The most packable is the anfibio buoy boy PFD which is an inflatable lightweight PFD but that might not be the most appropriate depending on what you want to use it for.
cheers Mike
Packrafting
- Thread starter FOX160
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cheers Mike
OwenM
Thru Hiker
I've just got an Anfibio buoy boy, it is very light and rolls up really small, although I've not tested it on the water yet it seems very comfortable. I should point out that it doesn't actually conform to any ISO's or EU directives as a PFD or life jacket. This is mainly down to the way it's made rather than any defect in the vest itself. You get lots of warmings in the manual and labels, it's up to you whether you trust it or not.
I quite like it.
I quite like it.
tom
Thru Hiker
I've got a Spinlock airbelt PFD for slackwater or tital thames etc. Designed for SUPs, the airbelt is small and comfy to wear on a packraft. But I also have a full spec non-inflatable for off-shore use and rivers with rapids. Bulky but I do feel better in this in more exposed situations...
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That´s interesting, because I always thought EN 12492 is for climbing and EN 1385 for whitewater use (with multiple and side impacts). Only a few helmets seem to be certified with both standards. (But that business is not a cheap one, I guess...
)Do you have a link for that? That would be really helpful, thanks in advance.
tom
Thru Hiker
That´s interesting, because I always thought EN 12492 is for climbing and EN 1385 for whitewater use (with multiple and side impacts). Only a few helmets seem to be certified with both standards. (But that business is not a cheap one, I guess...
Do you have a link for that? That would be really helpful, thanks in advance.
I saw "whitewater" in a PDF document about "EN 12492:2012" which I deleted straight away after reading it (found via a link to Petzl helmets originally). Can't see it now but "Outdoor and water sports equipment" is also listed here for the 2012 version.... But a PDF with the "whitewater" standard listing is definitely online. EN 1385 is probably whitewater only?
OwenM
Thru Hiker
I have the Petzl Meteor II hat which is supposedly rated for climbing, water sports and cycling. It's lined with polystyrene so it's one knock only, not so good if you're caught in recycling white water. It is very light only 225g. For running rivers I use a Predator helmet an Ace I think. It's 470g but has a thicker shell and high density foam lining so it can take multiple hits. I've not run any rivers in my packraft and probably won't, I'm getting a bit old for that now. If I did ever decide to do any more white water I know which helmet I'll be using.
tom
Thru Hiker
Finally a longer trip testing the Anfibio Nano RTC - Its small but the in-hull storage makes that secondary. For the usual "tame" rivers in Britain, it seems perfectly adequate. I actually prefer the Nano to my Rebel 2K. Handling is similar and the small packsize and weight and ease of drying makes up for any advantages the Rebel 2K may have...
Nomad and Nano ...
Sitting a little "forward" helps with bracing legs and keeps the Nano more level compared to sitting at one end. Seat and backrest are a MYOG combi
Nomad and Nano ...
Sitting a little "forward" helps with bracing legs and keeps the Nano more level compared to sitting at one end. Seat and backrest are a MYOG combi
Packrafts apparently don't taste very nice
www.bbc.co.uk
Kayaker swallowed by whale recalls feeling 'slimy texture' in its mouth
Adrián Simancas, 23, was kayaking off Chilean Patagonia when he found himself inside a whale.
www.bbc.co.uk
I wonder if he'll be called Jonah from now on
A friend has started "importing" packrafts. Importing is in quotation marks because you order through him but they are built in China and delivered directly to you. Prices are around £450 - but you may be hit for VAT. He did post on bearbonesbikepacking but it's possible he was overstepping the mark and the post has now gone (possible that he's also posted on FB). He's going to set up a website later in the year.
At that price a packraft becomes much more attractive for occasional use. I then looked up paddles and PEDs and you nearly double that cost.
A friend has started "importing" packrafts. Importing is in quotation marks because you order through him but they are built in China and delivered directly to you. Prices are around £450 - but you may be hit for VAT. He did post on bearbonesbikepacking but it's possible he was overstepping the mark and the post has now gone (possible that he's also posted on FB). He's going to set up a website later in the year.
At that price a packraft becomes much more attractive for occasional use. I then looked up paddles and PEDs
and you nearly double that cost.
ADz
Thru Hiker
I wonder if he'll be called Jonah from now on
A friend has started "importing" packrafts. Importing is in quotation marks because you order through him but they are built in China and delivered directly to you. Prices are around £450 - but you may be hit for VAT. He did post on bearbonesbikepacking but it's possible he was overstepping the mark and the post has now gone (possible that he's also posted on FB). He's going to set up a website later in the year.
At that price a packraft becomes much more attractive for occasional use. I then looked up paddles and PEDs
So he's "drop shipping" . There are various EU based companies that sell decent quality packrafts at that price range. I'd be interested in having a nosey though once site is up. Drop us a link.
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
Been having a look at Packrafts...The lightest I could find is the Supai Canyon at 681g. However it's only for flatwater, there are questions about it's durability and it only has a payload of 90kg...Not sure it's worth it's price (£241).
Their next lightest is the Supai MatKat at 795g...It's also for flatwater use but it has a impressive capacity of 145kg...It costs £283.
Supai also sell Carbon Fibre paddles that weigh 411g.
The best all round ultralight packraft appears to be the Anfibio Nano SL though as it's not just for flatwater use, it can carry 120kg payload, it packs to a tiny 20m x 15cm, it weighs 830g and at £330 it's not too expensive. Found this review: https://exploratio-incognita.com/equipment/packrafting/packraft-anfibio-nano-sl/
Their next lightest is the Supai MatKat at 795g...It's also for flatwater use but it has a impressive capacity of 145kg...It costs £283.
Supai also sell Carbon Fibre paddles that weigh 411g.
The best all round ultralight packraft appears to be the Anfibio Nano SL though as it's not just for flatwater use, it can carry 120kg payload, it packs to a tiny 20m x 15cm, it weighs 830g and at £330 it's not too expensive. Found this review: https://exploratio-incognita.com/equipment/packrafting/packraft-anfibio-nano-sl/
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Forget obsessing about lightest for packrafting - it is a completely false measure. You firstly want a packraft and associated gear for what you actually want to paddle. Lightest means nothing if not suitable for where you want to go or if the paddle is useless.
That Nano SL is still meant more as something to be carried rather than used in water and won’t be much fun in anything much more than flat water. Having said that Anfibio have a good rep. Really depends what you want/expect to use it for.
That Nano SL is still meant more as something to be carried rather than used in water and won’t be much fun in anything much more than flat water. Having said that Anfibio have a good rep. Really depends what you want/expect to use it for.
ADz
Thru Hiker
Checkout Rapid Raft by Uncharted
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
ADz
Thru Hiker
Weight is relative to item/functionality and quality. 1.7KG is extremely light for this type/quality.
There is no leaking issues. Those were the v1 and only for imbeciles who didn't close roll top correctly. For something lighter go for the Nano RTC.
Balagan
Thru Hiker
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
Maybe this will put your mind at ease:
Alf Outdoors
Thru Hiker
I found a simpler, possibly more comfortable way, to keep it more level...Sit in the other direction (with the RTC behind you) and adjust the RTC to only 4 rolls...This increases the length of the raft behind you, which raises the stern without having to sit further forward. I found it here:
Balagan
Thru Hiker
Nah... I've already seen loads of YouTube videos by random geezers gushing about their new packraft.
tom
Thru Hiker
There is also one's leg lenght and good distance to brace against the hull directly...
Balagan
Thru Hiker
Speaking of iffy reviews, this guy's review of the Anfibio Nano SL used to be one of the very few (as in 2) non-video reviews a few years ago. The funny thing is that despite having legitimate bragging rights and experience, all his reviews are canned adverts for his sponsors. He says great things about the Nano SL but it doesn't appear in any of his trip reports.
Anfibio is one of his sponsors and, as a result all his packrafting gear is from Anfibio and none of his reviews even mention other brands for comparison.
As for the Nano SL, he uses the following photo of the absolute worst paddling position to illustrate his point that the packraft is "Spacious. It’s very comfortable for even a tall person in terms of the offered space while paddling."
So yes, I'd rather hear the opinion of someone who actually uses his boat...
Anfibio is one of his sponsors and, as a result all his packrafting gear is from Anfibio and none of his reviews even mention other brands for comparison.
As for the Nano SL, he uses the following photo of the absolute worst paddling position to illustrate his point that the packraft is "Spacious. It’s very comfortable for even a tall person in terms of the offered space while paddling."
So yes, I'd rather hear the opinion of someone who actually uses his boat...
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tom
Thru Hiker
I haven’t watched the video but own a nano (see review somewhere here or yesterday's post in pic of the day). We also had the nano on the Ticino river last year but in very favorable river conditions and only mild whitewater.Speaking of iffy reviews, this guy's review of the Anfibio Nano SL used to be one of the very few (as in 2) non-video reviews a few years ago. The funny thing is that despite having legitimate bragging rights and experience, all his reviews are canned adverts for his sponsors. He says great things about the Nano SL but it doesn't appear in any of his trip reports.
Anfibio is one of his sponsors and, as a result all his packrafting gear is from Anfibio and none of his reviews even mention other brands for comparison.
As for the Nano SL, he uses the following photo of the absolute worst paddling position to illustrate his point that the packraft is "Spacious. It’s very comfortable for even a tall person in terms of the offered space while paddling."
View attachment 65495
So yes, I'd rather hear the opinion of someone who actually uses his boat...
IMO, the Nano is a minimalist packraft that works very well in the right conditions: slackwater or whitewater up to 2. I wouldn't have taken the nano on a big lake like lago Maggiore on its own - but we also had the nomad which is a very capable and much 'safer' packraft for backup and we didn't venture too far from possible landing points in case lake conditions changed. E.g. I wouldn't dare to take the nano onto Lago di Garda where it can take 1 hour to reach a spot to get out with sudden wind/waves/weather changes which can happen within 15 minutes there. In short, the Nano is good -handles well, does the job and very UL - within its limits but no 'reserves' - unlike other much more sturdy packrafts like Nomad or a Rebel2K. The lightweight comes at a prize - I happily step into a Nomad or Rebel2K feet first but wouldn't dare step into a nano. Its side entry only. Hitting rocks in whitewater or scraping over them also feels very different to a sturdy packraft. A lot more "babying" is required IMO.