The packrafting reference: 263 terms covering boat design, materials and gear, repair, whitewater, safety and trip planning. Researched from manufacturers, retailers and expert sources, combined with our own experience since 2017, with our own comic illustrations.
263 terms
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Step by step: how to find and patch a hole or tear in your packraft, on the go with self-adhesive patches and permanently at home with two-component glue.
Read the guide: Repairing a packraft: patching holes and tears
What you should know before your first whitewater in a packraft: gear, reading the river, basic techniques, swimming and the most important rules.
Crossing lakes, fjords and sea inlets by packraft: what matters when it comes to wind, waves, cold and planning.
Which boat for which purpose? Packraft, hardshell kayak, canoe, folding boat, sectional boat, inflatable kayak and SUP compared.
Cold shock, swim failure and hypothermia: why cold water is the biggest danger in packrafting and how to protect yourself.
Open boat, spray deck or self-bailer: pros and cons of the three concepts and which suits which trip.
Bow, boat or tube: how to carry luggage in a packraft and which system suits which trip.
The 1-10-1 rule sums up what happens in cold water: 1 minute of cold shock, about 10 minutes of meaningful movement, about 1 hour until unconsciousness from hypothermia.
When packing up, you first open the main valve, let the air out and roll the boat up towards the valve.
An offshore wind blows from the land out over the water. Near the shore everything looks calm, further out the waves get bigger, and the light packraft is pushed out.
Flash-off time, pot life, curing time
Three times decide whether a bond is good: how long the glue needs to dry, how long the mix stays workable and when the bond can take load.
Abrasion happens when the boat drags over stones or rubs against a backpack or bike. It weakens the coating before a hole appears.
Alpacka Raft from the USA, founded by Sheri Tingey, is considered a pioneer of modern packrafts. It is known for the Cargo Fly, the whitewater deck and self-bailers.
Anfibio is a packraft manufacturer from Leipzig, Germany. The boats are made without glued seams, and Anfibio gives a 3-year warranty.
The Anfibio Revo is a closable self-bailer with a TwinTail stern. It can be converted from a stable self-bailer into a minimalist solo boat.
Aquaseal UV cures within seconds under UV light. That's ideal for emergency repairs, but the bond is less durable than regular Aquaseal.
Aquasure, Aquaseal and Seam Grip (liquid PU)
Liquid polyurethane seals small holes, scratches and seams. It stays flexible but takes many hours to cure.
Paddle locking (clamp and spring button)
The locking system connects the pieces of a sectional paddle. Clamps allow any length and angle, spring buttons click into fixed steps.
A packraft is set up in a few minutes: lay it out, insert the gear, inflate with the inflation bag, top up, then inflate seat and backrest.
Inflatable vests are light and small but have to be inflated by mouth or cartridge. Anfibio offers an inflatable vest called the Buoy Boy.
In an eddy turn you leave the current and enter an eddy. The boat is edged upstream.
Exiting after a capsize (wet exit)
The wet exit is the controlled exit from a capsized boat, especially important with a spray skirt or thigh straps.
BackBand (Comfort and Performance)
BackBand is Anfibio's name for its backrests: the Comfort BackBand is tall and inflatable, the Performance BackBand is a snug foam band.
Port is left in the direction of travel, starboard is right. On rivers people usually just say river left and river right.
Fallen trees and branches in the water act like a sieve: water flows through, boats and people get stuck. They are among the most common deadly hazards.
Circum-rescue collapse (afterdrop)
Shortly before, during or after rescue from cold water, the circulation can collapse. Rescue hypothermic people horizontally and gently.
Scouting means looking at an unknown or difficult section from the bank before running it and planning your line.
Packrafts work with very low air pressure. Firm but not rock-hard is the goal.
In bikerafting you combine a bike and a packraft: for paddling, the bike is strapped across the bow.
The inflation bag is a light nylon bag you use to inflate a packraft in a few minutes, without any pump.
A piece of hose from the hardware store that fits the mouth valve makes topping up on the water much easier.
The blade angle is how far the two paddle blades are rotated against each other. Feathering makes the paddle less sensitive to wind.
A block seat is a box-shaped inflatable seat. It adds height and wedges itself between the tubes.
bluesign is a certification system for textiles that limits the use of hazardous chemicals in production.
The floor is the area between the tubes that you sit on. It is often made of thicker, more abrasion-resistant fabric than the tubes.
An inflatable floor mat stiffens the hull, insulates against cold and raises the seating position. In a self-bailer it is essential.
The sweep stroke turns the boat. The paddle is guided flat in a wide arc from bow to stern.
When boofing, you lift the bow with a powerful stroke at the edge of a drop so the boat lands flat instead of diving into the hole.
Boat weight and complete weight
Boat weight means the hull only, complete weight means the ready-to-paddle boat with seat, backrest, mat and spray deck.
On German federal waterways even a packraft must carry a clearly visible name, with the owner's name and contact details inside.
A Boston valve is a two-part valve: the top part has a one-way flap for inflating, and if you unscrew the whole valve, the air rushes out quickly.
The bow is the front end of a boat. On packrafts it is usually raised so the boat rides over waves instead of diving in.
Federal waterway (Bundeswasserstraße)
Federal waterways in Germany are rivers, canals and coastal waters with shipping, managed by the federal government. Special rules apply here, including for packrafts.
Cargo Fly is Alpacka's name for the airtight zipper used to stow luggage inside the tube.
The ClearPatch is a transparent self-adhesive patch for temporary, quick repairs on inflatable products.
The cockpit is the seating area of the boat. On packrafts with a spray deck it is the opening you get in and out through.
A DeckPack is a bag you strap to the front of the boat to keep small items within reach.
DeckReady is the name of versions of the Anfibio Delta MX and Sigma TX to which the removable UniDeck spray deck can be attached.
DEET is an active ingredient in many insect repellents and attacks the boat fabric: the material becomes cloudy, sticky and soft.
Denier is a unit for the yarn thickness of a fabric. The higher the number, the thicker, tougher and heavier the fabric.
A boat that turns easily can be spun around with a few strokes. That's an advantage in whitewater, but rather tiring on long distances.
A triangular or L-shaped tear often comes from sharp rocks or branches. The flap is folded back, backed and then covered.
A dropped floor is a lowered floor: it hangs below the bottom edge of the tubes.
Dyneema Composite Fabric is an extremely light laminate used in ultralight gear such as dry bags and tents.
The MRS Nomad comes with two deck options: the removable E-Deck with hook-and-loop strip and the D-Deck for occasional whitewater.
A solo boat is built for one person, a tandem for two. Many tandems can also be paddled alone.
In a peel out you leave the eddy and enter the main current. The boat is edged downstream.
Single and double coated fabric
Single-coated fabric has the TPU layer on one side only, double-coated fabric on both. That matters for repairs.
The put-in is where you launch the boat and start, the take-out is where you get out at the end.
A small first aid kit belongs on every trip, packed waterproof, together with a plan for how to get help in an emergency.
With an Eskimo roll you right a capsized boat without getting out. In packrafts this only works with thigh straps, a spray deck and lots of practice.
A folding boat consists of a flexible skin and a collapsible internal frame made of wood or aluminium. Usually it is a kayak.
A folding canoe is an open canoe with a collapsible frame and a skin. Well known are the Ally canoes from Norway, made since 1973.
A foam vest floats thanks to built-in foam. It needs no triggering and still floats after a tear.
The fetch is the distance over which the wind blows across the water without obstruction. The longer the fetch, the higher the waves.
A fin is a blade under the stern. It noticeably improves a packraft's tracking.
The fin mount is a glued-on or welded patch at the stern into which a fin is slid.
For permanent repairs you glue on a patch of the original material with two-component PU glue.
Apps show water levels, river descriptions and paddling rules. The Anfibio blog recommends RiverApp, Meine Pegel and Canua.
River left and river right always refer to the view downstream. That avoids confusion no matter which way the boat is pointing.
A foam seat can't burst and lets water drain through channels. Anfibio recommends the FoamSeat in a self-bailer for whitewater.
Freeboard is the distance between the waterline and the top edge of the boat. More freeboard means waves splash in less often.
In assisted rescue someone else helps: with a throw bag from the bank, with a boat on the water or by collecting boat and paddle.
A footrest gives your feet support. That lets you brace against the backrest and control the boat better.
If you stand up in fast current, a foot can get trapped between rocks. The current then pushes your body forward and under water.
The packrafting classic: strap a backpack or dry bag across the bow. It even slightly improves tracking.
Bow, boat or tube: how to carry luggage in a packraft and which system suits which trip.
Luggage travels on the bow, in the boat or inside the tube itself. Each system has pros and cons.
From the Halkett boat in the 19th century through Alaska's wilderness races to modern TPU boats: a short history of packrafting.
Duct tape is the classic emergency fix: it holds surprisingly well but leaves stubborn residue.
On the North Sea and Atlantic, ebb and flood change the water level and current several times a day. A packraft can hardly make headway against a tidal current.
A grab loop is a sturdy loop on the boat for holding, carrying or attaching things.
Crossing large bodies of water
Crossing lakes, fjords and sea inlets by packraft is tempting, but one of the riskiest situations. Wind, waves and cold decide.
Crossing large bodies of water
Crossing lakes, fjords and sea inlets by packraft: what matters when it comes to wind, waves, cold and planning.
The forward stroke moves the boat ahead. The power comes from rotating the torso, not from the arms.
Attachment points and tie-downs
Attachment points are loops glued or welded onto the boat. You use them to attach luggage, thigh straps, lines or spray decks.
A hand or electric pump gives you more pressure than an inflation bag and your lungs. That's worth it for large tandems and in whitewater.
The packraft is inflated and deflated through the main valve. Many valves have a one-way flap so the air doesn't escape while you inflate.
The stern is the rear end of a boat. Packrafts come with round, extended (long tail) and notched sterns (TwinTail).
Helaplast (two-component PU glue)
Helaplast is a PU contact cement mixed with a hardener. It is used to permanently glue on patches, loops and fin mounts.
A helmet is mandatory in whitewater. It protects you from rocks if you capsize.
Hike & float means hiking and paddling on one trip, with the packraft carried in your backpack between the water sections.
In high-frequency welding, plastic is heated by an electromagnetic field and joined under pressure, without any glue.
In high water a river flows faster and carries more debris. Eddies disappear, trees stand in the water and easy sections become dangerous.
Dogs can ride along in a packraft. According to the Packrafting Store their claws don't damage the boat fabric, but some preparation is needed.
Hydrolysis is the breakdown of plastic by moisture and heat. In packrafts it mainly affects airtight zippers that are stored wet.
Hypalon is a very tough, UV-resistant rubber coating used on large rafts and folding boats.
The interior dimensions show how much room you really have in the boat. What matters most for fit is the interior length compared to your leg length.
Island hopping means crossing a large body of water in short stages from island to island. In between, there's always an emergency landing spot.
MRS's ISS has an air- and watertight TiZip zipper at the stern. Luggage goes in dry bags straight into the tube.
In Sweden, Norway and Finland, the right of public access lets you roam nature largely freely and camp for a night in many places, with consideration and rules.
A kayak is paddled with a double-bladed paddle, sitting facing forward. Hardshell kayaks are faster than packrafts, but heavy and bulky.
Cold water: what happens in an emergency
Cold shock, swim failure and hypothermia: why cold water is the biggest danger in packrafting and how to protect yourself.
If you fall into cold water, your body reacts with gasping and hyperventilation. In the first minutes that is the biggest danger, not hypothermia.
A canoe is an open boat paddled kneeling or sitting with a single-bladed paddle. Lots of room for luggage, ideal for touring.
Edging means deliberately tilting the boat sideways with your hips and knees. It lets you cross eddy lines safely and steer more precisely.
A rapid is a section with stronger current and waves. A cataract is a rapid broken up by boulders or rock bars.
An eddy is the area behind a rock or bank projection where the water is still or even flows upstream. Ideal for a break.
The eddy line is the boundary between the main current and the eddy. Two currents meet here, and the boat is turned.
Capsizing means the boat tips over and you end up in the water. It's rare in packrafts, but it happens, especially on eddy lines and in holes.
Kevlar is a brand name for aramid fibres. In some packraft floors, aramid is woven into the nylon to make them more cut- and abrasion-resistant.
Rocker describes how much the floor rises towards bow and stern. Lots of rocker makes a boat agile, little rocker makes it track better.
Stability describes how reliably a boat stays upright. Thanks to their wide tubes, packrafts are very stable.
No patch sticks to dirt, grease or moisture. Cleaning and drying is the most important step of every repair.
Kokopelli is a US packraft manufacturer with models such as the Nirvana, Rogue and Recon.
Contact bonding with heat reactivation
In contact bonding, the glue dries on both surfaces and is then reactivated with heat. Only then do the parts stick.
On the coast you also deal with tides, currents, surf and offshore wind. With planning, packraft trips on the sea are wonderful.
Store your packraft clean, dry, loosely rolled, with the valves open and out of direct sunlight.
Late rise bow is Alpacka's term for a bow that rises late, i.e. far forward.
Latex gaskets seal dry suits at the neck and wrists, sewn-on socks keep your feet dry.
Leafield valves are sturdy valves from raft building. They are mainly found on heavy whitewater and PVC boats.
Before you patch, you have to find the leak. Soapy water shows the spot most reliably with bubbles.
Bailing means getting water out of the boat. In packrafts without self-bailing you tip the boat out on land or soak it up with a sponge.
Drain holes are openings in the floor of a self-bailer through which water drains out.
The LifePatch is a self-adhesive fabric patch from Anfibio for quick repairs on the go, according to Anfibio even in the rain or under water.
The line is the planned route through a rapid. Reading the river means recognising the best line from waves, tongues and eddies.
A long tail is an extended stern. It lengthens the waterline, making the boat faster and better at tracking.
Lösit is an MEK-based solvent. It is used to clean bonding surfaces and to thin Helaplast.
An inflatable kayak is usually made of PVC or rubberised fabric. It is longer and faster than a packraft, but heavier.
An air chamber is a separately inflatable part of the boat. To save weight, many packrafts have only one.
Manufacturers and retailers state up to which body height a packraft fits comfortably. Leg length is what counts.
Multi-day trips and expeditions
On multi-day trips your whole camp travels in and on the boat. Luggage system, load capacity and the ability to repair become crucial.
Mekong is a French packraft manufacturer. By its own account, they are the only packrafts made in Europe, welded using high-frequency technology.
According to the manufacturer, Mekong's Pablo Pro converts between decked, self-bailing and open in under a minute, three packrafts in one.
MRS builds packrafts in lines from ultralight to whitewater and is known for the ISS luggage system with TiZip zipper.
A multi-paddle can be used as a double-bladed paddle or, with two grip pieces, as two single-bladed paddles.
A small mouth or topping-off valve lets you top up by mouth, for example when the boat softens in cold water.
A pinhole is a tiny hole, for example from a thorn. You fix it with a drop of liquid PU or a small patch.
If a seam leaks, a thin line of liquid PU along the leaking spot usually helps.
Nature conservation on the water
Packrafts can go almost anywhere. That comes with responsibility: respect protected areas, breeding seasons and water level limits.
Neoprene is a foam rubber that keeps you warm when wet. Wetsuits are cheaper than dry suits but protect less well when paddling.
In low water a river is shallow and rocky. You scrape over stones, have to get out more often, and some spots become more technical.
Nortik is known for folding boats and the Trekraft packraft with side pockets inside the tube.
Before every trip it should be clear: who knows where we are? How do we get help? Where can we get out if necessary?
Nylon is the base fabric of almost all packrafts. It provides tear strength, the coating provides airtightness.
Good paddlers rotate their torso with every stroke. That spares the arms and adds power.
An open packraft has no spray deck. It's lighter, packs smaller and you get in and out quickly.
Origami kayaks are folded from a single plastic sheet, much like paper. Setup takes only a few minutes.
An overnighter is a short trip with one night outdoors, ideal for testing gear and your packing system.
What belongs on every packraft trip: boat, paddle, PFD, inflation bag, repair kit, waterproof dry bags and spare clothes.
The packed size is the volume a packraft can be rolled down to after use.
A packraft is a small, very light inflatable boat that packs down small enough to fit in or on a backpack.
Packraft, kayak, canoe or folding boat?
Which boat for which purpose? Packraft, hardshell kayak, canoe, folding boat, sectional boat, inflatable kayak and SUP compared.
Repairing a packraft: patching holes and tears
Step by step: how to find and patch a hole or tear in your packraft, on the go with self-adhesive patches and permanently at home with two-component glue.
Packrafting is paddling with a boat that you carry on foot, by bike or in your luggage to wherever you want to start.
The Packrafting Store (packrafting-store.de) is Anfibio's online shop with boats, accessories and spare parts.
A course is the fastest way to safe technique, especially for whitewater and rescue skills.
A roll-top dry bag keeps clothes, sleeping bag and electronics dry, even if the boat capsizes.
Packsailing (sailing a packraft)
With a small sail, a packraft can be pushed along comfortably with a tailwind. This is called packsailing.
The PackSeats are light inflatable seat cushions from Anfibio, available as PackSeat light, long or with an integrated backrest.
Packrafts are usually paddled with a sectional double-bladed paddle that has a blade at each end.
Hold the paddle slightly wider than shoulder width, with your forearms at roughly a right angle to the shaft.
Gloves protect against blisters and cold. Pogies are paddle mitts: sleeves attached to the paddle that wrap around your hands.
The right paddle length depends on boat width, seat height, body height and use. Packrafts are wide, so paddles are a bit longer than for a kayak.
A paddle leash connects paddle and boat so the paddle doesn't drift away during a break or capsize.
A group is safer when it's clear who leads, who sweeps and how you communicate.
Paddling shoes protect your feet when getting in and out and on portages. They should fit snugly and not soak up water.
Patch 'n Go is a transparent special tape that sticks so well to urethane that a field repair can become a permanent fix.
The gauge is the measured water level of a river. It decides whether a section is runnable, too shallow or dangerously high.
A packraft needs little care: rinse it after the trip, dry it and store it in the dark. Sand belongs neither in the valve nor in zippers.
Anfibio uses “Plus” for versions with tougher tube fabric, namely 420 instead of 210 denier.
At a pillow wall, the current hits a rock or the outer bank head-on. The water piles up and pushes boats against the wall.
Pressure water forms when water hits an obstacle and is pushed up or to the side. It shoves boats around unpredictably.
PVC is a cheap, heavy boat material used mainly for pool toys and sturdy rafts.
A raft is a large, sturdy inflatable boat for several people, as known from commercial rafting.
Airtight zippers on packrafts and dry suits need a little care: keep them clean, dry them and grease the outside.
A small repair kit saves the trip if the packraft gets a hole. It belongs in every boat.
A rescue knife with a blunt tip is carried within reach on the PFD to cut lines or straps in an emergency.
A life jacket turns an unconscious person onto their back. For paddlers there are special whitewater rescue vests with a rescue harness.
Small tears can be closed on the go with self-adhesive patches. Large tears are backed from inside and covered on the outside.
With Anfibio's RTC, the tube opens via a special roll closure. That lets you fill the whole interior with luggage.
A backrest supports your lower back and keeps you upright. That's easier on your back and improves your paddling technique.
Recirculation is the backward-flowing current below a drop or hole that pulls boats and swimmers back to the drop.
The back stroke brakes the boat or moves it backwards. The blade goes in behind the hip and is pushed forward.
The hull is the load-bearing body of the boat. On a packraft it consists of the air tubes and the floor.
Hull speed is the speed a displacement boat can reach with reasonable effort. It depends mainly on the length of the waterline.
Packrafts made of TPU nylon are saltwater-resistant. After trips on the sea you should still rinse them with fresh water.
Thigh straps connect your thighs to the boat. They let you edge, brace and, at best, even roll.
On large rivers and the coast, commercial shipping has priority. Packrafts are small, slow and hard for ships to see.
Boats packed away damp start to smell and can go mouldy. That does little harm to the fabric, but a lot to zippers.
The tube is the inflatable cylinder running around the boat that provides buoyancy.
Inflatable dinghy and pool toy
Pool toys made of thin PVC are meant for the swimming lake, not for trips. A packraft is a proper, robust boat.
The thicker the tube, the more buoyancy and freeboard a packraft has and the stiffer it is.
A wave train is a series of irregular waves in a rapid. The size of the waves is one criterion of the difficulty grade.
On TPU packrafts the fabric panels are usually welded rather than sewn or glued. That saves weight and stays airtight.
Whitewater difficulty scale WW I to VI
The whitewater difficulty scale ranges from WW I (easy) to WW VI (limit of navigability). It helps you assess a river section.
When swimming in a river, first lie on your back with your feet downstream, then swim actively on your front to an eddy or the bank.
After a few minutes in cold water, arms and legs cool so much that you can no longer swim, even as a good swimmer.
A PFD (buoyancy aid) is always part of packrafting. It keeps you afloat if you capsize.
Sea kayaks are long, narrow and built for large bodies of water and coasts. With a rudder or skeg they track very straight.
With a ferry you cross a river without drifting downstream. The bow points at an angle into the current.
Instead of a spray deck, a self-bailer has drain holes in the floor and an inflatable floor mat. Water that splashes in drains out by itself.
Self-bailer, spray deck or open?
Open boat, spray deck or self-bailer: pros and cons of the three concepts and which suits which trip.
Self-bailers come in three designs: simple holes in the floor, holes with plugs to close them, and closable drain tubes such as Anfibio's VenturiTube.
Self-rescue means getting yourself to safety after a capsize without outside help: into the boat, to the bank or into an eddy.
On river trips you have to get from the finish back to the start. With packrafts that works by train, bus or on foot, without a second car.
At difficult spots someone stands on the bank below with a throw bag to get swimmers out quickly.
If you paddle at dusk or near shipping, you should be easy to see: bright colours, reflectors, a white all-round light.
On the water a whistle is louder than any voice. It belongs on your PFD.
A siphon is a spot where water flows under or between rocks, but a person can't. Siphons are deadly traps.
The seat determines comfort, seat height and control in a packraft. It's usually inflatable, but there are foam seats too.
The higher you sit, the better your leverage for paddling, edging and bracing. The lower you sit, the more stable the boat.
Straps are used to lash luggage or a bike to the boat. Ladder buckles are easy to retighten.
A spray deck closes the boat from above and keeps out waves, spray, rain and cold.
The spray skirt is worn on your body. Its edge is stretched over the coaming and seals the cockpit.
Tracking describes how well a boat goes straight without correction strokes. By nature, packrafts tend to turn easily.
A single-bladed paddle has one blade and a grip at the other end. It's used for canoe-style paddling.
A sectional boat consists of several rigid segments that are plugged together. It's set up in a few minutes.
For a rudder stroke you hold the paddle in the water behind you and use it as a rudder, for example when surfing or on waves.
The tongue is a smooth, V-shaped band where the main current flows between obstacles. It's usually the best line.
A drop is a vertical or steep step in the riverbed. A hole often forms below it.
With a brace you stop the boat from tipping over by slapping or pressing the paddle blade flat on the water.
The coaming is the stiffened rim of the cockpit. The spray skirt is stretched over it.
A SUP is a board you paddle standing up with a single-bladed paddle. Inflatable SUPs are popular but less suitable for luggage and wilderness trips.
On a standing wave or small hole you can surf the boat and stay in one place while the water flows away underneath.
Paddling as two, you keep the same rhythm: the front sets the pace, the back steers.
Temperature effect (pressure loss in cold water)
If a packraft is inflated in warm air and then put into cold water, the air cools, contracts and the boat gets softer. Usually that's not a leak.
Tenacious Tape is a self-adhesive repair tape from Gear Aid. It holds very well on uncoated nylon, less so on the smooth TPU outer side.
Draught describes how deep a boat sits in the water. Packrafts draw only a few centimetres.
TiZip is a manufacturer of air- and watertight zippers. In packrafts they turn the tube into a luggage compartment.
A good packraft trip starts at home: route, water levels, weather, put-ins and take-outs, portages and a plan B.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
TPU is the coating that makes the nylon fabric of modern packrafts air- and watertight. It's light, abrasion-resistant and can be welded.
Lining means guiding the boat on a rope from the bank through a section you don't want to paddle.
Trim describes how the weight is distributed in the boat. A well-trimmed packraft sits level in the water.
A dry suit keeps you dry if you capsize and protects against cold shock. In cold water it is the most important protective gear.
Dry pants keep legs and feet dry. They are a lighter alternative to a dry suit for trips in an open boat.
TubeBags are luggage compartments in the side tubes of Anfibio boats, with two IPX7-waterproof zippers and 70 litres each.
The TwinTail™ is the distinctive double stern of the Anfibio Revo: a V-shaped notch borrowed from surfboards.
Tyvek tape is a construction tape that many packrafters stick on the outside of the tube as a quick field repair.
Ultralight packrafts weigh about one kilo or less and are designed for calm water and long hikes.
Ultralight paddles are optimised for low weight and packed size. In return they are less stiff and give less propulsion.
Portaging means carrying the boat over land around an obstacle or an unrunnable section. With packrafts it's especially easy.
The UniDeck is a fully removable spray deck from Anfibio for the DeckReady versions of the Delta MX and Sigma TX.
Hypothermia means the body's core temperature has dropped below 35 °C. In water this happens much faster than in air.
An undercut is a rock or bank under which the water has washed out a cavity. The current can push boats and swimmers underneath.
Sunlight ages plastics over time. Packrafts should therefore not lie or be stored in the sun permanently.
If a boat loses air at the valve, it's usually due to sand, a missing or cracked O-ring or worn threads.
The VenturiTube is the closable drain tube of the Anfibio Revo. Turned outward, the boat self-bails; turned inward and rolled up, it's sealed.
A boulder garden is a section full of large rocks with the water winding between them. Finding the line is difficult.
Some vinyl tapes even stick to wet surfaces. Luc Mehl includes them in his minimal repair kit.
A hole is a wave that flows back upstream behind a drop or weir. Strong holes can hold boats and swimmers.
The waterline is where the water surface meets the boat. Its length largely determines how fast a boat can be.
In the Wadden Sea you can paddle to islands by packraft at high tide. Currents, tidal channels and national park rules need to be considered.
A weir is an artificial step in the river. It's one of the most dangerous obstacles of all, because holding holes form below it.
Besides Anfibio, Mekong, MRS, Alpacka and Kokopelli there are many other brands, for example NRS, Supai, Flyweight Designs, Advanced Elements or GP.
Larger repairs, new zippers or glued-on fittings can also be left to a workshop.
Changes in the weather hit packrafters particularly hard: wind, cold and thunderstorms quickly make open water dangerous.
A boat wraps when it's pushed sideways against a rock and the current bends it around the stone. A packraft can get stuck this way.
Re-entering a packraft from the water works best over the side: right the boat, pull yourself up with a strong kick and roll in.
Whitewater refers to river sections with steep gradients or constrictions where the water flows fast and turbulently, with waves, holes and obstacles.
Whitewater for packrafters: dos and don'ts
What you should know before your first whitewater in a packraft: gear, reading the river, basic techniques, swimming and the most important rules.
Whitewater kayaks are short, agile and have lots of volume. They are paddled with a spray skirt and rolled.
The Beaufort scale describes wind forces from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane). For packrafts on open water it gets strenuous from about 3 to 4 Beaufort.
Whirlpools are rotating currents, often on eddy lines. A boil is water welling up from below and spreading out on the surface.
In Germany, paddling on public waters is generally allowed, but there are important exceptions and special rules.
In sculling you move the paddle blade through the water in a figure of eight. That creates sideways pull or support.
A throw bag is a bag with a floating rope. You throw it to a person in the water to pull them to the bank.
Flat water and slow-moving water
Slow-moving water means flowing water without any notable whitewater, flat water means still water such as lakes.
The draw stroke moves the boat sideways, for example to pull up to a jetty or avoid a rock.
Load capacity states how much weight (paddler plus luggage) a packraft can carry while still paddling and steering well.
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