Load capacity
Also: load capacity, payload
Load capacity states how much weight (paddler plus luggage) a packraft can carry while still paddling and steering well.
The Packrafting Store describes maximum load as an experience value. So it's not a carrying limit at which the boat sinks, but the limit up to which it can still be paddled sensibly. If you exceed it on long distances, you paddle sluggishly and have less freeboard.
Distribution matters too: heavy luggage stowed low and in the middle makes the boat more stable than a tall backpack on the bow.
Sources and further reading
Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.