Alpacka Raft Launches New Trio of Ultralight Packrafts

January 24, 2022

MANCOS, Colo. (Jan. 24, 2022) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Over the past several years, interest in the sport of packrafting has skyrocketed. Alpacka Raft, the industry’s leading and oldest brand, has experienced unprecedented demand for their packrafts. The company is continually pushing the limits with design and has been scaling up its production capabilities. As a result, for 2022, Alpacka is launching not one, but three new packraft models to meet the needs of a growing and diverse group of paddlers.

Weighing-in at 5.8 pounds with an included whitewater deck and cargo fly, the new Refuge is the ideal packraft for navigating challenging landscapes. Capable of tackling the occasional Class III rapid, the Refuge is designed for experienced packrafters who plan to paddle and hike through rugged terrain on multi-day adventures.

Adventurer Roman Dial, one of early pioneers in the sport of packrafting, recently used Alpacka’s new Refuge on a traverse of the Alaskan Brooks Range.

“For ten years, I have been waiting for a packraft exactly like this one; only five pounds but still durable enough to run legitimate whitewater,” said Dial. “It’s the most fun and capable boat I’ve paddled.”

For alternative adventures, Alpacka has redesigned its best-selling Scout model. Tipping the scales at just 3.8 pounds, the 2022 Scout features a longer 10-inch hull for better tracking and paddling performance. With added leg room, the Scout can also now comfortably fit paddlers up to 6-feet, 2-iches tall.

“The Scout is and always has been more of a minimalist packraft,” said Alpacka Raft CEO, Thor Tingey. “These improvements—especially the added space—makes it a viable option for more packrafters looking to canyoneer or cast a line in a high alpine lake.”

As packrafting continues to grow in popularity, so does demand from adventurers looking to integrate it into ultralight pursuits. At just 2.25 pounds, the new Ghost is the lightest packraft Alpacka has ever made. Designed for paddlers willing to sacrifice durability for weight, it’s perfect for flatwater ultra-running adventures, high alpine lakes, river crossings and canyoneering. The Ghost is built with 70d ripstop nylon with single-layer seams to reduce weight, meaning it should avoid downriver travel with whitewater or rocky conditions.

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About Alpacka Raft

Founded in 2000 by mother and son team Sheri and Thor Tingey, Alpacka Raft makes the world’s best packrafts. With packrafts designed and handmade by a talented group of makers in its Mancos, Colorado facility, Alpacka Raft packrafts have been used and trusted on expeditions by some of the most well-known adventurers on the planet. Alpacka Raft is committed to building a diverse community of boaters and is proud to provide high-quality, living-wage manufacturing jobs in a rural, mountain-town economy. For more information, visit alpackaraft.com