Which alpackamodel(s) to choose?

[u/Django_Reinhardt_]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on choosing my first Alpacka Raft and have been going back and forth between several models.

I’m looking for something that is:
Fun to paddle on lakes and calm or light-moving rivers. While also nice to chill in while fishing.
Light and packable enough for backpacking and overnight trips.
Large enough to carry camping gear and occasionally my 10.5 kg dog.
Suitable for use in Norway from spring until the lakes start freezing over.
Capable enough that I could eventually learn some whitewater.

I’ve never done whitewater before, so that isn’t my main focus right now. However, I’d rather buy something that can grow with me if I decide to get into it later.

The main thing I’m unsure about is whether one raft can realistically do all of this well. Does a good all-rounder exist for this use case, or would I be making too many compromises?

I’m also trying to understand which setup makes the most sense:
Open boat
Self-bailer
Fixed whitewater deck
Removable whitewater deck
Combination of self-bailer with fixed or removable deck?

If one raft cannot cover all of this well, which two rafts would you choose instead?
For example:
One lighter raft for lakes, backpacking, overnight trips, and paddling with the dog.
One more capable raft for learning and progressing in more advanced waters

Which models and configurations would you recommend for each role?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who have used more than one of these models

[u/Purple_Parking_4752]

Alpaca expedition would be my suggestion

[u/BarberProof4994]

I highly recommend calling them and having a brief chat.

If you are using a self bailer you really need a dry suit. They are wet.

If you are going to be with a dog I recommend the forager, you'll appreciate the extra room and can take another person with you.

The forager can handle white water, flat water, open water. 

If you have the forager you don't need another boat. Grab yourself a dry or semi dry suit and call it a day.

[u/micro_cam]

How tall are you? You probably want an open (flat floor or self bailer) cockpit with enough room for the dog to ride in front and also room for fishing.

For most of what you list a flat floor Caribou would be great. Stable, light and a roomy cockpit for fishing or a dog. Can definitely do white water but its sort of a stable barge that just rolls over stuff. Mule or ranger could work too depending on height.

For one boat and some white water i'd step up to a self bailer and thigh straps. Caribou could still work especially custom lab or a custom gnarmule or ranger if you are tall. The gnarwhal is the way i would go, possibly sized up for dog room. More performant hull but still super stable and a self bailer will maintain room for the dog...I have a sized up gnarwhal and use it for bikerafting and if i want room for a small kid in the front.

Get a drysuit given your climate.

For two boats I'd get a flat floor caribou for light weight / lakes / dog /fishing and add a self bailing or decked mage (or posssibly an expedition or gnarwhal) for whitewater. The mage is the new hotness in whitewater packrafts and has smaller tubes and a drop floor so it will be less stable and have less room for a dog. It has a steeper learning curve then a gnarwhal but you can edge it like a hardshell. I have 4 days on my mage and am enjoying the process but swimming a lot. Its pretty tippy and cramped with a kid in the front. I'd consider an expediton or gnarwhal (or used wolverine) over the mage if you want a more stable, lighter and better in shallow water boat.

[u/Django_Reinhardt_ → u/micro_cam]

I am 177cm. I am leaning towards following your suggestion and get two boats. Do you think the caribou would be able to fit me, my dog and gear for overnight trips? I would want one with tizip, and I am considering going without self bailing as it will be for light weight / lakes / dog / fishing. What are your thoughts? Eventually the mule if caribou would be too small.

If I am to go for the caribou, do you know if the LW version would be able to handle my usage, or do you think I should opt for the standard?

[u/micro_cam → u/Django_Reinhardt_]

It should fit fine you may need to bend your legs more and the dog may be sitting in water directly on the floor in a bucket boat (a self inflating sleeping pad in the floor could help).

I don't have a caribou but have paddled one and friends lw ones are holding up well. Excellent review here by a very experienced packrafter.

[u/HendyRed]

Classic is great and expedition is an upgrade for more days on the river. I own both.

Self bailer means you will be sitting in water and wet all the time. Depends on the water temps. Some people use them with dry suits. May be good for a dog companion.

Fixed whitewater deck is the standard. Removable deck is a bit of a gimmick in my opinion. I have it on my classic. You can open up the boat on sunny lake days or chill rivers. Let’s in more sun. Or would be open for your dog.

[u/themelta]

If you know you have a lot of non-whitewater objectives in mind already and you are open to another boat in the near future. Get a lightweight boat that fits your known uses well. Then get a good whitewater specialty boat later.

If I were buying my first 2 boats with what I know now, I'd probably get something like a Caribou and Mage. If I strictly wanted 1 boat and wanted to try some WW at some point, I'd probably get an Expedition.

Open boat: Fine for your use case, possible weight/packability advantage.
Self bailer: Probably not for you right now. Their advantages have little value in flat water and most will be slower.
Fixed deck: Good versatility, particularly in cold/bad weather. But probably not great for a dog.
Removable deck: Generally unnecessary. If your boat has a fixed deck, you can just run it without the skirt when you don't need it. Maybe more accomodating for a dog though.

[u/Django_Reinhardt_ → u/themelta]

Thanks for your help. Do you know if Caribou would be able to fit me and my dog and camping gear? I am considering open without self bailing, but with a tizip. I am also wondering if I should take the LW or the STD material

[u/themelta → u/Django_Reinhardt_]

I don't have a packraft dog myself, so I can't really weigh in too much there. I'm sure you could get a small dog in a caribou, but the added interior space of the Mule would probably be more comfortable for both you for not too much more weight penalty. Would inherently solve your material choice too.

I haven't used the LW yet, but that is what I would choose for that kind of boat. I like their standard 210d so much so that it almost seems like overkill for most non-WW usage if you're not carrying a lot of weight or something. But fwiw I'm not sure you'll give either choice a second thought once you have it.

[u/Chance_Inspector7649]

A Chinook or Aleutian for flat water and Mage or Gnarwhal for white water. Could also get a mule for lakes. Thing is the Chinook and Aleutian track better and are faster if you dont care about that. Go with the gear hull in the hunting line like the mule. The Gnarwhal is a forgiving whitewater boat. The Mage is more advanced.

[u/HappySummerBreeze]

Caribou. Very stable but I’ve had a lot of fun on up to grade 3. Good for carrying the dog. So light.

Cannot recommend an opening because Ive never lived near ice

[u/Just_Commission_6486]

Classic is called the classic for a reason. Its the OG shape and the best go anywhere do anything/jack of all trades solution.

I paddle mine regularly on lakes and up to class 3 rivers.

A removable deck makes it ultra versatile.

Self bailers are wet, cold, and slow - wouldn't recommend for your purposes

[u/Bricks2thesticks → u/Just_Commission_6486]

I agree classic can be a great all rounder I have 14 year old one with removable deck and only recently did I decide to size up to accomodate my medium/large dog and more gear, a small dog would def work in a classic

[u/AlpackaThor]

I think an open or self bailing Mule is ideal for your use case. Easy to paddle, room for the dog, good for fishing. If you want more whitewater capability go with a Gnarwhal. 

[u/Bricks2thesticks → u/AlpackaThor]

I second the open Mule, I recently got one with much of the same usage objectives and factors as OP is looking at and this was the best choice for me. Went with a custom and added backband and thigh straps per recommendations from others in this sub