Some people begin packrafting because they’re looking for new ways to connect landscapes. Others begin packrafting because they’re sick of schlepping their 50lb kayak around. I’m in the former camp—an ultralight backpacker-turned-packrafter with extreme ultralight biases. When I wrote a packrafting gear list about 4 years ago, I didn’t realize how strong these biases were and how much they limited my packrafting abilities and comfort. At the time I hadn’t paddled much more than the ephemeral streams in Utah’s canyon country, so my experience was somewhat limited. That list still feels applicable to shoulder season boating in the American Southwest (which I say explicitly), but it has its limitations. This packrafting gear list you’re now reading is written for most people in most packrafting scenarios.
Disclaimer: Packrafting is an inherently dangerous activity and I take no responsibility for the efficacy of any of this packrafting gear meant to promote safety. None of my gear recommendations will substitute for proper training and experience. Take a Packrafting Swiftwar Rescue course.
Note: Some but not all of the links on this page are affiliate links. I may get a small commission if you purchase these products by clicking through the links. Thank you!
Packrafting Gear
Packraft
Depending on the whitewater-to-walking ratio, I will recommend either the Alpacka Refuge, Alpacka Classic with whitewater deck and cargo fly, or the Alpacka Expedition. You can’t go wrong with any of these boats. Let me explain.
When I wrote the packrafting gear list mentioned in the intro, I was paddling an open boat (Alpacka Classic with no deck) and carrying all my gear in a pack on the bow (no cargo fly). Without a deck and skirt, I was often wet and thus cold—sometimes dangerously cold. The inability to stay warm chilled my paddling abilities. And with my gear on the bow, my boat was often unstable, also limiting my paddling abilities, so wasn’t able to improve.
It wasn’t until I purchased a boat with a whitewater deck and cargo fly that I was able to build new skills and expand my repertoire of rivers. I’m now interested in paddling up to Class III swiftwater with uncertainties such as very cold water, sweepers/strainers to portage, and fun features. When I purchased this boat with deck and fly I immediately wished I had done so in the first place (11 years ago). I could have been paddling up a level a long time ago and the gear alone would have pushed my abilities in a good way.
I wish my first boat had been an Alpacka Classic with whitewater deck and cargo fly because that boat existed back in 2013, and I bet I’d still have it today. I would have been drier, more comfortable, and ultimately happier. I’m writing this knowing now that lots of people purchase boats with decks and flies these days and I 100% condone this. It opens up your options significantly with a small weight penalty. There’s a time and a place for ultralight idealism (Canyonlands or other flatwater comes to mind) but that might not be most folks’ primary packrafting landscape. Scroll down to learn more about these amazing boats.
Best Fully-capable Lightweight Packraft
Ultralight yet ultra-capable boat for accessing far-away rivers up to Class III.
6.7lbs
Paddling the Refuge in Alaska.
You can think of the Alpacka Refuge as a shrunken Classic. To save weight, the tubes are a little smaller in diameter and the stern is a little shorter. The floor is the same 840d material as the rest of Alpacka’s mainline boats, but the tubes are a 240d material with half the coating as the tube material found on the Classic or Expedition. The seat is a bit smaller and lighter, too. To increase comfort and performance, this boat is also equipped with a backband and two-point thigh straps.
The result is a trimmed-down yet super-capable boat for big landscape traverses. My partner and I both took Refuges on our Alaska adventure last year and were pleased with their low weight. We paddled about ten miles of Class II–III whitewater and found the boat to weave easily through the rocks and remain stable despite the small size. I recommend this boat for folks who want to really move through space.
Best All-around packraft
The original packraft. This boat (with deck and fly) is the one I wish I had started with back in 2013.
7.3lbs
The Alpacka Classic has been around since the beginning and it’s still an amazing boat with a great balance of capability and weight. The only thing that would improve this boat would be the addition of a backband for comfort and two-point thigh straps for control. But you can add those items in Alpacka’s Custom Lab, which I would recommend.
Best Expedition Packraft
Highly capable packraft with the same hull shape as the Wolverine. Choose this boat to prioritize on-water capability.
8.1lbs
I’ve deemed this boat the best expedition packraft because it’s so aptly named. It’s made for big adventures in wild terrain where you don’t know what kind of rivers you may encounter. When satellite imagery and all the research in the world doesn’t tell you what the water will really be like—you’ll want a wildly capable boat to get you through. The Expedition, to me, represents the natural evolution of the Alpacka Classic into a more capable whitewater boat that weighs barely more than the original. The hull shape is more rockered for quick maneuvering, the cockpit is more comfortable, and it comes with a backband, 4-point thigh straps, and a whitewater foot brace. The only reason not to get the Expedition? It’s a little pricier than the other two options here and the heaviest option (though not by a ton).
Paddle
I have three favorite packrafting paddles with different uses but some overlap. When I started out packrafting, I grabbed the Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon because it was pretty light (29.75oz). This, however, is a touring paddle, and in some situations, I couldn’t really dig in to avoid an obstacle or boof over a tiny drop. I think this is partly because my 210cm paddle was a bit too long for me. Some paddling experts recommend 197–200cm paddles for most packrafting, and that’s the size I will suggest for the following paddles.
Best Inexpensive Paddle
AQUABOUND SHRED HYBRID 4-PIECE PADDLE
Reasonably priced paddle with a full-size blade for beginners and strong paddlers.
36.5oz
The Aquabound Shred Hybrid 4-piece paddle is my top recommendation for anyone just starting out and unsure what paddle they should get. It has a whitewater blade, comes in short lengths (many folks will be happy with 197cm), and only weighs 36.5oz. In my opinion, the only downside is that the blade is fairly large, so paddlers with less strength may find it challenging to move that much water.
Best Ultralight PADDLE
Ultralight paddle with an impressively solid feel ideal for long-distance trips when low weight is paramount.
28oz
I took the Aquabound Whiskey 4-Piece Paddle to Alaska in 2023 and loved it. We hiked huge distances so I was grateful for the paddle’s low weight. And although the blade is small, I didn’t find myself wanting more surface area even when paddling a bit of Class III—I still had enough power to get my Refuge around obstacles. I bought this paddle in a 205cm length and wish it was shorter. I would recommend 200cm for most paddlers. At $400 it’s very expensive, but can be found on sale.
Best whitewater paddle
Very solid feel for excellent purchase and a mid-sized blade ideal for paddlers of any strength level.
40.75oz
This is one of the best-feeling paddles I’ve used. There’s no wiggle, and the shape and size of the blade give me more confidence in my boating abilities than any other paddles I’ve used—I have a ton of control with this paddle. I do think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say that a paddle is the packrafting equivalent of a ski boot, but I don’t think that’s quite wrong either. It makes sense to pair a light boot with a light pair of skis and a beefier boot with a bigger pair of skis. Similarly, I pair the Whiskey with my Refuge and the Sherpa with my Expedition.
PFD or Life Vest
A PFD is an essential piece of packrafting gear so it’s important to get one that fits well, meets safety requirements, and is adequately light for hauling through the mountains.
Excellent Packrafting PFD
Awesome all-around PFD with high mesh back that fits perfectly with the packraft’s backband and skirt.
19.5oz
I have not used enough different PFDs to give this one the qualification of “best,” so I have instead called it “excellent.” The biggest benefits of the Astral EV-8? First, the weight—it’s decently light at 19.5oz (compare that weight to other PFDs out there; many are quite heavy). Second, it’s USCG Type III-certified. And third but maybe most importantly, it’s got a high mesh back so it doesn’t get in the way of your boat’s seat or backband and integrates well with the spray skirt. It also comes in three different sizes to fit different bodies.
Drysuit
Do you need a drysuit for packrafting? If there’s a chance of full immersion in cold water then yes, you do. And unless you’re only packrafting in Canyonlands in September, there’s often going to be a chance of that. When I began packrafting I went on many cold trips wearing completely inadequate clothing and found myself close to hypothermia a handful of times. Stupid. These days I almost always paddle wearing a drysuit and I would recommend that you budget a drysuit into the cost of your gear if you’re just starting out packrafting. If you’ve been boating slightly chilled for years, do yourself a favor and go buy a drysuit—it will increase your boating confidence significantly while also reducing risk for yourself and others in your party.
Okay, but is there a time and place for just a rain jacket and rain pants? I think so. If you already have these items as part of your backpacking kit, are trying to shave weight, there’s not a huge chance of full immersion in cold water, and the temps are supposed to be warm, you could wear raingear just to keep the splash off. Remember though, raingear can fill up with water and become an entrapment hazard in some scenarios so it’s not recommended for swiftwater paddling.
Best lightweight drysuit for packrafting
Lightest capable drysuit out there. The top choice for most packrafters who prioritize low weight.
2.5lbs
I do not have a ton of experience with different drysuits so it’s very possible there is something out there better than this one. If so, please let me know. What I do know is that the Kokatat Swift Entry Drysuit is fully dry, easy to use, and very light at only about 2.5 lbs depending on the size. I’ve been using it consistently for a little over a year and am very pleased with its performance. Before this one, I was using the Kokatat Meridian Hydrus 3L drysuit and found it to perform well too, but it weighed about 1.5 lbs more than the Swift Entry. Folks in the packrafting community speak very highly of the Immersion Research drysuits. I haven’t tested any of those but would love to someday.
Internal Dry Bags
You can toss your gear inside your packraft and hope for the best or you can pack everything in waterproof, airtight drybags that clip securely inside the tubes. I’d recommend the internal drybags.
Best internal dry bags for packrafting
With roughly equal weight in each tube, the boat is balanced. Without them, stuff moves around inside your packraft.
15.2oz (pair)
Alpacka’s Cargo Fly Internal Dry Bags come in two different sizes: small for the Scout, Refuge, and Valkyrie, and Standard for all their other boats with Cargo Flies. Whatever material Alpacka uses, it resists sand pretty well, which is very important for keeping your zipper clean. If sand gets in the teeth of your zipper it may not be able to close fully and could leak. Even though the dry bags don’t seem to allow much sand to cling to them, I’d still recommend that you don’t set them directly in sand (if possible) and always brush them off thoroughly before stowing them inside your boat. If you have a tent footprint, lay it out so you have a clean place to organize and pack your gear into your dry bags. If you don’t have a tent footprint, bring a piece of Polycro, SilPoly, or Tyvek for this use.
Throw Bag
If you’re paddling water of any consequence you should have a throw bag and know how to use it.
NORTH WATER MICRO THROW LINE
Light 50ft line.
11oz
I won’t call this throw bag the best because it’s the only one I’ve really used (and I have not had to perform any rescues with it). I purchased it because it was light, and if that’s all you need—the most minimal throw bag out there—then this one makes sense. But if you want to get a little more serious about swiftwater rescue then I would look elsewhere for advice. I am NOT an expert on that topic. Fortunately, you can take a course.
River Knife
If you run perimeter lines through the tie-downs on your boat or if you have webbing such as two-point thigh straps, then you have some potential entrapment hazards. Bring along a river knife and affix it to your PFD in a way that makes it easy to grab so you can cut yourself free.
Best river knife for packrafting
CRKT Bear Claw
A favorite in the packrafting community for ease of use.
TKTKoz
The CRKT Bear Claw knife is a favorite in the packrafting community in part because it is lighter than many river knives out there. It features a curved blade for cutting in one direction and a finger hole that helps prevent you from dropping the knife when it’s in use.
Paddling Helmet
Paddling with the Petzl Meteor Helmet in Wyoming.
I don’t take a helmet on every packrafting trip. Many of my outings in southern Utah are mellow with no likely head-banging episodes aside from listening to the 1998 Refused album The Shape of Punk to Come on the drive to the river. But if I’ll be moving through rocky terrain with drops and the potential to flip, I bring along a helmet. Although not certified for whitewater I sometimes bring the Petzl Meteor Helmet because it weighs only about 8oz. I take this helmet when low weight is important because I’ll be hiking huge distances to get to the river. Bear in mind, climbing helmets are really only designed to take one big hit and then they’re pretty much done whereas kayaking helmets are made to be slammed repeatedly as you bonk your way down a river upside down (God forbid). So the Meteor is a gamble, but when I expect little to no mild whitewater, the Meteor, to me, feels WAY better than nothing.
Super Scrappy Helmet
A solid helmet for packrafting in serious whitewater.
16oz
I have not tried many helmets so I haven’t labeled the Super Scrappy as a “top pick,” but it has worked well for me so far. It is comfortable, adjustable, and widely available. This helmet also has a small bill which can create an air pocket around your face while under water. It weighs about a pound which I’m more than happy to carry over mountain passes if actual whitewater is on the menu. If there are other kayak helmets out there with a small bill, similar or greater protection, and less weight, I’d love to try them out. If you have the opportunity to try on helmets before buying to make sure they fit well, do so.
Pogies
On my earliest wintertime packrafting adventures I used waterproof neoprene kayaking gloves. These are nice because they provide some insulation, keep water out, and feature some grippy rubber on the palm and fingers. Wanting to save weight I replaced them with the Showa Temres 281 Gloves that are almost always in my backpacking kit anyway. While these blue gloves are excellent for backpacking in the rain, they’re not great for paddling because they don’t feel secure on the paddle shaft. Enter the ultralight packrafting pogie.
Best Ultralight Packrafting Pogies
Keeps hands warm while maintaining paddling dexterity.
5oz
The big benefit of the Sockdolager Ultralight Packrafting Pogie is that because they’re not attached to your hand like a glove, you have much better dexterity with the paddle. This increases boat control, in my opinion. Plus, you can still do things like unwrap a bar and eat it or put on lip balm or touch your phone screen. But do they work to keep you warm? Yes. I have found these pogies to keep my hands warm on cool to cold paddling days. The water that manages to drip through the gasket and onto my hands is inconsequential because the pogie is cutting the wind so there is little to no evaporative cooling taking place.
Repair Kit
These little boats are tough, but things can go wrong—and if it’s a big wilderness trip where you’re far from any trailhead, you’ll want to be able to repair your boat so you can get back safely without having to hike the shore while your buddies float.
Put a good packraft repair kit together
When you purchase a boat from Alpacka it will come with a Basic Repair Kit and a TiZip Maintenance Kit. To make this repair kit more expedition-ready I have added some scissors from my first aid kit, a toothbrush for the cargo fly zipper, an extra nozzle, an extra valve cap, some Aquaseal UV, a roll of Tyvek tape, a bit of Gorilla tape, and some floor material.
Packrafting Backpack
Your backpack is one of the most important parts of your packrafting kit. It needs to be large to accommodate bulky gear, durable to withstand bushwhacking, and exceedingly comfortable under heavy loads. I have tested a bunch of packrafting packs over the years and eventually decided it was time for Porter (my business partner) and I to make our own. What you see here is the second prototype Porter has built. I’ve been testing it for several months and love it so far. We’ll keep testing and try to get it into production after we make a legit batch of our 55L packs. So it could be a while.
VIRGA 70L PROTOTYPE
I’m still testing but really love it so far.
45oz
Packraft-Compatible Backpacking Gear
For the most part, whatever gear you have for backpacking will work just fine for packrafting trips, too. After all, packrafting is just backpacking with a little paddling thrown in, right? If you don’t already have a decent backpacking setup and want to get into packrafting, scroll through this gear list—it’ll be a good place to start.
Hiking Clothes
Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Shirt 6.1oz. This UPF-rated shirt is super comfortable and the button-up has a nice look. It’s also comfortable under my dry suit.
OR Swift Cap 1.88oz. This light and simple hat prevents sweat from running into my eyes, dries quickly, and keeps the sun off. But let’s be honest, most any hat will do.
Buff Coolnet UV 1.15oz. I’d recommend bringing a UV neck gaiter on packrafting trips because it will work better than a hood, protecting your face from light reflecting off the water.
Saucony Peregrine 14 Trail Running Shoe 20.6oz (men’s size 10.5) I liked the Peregrine 12 because it is light, has firm foam, a long-lasting midsole, a rock plate and a decent upper. With 4mm of drop it’s stable and low to the ground. The tread is OK on wet rock but I wish it was a little better. Note that the upper has gotten better and the Peregrine 14 is probably an excellent shoe. I have used Altra Lone Peaks (24oz) for packrafting but I don’t think they’re supportive enough for heavy packs. Recently I have returned to an old favorite: the La Sportiva Mutant. This will be my 4th pair of Mutants! Since they’ve slightly widened the forefoot, I absolutely love these shoes once again. They’re more supportive than the Peregrine and could be a better option for carrying huge loads. They also seem to have a gripper outsole on wet rock. Many people also recommend Astral shoes. I have not tried them yet but I probably should.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork 16.3oz These trekking poles are durable, light enough, stiff, and have very little vibration. I also sometimes use the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles for packrafting because they fold so small I can put them inside my internal drybags or in the pack or bow bag on my bow.
Darn Tough 1/4 Sock Cushion 3.4oz These socks are incredibly durable. I wear these while paddling and hiking.
Path Projects Sykes PX 5" Short 4.8oz I like these shorts’ stretchy fabric, zipper pockets, and lack of liner but they have poor durability. I am looking for alternatives. Shorts are kind of a luxury item to be honest. I am also still on the search for recommended women's equivalents, please leave send your recommendations so I can share with others.
Champion Jogging Pants 8.5oz I recommend pants over shorts for most trips if there will be bushwhacking or bugs. It's probable but not guaranteed that I have these: https://www.champion.com/mvp-pants-30-5-quot.html They were $18 at Target but have proved to be durable and comfortable. They’re cheap so I'd just go try some on!
Saxx Kinetic HD Boxer Briefs 2.9oz These keep things in order and dry very quickly. I’m still on the search for recommended women's equivalent. Please share your recommendations so I can share with others.
Packrafting in the smoky Brooks Range a day before coming down with Covid.
Mountain Laurel Designs Fanny Pack 3.8oz. It's a good one but there are many to choose from. I sometimes wear a fanny pack inside my drysuit so I can reach into the zipper and access things on breaks.
Kahtoola InstaGaiter Mid 2.4oz. I had been struggling with gaiters until I found these. I was using the Outdoor Research Surge Running Gaiters (1.1oz) and then the Dirty Girl Gaiters, but I couldn’t get the Velcro to stay on my shoes when walking through water or bushwhacky terrain. I moved to REI Swiftland Running Gaiter but I keep shredding the cord underneath. The Kahtoola InstaGaiters are great. They remain securely around my shoes and the plastic strap underneath holds up well.
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Gloves 0.8oz I hike with these and will occasionally wear them paddling if it’s a warm day. They save me the effort and waste of reapplying sunscreen to my hands. That said, if I have pogies on my paddles I’ll just use those for sun protection instead of the sun gloves.
Smith Ruckus Sunglasses 1.17oz I like having full coverage for sunny days on the water. Sometimes I have to tuck them away for whitewater.
Backpack
Virga Packing Company 70L Prototype 44oz Designed and built with Porter England. Very promising so far. Details coming later. Weight includes 8 compression straps with gatekeepers. On trips under 5 days I packraft with the Virga Cliffrose 55L Backpack.
Zpacks Packliner Dry Bag 1.8oz A pack liner will ensure that everything stays dry while hiking but can not be relied upon for on-river use—the DCF wears out. I now usually pack anything I want to keep dry in my Alpacka Internal Dry Bags both in the boat and while hiking.
Shelter
Durston X-Mid 2P 36oz I use this all the time with my partner and alone. It’s easy to set up because it's a rectangle. It’s stable, roomy, and light for the space. I sometimes take the Zpacks Pocket Tarp with Doors on packrafting trips if I really want to cut grams. Single-person shelters that would do better in weather and in buggy places include the Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid XL with inner and the Durston X-Mid 1P. The Solomid is a little hard to justify due to the price, and not everyone needs two tents anyway, so for most people I recommend the X-Mid 2 for both single and double-person use. It’s really not that heavy for one person.
MSR Groundhog Stakes (qty 9) 3.3oz These stakes are durable and light. The Y shape allows them to wedge between rocks horizontally. Sometimes I have an assortment of shepherd's hooks and Easton stakes too.
X-Mid 2P, X-Mid 1P, and Duomid XL in Alaska.
Sleeping
Feathered Friends Flicker UL 20 Quilt Sleeping Bag 25.2oz This sleeping bag is comfortable, very warm, and opens up all the way for increased versatility.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad 13oz This pad is light comfortable, and warm. It’s also not noisy like NeoAirs of yore.
I often use my boat seat for my pillow.
Cooking
Olicamp XTS Pot 7.1oz I appreciate how fast this pot boils water.
Snowpeak Titanium Spork 0.6oz Any spork will do.
Soto Windmaster Stove 3oz. This stove seems better in the wind than some other similar models. It also features a regulator so it uses all the fuel in your canister.
Nalgene 16oz Sustain wide Mouth Bottle 3.12oz This bottle is good for hot liquids. I like to shake up matcha or coffee in it and take it on the road (or river) with me.
Ursack All Mitey Kodiak 15.3oz. In bear country where a bear canister is not required I like to use the All Mitey.
Smelly Proof Odor Proof Bags I don’t know if any odorproof bags are truly odor proof but I always store my food in them inside my Ursack.
Electronics
Iphone SE 2020 in case 5.4oz. I use my phone for photos, GPS, notes, and voice memos. My old phone has noticeably bad photo quality compared to friends' phones. I might get a new one just for the camera eventually. Everything else about it is fine.
Garmin InReach Mini 3.6oz. This is nice for peace of mind. Works well, no complaints.
Nitecore NU25 UL Headlamp 1.59oz. This 400-lumen headlamp is rechargeable, comfortable, and very light.
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 2 Quick-Charge USB/USB-C Dual Port 10000mAh Power Bank 5.29oz Decent amount of charges for the weight.
Cables: One lightning for the phone, one USB-C for the headlamp, and one mini USB for the InReach. (Why aren’t they all the same!)
Water Storage/Treatment
Katadyn BeFree 2.3oz These filters last a solid year in my experience so I'm impressed. I screw them onto Hydrapak bottles usually.
Hydrapak Softflask 750ml Bottle 1.6oz The BeFree fits on this bottle and it's more durable than the bottles that come with the filter.
Hydrapak Seeker Collapsible 2L Water Container 2.7oz These containers are light, durable, and accommodate the Katadyn BeFree filter for in-camp use.
Clothes for Weather
Patagonia M10 Anorak 7.7oz Excellent rain shell. Light, waterproof, and… discontinued. I've also tried the Arc’teryx Alpha FL (also discontinued) and can recommend that too. Waterproof and light. The Arc’teryx Alpha Lightweight Jacket seems similar though and if I needed a jacket now I’d probably get that one.
Senchi Alpha 90 Crew Neck Half Zip 3.9oz. Light, comfortable, and arguably warmer than a classic 200-weight fleece. Works well under drysuit.
Showa 281 gloves 1.8oz These gloves are light and completely waterproof. I might not need them on some trips now though since I have the Sockdolager pogies. Still, I almost always throw them in because they weigh nothing and add so much comfort when hiking and in camp.
That’s the face of a guy who’s about to walk 25 miles over tussocks in the rain with Covid. At least my Arc’teryx Alpha FL jacket was awesome!
Clothes for Camp and Sleeping
Senchi Alpha Legging 3.1oz. Light, comfortable, warm. The Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Bottoms (4.8oz) are still good bottoms and I can recommend them but the Senchi pants are lighter and more comfortable.
Timmermade 1.5 6.4oz This puffy jacket is very light and warm.
Smartwool Liner Glove 0.8oz. I like to layer this glove under the Showa gloves for extra warmth.
Darn Tough 1/4 Sock Cushion 3.4oz Still my favorite sock.
SmartWool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie 2.1oz This hat is warm, light, and cozy. I take this instead of a down balaclava if it will be above 40 degrees. Meaning I usually take it. I like to pull over eyes if the moon is bright.
Nunatak Down Balaclava 2.75oz Insanely warm, only need below maybe 35 degrees. Often don’t bring it.
Cozy camp clothes.
Accessories
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight Medical Kit 3.63oz I usually add Leukotape, a few extra Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Magnesium, and Lactaid. You never know.
Peregrine Compact Toothbrush 0.4oz It's certainly a toothbrush. Any will do.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Quick Trip 1.7oz Any little organizer bag will do for accessories. I now use a little accessory bag that Brandon at Superior Wilderness Designs made and gave to me.
Chums Transporter Case 3.3oz This might seem overkill (and it probably is), but I like having this case in my fanny pack where I keep accessories in it when my sunglasses are being worn.
Dr. Bronners Travel Toothpaste 0.5oz It tastes nice and comes in a small sized container.
All Good Sport Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 1.2oz. I like how small this stick is; it fits well in my fanny pack. It’s unscented which I prefer for bear country.
Ziploc bags. I always carry a few extra. They come in handy.
Snowpeak the Deuce #2 0.6oz Avoid searching for the right digging stick in moments of post-coffee desperation. I haven’t used this in ages because I have lost it.
Wet Wipes. The amount depends on trip. Fewer are needed with a bidet system. I try to find some that aren't smelly especially when I’m in bear country. I don't use toilet paper anymore; I find that it just doesn't clean all that well, especially if your butt is all wet from the bidet. I prefer to take dried out wet wipes and a separate Ziploc for packing them out.
Nalgene Drop-Dispenser Bottle - 2 fl. oz. 0.25oz I use this as a bidet. Widen the opening inside the cap so it can spray.
Suunto M3G Global Compass 1.6oz. This compass is light, durable, and reliable.
Zip-o-gage thermometer 0.3oz I have had this thing forever and it still works.
Hairtie
Extra sliders and stops 0.25oz. For repairing zippers on tents, jackets, sleeping bags, and more.
Nail clippers It depends on the length of the trip. I could probably cut my nails with the scissors in my repair kit but I haven’t tried yet.
Benchmade Bugout knife 1.9oz I chose blue so I don't lose it. I got sick of using the tiny Victorinox Classic SD knife (0.8oz) and now use the Bugout knife. It’s more pleasant to handle but very expensive.
Final Thoughts
This packrafting gear list came out of my own desire to pack effectively for some trips in Wyoming and a big expedition in Alaska. I think the conditions in these premier packrafting locations are indicative of what most packrafters will encounter or will hope to encounter. I hope it comes naturally to remove some items from this list if you’re boating in warmer temps with less consequential rivers, for example. And I hope it comes naturally to recognize where your personal needs supersede my recommendations. Thanks for reading, and happy paddling!