Packrafting- need advice on a pack

[basscada]

hello people,
long time reader of this forum and i am after some advice . Hope someone can point me in the right direction
I am getting into to pack rafting and need some advice as to what pack to get.
i was thinking 75 to 90 litre , but brand i have no idea
Hoping someone can help out, cheers gav

[ninjapuppet]

I don't have one, but the HMG porter pack seems to be the "go to" pack many adventurers turn to.

http://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/packs/4400-series/4400-porter.html

[wander]

We use our regular canvas back packs, macpac Torre mostly to be able to fit raft, paddle and life jacket inside the pack. But our rafting has been (and probably will stay) the smaller legs on our wanders so the pack has to be very good for the wandering sections. I have everything inside the pack in dry bags, the other 1/2 packs everything inside a pack liner. No real issues with things getting wet from paddling so far.

[biggbird]

What is it that makes a pack like that preferable to just taking your normal pack? Is it a waterproof thing? Or a size/shape thing?

Sorry, just curious! Would love to get a packraft one day.

[frenchy_84]

This is a topic I'm really interested in. For me, a pack rafting pack needs to tough as a lot of the worst scrub is at the bottom of the river valleys, needs to be big with a harness that can handle a reasonable amount of weight and then also lightweight. So the Cuben porter pack looks good but I'm concerned that its not strong enough to handle scrub and that the harness is not suitable enough. Because even with lightweight gear, a pack raft set up is still going to be pretty heavy so a comfortable harness is a big criteria must for me. I would happily have the weight penalty of a proper harness attached to a Cuben dry sack. So if anyone has used a porter pack with 20kgs in scrub I would love to hear about your experience.

[Strider]

It is a bit unclear whether the OP wants a pack that is specifically for packrafting use, or whether he is looking to buy his first pack in general.

How do packrafts actually attach to packs? Is there any particular features that make some more suitable than others?

[frenchy_84]

Pack rafts are just like carrying a 3 person tent. Then you have a helmet, life jacket and 4 piece paddle to carry. Ideally you would want it all inside the pack so it doesn't get caught on branches etc. waterproofness isn't essential cause you can put all your stuff in dry bags but something that doesn't absorb a lot and therefore add a lot of weight would be good.

[jmac]

The HMG Porter is the best pack I have ever seen, touched, held, used or owned. I rarely review anything on the web, but I was so impressed by the Porter that I contributed a review to the HMG site. Mine's the one by JMac:

http://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/re ... eview-form

If you've got 18 minutes to spare, see the Porter in action in genuine packrafting service here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEA3Yk2ycDU

Conclusion? I've been packrafting since 1981, and this is the best pack I've ever used. My partner used his much loved WE Expedition pack on that trip and he has since upgraded to the Porter. I will also be buying heaps more from HMG.

Cheers,

John

[basscada]

I was after a pack specifically for pack rafting
Probally a size suitable for 2-5 days and capable of carrying raft , paddle , fishing gear , etc

[Strider]

Pack rafts are just like carrying a 3 person tent. Then you have a helmet, life jacket and 4 piece paddle to carry. Ideally you would want it all inside the pack so it doesn't get caught on branches etc. waterproofness isn't essential cause you can put all your stuff in dry bags but something that doesn't absorb a lot and therefore add a lot of weight would be good.

I don't know a lot about packrafting, but I do know they attach to the OUTSIDE of the pack (via the bow) so that the pack can be worn with inflated raft attached to get out and walk around obstacles encountered while rafting.

[frenchy_84]

Yes when they are blown up, the pack is strapped to the front and if done well you can use the pack straps to porter the raft still blown up on your back. I (wrongly) assumed you meant how are they carried when you are walking. Please except my humble apologies.

[Strider]

Yes when they are blown up, the pack is strapped to the front and if done well you can use the pack straps to porter the raft still blown up on your back. I (wrongly) assumed you meant how are they carried when you are walking. Please except my humble apologies.

Accepted! Does the raft have straps, or do you use the ones on the pack? Or separate straps all together?

[frenchy_84]

Separate straps all together. Roman dial has a YouTube video showing how to

[DarrenM]

I was after a pack specifically for pack rafting
Probally a size suitable for 2-5 days and capable of carrying raft , paddle , fishing gear , etc

Send "SteveJ" a PM, as he might miss the thread. He has something fairly specific and has plenty of experience doing the type of trips you are thinking of.

My thoughts are go durable, as the portages on some rivers will rip the @#$%* out of most packs. The only way to get a 75 to 90 litre pack on a packraft without compromising its stability more than necessary is to run an open boat and tie it in upside down. Learn to go light and you'll go far....I'd be keen to see the HMG porter pack up close. Nice looking gear.

This is what 90 litres will do for you....

[basscada]

thanks darren, i have been in touch with steve, thats extactly the kind of stuff i'm looking at doing, just thought i'd put it out there to see what others are using
Thanks for all the replys guys, narrowing down to a few now.
cheers gav

[andrewa]

The ideal pack depends on your use. I've had an Alpacka raft for about 6yrs, primarily for use rafting out of wilderness NZ rivers during and after a 10 day fly fishing trip. Any pack works for this. You just need to ensure you have a waterproof liner.

I designed and made my ideal pack a few years ago....

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=8363

It still needs a liner. The design allows for the 4 piece paddles ( and fly rod/s) to be stowed in the long side pocket .

Beyond this, have a look at the Packrafting forums. There are lots of opinions there, but it depends on your needs.

Andrew A

[basscada]

Thanks for the replys
Does anyone know if the porter pack cones in another colour other than white?
Imagine it would get fairly grubby ?

[Strider]

Check the website perhaps? Pretty sure it's only white though, a side-effect of the Cuben-nylon hybrid fabric.

Pretty sure Robert H has a Porter - he might be able to provide some more input?

[ninjapuppet]

My profile pic here is a HMG windrider in the same material.
They only come in white and they do get grubby as you imagine, but ..... does it matter?
after a couple of trips i give mine a good hard scrub and it becomes 80% good again. a couple of permanent stains but meh.

[SteveJ]

Hey Gav ,
We've already talked about this (off air) but for the benifit of others that are intrested

I essentially have three packrafting pack systems that I use:

For longer walk in/out trips with white water (really wet conditions) I use a Pacific Outdoor Equipmnet Gobi 84L. It is huge and can fit all the gear (including Raft, helmet, paddle, pfd, throw rope etc) for long haul trips. Very serious pack with comfy and supportive harness (that can be removed). These packs are perfect for upside down portage attachment as show in Darrens pic. The down side of the Gobi is that they are not made anymore.....but, you may be able to get a secondhand one if you hunt and it is really worth the hunt. These are the bomb as far as packraft specific packs go, and at a tad over 2kg they are not too heavy considering they are super super tough and 100% waterproof. https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/ind ... uctId=1207. It is very important that a pack for whitewater does not absorb water, the extra weight of the water soaked into the pack can be very dangerous in a WW situation and a big pain in portages (extra kg's). The earlier quick release Alpacka Pack-attach system (with the quick release) is the best for ww, but again I don't think they make them anymore (I have got a several different attachment sytems but that is whole other thread...).

For trips where it is unlikley that the pack will get wet (ie flat water paddling only) I use my GoLite Pinnacle, the benifits of these are well documented on here, at 790g they are light, strong and comfy. Broken down Paddle sections fit really well in the side pockets. Don't use the Pinnacle for white water unless you stick it into a dry sack. I have a large Sea to Summit dry bag with the air purge valve that my Pinnacle fits neatly into.

For day trips or side trips I usually throw my day pack into a S2S drybag , they are the best dry bags I have owned and I have a range of sizes that I use, they attach nicely to the packrafts also as seen on my boat here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8NOYXg5fxU

Steve

[SteveJ]

Note that my boat does not have the Cargo Fly...different ball game if you fit one of those