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Why Choose an Alpacka Packraft? (A Brand Story)

Introduction

Hi folks, Garrett here,I’m the wholesale manager down at Alpacka Raft in Colorado, and today I’m hanging out with our friends at AQ Outdoors. We’re talking packrafts: where they came from, how they’ve evolved, and why they’ve reshaped the way people get on the water.

The Origins of Alpacka Raft

Let’s rewind to the early 2000s. Alpacka Raft launched in 2000–2001 as the first company to put a commercially made packraft on the market. Now, we can’t take credit for inventing packrafting, that honor goes to imaginative adventurers in the ’80s and ’90s who strapped army surplus inner tubes to their backpacks for river crossings on long hikes.

But we were the first to turn the DIY idea into something durable and purpose built,designed to last longer than a weekend in the backcountry. That was the start of a whole new sport.

25 Years of Innovation

Fast forward nearly 25 years, and Alpacka has been pushing the limits of what’s possible in a packraft. Major innovations include:

• T-Zip zippers for internal gear storage,
• Thigh straps for real lower-body control, and
• Backbands and technical outfitting that make packrafts handle more like traditional boats.

Basically, if you’ve seen a major packraft innovation in the last two decades, there’s a good chance it came from Alpacka.

From Alaska Routes to Whitewater Parks

Packrafting began as a clever way to connect remote overland routes, especially in Alaska. Adventurers would hike for days, then paddle class I–II rivers to link incredible wilderness trails together. It was the ultimate backpacker’s hack.

As the boats became more technical, the sport broadened. Today, people are just as likely to toss a packraft in a backpack and head to the local whitewater park as they are to disappear into the backcountry for a week. No roof rack, no shuttle drama, just grab and go paddling that fits your day (and your trunk).

The Future of Packrafting

Where’s it heading? In a word: everywhere. From multi-day wilderness expeditions to quick roadside surf sessions, packrafting has evolved into a versatile platform that adapts to you, not the other way around.

Learn More with AQ Outdoors

That’s a quick overview of Alpacka Raft and the sport of packrafting. If you’re curious, want to try one out, or just want to learn more, come visit us in shop in Calgary or Edmonton or give us a call at our landline number.

See you on the water whether that’s in the backcountry or just down the road.