Packrafting: A Beginner's Guide Introduction

Book Extract

If you enjoy exploring wild places, a packraft will be a game changer. A boat that’s genuinely portable yet robust and easy to paddle transforms the way you approach outdoor adventures. The clue’s in the name: you can pack up your raft in minutes, hike for hours or days, then reinflate effortlessly at the water’s edge before paddling onwards. On calm water you don’t need any special skills, but as with all paddle boats, it’s important to understand the risks, especially on fast-flowing rivers and exposed crossings.

The picture was taken at the start of an 80-mile adventure along a wild river in the Australian outback. Dropped off at a remote airstrip, we carried everything we needed for a week, a journey only made viable with packrafts. Nearer home, the Scottish Highlands are where packrafting adventures jump off the map. Obscure lochs and meandering rivers are no longer obstacles but new byways, enabling easy or challenging routes limited only by your imagination.

At a glance, a 3-kilo packraft may resemble a cheap vinyl beach toy, but it’s the durable fabric and hand-made construction that puts these boats in a class of their own. This enables higher pressures: the key to a responsive boat and an enjoyable paddling experience which won’t end with a hiss on brushing past a twig. There are some compromises – if you’re hoping for a nippy glorified kayak, you may be disappointed. On flat water packrafts are relatively slow and easily affected by winds. Above all, it’s the places you can access which sets packrafts apart.

Paddling is also a low-impact way of enjoying the outdoors. Combining walking and even cycling are all part of getting the most from your lightweight boat. Packrafting: A Beginner’s Guide is crammed with ideas, hard-won knowledge, tips and safety advice to show you how to get started. Once you’ve embraced the full potential of packrafting, you’ll look at the outdoors with completely new eyes.