatwater wilderness paddling. Weighing just 26.5 ounces, it rolls up quite compactly making it easy to carry inside a backpack. However, the Matkat is made with lightweight polyester that requires delicate handling. While this makes it lightweight and easy to …

The MTI AdventureWear Journey PFD life vest is a lightweight Type 3 PFD that weighs just 14.4 ounces (in a size L/XL – smaller sizes are also available), making it an excellent option if you’re looking for a well-tested and bombproof commercially available life jacket for packrafting. Weight is a …

The Supai Adventure Gear Olo Lightweight Paddle is specifically designed for packrafting, a sport that combines backpacking and rafting in inflatable boats on whitewater or flatwater. This review explores the use of the Olo paddle for flatwater paddling since Supai only makes flatwater boats. While you can use the Olo …

Packrafting with an inflatable raft is a fun way to enhance your backcountry adventure by giving you the ability to travel over water, not just overland by foot. However, water-based travel introduces a new set of risks and the need for additional gear, including a personal flotation device (PFD), to …