WTB: 8lb or less Packraft

I am looking at getting into packrafting for a couple big trips in Glen Canyon area, I am not made out of money and I have too many hobbies so I am trying to find a used pack raft as my first.

Any pointers to a better spot to look for a used raft or advice on pack rafts?

If you're on Facebook, there's a packraft buy/sell forum that's pretty active. It's an international group, so you'll see a bunch of listings from Europe and Oz/NZ to sort through, but I recall seeing some pretty good deals there.

Matt Zwrote: If you're on Facebook, there's a packraft buy/sell forum that's pretty active. It's an international group, so you'll see a bunch of listings from Europe and Oz/NZ to sort through, but I recall seeing some pretty good deals there.

Ah this is the info I need! Thank you! I have a facebook that I never use, I will go look into this.

After doing some research, my friends and I all bought ourselves Supai Adventure Gear Matkats. 28 oz boat for $349, 14.5 oz carbon fiber paddle for $179. It is a glorified pool toy made with technical fabric, but it works great for crossing rivers and paddling flat water.

We go on a lot of backpacking trips, and the intention of the packrafts for us is mainly to cross the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. After some deliberation, we realized that the difference in seaworthiness between the Matkat and the much heavier and more expensive but similarly sized Alpacka Scout was not worth the weight or the cost. Again, we are supplementing backpacking trips with the boats so we can cross the river and foat flatwater. Full disclosure, I still haven't taken it on a backpacking trip, but i've taken it out a few times on flat water. It boats, but doesn't do it very well. It does pack down super small and holds my 180 lbs + pack perfectly.

If you plan to do a bunch of boating with some portages thrown in, you'll hate the Matkat. It doesn't glide, doesn't track well, and has basically no features. If that's your game, this is definitely not the boat for you. BUT if you're looking to hike a lot and have a tool to cross rivers and continue on your way, and weight is a concern, this could be a great and affordable option. Also, if by "Valley of Sun" you mean Phoenix AZ, Supai Adventure Gear is based in Chandler. My GF is from Gilbert and she and a friend were able to go and see the boats in person before making the purchase. Also, they gave us a 10% discount because there were 4 of us buying boats and paddles at the same time. Just wanted to throw it out there because it might work well for you and be a new boat within budget. Cheers!

As Matt said, check Packraft buysell, also packraft revolution, and teton packrafting. All are FB groups. Unfortunately it seems pretty slim pickings on the internet right now. Alpacka has a huge wait time, and people seem to be buying up all the used boats. What sort of boating are you trying to do? Internal TiZip storage is sweet but adds to price. 
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As a side note, i just got into packrafting and it’s so unbelievably sick. I thought i didn’t want to get into serious whitewater at first, but now i’m hooked, and glad i got a more capable boat. (Alpacka expedition). Putting thigh straps on next week.

Doesn't meet your weight criteria but it about the least expensive I have seen lately (I was looking for a packraft for the last month or so for an upcoming trip to the Bob Marshall wilderness and don't know if I'll end up actually using the raft beyond this trip) but this is an older slightly heavier model by kokopelli on FB marketplace, the guy was open to shipping for $20 or so more than asking price when I talked to him: facebook.com/marketplace/it…

Keep looking around if you have time, I recently ended up finding a 2019 kokopelli rogue spray deck on Ebay for $500.  There is also packrafting.com or .org and they have a forum for selling/buying, but as Max mentioned, the re-sale of packrafts asking price is usually like 5-10% off MSRP unfortunately.

Now - who has a 4 piece paddle for sale?

Max Rwrote: As Matt said, check Packraft buysell, also packraft revolution, and teton packrafting. All are FB groups. Unfortunately it seems pretty slim pickings on the internet right now. Alpacka has a huge wait time, and people seem to be buying up all the used boats. What sort of boating are you trying to do? Internal TiZip storage is sweet but adds to price.

As a side note, i just got into packrafting and it’s so unbelievably sick. I thought i didn’t want to get into serious whitewater at first, but now i’m hooked, and glad i got a more capable boat. (Alpacka expedition). Putting thigh straps on next week.

I just want to do as cool of stuff as you are doing! 

The current idea is to have access to connecting canyons in Glen Canyon. I would hike down one until I hit water and then raft out and up to another as far as I could before walking out. I also have dreams of climbing some stuff I have seen back in there that is only accessible by water.

So right now I just need something that tracks straight and paddles okay (5-10 miles in a day on flat water).

Used 2climbwrote: I am looking at getting into packrafting for a couple big trips in Glen Canyon area, I am not made out of money and I have too many hobbies so I am trying to find a used pack raft as my first.

Any pointers to a better spot to look for a used raft or advice on pack rafts?

Does it need to be light? or just to explore GC by water?

I bought a Bodyglove inflatable SUP at Costco for $400 that paddles GREAT. I'd totally use it for DWS and other Glen Canyon adventures. 

Andrew Ricewrote:

Does it need to be light? or just to explore GC by water?

I bought a Bodyglove inflatable SUP at Costco for $400 that paddles GREAT. I'd totally use it for DWS and other Glen Canyon adventures. 

Yeah it needs to be light because I will be carrying it 10+ miles on most trips. even at 8lbs that is miserable heavy considering that I will be carrying a day or two worth of water as well. When accessing some of the climbing areas I will have rack, rope, gear, water and raft besides bag, tent, sleeping pad and food. Adds up pretty fast in weight.

I should clarify, this is not for the stupid lake itself. This is just a means to explore and loop canyons like 50 mile- Davis and Davis to Reflection ect. It will also find use floating the escalante at times and potentially exploring some stuff in mexico.

Well sounds like you could get by with a very basic minimal feature boat. Like the Alpacka scout. You’d just have to wait a couple months to get it likely. The Kokopelli rogue light is probably up your alley too. My expedition weighs around 7.5lbs and is a great do-it-all boat, but it would be tough to find something like that for under $1k. Just keep checking everywhere.

I was looking at the Kokopelli Hornet-Lite, which at $525, 5.2lbs, and packs down to the size of a toilet paper roll, seems to fit your needs. Kokopelli is more established than some of the other cheaper brands listed here. Plus, they offer a deal on their 4-Piece paddle for $70. They don't recommend it for even Class I, but for flat water or river crossings, it seems more than capable. For $600 for vessel and paddle, it ain't bad.

FWIW, I will probably hold off for an Alpacka Yak with a cruiser deck and cargo fly for the packrafting I want to do.

Aaron Gwrote: I was looking at the Kokopelli Hornet-Lite, which at $525, 5.2lbs, and packs down to the size of a toilet paper roll, seems to fit your needs. Kokopelli is more established than some of the other cheaper brands listed here. Plus, they offer a deal on their 4-Piece paddle for $70. They don't recommend it for even Class I, but for flat water or river crossings, it seems more than capable. For $600 for vessel and paddle, it ain't bad.

FWIW, I will probably hold off for an Alpacka Yak with a cruiser deck and cargo fly for the packrafting I want to do.

This is a good deal... It looks like that is probably what I will end up doing. The used market is a bit weird, I see people asking new prices for 1 year old rafts... I am not planning anything till spring next year so will keep a eye tuned on these sources you all have given. 

Thanks a lot!

Klymit makes a very minimalist raft that is less than a couple hundred bucks. I've thought of getting one to take to backcountry lakes for fly fishing but it just seems like a lot of work.

​Klymit Pack Raft​​​

Andrew Ricewrote: Klymit makes a very minimalist raft that is less than a couple hundred bucks. I've thought of getting one to take to backcountry lakes for fly fishing but it just seems like a lot of work.

Klymit Pack Raft

Wow! That is cheap! I am going to do some research on this. I like Klymit products so I am hopeful for this.

Used 2climbwrote:

Wow! That is cheap! I am going to do some research on this. I like Klymit products so I am hopeful for this.

They appear sold out nearly everywhere including Klymit so act fast. And report back. 

Dude even runs some class I or II ww in one here.

​https://youtu.be/KaZZX2mAdxU?t=175​​​

here is a cool review of those... I think I have found my boat... this guy should get a extra payday for this review, he makes it look so much fun!