Packrafting
- Thread starter FOX160
- Start date
Last year my wife and I attended an intro weekend on Lake Bala organised by a friend who's into packrafting. There were a couple of packraft manufacturers/resellers there (including the guys in the video from Anfibio packrafting) and there were some beginner lessons provided by a local training company. We enjoyed it but it would be a lot of investment (best part of £1000 each for all the kit) for something that we wouldn't likely do on a regular basis.
I was quite surprised just how different in handling each of the boats were, even as a complete beginner.
If you were considering getting into it then I'd definitely take an intro course, there's a lot of stuff to know.
I was quite surprised just how different in handling each of the boats were, even as a complete beginner.
If you were considering getting into it then I'd definitely take an intro course, there's a lot of stuff to know.
FOX160
Thru Hiker
Found this free app for tide times on Apple https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-tide-times-tables-chart/id777280890
dovidola
Thru Hiker
Cool! Downloaded.
I assume it will only work when you have an internet connection?
FOX160
Thru Hiker
Unsure but I would think so.
cathyjc
Thru Hiker
Thanks cathyjc. I am a hiker but now have an Intel inflatable kayak which gives me a chance to get on the water, though I think the sea is bit beyond me right now.
A couple of years ago I walked the Arran Way. I had an extra day when I went from Lochranza to the Laggan Bothy to make lunch. I had used the timetable booklet elsewhere on the island but foolishly did not take it with me on this walk and there is stretch on it where you do walk on boulders near the sea. I had looked at the tide times but was relying on my memory and the hundred times I said to myself I am sure the tide is going out.
Earlier I had done Blackwaterfoot to Lagg where you can go on the beach and rocks at the correct tide time. This time I had the booklet but when the sea is few metres away it is as well to now which way the tide is going especially when the cliffs look inaccessible.
A couple of years ago I walked the Arran Way. I had an extra day when I went from Lochranza to the Laggan Bothy to make lunch. I had used the timetable booklet elsewhere on the island but foolishly did not take it with me on this walk and there is stretch on it where you do walk on boulders near the sea. I had looked at the tide times but was relying on my memory and the hundred times I said to myself I am sure the tide is going out.
Earlier I had done Blackwaterfoot to Lagg where you can go on the beach and rocks at the correct tide time. This time I had the booklet but when the sea is few metres away it is as well to now which way the tide is going especially when the cliffs look inaccessible.
cathyjc
Thru Hiker
I've walked the West coast of Jura a couple of times and there are a few sections which are 'obstructed' at low tide.
There are alternatives - but you need to know what conditions you are going to encounter.
tom
Thru Hiker
tom
Thru Hiker
I've now done some 500+ miles on rivers and canals since I got my first packraft in February - time to review some kit...
But first a recommendation: https://inflatablekayaksandpackrafts.com/ - Chris' website is treasure trove of info and reviews...
My Anfibio Rebel 2K came well recommended and arrived one week after ordering. I chose the model with cargo zips since I wanted the deck space for a cycle. Btw @FOX160 - the cargo zip works well - no regrets. The Rebel arrived with a spray deck which I hadn't orderd (or paid for) but its actually been quite useful, keeping me warm for hours on the water during the cold period and me getting the hang of kayak style paddling (I never kayaked before, only canoes and dinghy ocean sailing as a kid). But the spraydeck isn't really in the way and the extra bulk and weight are neglectable.
The cycle / packraft combi saved my sanity during lockdown (both activities being permissable) and the rebel 2k took the cycle with ease (its a full size 27" wheel folding cycle).
And not even in the way of paddle...
The downside of loading a cycle: Locks can be a pain and so are high banks - best to do some scouting and check out what kind of portage awaits you (the ones with roller ramps are usually ok). I wouldn't recommend canal locks with a cycle.
2 mods - its worth increasing the rebel 2k seat hight to size (10cm for me). And I put a cut-off CF mat piece on the floor back in february to keep the wintery cold from creeping up which also made cleaning easier (especially the smaller rivers can be quite muddy). Overall, packrafting beats SUPs and the folding origami canoe I bought last years (now sold on). After 4 month of regular use, I feel similary motivated as having a nice big mountain above me - something I can do every day if weather and time allow (unlike cycling which is more of an occasional "feel like")
So far, I got up to 14 mile day trips with the Rebel 2K (determined by accessible train stations to hike from and to) but the speed limits the range.
Reading up some more, I ordered a MSR Nomad S1 D. The nomad is about 25% faster due to the narrower shape, centre seating position, and extra lenght, and thereby more suitable for canals, longer journeys and multi day trips, and for taking 2 little girls instead of 1. Obviously not as handy for carrying so I'm keeping the Rebel 2K. No cargo zips for the Nomad as there is plenty of space for gear.
First impressions:
Haven't tried the 2 girls yet but the Nomad is definietly better suited for canals - actually a little faster than narrow boats (no traffic coming up from behind...!). The Nomad also feels less of a target for head wind (lower and narrower profile perhaps?). And MSR got the seat right - perfect hight and surprisingly solid backrest.
But...: not as cute looking as the rebel 2k and the deck is quite shiny (I expect I'll get used to that) and not the greatest colours either but visibility is quite essential on the Thames.
But its only been some 50 miles so far so more later...
A cup of coffee after the rain...
And I tried my hands on a first ever video - quite basic but hey...! Not sharing location in a public space beyond "Surrey" but message me for details if your interested...
But first a recommendation: https://inflatablekayaksandpackrafts.com/ - Chris' website is treasure trove of info and reviews...
My Anfibio Rebel 2K came well recommended and arrived one week after ordering. I chose the model with cargo zips since I wanted the deck space for a cycle. Btw @FOX160 - the cargo zip works well - no regrets. The Rebel arrived with a spray deck which I hadn't orderd (or paid for) but its actually been quite useful, keeping me warm for hours on the water during the cold period and me getting the hang of kayak style paddling (I never kayaked before, only canoes and dinghy ocean sailing as a kid). But the spraydeck isn't really in the way and the extra bulk and weight are neglectable.
The cycle / packraft combi saved my sanity during lockdown (both activities being permissable) and the rebel 2k took the cycle with ease (its a full size 27" wheel folding cycle).
And not even in the way of paddle...
The downside of loading a cycle: Locks can be a pain and so are high banks - best to do some scouting and check out what kind of portage awaits you (the ones with roller ramps are usually ok). I wouldn't recommend canal locks with a cycle.
2 mods - its worth increasing the rebel 2k seat hight to size (10cm for me). And I put a cut-off CF mat piece on the floor back in february to keep the wintery cold from creeping up which also made cleaning easier (especially the smaller rivers can be quite muddy). Overall, packrafting beats SUPs and the folding origami canoe I bought last years (now sold on). After 4 month of regular use, I feel similary motivated as having a nice big mountain above me - something I can do every day if weather and time allow (unlike cycling which is more of an occasional "feel like")
So far, I got up to 14 mile day trips with the Rebel 2K (determined by accessible train stations to hike from and to) but the speed limits the range.
Reading up some more, I ordered a MSR Nomad S1 D. The nomad is about 25% faster due to the narrower shape, centre seating position, and extra lenght, and thereby more suitable for canals, longer journeys and multi day trips, and for taking 2 little girls instead of 1. Obviously not as handy for carrying so I'm keeping the Rebel 2K. No cargo zips for the Nomad as there is plenty of space for gear.
First impressions:
Haven't tried the 2 girls yet but the Nomad is definietly better suited for canals - actually a little faster than narrow boats (no traffic coming up from behind...!). The Nomad also feels less of a target for head wind (lower and narrower profile perhaps?). And MSR got the seat right - perfect hight and surprisingly solid backrest.
But...: not as cute looking as the rebel 2k and the deck is quite shiny (I expect I'll get used to that) and not the greatest colours either but visibility is quite essential on the Thames.
But its only been some 50 miles so far so more later...
A cup of coffee after the rain...
And I tried my hands on a first ever video - quite basic but hey...! Not sharing location in a public space beyond "Surrey" but message me for details if your interested...
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FOX160
Thru Hiker
Hi @tom nice reviews `we’ decided to buy the Alpacka Explorer 2 (mrs decided to come along) sadly not tried due to purchasing a holiday chalet
thats taking all of my time as turned out to being a complete refurb, but as its close to the Norfolk broads we’ll soon be trying it out there.
I do remember of you purchasing the pack able canoe.
Looking forward to seeing more trip reports.
Thank you for sharing
thats taking all of my time as turned out to being a complete refurb, but as its close to the Norfolk broads we’ll soon be trying it out there.
I do remember of you purchasing the pack able canoe.
Looking forward to seeing more trip reports.
Thank you for sharing
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tom
Thru Hiker
Packrafting requires a paddle - obvioulsly 
Trek-liters who kayaked will know their paddles, so this is for anyone new to packrafting...
Deciding on a packraft make and model is actually easier than choosing a paddle I discovered. Particularly after I kept reading about paddles snapping and advice to take a spare paddle… Having established that the Aquabound Manta Ray is a highly recommended packraft paddle, I realised that they are hard to come by in Europe. I couldn’t even find a US company that offered shipping to the UK. But I got lucky finding a local stockist at Shepperton Marina (https://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk) - they don’t seem to come up in searches somehow. They had one in stock when I phoned back in February and said I could pick it up which made for a nice cycle day trip ("phone us when you get here and we'll bring it out to you ...").
The Manta Ray's are robust and reliable with a large 677 sq cm blade, 220cm (shorter doesn’t really work with the wide packraft shapes) packable in 4 pieces and a decent weight - 870gr on my scale. Reviewers says that the Manta Ray has a little more flex than Werner paddles (which I have yet to try) but Werner paddles are typically in the £400+ price range. And I haven’t yet seen a packable 220cm Werner paddle anyway.
Having tested the Manta Rays for about 600 miles now, I’d happily recommend them without reservations. The carbon shaft wasn’t that great on the skin of my hands and all gloves I tried didn't improve paddling comfort. Eventually I tested tennis racket grip tape which solved the problem and opened up bigger paddle trips. All the joints are superbly engineered with no play.
We've got 2 more paddles for comparsison:
The yellow one is an Anfibio "Vertex tour", 885gr on my scale. Anfibio doesn’t list the blade size but it looks quite close to the Manta Ray. The weight is also close. But here all similarities end. The Vertex, at half the price of the Manta Ray, doesn’t feel half as solid in comparison with the Manta Ray but is still a significant step up from the usual cheep and cheerful paddles flogged by Decathlon or similar makes.
The Anfibio "Fly" is 456gr on my scale and great for kids but really quite minimalist (small blades and quite a bit of flex). A good option for long hikes with shorter paddle sections in undemanding water conditions.
And a short vid (not the greatest camera...) of the Anfibio Rebel 2K in action:
Trek-liters who kayaked will know their paddles, so this is for anyone new to packrafting...Deciding on a packraft make and model is actually easier than choosing a paddle I discovered. Particularly after I kept reading about paddles snapping and advice to take a spare paddle… Having established that the Aquabound Manta Ray is a highly recommended packraft paddle, I realised that they are hard to come by in Europe. I couldn’t even find a US company that offered shipping to the UK. But I got lucky finding a local stockist at Shepperton Marina (https://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk) - they don’t seem to come up in searches somehow. They had one in stock when I phoned back in February and said I could pick it up which made for a nice cycle day trip ("phone us when you get here and we'll bring it out to you ...").
The Manta Ray's are robust and reliable with a large 677 sq cm blade, 220cm (shorter doesn’t really work with the wide packraft shapes) packable in 4 pieces and a decent weight - 870gr on my scale. Reviewers says that the Manta Ray has a little more flex than Werner paddles (which I have yet to try) but Werner paddles are typically in the £400+ price range. And I haven’t yet seen a packable 220cm Werner paddle anyway.
Having tested the Manta Rays for about 600 miles now, I’d happily recommend them without reservations. The carbon shaft wasn’t that great on the skin of my hands and all gloves I tried didn't improve paddling comfort. Eventually I tested tennis racket grip tape which solved the problem and opened up bigger paddle trips. All the joints are superbly engineered with no play.
We've got 2 more paddles for comparsison:
The yellow one is an Anfibio "Vertex tour", 885gr on my scale. Anfibio doesn’t list the blade size but it looks quite close to the Manta Ray. The weight is also close. But here all similarities end. The Vertex, at half the price of the Manta Ray, doesn’t feel half as solid in comparison with the Manta Ray but is still a significant step up from the usual cheep and cheerful paddles flogged by Decathlon or similar makes.
The Anfibio "Fly" is 456gr on my scale and great for kids but really quite minimalist (small blades and quite a bit of flex). A good option for long hikes with shorter paddle sections in undemanding water conditions.
And a short vid (not the greatest camera...) of the Anfibio Rebel 2K in action:
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SteG
Thru Hiker
My friends have been making the kayaks for Nigel since I can remember. It's just a few streets away from ours
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
I have finally got all the parts of my inflatable canoe back together. It's an Adventure Ridge I bought from Aldi's for £38.99 about 7 years ago and I have yet to use it since buying it.
It has sat in it's box in my garage, several miles away, for years, with tons of junk in front of it and eventually the box rotted away, leaving the parts scattered about in the junk.
I couldn't find the Boston valves that came with it so I ended up buying new ones on ebay , only to find the original ones the following week!
It came with a very el cheapo Aluminium paddle, which breaks down into three parts, so hearing Tom mentioning his paddles has got me thinking about upgrading ASAP.
The only hurdle is getting a Canoe licence...Right now I can't afford the £45 to get one. I'm selling my Suzuki 30hp 4 stroke outboard on ebay at the moment so if that sells for as much as I want I will be able to get one.
It has sat in it's box in my garage, several miles away, for years, with tons of junk in front of it and eventually the box rotted away, leaving the parts scattered about in the junk.
I couldn't find the Boston valves that came with it so I ended up buying new ones on ebay , only to find the original ones the following week!
It came with a very el cheapo Aluminium paddle, which breaks down into three parts, so hearing Tom mentioning his paddles has got me thinking about upgrading ASAP.
The only hurdle is getting a Canoe licence...Right now I can't afford the £45 to get one. I'm selling my Suzuki 30hp 4 stroke outboard on ebay at the moment so if that sells for as much as I want I will be able to get one.
This comes from 'North of the Border' where canoe licences are not required AFAK
- Do you need a licence to take a canoe/packraft on all/any waterways in England ??
Ohhh !! - very contentious thought - which side of the Border is the River Tweed ??
Pretty much, I think it's all those owned by the C&R Trust and the EA. You don't need one for tidal rivers, coast or inland lakes though.
I never bothered but 95% of my paddling was north of the border, the rest was an odd day in the Lakes
Is the Tweed tidal? I think it is, so wouldn't require a license
cathyjc
Thru Hiker
Only tidal at it's mouth.
The Tweed is "The Border" for some of it's length.
Folks I know, and the local Scouts, paddle some of the upper reaches regularly - but not where it touches the Border.
I'm guessing that most folks assume Scottish regulations - but I don't know if that's correct.
I do know it "****es off" the anglers.
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
The canoe licence can actually save you a lot of money because otherwise you would have to have a seperate licence for each waterway you wish to use...The canoe licence covers you for 5100 miles of inland waterways in England and Wales and gives you third party insurance too. I plan to go on the Basingstoke canal and the Wey Navigation.