PADDLER 40
Words & photos : John R Dean and Sam N Dean Packrafters : John R Dean and Sam N Dean
PADDLER 40
Performance coaches take on
PACK
RAFTING
Words & photos : John R Dean and Sam N Dean Packrafters : John R Dean and Sam N Dean
Packrafting is not new , as you will see from the short early history below , but it has become more popular mainly due to its portability and ease of transport . We tested out packrafts on the River Spey in Grade 2 water to assess their merits in a moderate water environment .
The strength of packrafting is its lightweight , portable nature , making it easy to transport and , in our case , the ease of re-running the same fun rapids again and again . Packrafts are very easy to inflate , with no need for an electric pump or even a hand-held pump if you do not want as they can be inflated using a supplied inflation bag .
This low-tech approach to inflating a packraft is mainly due to the need to only pressurise to 1-2 psi . On the water , the packraft feels like it ‘ hugs ’ the contours of the waves , creating high stability for the paddler . In addition , the low seating position aids the high stability due to the low centre of gravity of the seated paddler . This high stability provides the paddler with confidence to try out manoeuvres , especially for those paddlers unfamiliar with the moderate water environment .
For those with a background in white water kayaking , canoeing or paddleboarding , it does come as a little surprise that the manoeuvrability of the packraft is not as great as those other craft . The packraft feels like it scuds over the water ’ s surface when performing a breakout ( of the flow ). On the other hand , ferry gliding is possible and achievable with ease . On approaching rapids , the low seating position in the packraft makes the visibility of river features less pronounced , so it does not help with river reading . This could be an issue when packrafting rivers you are unfamiliar with .