Punctures happen. Learn how to find a leak, make a quick field fix, do a permanent patch at home, and care for and store your packraft so it lasts for years.

Weight, capacity, fit, deck style, materials and storage: here's how to choose the right packraft for the way you actually paddle, plus a quick cheat sheet to narrow it down.

Packrafts and inflatable kayaks look similar, but they're built for different adventures. Compare weight, speed, stability, whitewater ability and price to see which boat fits you.

From the core four essentials to safety gear, clothing and multi-day extras, this packrafting gear list covers everything you need, plus a printable checklist at the end.

Packrafting turns every lake and river on the map into a possible route. Here's everything a beginner needs to know: what a packraft is, the gear to bring, how to run your first trip, and which skills to learn next.

A slow leak does not have to end your trip. How to locate a puncture, patch it on the riverbank, and make the repair permanent at home.

Real numbers on what a packraft weighs, how small it packs, and what that means for a loaded backpack.

Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. What that actually means, season by season.

The three questions that actually determine which packraft is right for you, and the mistake almost every first-time buyer makes.

Packrafts are ultralight inflatable boats you can carry in a backpack. Here's what they are, where they came from, and why they changed backcountry travel.

Fewer crowds, looser permits, and peak color. Here are five rivers that are at their best for packrafting in the fall.

What makes the Pacific Northwest good packrafting country, and how to scout, permit and plan a run responsibly.

Glacier-carved canyons, wilderness solitude, and the longest undammed river in the Lower 48 — five of Montana's best packrafting rivers.

Glacier-fed rivers, volcanic caldera runs, and turquoise alpine lakes — here are five of the best places to drop a packraft in Alaska.

Granite canyons, Class III whitewater, and high-country solitude — five of the best packrafting rivers in Colorado.

From mellow first-timer floats to multi-day whitewater expeditions — five of the best desert rivers in Utah to explore by packraft.

Scenic Snake River floats, punchy canyon whitewater, and grizzly-country wilderness — five unforgettable packrafting spots in Wyoming.

Whether you're brand new to packrafting or it's already your favorite way to get deep into the backcountry, mark your calendar — the American Packrafting Association is bringing a Regional RoundUp to Maine for the very first time, and it's happening in one of the most iconic paddling landscapes in the Northeast. From September 4–7, 2026, packrafters from all over will gather at Big Eddy in Millinocket to paddle, learn, and swap stories in the shadow of Katahdin. If you've bee

Hike-and-float alpine lakes and roaring Cascade whitewater — five of the best packrafting destinations in Washington State.

The Deerfield River just earned 40 years of protected whitewater releases. Here’s why the August 1 River Fest is worth the trip — and why a packable boat is the best way to ride it.