What size boat should I get?

Most boaters will want a boat that fits snugly but doesn't cramp their legs. We have a special page to help you choose your boat size: click here to go to our sizing page.

How durable are Alpacka rafts?

Our boats are very durable for their size and weight, and we see very few punctures, even in hard use.  That said, our fabric is also chosen for light weight. We recommend you never packraft any stretch of water you aren't capable of swimming out in a worst-case scenario. Some of our world-class boaters do Class IV-V water and waterfall drops, but they're also superb paddlers and swimmers.  For more info and case-histories, check out our Durability Page.

Are the Alpacka rafts stable?

Alpacka rafts are stable.  With a little practice, you can move around comfortably in the boats on the water, as demonstrated in the following video.  You can even see Andrew accidentally open the mouth-valve on his old-style boat - we moved the mouth valve to stern in recent years, so that won't happen.

Do I need to be "an athlete" to packraft?

Nope.  Packrafting is more an activity than a "sport."  In fact, the most senior Alpacka rafters we've spoken to are in their 70's. 

No special fitness is required for floating a river or fishing at the lake, although it helps to be "at home in your own body."  High levels of fitness and/or training are only required for extended back country trips and for challenging whitewater.

How do you inflate an Alpacka?

Alpacka rafts are inflated using an ingenious device: the Inflation Bag.   Developed by our inventor, the Inflation Bag or "I-Bag," is a high-volume air pump that weighs about 3 ounces.  It's faster than a foot pump or hand pump.  You can also use a small, hand-held fan to inflate the boats.  In fact, one of our big-rig-trucker boaters inflates his raft off his truck's air compressor!

Where can I learn to packraft?

The basics of packrafting are as simple as inflating your boat, donning a PFD, and paddling out onto the water. Paddling a packraft is so easy to learn we'd almost call it an instinctive act. There's also a large and growing body of information on packrafting. As a start, we suggest you:

• Check our "Packrafting 101 " page in "Tips & Techniques ." In Tips & Techniques you can find specific pages on fishing, hunting, and whitewater, as well as ways to repair, modify, and maintain your boat.
• Roman Dial's book Packrafting! is a great source of information for the the beginning or experienced packrafter.
• Check the Alpacka community forums , which we maintain as an open resource for all members of the packrafting community. We also recommend checking Bretwood Higman & Erin McKittrick's website: www.aktrekking.com and www.groundtruthtrekking.org .

Can Alpacka rafts run Whitewater?

Yes. Alpacka rafts are built to run Class III and some higher-class whitewater.  Our boats handle whitewater differently than kayaks do. We recommend checking our page on Whitewater & Technical Paddling to get oriented. If you're a proficient whitewater kayaker, we suggest reading our Whitewater FAQs.

Where can I learn Packrafting Whitewater Safety & Rescue Techniques?

For those looking for advanced safety & rescue techniques, we recommend completion of a Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) course accredited by a reputable sponsor, such as Rescue 3 International. Currently, Scott Solle, a WRT Rescue 3 instructor and former river guide, is offering WRT courses tailored to packrafters. You can contact Scott at solgear@msn.com or visit his SolGear website .

Can I rent an Alpacka?

Yes. Currently, there are dealers who rent Alpacka rafts in Anchorage, Alaska and Seward, Alaska. Check the "Friends" section of this website to find more information.

What paddle should I get?

This really depends on your use.  See our Paddle Chooser page for help with this.

What is the difference between an upturned bow and a flat bow?

An upturned bow is a little better in whitewater, when the boat is unloaded or carrying normal-sized backpacks/rucksacks on the bow.  The flat bow of the Explorer and Double Duck results when both ends are loaded heavily (such as having two people in the boat).  If you've got each end of the boat loaded, you lose any benefit from the upturned bow, and - for carrying very heavy loads - we feel the flat bow of the Explorer is a little better.

Why don't Alpacka rafts have multiple air chambers?

A packraft with multiple air chambers would be less safe and not perform as well as our single chambered boats. We focus our energy into making one tough air chamber. On a boat of this size, multiple air chambers introduce stress points, rigidity problems, and more weight. See our "About " section for more on this subject.

How much weight can I carry in an Alpacka?

How much weight you can carry depends on how you expect the boat to handle. The actual maximum numbers are "soft," meaning they aren't fixed. Your realistic load limitations are cargo bulk and handling loss. As a guideline we suggest:

• Yourself + 0-60 lbs. (0-27 kgs.) Agile boat handling.
• Yourself + 60-100 lbs. (27-45 kgs.) Noticeable handling loss.
• Yourself + greater than 100 lbs. / 45 kgs. Your boat will handle progressively worse as you continue to load it.

Users have loaded their boats easily in excess of 500 lbs / 225 kgs, even floating out a moose quarter and partial buffalo kills.  The boats aren't maneuverable when so heavily laden. In testing, we have put four men in an Explorer, for an estimated 700+ lb. load... it floated, but it wasn't "nimble."  Thus far, we have not seen any loading/pressure-related structural failures, even on boats subjected to waterfall drops, overloading, swamping in ocean surf, and "mystery moves" (being held totally underwater). However, that does not mean our boats cannot be ruptured by extreme overpressure. Our boats are not designed to be submarines.

What can I glue to my boat?

Your boat is coated in polyurethane (PU). You can permanently attach anything that can be glued or otherwise adhered to polyurethane.   Although a PVC-only adhesive will not work on our boats, a dual-purpose adhesive such as Clifton 1-Part will let you adhere either urethane or PVC items to your Alpacka raft. You can temporarily attach items with duct tape or Tyvek® house wrap tape (or, as it is known at Lowe's hardware, "Lowe's tape.")  Tyvek / Lowe's tape is superior to duct tape, in terms of sticking to the boat.

Does Alpacka make a boat for children?

No. Our current boats are high-performance adult vehicles, just like kayaks and mountain bikes. We'd love to build a boat for children, but we don't at this time.

Does Alpacka make a multi-passenger raft?

Yes. You can carry multiple people in our boats, particularly in the Explorer and the Double Duck, for general flat water use. However, these aren't for multiple people in whitewater.  Our boats are highly survivable and withstand great stress, but are not designed to run demanding whitewater with multiple occupants. Because of the unique dynamics of a one-person raft, any packraft loses significant technical performance when occupied by more than one person.

Let's get to the important question: Can I bring my dog?

Of course.  Although we don't think it's an official certification, Alpackas are definitely dog friendly. We've never observed or heard of a dog causing significant damage to hull, floor, or any critical components of an Alpacka.

For some water dogs, it takes a little practice until they realize the appropriate response to the slightest nervousness is not to jump out of the boat.  That said, we have found that if you do need to convince a Labrador to abandon ship, throwing a tennis ball overboard is profoundly effective.

Looking for a doggie PFD?  We know Takashina Life Preservers makes some.

Can I run whitewater in an Alpacka?

Yes.

Do packrafts handle whitewater like a kayak?

No.  Packrafts are fundamentally different from kayaks. Alpacka rafts are multi-purpose utility boats with whitewater capability, as opposed to purpose-built whitewater vehicles (kayaks).  The essential qualities of our boats are portability and versatility. Although some of our boaters take Alpacka rafts into very challenging water, they are experts and enthusiasts. 

Packrafting is easier than kayaking in some situations, due to craft stability and properties, but it becomes relatively harder in more extreme water, where high ferrying speed and a combat roll achieve greater importance.  As always, the most important swift water skills are intangible: the training and ability to read the river, recognize hazards, and safely deal with the unexpected.

Why do I see packrafters without helmets in some pictures?

Alpacka rafts aren't strictly whitewater vehicles. They're designed for fishing, lake-floating, fording, and river floats as well as whitewater. Many Alpacka rafters never run whitewater in their boats. Others use boats as part of long treks and may be weighing a variety of safety factors including load weight.  Some packrafters combine such activities as long mountain-bike rides followed by what they deem relatively 'safe' water, and you'll see them in bicycle helmets.

Although we recommend that boaters always use equipment appropriate to the situation, consulting such sources as the National Paddle Sports Association, we recognize the complexity of the "situation on the ground" for many packrafters.  The uses of Alpacka rafts are extraordinarily broad, and reasonable practices vary.

If I swim, will my boat surf without me?

That is a possibility.  If you grab your raft as soon as you flip, then the raft will generally flush out of a hole with you.  Otherwise, it might ghost surf.  One of our members recently used this to dramatic effect, in a big hole at high flow in the Green River Gorge, WA.  It's a good reflex to develop for whitewater packrafting.

What is the "Self-Rescue?"

When you flip in an Alpacka, you wet exit. Unlike with a kayak, the Alpacka does not flood with water. While swimming, you flip the raft back over, then climb back in and keep paddling. An adept self-rescuer can often get back in the boat, even in whitewater, in under 10 seconds. An Alpacka rafter running big water is likely to swim more often than a kayaker but, as a result of this technique, swimming is usually only a minor incident. It is not uncommon for a good Alpacka rafter to flip partway down a big rapid, get back in the boat, and finish off the rapid.

Do Alpacka rafts self-bail?

No. The dynamics of a self-bailer are incompatible with our current design.

Is the spray deck fully water-tight?

No. Our spray decks aren't immersion decks. Creating a fully waterproof deck would be prohibitively difficult and heavy for a highly portable boat. When running whitewater, expect to ship some water.

Any tips on Packrafting Community Etiquette?

The packrafting community is very embracing and non-hierarchical.  All sorts of people have and use packrafts.  Although many packrafters run whitewater, packrafting isn't "about" whitewater, nor is it an "athletes only" sport.  You're as likely to meet packrafters who fish, film, hunt, ski-raftaneer, do scientific research, or spelunk from the boats as you are to meet hard creekers.  The oldest Alpacka rafters we know are in their 70's.  The best principles of community etiquette are probably to be curious, accepting, and unpretentious.

I love kayaking. Would I be happy in an Alpacka?

Maybe.  The Alpacka raft wasn't invented to do what kayaks do: kayaks are great at that.  It's optimized for other purposes.  If your primary love is doing demanding front-country boating at 'normal' flows, then an Alpacka may not be a boat for you. Alpackas are designed to be packed into remote areas, run very low flows, carry full rucksacks, and stow in carry-on luggage for airplane flights. 

Some of us at Alpacka and in our test group run all kinds of boats: kayaks,packrafts. oar boats, flippers...  Different boats have different strengths.  If you're making the crossover from kayaking, it's important to keep an open mind: these boats will let you do very different things.