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Anyone Into Packrafting?

sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I think I'm ready to make the plunge. Backpacking trips can have so much more range if you can carry a raft with you where you go. They're from 1.5-3 lbs.
 
Rock Taco

Rock Taco

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy
I dont think I can afford another hobby! It does look like a lot of fun though.

[video=youtube;i_3g1SH6mLY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_3g1SH6mLY[/video]

[video=youtube;und4maosef4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=und4maosef4[/video]
 
ozzy702

ozzy702

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy, UT
sixstringsteve said:
I think I'm ready to make the plunge. Backpacking trips can have so much more range if you can carry a raft with you where you go. They're from 1.5-3 lbs.
Click to expand...

Really? I was under the impression that they weighed much more than that but wow... the possibilities if that is the case. Stop putting ideas in my head.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I thought the same thing until I was did some research. Imagine the possibilities of a backpacking trip if you can float 10+ miles across rivers. I was initially weary about their sturdiness, then I saw this video:

[video=youtube;5pvMIXSTnNY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pvMIXSTnNY[/video]

And this one: (last 30 seconds are pg-13)
[video=youtube;FW_WDoOuCt4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW_WDoOuCt4[/video]
 
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sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I've been teetering on the edge to get a kayak, then I discovered these. I don't plan on running whitewater much, but the ability to backpack to the uintas, swell, moab, vernal, anywhere there's a little creek with enough water. Plus it'd be fun for float days on the Provo river, or to take up to Pittsburgh lake, traverse Powell, the opportunities are endless. Plus storing this is 100x better than storing a sea kayak, and I don't need a roof rack or trailer to transport it.



Here are a few other videos that got me pumped.

[video=vimeo;73018838]http://vimeo.com/73018838[/video]

[video=vimeo;73059748]http://vimeo.com/73059748[/video]

[video=vimeo;73062087]http://vimeo.com/73062087[/video]
 
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jallen9

jallen9

Active Member
Location
Midland, TX
my dad went on a trip out in the borderlands (or something, I can't remember) for a week or so in minnesota. man it looked like so much fun. he's going to do it again this summer, either that or going on a trip in a pirate ship (I think) and I'm going to go. i'm pretty excited.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
There's a company in SLC that rents packrafts (packraftrental.com). I'd like to rent one for a trip and see how I like it. They sure aren't cheap to buy though...
 
mesha

mesha

By endurance we conquer
Location
A.F.
jallen9 said:
my dad went on a trip out in the borderlands (or something, I can't remember) for a week or so in minnesota. man it looked like so much fun. he's going to do it again this summer, either that or going on a trip in a pirate ship (I think) and I'm going to go. i'm pretty excited.
Click to expand...

this post is awesome.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I finally found a pack raft in my budget and skill level:

http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Explorer-200-Boat-Set/dp/B000051ZHS/ref=pd_sim_t_4

Yes, it's a piece of crap. It's half the price of renting a real pack raft for a day. I may have to give it a try. I'll still need my own PFD and paddle, but this might just scratch the itch enough to see how much I would actually use a packraft. With enough tyvek tape, I think it could get me through a trip or two.



This guy used one for a couple trips.

http://blog.hillmap.com/search/label/Homemade Packraft
 
Spork

Spork

Tin Foil Hat Equipped
Location
Saratoga Springs, UT
sixstringsteve said:
I finally found a pack raft in my budget and skill level:

http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Explorer-200-Boat-Set/dp/B000051ZHS/ref=pd_sim_t_4

Yes, it's a piece of crap. It's half the price of renting a real pack raft for a day. I may have to give it a try. I'll still need my own PFD and paddle, but this might just scratch the itch enough to see how much I would actually use a packraft. With enough tyvek tape, I think it could get me through a trip or two.



This guy used one for a couple trips.

http://blog.hillmap.com/search/label/Homemade Packraft
Click to expand...

I used to use one like the amazon link on my parents pond when I was a kid, it was great fun, we would throw moss at each other until they went flat and wouldn't keep us out of the water about an hour later. ;)
 
Rock Taco

Rock Taco

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy
sixstringsteve said:
I finally found a pack raft in my budget and skill level:

http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Explorer-200-Boat-Set/dp/B000051ZHS/ref=pd_sim_t_4

Yes, it's a piece of crap. It's half the price of renting a real pack raft for a day. I may have to give it a try. I'll still need my own PFD and paddle, but this might just scratch the itch enough to see how much I would actually use a packraft. With enough tyvek tape, I think it could get me through a trip or two.



This guy used one for a couple trips.

http://blog.hillmap.com/search/label/Homemade Packraft
Click to expand...

For that price just get 2 and reinforce the bottom with the second one. Oh and up your life insurance.
 
ID Bronco

ID Bronco

Registered User
Location
Idaho Falls, ID
sixstringsteve said:
I finally found a pack raft in my budget and skill level:

http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Explorer-200-Boat-Set/dp/B000051ZHS/ref=pd_sim_t_4

Yes, it's a piece of crap. It's half the price of renting a real pack raft for a day. I may have to give it a try. I'll still need my own PFD and paddle, but this might just scratch the itch enough to see how much I would actually use a packraft. With enough tyvek tape, I think it could get me through a trip or two.



This guy used one for a couple trips.

http://blog.hillmap.com/search/label/Homemade Packraft
Click to expand...


Try it with a real one, then you'll know if you really like it. $50 for a rental is not bad for a great day out there.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I have no doubt I'll like it, but I don't have any friends with packrafts, so I doubt I'd use it much. I can, however, talk my friends into a $15 boat. :D I'd just use it for goofing around on the provo, muddy, san juan, etc rivers, not for actually doing a long overnighter on it.
 
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