Inside Outdoor Magazine

strongly encouraged. Remember that while packrafts are light, they can be- come deceivingly heavy when factoring in accessories such as paddles, helmets and life jackets. As far as cargo is concerned, most packrafts are capable of transporting bulky items such as foldable mountain bikes and camping supplies, which is a major selling point. Some models are better suited for transporting cargo, made specifically for backcountry ex- peditions that cross over land and sea. Smaller models lean toward a type of kayak/raft hybrid that are likely better suited for excursions onto the water as a basecamp activity or side trip to a backpacking or hiking adventure. (See product page at end of article). High-end packrafts are usually made of nylon fabric coated with ther- moplastic polyurethane (TPU), while some are coated with polyvinyl chlo- ride (PVC). A modern spin on an ancient craft While packrafting is generating a lot of buzz right now as an up-and-coming sport, its roots actually date back sev- eral centuries. Native Americans, for instance, first stretched tanned animal skins over wooden frames and created boats that were light enough to carry on their backs. These boats allowed peo- ple to move over land, rivers and lakes. It wasn’t until after World War II that modern packrafting really took off, as outdoor retailers began selling inflatable rafts made from surplus war equipment. Some of the first packrafts to hit the mar- ket were from American Safety, Curtis Designs and Sherpa. Then in 2000, packrafting took a quantum leap forward when Sheri Tingey built a special handmade raft for her son that allowed him to move around the Alaskan wilderness with greater ease. Word began to spread of Tingey’s invention, and two years later she started the legendary Alpacka Raft company. Packrafting has since grown into a global sport that is supported by a growing, devoted community. Kokopelli Packraft’s Nirvana Self-Bailer taking a break by the Mistaya River in Banff; photo courtesy J. Bartlett A Kokopelli packraft tucked under a backpack and ready for hike in the Maze Districts in Canyonlands NP; photo by Will Rochfort courtesy Kokopelli. SPRING 2018 | Inside Outdoor 19