New Alpacka Raft Ultralight Packrafts for 2022: Scout, Ghost, Refuge

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 Raft has launched not one, but three new packraft models to meet the needs of a growing and diverse group of paddlers.

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Scout – Everything you need when weight and space are at a premium.

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 legroom, the Scout can also now comfortably fit paddlers up to 6-feet, 2-inches tall. The Scout is the packraft you need when you’re limited on weight and space. It’s comfortable and durable enough for everyday use on mountain lakes and rivers, and it has plenty of room for your fishing gear. 

“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.”

High mountain lakes provide solitude and outstanding fishing that seems to always be just beyond the reach of your cast from shore. Desert slot canyons provide high adventure, spectacular beauty, and sometimes frigid stretches of water. For these places, you need a packraft like the Scout that is light and compact enough to not get left behind when cutting weight in the final stages of packing, but durable enough to hold up in tight slots and rocky shorelines. The Scout is also an excellent option for kids, summer trips to the local lake, and easy flatwater floats on the local river.

The Scout packraft includes an inflation bag, stuff sack (to keep your belongings contained and dry), seat, and a basic repair kit.

Scout Specifications:

• Exterior Length: 86.25 inches
• Exterior Width: 34.25 inches
• Interior Length: 46.25 inches
• Interior Width: 14.25 inches
• Weight: 3.8 pounds (includes all components except stuff sack, inflation bag, and repair kit.)
• Packed Size: 12 inches x 6.25 inches (Packed size is based on folding in thirds lengthwise and rolling from the bow.)
• Max Capacity: 250 pounds (Max Capacity is the maximum total weight – paddlers and cargo – the boat can reasonably carry in flatwater under ideal conditions. Actual capacity for any given trip will vary.)

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Ghost – A minimalist, ultralight boat and the lightest packraft available from Alpacka Raft.

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. You'll barely notice this packraft in your pack. Utilizing the same new hull shape featured on the Scout, the Ghost is incredibly stable and tracks well for being such a small and light packraft. Designed for paddlers willing to sacrifice durability for weight, the Ghost is perfect for flatwater ultra-running adventures, high alpine lakes, river crossings and canyoneering.

When comparing the Ghost and the Scout, both are excellent boats for canyoneering and mountain lakes. However, Alpacka Raft generally recommends the Scout for long-term durability in those uses. The Ghost is built with 70d ripstop nylon with single-layer seams to reduce weight, so it should avoid downriver travel with whitewater or rocky conditions.

Ghost Specifications:

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• Exterior Length: 84 inches
• Exterior Width: 34 inches
• Interior Length: 44 inches
• Interior Width: 14.25 inches
• Weight: 2.25 pounds (Includes all components except inflation bag and repair kit.)
• Packed Size: 11 inches x 5 inches (Packed size is based on folding in thirds lengthwise and rolling from the bow.)
• Max Capacity: 225 pounds (Max Capacity is the maximum total weight – paddlers and cargo – the boat can reasonably carry in flatwater under ideal conditions. Actual capacity for any given trip will vary.)

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Refuge – The ultimate landscape traverse packraft.

Weighing in at 5.8 pounds, the Refuge is the ultimate landscape traverse packraft. It’s great for multiday to multiweek adventures with equal parts walking and floating. The Refuge utilizes the same 10-inch hull as the new Scout, but also includes a standard Whitewater deck and cargo fly to hold enough gear for longer trips in the backcountry. 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. The Refuge is ideal for the experienced wilderness packrafter who can limit their pack weight to 50 pounds for a 14-day trip.

The Refuge comes standard with the Whitewater Deck, Alpacka Raft's driest and warmest configuration. It is ideal for all water types in cool climates and the highest performance option for whitewater. The Whitewater Deck features a large kayak-style cockpit and includes a one-piece PEX coaming and an ultralight secure-fitting spray skirt. The Refuge also comes with the Cargo Fly – the ultimate packraft gear storage solution. It features an airtight zipper installed in the stern of the boat to allow you to load your gear inside the tubes. The system provides drier and more secure gear storage and improved paddling performance due to a lower center of gravity. The Cargo Fly is perfect for expeditions, whitewater performance, and keeping your gear dry in all conditions.

Adventurer Roman Dial, one of early pioneers in the sport of packrafting, recently used Alpacka Raft’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."

Refuge Specifications:

• Exterior Length: 86.25 inches
• Exterior Width: 34.25 inches
• Interior Length: 46.25 inches
• Interior Width: 14.25 inches
• Weight: 5 pounds 8 ounces (Includes all components except inflation bag and repair kit.)
• Packed Size: 15 inches x 7 inches (Packed size is based on folding in thirds lengthwise and rolling from the bow.)
• Max Capacity: 250 pounds (Max Capacity is the maximum total weight – paddlers and cargo – the boat can reasonably carry in flatwater under ideal conditions. Actual capacity for any given trip will vary.)

For more information on Alpacka Raft's new packrafts, visit: alpackaraft.com