Packing for Packrafting Trips
Packing for multi-day packrafting trips can be daunting and it certainly doesn’t lend to a light load. This is especially true if you’re like me and err on the side of over-preparedness.
Specifically, this is how I pack for multi-day, summer, river packrafting trips that require a hike, have intermediate whitewater, and are at least somewhat focused on fly fishing. I’m sure folks with different objectives pack differently. I’ve spent quite a bit of time floating and camping with a full-sized raft but I’m relatively new to the world of packrafting and I’m certainly not a seasoned whitewater enthusiast. So, I’m not suggesting that the way I do this is the “best” way, just sharing what has been successful for me thus far.
If you want to skip all the text and go straight to a custom curated shopping list of my packrafting gear, scroll to the bottom of this page and follow my RockPorch and Alpacka links.
Otherwise, here are the complete details of my packing list:
Backpack + Rain Cover - I’ve had the Osprey Aura 50 AG for almost a decade. It’s still going strong and it’s been great for packrafting. It’s not the lightest backpack on the market but, because we often carry 50+ lbs on packrafting trips, I appreciate the extra sturdiness. I’m not convinced an ultralight pack would support that weight without digging into the shoulders. I also always carry my pack rain cover incase showers roll in.
Tent + Rain Fly & Stakes - A lightweight backpacking tent that, of course, doesn’t leak. If my partner and I are going together, one of us (he) carries our REI Quarter Dome 2 person tent. If both of us plus our two full-sized dogs are going (which is rare whilst packrafting because we don’t want to have them on whitewater) we carry our big ol’ REI Half Dome 3 person. And if I’m not bunking-up with anyone I carry my North Face Stormbreak 1. Again, none of these are the lightest or most expensive tents available, but they’ve always worked great for us.
Sleeping Bag - I use my 20-degree bag for pretty much all of my northwest, summer backpacking trips. Especially here in Montana, it can still get pretty chilly in the mountains at night and this setup has kept me comfortable. I could probably get away with a less warm bag, particularly because river packrafting usually takes place at lower elevations than our alpine backpacking trips, but I’d rather be hot than cold. I recently upgraded from a synthetic bag to a down bag and it’s lighter and packs much smaller but, because of the higher propensity for gear to get wet while packrafting, I keep in mind that down dries slower and is less insulating when wet than synthetic.
Sleeping Pad - My preference is a light to mid-weight/comfort/warmth pad for summer adventures. I love my Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Sleeping Pad for this. I prefer rectangular shaped pads over the mummy ones because I sleep on my side.
Inflatable Pillow - I’m bougie, I guess, but for an extra two ounces, who cares?
Water - I carry enough water for the hike in and I keep water accessible in my boat. I use a reservoir and/or a Nalgene for this.
Water Filter - Gravity Filters > Pump Filters, IMO.
Meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinners. I usually pack oatmeal for breakfast, dry snacks for lunch, and dehydrated meals for dinner.
Snacks - I do it for the snacks.
Instant Coffee - Or tea, if that’s your thing. But as a full blown coffee addict, I list this under the “essentials” category. Just an FYI, Black Coffee Roasting Company makes the BEST instant coffee! I prefer not to deal with grounds and a press in the backcountry.
Stove/Burner - I have both a Jetboil Flash and MSR PocketRocket. They’re both great but I usually pack my Jetboil because it cooks faster, especially in the wind.
Pot - I usually just carry the “cooking cup” that came with my Jetboil. I also have a super light, GSI Outdoors Halulite Boiler Pot that I love.
Propane Canister - a full, 3.5-3.9 oz can is usually plenty, but if I’ll be out for more than a few days and/or I’m sharing it with my partner, I consider bringing an 8 oz can.
Lighter - It’s not a terrible idea to splurge on a waterproof one.
Spork - The one with the extra long handle is the only way to go! IYKYK. Especially in grizzly country, I don’t want to get food all over my arms trying to dig down into my Backpacker’s Pantry bag.
Light Camp Cup - My favorite so far is the GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker’s Mug.
Collapsible Bowl - If needed. I always bring mine for oatmeal breakfasts.
Small Emergency/Repair Kit - Mine usually includes items like a mini roll of duct tape, paracord, a couple zip ties, a few water proof matches, a small amount of fire starter, etc. Gotta be sure to have those “10 essentials!”
First Aid Kit - Put one together yourself or buy one that’s ready to go. Check out this Backcountry First Aid Kit Checklist from REI.
Multitool with Knife - They’re heavy but I’ve had to use them a number of times in the backcountry. I got the Leatherman Skeletool for Christmas this year and I loooooove it!
Head Lamp + Extra Batteries
Toiletries of Preference - Mine include TP (okay, that one’s more a necessity than a “preference”), wet wipes, a mini toothbrush, toothpaste tabs, extra contact lenses, SPF lip balm, etc.
Wag Bags - In the wag bag vs. cathole debate, I’m team wag bag. IMO, there are just too many of us #2ing in sensitive wilderness areas for it to be sustainable. Some rivers don’t allow catholes and boaters are required to carry special containers to transport human waste, so check the regulations where you’re floating. Wag-bagging while packrafting requires extra precaution to be sure they won’t leak. I carry an extra, little, sacrificial dry bag for mine. If you are digging a cathole, please, PLEASE dig it 250 feet away from the water, six inches deep and pack out your TP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across human waste and nasty, dirty toilet paper on the river. Often right at camp and/or few feet from the river. A, that’s a literal biohazard for other campers, B, it’s terrible for water quality, C, it’s just gross. Don’t.
Sunblock - SPF 50 is my recommendation for long days in the sun and the water reflecting in your face.
Bug Spray - I steer clear of DEET on packrafting trips because it can damage gear, including your boat.
Phone + Power Bank and Charging Cord - I use my phone for photos and sometimes for navigation assistance. Especially if I’m relying on it for any nav, I make sure to pack a fully charged power bank and a charging cord.
Map & Compass - If you decide it’s necessary. I’m guilty of not packing this for trips with more straightforward navigation (ex: if there’s a well established and easy-to-follow trail that will take us to our easily recognizable launch point, with the river route and takeout situation also being easy peasy) but the hardcore safety folks might scold me for that. The old school way will always reign supreme in navigation, so if there’a any question, pack ‘em.
Garmin InReach Mini - So many things can go wrong on the water and in the backcountry. Carrying a satellite messenger is a great idea and I highly recommend it. Obviously, they don’t take the place of preparedness or smart/safe decision making, but they offer some additional peace of mind.
PFD - It sucks to pack this in but it’s an absolute necessity. I have the NRS Nora PFD. It’s not the most whitewater specific PFD but it’s great for my purposes and I appreciate the big pockets while fishing.
Whitewater Helmet - Another large item that sucks to pack but isn’t optional. I have so many different types of helmets, I was hesitant to buy another and initially used my climbing helmet for paddling. Don’t do this. I learned that every helmet is designed for different, specific types of impacts. Climbing helmets aren’t designed for multiple impacts the way that whitewater helmets are (incase you’re carried downriver and whack your head on every boulder along the way). I now have the WRSI Current Helmet.
Throw Bag - And know how to use it!
Dry Bag(s) - I don’t have the “cargo fly” on my raft, which is the feature that allows for internal dry storage. So, I have to keep my stuff dry while it’s strapped on top of my boat, constantly being sprayed with water. Other folks usually pack in multiple, smaller dry bags, and divide the contents of their backpack into those. That might be the smarter way to do things, but I prefer an extra large bag that my entire pack fits into. Especially if there’s a hike out at the end of the trip, I don’t want to carry a wet pack. I used to carry a huge, heavy-duty NRS dry bag for this. It did a wonderful job keeping my things dry, but it was impractical from weight/packability standpoint. I recently purchased a big, lightweight (but presumably less durable) dry bag from Sea to Summit. We’ll see how it holds up this summer! I also carry a very small dry bag that I keep clipped somewhere accessible, for quick access to things like my phone and snacks.
Packraft - The star of the show. I have the Alpacka Raft Mule and absolutely love it for my purposes. I feel like it offers a great balance of weight, size, durability, and stability/capability. Separately, I’ll post a whoooole review of my raft, so take a look at that if you’d like details.
Paddle - I use the Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon 4 piece and it’s great, although I don’t always need to break it into four so I’m not sure that feature was necessary.
Inflation Sack - I carry the one from Alpacka that came with my boat. I think it works great. I’ve been out with a few friends who carry the small, electric pump from Kokopelli, but I’m not convinced it’s any faster or more efficient.
Patch Kit - I use the kit from Alpacka that came with my packraft which they call the “Basic Repair Kit” on their website. It includes Aquaseal, Tenacious Tape, Patch-N-Go tape, a patch sticker, and some extra material. We’ve had to use this in the backcountry after accidentally poking a raft with a fishing hook.
Straps - Again, my raft doesn’t have internal dry storage so I have to strap my dry bags to the outside. I tried to use paracord but found it wasn’t sturdy enough. Now I use a 6-foot long, 1-inch wide NRS strap.
Sun Hoodie - UPF 50 and quick-drying or bust. I have so many favorite sun shirts I could do an entire, separate blog. But my shirt o’ the summer last year was the NRS H2Core Silkweight. It’s soft, light, and dries fast. It also doesn’t get stinky as quickly as many of other, similar material shirts I’ve owned.
Hat
Sunglasses - After seeing my buddy’s sunnies sink to the bottom of the river, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to strap a pair of eyewear retainers on, too.
Shorts - Or quick drying pants, if you prefer.
Trail Runners + Hiking Socks - With my pack as heavy as it is for packrafting trips, it’d probably be better for my feet if I hiked in boots, opposed to trail runners. But when it comes time to paddle, fitting big, clunky hiking boots into a dry bag with the rest of my stuff is a pain. Trail runners take up less space so they are my preference. If we ever have a particularly long or gnarly hike in, I’ll probably suck it up and bring boots. Some companies, like Astral, make hybrid hiking/water shoes and I’m curious to try a pair. Note that I also usually pack sandals to wear while I’m in the boat. Not the most lightweight shoe system I’ve got going.
Undergarments - “She’s going into that much detail?” Yes, I am, and let me tell you why this is important. Water will be splashing into your boat and you will be getting wet. When you’re sitting in moisture for days at a time… funky… things can happen (I will not elaborate). This is assuming you’re not wearing a dry suit, but even then, dry suits don’t allow for much airflow. It’s worth it to have a few pairs of high quality, moisture wicking, antimicrobial underoos. Cotton is not your friend.
Warm Layers - For chilly nights and sleeping I pack a set of midweight base layers (a top and a bottom), extra wool socks and a beanie. Of course, the number and weight of extra layers you bring should be tailored to the season/weather during the trip.
Puffy Jacket - I find that a lighter jacket, like my Patagonia Nano Puff, does the trick during summer.
Rain Jacket - Even when the forecast doesn’t call for rain.
Bear Spray - If in bear country. Many of our packrafting trips here in Montana traverse through dense grizzly habitat. Even while I’m paddling, I have my bear spray out and clipped somewhere it’s readily accessible.
Hanging System - If in bear country, I bring a bag (or use a bag I’m already carrying, like the stuff sack for your packraft) and a rope to hang all of my food and other smelly goods from a tree. Remember, the ideal bear hang should be 200 feet away from your tent, 15 feet high, and 10 horizontal feet from the trunk of the tree.
Entertainment - Obviously optional but it can add value to a trip, especially one with friends. I like to carry Uno or a deck of waterproof playing cards. Sometimes I’ll bring a book if I think I’ll have enough downtime to read. I believe a flask filled with adult liquid also falls under this category, which can be nice for an evening at camp if that’s your preference, but I obviously don’t recommend partaking in much of it while you’re paddling.
Camp Lighting - Optional and lower priority. We sometimes bring an inflatable lantern or one of those light, backpacking string light sets. They’re nice for camp ambiance.
Extra Clothes - I consider an extra set of clothes optional (note this is separate from a set of warm layers, which is essential) because I’m grimy and usually just wear the same clothes I wore on the hike in throughout the entire trip. However, because you’ll definitely get splashed while paddling, it’s sometimes nice to have a designated “dry set” and “wet set” of clothing.
Camp/Boat Sandals - See the shoe discussion above. It’s nice to have a pair of shoes that can get wet. While heavy, my preference is forever Chaco, the superior river sandal, IMO.
Fly Fishing Stuff - Optional… or is it? I usually bring a 4 or 5 wt rod, a reel with floating line, trout leaders, tippet, a rubber net, floatant, forceps, nippers, and my favorite summer dry flies, including stimulators and ants.
Dry Suit - Determine if this will be needed for your trip.
A Few Other Considerations:
River Camping Leave No Trace Principles - In my opinion, someone who isn’t willing to put in the time to learn to appropriately care for our incredible, shared, natural resources shouldn’t use them. LNT isn’t optional, it’s an integral a component of a river trip. If you’re unfamiliar with LNT on the river, check out this awesome article from American Whitewater: Leave No Trace: The Paddler's Footprint or just type “River Camping Leave No Trace” into a search engine.
Safety - Lots of hazards exist on the river. Know before you go. If you’re inexperienced, I highly recommend doing your safety research, taking a swiftwater safety course, and/or taking some paddling lessons. Especially if there’s any whitewater on your trip that can’t be portaged.
Permits - Be sure to have any required permits for where you’re paddling/camping. If a permit is required, I’d suggest printing it out and packing it in a dry spot. We’ve ran into plenty of forest rangers deep in the backcountry.
Shuttle/Keys - As someone who has forgotten her keys and had to hitchhike from the takeout, I recommend thinking critically about your shuttle situation before leaving the trailhead. You may need to bring your keys. If so, pack them in a secure spot.
Dividing Weight - The above list makes for a very heavy pack. However, there might be gear that doesn’t need duplicated among the group and can be divvied-up. For example, my partner and I share a tent and cookware. One of us carries the tent, the other carries the cookware.