Thanks to everyone who has supported DIY Packraft over the years! I will be embarking on a solo packrafting expedition for several weeks later this summer. This is the trip I have been dreaming about for many years, and it’s the reason I started making packrafts in the first place, Read more
I’m running low on several of the DIY Packraft fabrics, and due to all the craziness in the world right now, it’s uncertain when I’ll be able to receive new shipments. For that reason, I’ve removed the bulk fabrics from the DIY Packraft shop until further notice. I really enjoy Read more
Due to a shortage of black fabric, all packraft seat parts will be made from colored fabric until further notice. I will use the same color as the packraft’s tubes or a complementary color, depending on availability. Seam strips and attachment points will still be made from black fabric until/unless Read more
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that I’m constantly working to improve the DIY Packraft designs, instructions, and materials. Today I’m excited to introduce a new fabric that has been specially made for the DIY Packraft floors. It’s only 450 grams per square meter (13.3 Read more
If you’d like to save some money on a DIY Packraft and give to a worthy charity at the same time, you can bid on a $200 (CAD) DIY Packraft coupon at the annual Rotary Club online auction here. At the time I write this, bidding is at $111, so Read more
I’ve been promising a DIY Packraft spray deck + spray skirt kit for literally years, but until now I didn’t have a system that was affordable, simple to make, lightweight, safe, and quick to set up. After lots of experimentation and several design iterations, I’ve come up with a deck Read more
Since the new Ultralight and Telkwa DIY Packraft kits were released, several people have asked for a similar packraft kit made from standard weight fabrics without a wrap-around floor. Tonight I inflated this new packraft for the first time – I haven’t even weighed it yet, but I was so Read more
Last weekend the ice on my local river had opened up enough for me to go paddling, so I spent an hour navigating some Class 1 water while dodging ice rafts in the new 1-person packraft with the wrap-around floor. I carried the new 2-person packraft with me, and when Read more
Notice anything unusual about this packraft? The tough floor fabric wraps halfway up the tubes to make this DIY Packraft extra tough where it counts, and it’s still lightweight and packable. I think that’s a world’s first! This prototype is the 130 cm / 51″ size with 560 GSM floor Read more
Here in the north we’re deep in winter, so I haven’t had a chance to paddle the new 2-person DIY Packraft yet, but here are a few more pictures that show the new seat design (just one of them, because I’ve only made one so far). Hopefully I’ll have a Read more
Weight: 3.0 kg / 6.6 lbs (with 560 GSM floor, no seats, no zipper, and no attachment points added yet) Internal Length: 201 cm / 79″ / 6′ 7″ External Length: 340 cm / 134″ / 11′ 2″ Internal Width: 40 cm / 18″ External Width: 106 cm / 42″ Read more
Check out the new 816 gram (1.7 pound) DIY Packraft!
These two new fabrics have been added to the shop to replace the older 40D “ultralight” fabrics, and will be used in the long-awaited update to the Ultralight DIY Packraft kits. They are currently only available in yellow (TPU one side) and black (TPU both sides). I’m quite pleased with Read more
Here in the northern hemisphere, summer is getting closer and people are dusting off their paddles and planning trips for the coming months. If you want to meet other packrafters, share stories, and learn from their experiences, check out these events! If you know of another packrafting-related event, post the Read more
This is just a quick post to let you know that the 210D camouflage fabric is now in stock, so that means there’s nothing left on backorder. Now it’s just a matter of catching up on the orders that were placed on out-of-stock items. Once again, thanks for your patience!
I’ve made a couple new videos to answer common questions about the DIY Packraft fabrics and my heat sealing technique, and also one showing the different valves and how they work. These videos are longer than my usual how-to videos, and they’re unscripted so I ramble a bit, but you Read more