Different packrafts?

AXEL

WKR
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
315
Location
Brit. Col.
I need a solid packraft, for mountain lakes, Kootenay Lake, fishing/hunting and just fun. I am not familiar with what is out there and would appreciate any and all advice or interested opinions from anyone here. I have big water/small boat experience, but, new gear is coming out all the time.

So?????????
 
Of the options out there, 3 of which that come to mind are packable, meaning you can forge overland for some distacne to use them within a reasonable weight capacity.

Alpackas
Great little crafts, I started out with one but upgraded. My above-hobbit stature lent itself to being a bit cramped even in their largest craft. Not a big load capacity, single tube design, standard floor.

NRS No experience here.

PR-49
Heavier of the 3, 800#+ load capacity.
 
Alpackas are proven and still the gold standard for all-around wilderness use. They're a good balance of light weight and performance. I have two, have used the hell out of them, and am quite happy.

The Kokopelli rafts are almost Alpacka copies, and I believe the company was started by former Alpacka employees. Not too many field reports yet, but seems like a good product. Never seen one in person.

The PR-49 looks cool, but is way too heavy for me. Obviously the way to go if you have a moose to move.

Aside from a few other Alpacka copies poping up over in Europe, the above are the only rafts worth considering. Other stuff like NRS and Klymit are too fragile.
 
I used a Kokopelli packraft last year caribou hunting off the haul road. They are bomber. We dragged them threw thick bush and across shallow water with zero issues for 10 days. My buddy runs the Alpaca and really likes it. Those would be my top picks for lightweight bomb proof packrafts. The PR-49 is double the weight but is a two man and can carry 850 lbs of gear.

DSC01906_zps9effa955.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
PM me if you decide to get a kokopelli. I'm selling a NIB Renegade with T-zip for $825. Wife wants me to get a two man so we can do trips around here.
 
I have used the alpacka rafts and also the PR 49 quite a bit up here in AK, and both have their place depending on the purpose of the trip. As others have said, the alpackas weigh less, but they are also considerably smaller and can accomodate less gear. The PR49 can accomodate two people, or one person and a lot more heavy cargo.

It has been my experience that even with a spray skirt on the Alpaca, water gets inside. Just getting into the boat you usually end up with some water transferred off your footwear, and more often leaks in from above even with the spray skirt. The design of the alpaca is such that you end up sitting in water because you sit down in the bottom of the boat. Even in flat water, sitting in an alpaca is a wet ride. The spray skirt, particularly with a pack or other gear on top will also restrict the movement of your legs beneath it. I nearly always use paddle or rain pants if I use an Alpaca to keep from getting cold between being wet and the lack of movement. The Alpaca is significantly lighter, and likely more maneuverable because its smaller. It is certainly narrower as well.

Even though the PR49 is open at the top, the cargo panel chairs mean you are sitting up above the bottom of the boat where you can stay mostly dry. The larger tube sizes on these boats seem to keep you from taking as much water over the front too, at least in conditions that aren't super splashy. I find the cargo panel seating a lot more comfortable because it lets me change position more easily and my legs arent trapped underneath the spray skirt.

















 
Last edited:
AXEL,

For what you are describing the Kokopelli or Alpacka would be the ticket. Kokopelli can be had for cheaper. I just picked one up a couple months ago, but haven't had a chance to use it yet obviously but will certainly.

The PR-49 makes sense if you are wanting to primiarly hunt caribou or moose (need atleast 2 rafts per one moose). Or if you are wanting to float two people on one raft. The Alapackas are half the weight but a PR-49 for two people is about the same weight as two Alpackas for two people so thats about a wash there.

For what you are describing though I think a Denali Llama from Alpacka or a Kokepelli style raft would more than meet your needs. I the PR-49 would be overkill for what you need.

Like Becca mentioned though riding in the PR-49 with two folks I find more comfortable than being in my Alpacka raft just by how you sit in them for longer floats. If running rapids are on the adgenda then without question Alpacka is the way to go.

Just need to decide which packraft is the best tool for what you are wanting to do, but at first brush based off your description on what you are wanting to do I would say a Denali Llama without the spray skirt would be perfect for ya.
 
Many thanks to all of you for responding and I also found a Vancouver-made raft, quite costly, but, very high quality and I now know what I want....the PR-49, due to size, and sitting position as I have serious spinal issues that really control what I can/cannot do, especially in respect of sitting positions.

I also want to take this out on Kootenay Lake, 75 miles long, 5 wide, 450 ft. deep, glacial fed and bloody cold, but, trout to 50+ lbs historically. I want to flyfish the creek mouths and hunt the same creek drainages in Sept/Oct. and it gets ROUGH, so, a larger rig suits me better.

For heli-trips, this would also be suitable, but, a smaller/lighter raft might be better......
 
Axel, we're having a sale on the PR-49 this month to extend the offer to non-alaskans who like to save some coin. You guys in Canada get the royal Bendover when it comes to shipping and customs, so any bit helps.

$1350 for the standard model pkg and $1400 for the HD pkg.

Happy to help if and when you decide the PR-49 is the ticket.

larry

907-388-2477

BTW, the Vancouver-based company made my original model (Big Rig), but they now call it the Beast. They still recommend sitting on the floor and using the cargo modules for gear suspension, which i highly disagree with. If you opt for that model, forgo the floor option with inflatable back and butt rest and sit atop the modules. Just my 2 pennies worth. If you do go with that model, you might find the HW fabric a better match for rugged use. But more spendy!
 
Yeah Feathercraft makes some good stuff certainly. That said they are very proud of them, and I found overtime air could leak around the valves if not pressured up all the way it seems. And for the type of rafting I do I don't need a self bailing raft. Sounds like the PR-49 would work great for your needs. I am flying one to Kodiak next week with me in case I want to hunt the other side of the bay. Easy to check it, the pump, PFD, and paddles along with a bunch of other misc gear and still stay under the 50 mark for checked baggage. Super nice to have along on fly out trips like this to just give you more options, weather to hunt the other side of a bay or even just the other side of a river. Light enough to take along on trips, and larger enough to float a good sized load or atleast make trips.

Hard to go wrong with a PR-49 certainly especially given the price.
 
I own 2 nrs packrafts. I've used them mostly for crossing lakes and rivers while hunting and hiking. My buddy has an alpaca and his seems a little more durable. But the nrs are considerably less expensive...
 
Back
Top