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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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packable river raft 1
#26924998 - 09/08/20 04:59 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Was wondering if anyone has any experience or suggestions on a river raft that can be backpacked and carried a light load. How do the ones from Walmart hold up?
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The Influence
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26925014 - 09/08/20 05:14 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dont know about rafts or the ones from Walmart, but my inflatable Firefly kayaks can hold up to some ruff conditions. Have gone on day long trips down creeks with deadfall and rocks, to fishing on backwaters. Even recently had them out on Lake Michigan.

They were a birthday gift from my wife and never asked the price, but are loads of fun and pretty much everything youd want for backpacking. Love these things.
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Appreciate the tip mate. That looks a bit more sturdy than the Intex ones. You suppose you'd be able to strap that to a 80liter packand carry it a ways if you had to?
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The Influence
Free Sheeks



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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26925068 - 09/08/20 05:58 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Absolutely. Paddles bust down in two and are light as a feather. The kayaks themselves roll up great and are not heavy at all. Not sure on exact weight but I would guess 10-15 pounds. Could definitely strap one to a pack and head out.
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MadMuncher
destroy weyerhauser



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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26925519 - 09/08/20 11:46 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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much better plan. was going to suggest a river rafting trip in that other thread but idk not trying to give too much advice. you will run into a lot more bear by the rivers. are you in ak?
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mushmountain
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these may be expensive but I have gone through some hefty whitewater on them and they can pack a shitload of gear.
https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/
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GreenHorns
some kind of boogin



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The closest thing I can think of would be a fishing float tube. You won't be going white water rafting with it but you can wade down stream or cross rivers while staying basically dry.
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  As the spark of the dream ignites a flame of desire all we have is time and all to do is admire Spawning to Bulk Substate TEK General Myco Info / FAQ / Terminology
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Yes, I'm in Ak.
Quote:
mushmountain said: these may be expensive but I have gone through some hefty whitewater on them and they can pack a shitload of gear.
https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/
Good call. I was looking at these TPU ones. Look almost the same. Made in China thou. IDK of I trust it
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Inflatable-Lightweight-TPU-2-Person-River-Micro-PackRaft-Kayak-Canoe-NEW-/124264212367
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26932045 - 09/12/20 03:50 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Edited by Ogla (09/12/20 05:47 PM)
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GreenHorns
some kind of boogin



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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26932642 - 09/12/20 10:45 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Those look really cool. The descriptions don't give collapsed dimensions. I saw 1 was a 7lbs package which isn't too bad as far as extra weight in your pack. No returns too so if it isn't packable or practical to hike with you would be stuck with it.
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  As the spark of the dream ignites a flame of desire all we have is time and all to do is admire Spawning to Bulk Substate TEK General Myco Info / FAQ / Terminology
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
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The forager as listed in alpaca website Weight* 13.4lb | 6.10kg Packed Size** 20x10in | 51x25cm Max Capacity*** 1000lb | 453kg
And it's only $600 on eBay compared to $1700 on alpaca website.
Still doing research on the other one. I'm assuming it's heavier and larger because it's made of PVC and not TPU material. Thou as cool as the forager is, I might settle for something smaller
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The Influence
Free Sheeks



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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26934120 - 09/13/20 07:58 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Im telling you the Firefly is your best bet. Its by Advanced Elements btw. These things are fucking sweet. Never had them in white water, but think they would handle it. Whatever you choose, post it here if you would
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Dorfnob
J.U.I.C.E.


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I saw this cool kayak that folded into a carrying bag on my instagram a few days ago
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Dorfnob]
#26941447 - 09/17/20 10:03 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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https://ebay.com/usr/productsinternationalusa
This guy says he can do me a costum green or gray on the first auction. I was leaning towards the first or 5th. Aiming for something similar to the alpacka raft mule. Weight is a huge factor in all this. I figure a single person tent at about 6 pounds and the raft at about 8 pounds onto a backpack, I'm trying to go reliable but light. I'm dissing my alice pack of about 5 years and I'm gonna start building a mountain pack. The packraft and tent are the first add ons I'm getting for it. Need something that's hikable. Aiming for 40-50lbs total backpack weight with all added supplies, but that's for another thread
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26951356 - 09/23/20 03:50 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I bought two of them. The alpacka raft forager and i think the 2nd one is similar to a kokopelli rouge-lite although it says expedition raft.co on it.. I was kinda a spaz buy and an expensive one at that totalling $1300 with taxes! I was a bit worried about weight captivity with the first one which I think is 136ish kilos . I weigh about 100 kilos, I bought the forager and figured one raft can be a backup should something happen in the field or for a friend to use. The forager says it holds up to 1000lbs so that's good for me, a 40-60lb bag and a rifle/ fishing supplies and shit. But yeah, 1300$ is a bit steep. I'll consider that my bonus for the year .
Eventually i think i might get a thrid one specifically for class IV and V rapids cause I found out there are some at places I'm trying to go
https://www.ebay.com/i/124264246174?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225080%26meid%3D52c4712a87d04aa2a67799166ea39158%26pid%3D100694%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D124264280927%26itm%3D124264246174%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic
https://www.ebay.com/i/124264280927?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=124264280927&targetid=4580634169557068&device=m&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=403204666&mkgroupid=1232552749971191&rlsatarget=pla-4580634169557068&abcId=9300377&merchantid=51291&msclkid=221aea287a69184faef3b575466d92dc
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CHeifM4sterDiezL
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26967488 - 10/03/20 12:04 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yah those look pretty sweet bro. Something like that u want to spend on cuz u want a reliable quality. The other option would have been the folding skin kayaks or something
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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I'm waiting on them to come in the mail still. I think they are made when ordered. I was researching and I think maybe sometime early next year I am gonna get an alpacka raft decked with a self bailing floor and a skirt so I can ride rapids if I have to, or just for fun
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla] 1
#26999708 - 10/23/20 01:09 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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My packrafts have arrived. Was wondering if anyone can tell me what features make for the ranking of the packraft for classes of rapids. Is it the thigh straps or the self bailing floor? Can one ride some rapids in a packraft without a spray skirt or self bailing floor. Looking into some of the places I'm trying to go, it seems I should consider making my packraft rapid worthy
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CHeifM4sterDiezL
Chief Globerts


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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#26999737 - 10/23/20 01:26 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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I mean you could but any kinda serious rapids u could get swamped and end up in a potentially very dangerous situation especially in the middle of nowhere with all ur essential gear inside. I would recommend going very slow at first and getting used to what works and doesn't work with ur camping amd pack rafting gear then learn how to handle rapids which is actually incredibly technical. Atleast before trying some serious rapids or extended excursions.
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PrimeMulch
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27013029 - 10/30/20 10:33 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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I find that inflatables don't track well and are very heavy. The posts on here indicate people having no problem with inflatable kayaks.

I had a lot more fun with a small 70litre bag and floating down the river on an inflatable duck.
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: PrimeMulch]
#27235984 - 03/03/21 08:49 PM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
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I'm finally getting around to messing with rafts. They both seem real nice. I'm planning to float some rivers soon
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CHeifM4sterDiezL
Chief Globerts

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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27240008 - 03/06/21 07:43 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah that looks of decent quality.
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Rue

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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27287274 - 04/29/21 10:49 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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If you can, try and meet someone that can run you through the basics of river safety in person. Preferably find a friend willing to go on some trips with you to teach you how to read water. Whitewater classifications don't always track with the danger of the river. I've been on rivers that don't have rapids, but fast water, narrow channels, strainers and sweepers galore, and undercut banks still made it extremely dangerous.
If you know all this already, it's just a PSA to others. I've almost lost friends in the outdoors, and making sure everyone is safe at the end of the day is my number one priority. Be careful and have fun.
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Rue] 1
#27287372 - 04/30/21 01:26 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Im down to meet up, but I didn't waste any time getting in the water. I've already been on about 7 rivers and one lake so far. Hits parts of the rio grande and other recreational rivers in Texas. Then I road tripped cross country and found cool spots like lake powell and the flathead river. I passed by many. There was so many rivers I couldn't stop at them all. Snake river looked cool, there was one in Wyoming in thought look tight. Most recently I spent 3 days trying to catch a sturgeon on the colombia river. I hit a few key points on the river including the gorge, the dam and where it meets at the williamette river. All I caught was a trout. Im thinking I need to go to Astoria or there's this place a several hundred miles upriver called wanapum lake. I was also thinking of going to the washington straights to try and get a halibut. There's so much to do and not enough to do it all. And yes, I have lots of photos, but it be considered spam if I posted them all. Heres a select few. The very last pic is Mexico on the other side
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CHeifM4sterDiezL
Chief Globerts

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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27287481 - 04/30/21 05:24 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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What were u using for sturgeon we usually catch Atlantics by accident fishing for cat fish. Theyre supposed to be super endangered ur not even legally allowed to take them out or water to unhook them but there sure seems be a bunch of them
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Rue

Registered: 02/15/14
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27287756 - 04/30/21 11:14 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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That looks like a lot of fun! The lower canyons of the Rio Grande have been on my list of places to paddle for a few years. If you end up in the southwest again, the Moab daily section of the Colorado is a really fun introduction to whitewater. The Escalante is a perfect river for a packraft on years with high enough flow. It'll flow for a few weeks out of most years. The San Juan is also an excellent southwest river to check out.
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Land Trout
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Rue]
#27287788 - 04/30/21 11:52 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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We would pack these 12’ nrs otters with a small rowing frame, maybe a 1/4 mile up a hill. Strap them to a moose packing frame, they worked great, would fish two guys just fine while one rowed. Kind of a Beast for packing but made an awesome fishing platform for semi accessible backcountry. But those alpaca rafts are what most people use for real multi terrain expeditions. Lightweight, so more delicate, but people use them for pretty real adventures. We’re getting a few of those origami paddlers, super excited for them to show up. Shit, posted all that before I saw the second page of the thread. Looks like a fun little craft
Edited by Land Trout (04/30/21 11:58 AM)
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Rue]
#27287932 - 04/30/21 02:22 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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I've tried shrimp , squid , surimi and hot dogs to try and catch a sturgeon. I also had to rethink my tackle. I haven't gotten a bite from a sturgeon yet. I was watching a video that people were catching and using small trout so I tried catching bait on an ultra light pole, no luck. Im ither fishing in the wrong spot at the wrong time or something. I just read an article that open sturgeon fishing is in may up to 40 miles inland from the Coast on the Colombia river. Im thinking I need to go I her upstream or downstream more and reconsider what I'm using for bait. It's not over yet, I'll
Quote:
Rue said: That looks like a lot of fun! The lower canyons of the Rio Grande have been on my list of places to paddle for a few years. If you end up in the southwest again, the Moab daily section of the Colorado is a really fun introduction to whitewater. The Escalante is a perfect river for a packraft on years with high enough flow. It'll flow for a few weeks out of most years. The San Juan is also an excellent southwest river to check out.
I went thru Moab on my way up north. I thought something was up when I noticed an awful lot of jeeps and off-road cars in the area and then I saw the sign for Arches Park. It looked cool and I wanted to stop, but I didn't want to deal with the crowd. There were so many people and it looked packed. It did look like some fun in the sun thou
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,314
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Re: packable river raft [Re: Ogla]
#27294006 - 05/04/21 01:25 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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I just bought this twin series packraft, which I assume is alot like what I already have but seats two. I did include the tie zip option. I'm looking into a whitewater raft. I was just about to say Fuck it and buy an alpaca raft., seems to cost an extra 500-1000$ just for the alpaca brand. Im undecided, but I'm definitely trying to get at least one more raft specifically for white water. Might go with the same Australian vendor, but he seems to lack anything with a spray skirt. I'll give it a little more and a little more thought
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/303926340496
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