Its relatively straight forward to add a spray deck... you can use a glue option (aquaseal) or a heat iron approach. It basically has you adding a coming around the boat that your spray deck can attach to. you can make a removable one or a permanent one. here is a link https://www.diypackraft.com/co...

I have a couple mountain bikes, a couple kokopelli rafts, a few inflatabke kayaks, a few Chinese and russian made packrafts as well. I'm usually in the same boat as you, taking friends out with me who don't have their own equipment. I'm hoping to get a annual adventure race going in our area as well...

So, my Biluta raft arrived. Its a Nylon/PVC raft instead of the more common USA TPU/Nylon rafts. Shape is a little more angular than the alpacka or kokopelli rafts. With a pointer bow and stern, moderate rocker. Comes with straps for the front as well as 4 tie down spots, a 6 inch inflatable seat, a...

Hi Where are you in VA? Were located in Russel County and have been doing A LOT (Weekly if not every other daily) packrafting and kayaking. Lots of flatwater, and lots of creeks and class 1 rivers as there isnt a lot of flow. All the Kokopelli rafts are compatible with their inflatable seat option w...

Hi: Just a quick followup I just bought this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Biluta-packraft-Gray-/143700789970 from the Russian packraft company Biluta. For less than $300 I couldnt pass it up lol. It gets here in about 5 more days and I'll put it through the paces. There is a grey version and a yellow ve...

Hi: I would suggest the gnu from alpacka due to the new (pun intended) style seat they added. Not only does it make it waaay easier to paddle kayak or canoe style but the seating configuration puts you up high and makes it easier to fish. It is also a "tandem" so gives you plenty of room for gear. T...

Hi: Anyone nearbye? Recently moved to Virginia (Russel County) and Im trying to form a group for the tri state area Tennessee/Virginia/Kentucky. There are some awesome alpine lakes that are only accessible overland, and quite a few class 1 and 2 rivers that are pretty sweet. Im hoping to get some in...

Has anyone had any experiences with Biluta Packrafts? I ordered one to check out as they are currently going for $225 each. and it should be here in 10 days or so. Couldnt find much on the web other than their facebook page which doesnt have to much to say https://www.facebook.com/BilutaRaft-packraf...

yeah, the higher PSI makes for a stiffer craft and gives more control. I hear the aplackalypse does the same thing, but with smaller tubes and seems a bit more cramped. The recon has some pretty high end construction and according to the backstory, it was designed for military use. Looking at the bu...

Wife and I recently moved to Virgina. Weve been doing some bike rafting and packrafting in VA and TN and Kentucky. If your still active would love to get some south east companions for a small group in the region.

recently moved to VA, in the bristol area. Are you still enjoying the shenandoah? Im looking to start up a small packraft and bikeraft group in the area.

your 'normal' size of kayak paddle will be fine. The "theory" is... Packrafts have larger sides than a kayak, so for long distance paddling in a packraft, (shallow or touring strokes) they say it would be easier with a slightly longer paddle to make it less strain to reach over the side of the chamb...

The recon is heavy. About the same as an aire single person expedition or a sea eagle whitewater inflatable kayak. For its handling and performance, it is definitely heavy duty and feels rugged. My wife and I keep the recon for drive in stuff or if we are doing whitewater day hikes. For less weight ...

Just my 2 cents

If you do go with a spray deck, all the alpacka and kokopelli packrafts with spray decks are removable which means you basically get an open deck as well. Just don't use the deck when your on flat water.

cool

did you ever venture into the IIIs and IVs?

My wife and I have some newer folding mountain bikes and our packrafts, we wouldn't mind a paddling companion or two if we come over to the richmond area

Hi Send me a PM if your interested. Im in VA and have been doing small bike and pack rafting trips here in VA, and going into Kentucky, Tennessee with my wife and some friends. We are also getting a small packraft guide company started to do full micro adventures and introduce others to the joys of ...

My wife and I have been experimenting with a DYI design we came up with. We have one that goes under the packraft and we can use the back of the raft or the inside of the raft as our mattress, I just designed one that uses a alps mountaineering 1 person tent as the starter and then gets modified to ...

I buy these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YSZXFJL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Scots Throw Bag, 50 feet of line, $10-19 depending on when and where I buy them, works great, doesnt break the bank, and I can get enough of them to share with companions who don't show up with a...

looks nifty, would be great for air travel.

Although I havnt had a problem fitting my existing helmet into the bottom of my pack and then stuffing stuff inside it lol.

The only issue I see with the morph is that its foam isnt marine grade and looks like it would act as a sponge.

Kokopelli's XPD is rugged enough for almost any course, and their nirvanna self bailing or spray skirt model sounds like it would be a good fit for you. Though in all honesty... there isnt really "one" packraft to rule them all. Ultimate whitewater = alpackalypse Tandem (13lbs) = Kokopelli Twain Tan...

kokopelli twain for up to class II but it can fill with water as its not a self bailer. handles really nice though.
or the alpacka forager. works great although I prefer the racing gnu configuration. both the forager and the gny are based on alpackas oryx boat.

so I would ask are you mostly going to be on flatwater? or whitewater? If your going flatwater, go for the non bailer. It'll stay dry, water wont get in at all unless it rains. If your going for the white water, you'll have waaaay more water inside the packraft with a non bailer as it literally FILL...

Hi Everyone: Just added the Kokopelli Twain to my packraft fleet and figured i'd post a review of the set up https://youtu.be/tmKDt_WvKp0 Specs are on their website https://kokopellipackraft.com/product/twain-2020/ Seems to take me about 8 minutes start to finish to set up and put in, and about 15 m...

just an fyi, anywhere in europe your going to need a rated life jacket, in canada there are three certifications and it would need to have one or more of them to be legal, and in the USA it is required to have a coast guard approval class III or V. Most of the inflatable ones on aliexpress are reall...

without breaking the bank, these are my go to paddles
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YF ... UTF8&psc=1

for a backup I carry
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D ... UTF8&psc=1

Tracks ok its really light slightly less rugged but you don't really notice as its well made Inflates in less than 60 seconds using my featherpump and then 2 or 3 puffs from the top up valve. Doesnt come with tizip so it can get cramped if you have gear. I honestly got mine just to get the half off ...

After lots of trial and error, I settled on 3 methods. #1 for short portages. 10 feet, I added tiny little d-rings to each of the exterior nylon rings on the front and reay of my packraft, and then connected them all with bungies, which give me a great handle anywhere I need it. I found that if I ho...

for me, the scout was a little small. Im located in VA and most of the alpine lakes i've been in have rivers feeding or draining from them so I wanted something a little more kayak shaped. I opted for the kokopelli rogue lite. Had plenty of room for my gear, fishing was pretty easy and the tubes wer...

Hi Jason: Glad to have you on board. Packrafting and even bike rafting is fun and enjoyable and if you already love backpacking, you are absolutely going to love adding a packraft to the mix. Below are some personal answers to your questions based on my own experiences (I'm sure others will weigh in...