Packrafting is a style of backcountry travel that pairs a lightweight, packable inflatable raft with hiking or biking to cross water features that would otherwise stop foot travel — rivers, lakes, fjords, and flooded valleys.
A packraft inflates without tools in a few minutes and deflates to roughly the size of a sleeping bag, so it rides in a backpack between water crossings. Packrafting routes combine overland hiking with river or lake segments in a single trip, opening terrain that's inaccessible on foot alone. Entry-level packrafts handle flatwater and calm rivers; more technical designs add spray decks and self-bailing floors for moving whitewater.
- Packraft packed size: typically fits in a 10–15 liter stuff sack, small enough to strap to a backpack.
- Packraft weight: most recreational models weigh between 3.5 and 6 lbs; ultralight expedition models can drop under 3 lbs.
- Common packraft fabric: 210D TPU sides with a 420D TPU floor — higher denier on the floor for abrasion resistance against rocks and gravel bars.
- Water class range: flatwater and Class I–II rivers for entry-level packrafts; Class III–IV requires a spray deck and self-bailing floor design.