Crossing large bodies of water
Also: lake crossing, open water crossing, crossing
Crossing lakes, fjords and sea inlets by packraft is tempting, but one of the riskiest situations. Wind, waves and cold decide.
- 1direct line across open water: risky
- 2from island to island, close to shore: safer
Packrafts are slow (about 3 to 5 km/h), sensitive to wind and usually built with only one air chamber. A ten-kilometre crossing takes two to three hours, during which the weather can change. Luc Mehl analysed open-water accidents: wind was a frequent factor, as was separation from boat and group.
How we plan crossings is in the guide Crossing large bodies of water. Our 11 kilometres across Akkajaure in Lapland are in the video.
Matching trips of ours
Sources and further reading
Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.