Complete Packrafting Gear List

The Best Packrafts, Paddles, And Packraft-Specific Backpacking Gear Out There

Some people begin packrafting because they’re looking for new ways to connect landscapes. Others begin packrafting because they’re sick of schlepping their 50lb kayak around. I’m in the former camp—an ultralight backpacker-turned-packrafter with extreme ultralight biases. When I wrote a packrafting gear list about 4 years ago, I didn’t realize how strong these biases were and how much they limited my packrafting abilities and comfort. At the time I hadn’t paddled much more than the ephemeral streams in Utah’s canyon country, so my experience was somewhat limited. That list still feels applicable to shoulder season boating in the American Southwest (which I say explicitly), but it has its limitations.

This packrafting gear list you’re now reading is written for most people in most packrafting scenarios. It came out of my own desire to pack effectively for some trips in Wyoming and a big expedition in Alaska. I think the conditions in these premier packrafting locations are indicative of what most packrafters will encounter or will hope to encounter. I hope this list will help you choose a packraft, a paddle, safety gear, and all the packraft-compatible backpacking gear you need for multi-day expeditions.

Thanks for reading, and happy paddling!