expedition playbook: packrafting

​A decade ago, few adventure racers had ever seen a packraft, and many had not even heard about the sport that traces its roots back to Alaskan backcountry exploration and the famous Alaskan Mountain Wilderness Classic. In the ensuing years, the sport has taken off and is now commonplace in many expedition-length events in the US. Even shorter events are beginning to integrate packrafting into their courses. Along the way, there has emerged a cottage industry around the sport, with multiple companies producing great boats to match different price points and many outfitters offering rental service to racers and adventurers alike.

​Unlike other equipment, investing in a raft can be intimidating: compared to bikes, headlamps, or other standard items found in a gear closet, it can be hard to test out packrafts or even get your hands and eyes on them to assess them before laying down the credit card. In this edition of the Expedition Playbook, we aim to offer guidance on some of the basics, but we will not be dissecting nuances like seats, materials, gear storage, and inflators (manual and electronic; yes, there are electronic inflators teams are using).
 
For more information on some of these details and more (including DIY options), check out this article. And as always, ask around. Many experienced racers have invested in boats at this point, and most have experience with different brands. Online reviews can be helpful, but beware: many packrafters are not racing with their boats, so what might work for the average rafter might not translate well to AR and racing.
 
Before we dive in: one elephant in the room: WHICH raft should we buy? We will save specific recommendations for the end of the article, but here are some considerations worth exploring.

cost

Perhaps the number one question that comes up for the new packrafter is: how much money do I need to invest in this equipment?
 
It’s a fair question, and even cheaper packrafts can carry a degree of sticker shock, as they will still run you at least several hundred dollars. Some considerations:

• Goals. If you are a competitive adventure racer or looking to be competitive, you really need to invest in a high-end raft. It’s true, you may be able to “make up for it” on other stages, but keep in mind that top racers are really good at all disciplines. If they are able to complete a rafting stage several hours faster than you because of the speed of their boats – and they all have top-end boats – you are not likely to make that up on other stages boats.
• Comfort. Even experienced teams who aren’t necessarily competing for a pointy-end finish are typically paddling in higher-end boats. These boats tend to be lighter, and they are faster and more efficient in the water. This means less overall wear and tear, both when you are paddling the boat and when you are hauling it overland. And the less energy you need to expend hauling a large brick or trying to keep a glorified innertube heading in the right direction, the more energy you’ll have for later in the race.
• Durability. Top-line boats tend to be constructed with more durable materials and can weather the wear and tear of a race better. Especially if you will be paddling in moving water and are likely to encounter rocks or debris, a higher-end boat is more likely to reach the far TA intact.

So… what about the cheaper boats? Are you saying I have to shell out four figures for a boat?
 
Not necessarily. Consider the following, and if you can check off these boxes, then you might be fine with a more affordable option.
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Fair warning: we managed to sink one of these mid-level rafts in the middle of a lake at the 2012 Untamed New England: bad seam.

• The rafting will be tame. If you know you will be on flat water or relatively low stakes moving water, a cheaper boat might be okay. Your main consideration here is how a less durable boat will hold up in the waters you’re being asked to paddle. Some events allow for this sacrifice with no real risk of damage.

• Some cheaper boats are also light, but many are bigger and heavier. Make sure that your team is prepared to pack and haul that gear. Make sure you get a sense of how long you will have to physically carry the equipment, and then experiment with packing to make sure you can handle it. Remember, you will be carrying boats, paddles, PFDs, and possibly additional gear like extra clothing, helmets, or even a dry suit. You’ll need a pack suitable to haul all the gear and you will need a system to pack it so you don’t end up dropping gear or having it damaged on a bushwhack. If you can plan for all that and don’t mind carrying extra volume and weight, go for it.
• Competition isn’t a priority. Typically, teams tend to lose less time to the leaders on paddling legs when everyone is in standard boats. On foot or bike, teams can open up hours and hours of time on chasing teams. The spread on an expedition-length trekking stage could easily be ten hours or more between the fastest teams and the slowest, whereas the gap in canoes or kayaks will likely be less, relatively speaking. But packrafts really can make a huge difference. A top tier raft might be two or even three times faster than a lower-end brand. Paddling skill and strength might not make any difference. If you truly don’t care about performance when rafting, spending less might make sense, especially if you reinvest in a lighter bike or better lighting.

Two further considerations as you decide whether and how to invest in rafts.
 
First: many seasoned racers started their packrafting careers in more affordable boats, convincing themselves (and being convinced online) that there isn’t much difference between lower-end and higher-end brands. Often, these racers ended up reinvesting in new rafts within one or two races, after seeing how different they actually perform on the water. If you have plenty of disposable income, maybe this isn’t a big deal, but investing in a $500 boat only to go out and buy an $800-1000+ boat within a year or two is a bummer.
 
Second: Especially in day-long events, you’ll see some teams invest in what literally might be a pool toy. Odds are good that this isn’t what race directors had in mind when they were designing the packraft section of their race. If it happens to be a relatively superficial and short section, you may be able to get away with a $40 beach raft from Amazon, but more likely than not, your experience probably won’t end well.
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doubles vs singles

 Another common question that comes up: do we buy a tandem raft or a single

Doubles	Singles
​More expensive, but sometimes cheaper than the cost of two singles, depending on which singles you are considering.	​More affordable; they also tend to be more comfortable. Even the best tandems can get pretty cramped with two racers and gear.
For open water and nontechnical rivers, doubles tend to be faster.	If you are up against more legitimate whitewater, singles tend to perform better (assuming everyone is comfortable paddling in such conditions). They are more maneuverable if a river is full of obstacles.
Because doubles are longer, they perform more like a small canoe or kayak might, better able to track in the water.	Singles weigh less and pack easier. They also are quicker to inflate.
Benefits of two people in a boat, like any other boat: easier to communicate, keep each other company, and keep things going when someone needs to eat, drink…or even sleep.	​More boats on the team allows for more flexibility if a boat is damaged.

Of course, all races are different, and unless you really are a gear junkie, you probably aren’t going to invest in multiple rafts for different conditions (though many experienced racers do, over the course of several years). Some additional general considerations:

• MOST races, short and long, avoid throwing racers into truly difficult paddling conditions when designing packrafting legs. You are unlikely to see Class IV whitewater in a packraft. In fact, most RDs won’t send you into Class III rapids, and many only utilize flat water or relatively tame moving water.* Keep in mind, even relatively beginner or intermediate water can be challenging and pose a lethal threat to an inexperienced, cold, or tired racer.
• Because MOST rafting tends to be staged in relatively accessible conditions, experienced teams and paddlers will often employ double rafts because they are faster. And they always are faster on flat water or gentle rivers that are deep enough and don’t require much maneuvering.
• Teams tend to split on the importance of spray decks. Again, every once in a while, you may find yourself in conditions where they are beneficial. But more often, they are not necessary and just add weight and set-up time. If you elect to leave them home, you should be prepared to be wetter and colder, and potentially to dump your boat once in a while. But if racing is the goal, you should be okay without them in most events.*
• Finally, consider non-racing interests. Will you be rafting recreationally? In what seasons do you plan to paddle? Will you be alone, or with a friend, family member, teammate, or pet? In what conditions? Make sure you do your homework as different rafts really are designed for different circumstances.

​*Expedition Oregon is the clear exception to these norms. The race often includes more technical paddling. It’s safe to assume that teams you should be more prepared for this race than most, and if there is ever a time to consider extra gear like spray decks, it’s here.

Training

​If you have considerable paddling experience, transitioning to a packraft may be relatively straight forward. They will handle differently than kayaks and canoes, but you will likely be able to adjust using your experience quickly enough.
 
Even then, it is valuable to seek out instruction and guidance from experienced packrafters. And if you are jumping into packrafting without much paddling experience, you absolutely should consider some training. In the Northeast, Eric Caravella recently started Packrafting Adventures. Training like this is invaluable, and Eric is offering discounted rates to registrants of a number of adventure races that are including packrafting in 2022, including the Endless Mountains. Reach out to us or to Eric for details.
 
While packrafting is still a fledgling discipline under the American Canoe Association, a growing number of instructors often are able to set up courses for teams or small groups if there are no available classes.

the goods

​OK. “Just tell me what to buy,” you say.
 
We’ll begin at the beginning: the history of adventure racing, in the USA at least, has long been intertwined with Alpacka Raft. For over a decade Alpacka dominated the packrafting industry. There were a few other companies offering more affordable options that some swore performed nearly as well. They didn’t. In these boats racers often encounted torn-out bottoms, ripped seams, poor tracking, and heavier weights (while still being more damage-prone). In short, no one could hang with Alpacka.
 
In recent years, however, a number of new and exciting options have hit the market, which has opened up all sorts of new, and more complicated, decisions for adventurers. In 2022, you will see a more diverse array of packrafts at any given race, even among the more competitive and experienced teams. For one summary of some of the recognized brands, check out the relevant section in this article.

At Rootstock Racing, we are excited about our new partnership with Microrafting USA. MRS packrafts have cemented themselves as a go-to raft on the international racing scene; many elite racers in the South Pacific, Asia, and Europe rate these as their top choice for both racing and adventuring. Their Barracuda model, in particular, has emerged as a perfect boat for adventure racers. Fast, sleek, and roomy (by packraft standards) this tandem boat has risen to the top of the packraft market. For racers looking for the perfect expedition race tandem, MRS offers two versions of the Barracuda – a standard model and one with a spraydeck option.

​As new partners with MRS, we will be updating this page with a link to an official review of the Barracuda once we are able to launch it for its maiden voyage. By all existing accounts, though, this boat is unrivaled by any other model currently on the market.
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concluding thoughts

​As always, start where you are. If you only plan to raft once a year, perhaps renting a higher-end boat is a better investment than purchasing a lower-end one. Packrafting Adventures and Back Country Packrafts are both great options for rentals. If you see yourself rafting more regularly, think about your needs, interests, and how much you want to invest.
 
Financial considerations aside, know that packrafting is not quite as straightforward as it seems. It takes time to figure out how to pack efficiently, how to inflate and deflate the boats quickly, how to stow your gear once you hit the water, and how to share a small boat if paddling a tandem. The boat will handle differently, especially in whitewater, from your standard canoe or kayak. Showing up to a race without any experience will likely result in a fair degree of frustration.

​A mantra of any outdoor enthusiast is to know your gear. This is especially true of packrafts, and there are as many, and maybe more, unique considerations to the sport that come into play OFF the water. Select or rent your boats, practice packing, inflating, and paddling.

​And have fun. Packrafting is a blast and opens a new world of weekend exploration.