How two brothers paddled from Alaska to Mexico by hand

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November 12, 2019

How The Higginbotham brothers paddled the West Coast by hand, 20 miles a day. | Photo: Courtesy Ryan and Casey Higginbotham

In 2016, twins Ryan and Casey Higginbotham hand paddled their boards 2,200 miles from Ketchikan, Alaska to the U.S.-Mexican border over 208 days. It was their first expedition, and they did it unassisted and with little sponsorship.

The duo describe it as, “the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows.” When they reached the Mexican border, the brothers decided they weren’t truly done.

[ Also read: Why Two Brothers Portaged Canoes To The Top Of Mount Everest ]

Late last fall they set out for round two—a second unsponsored, prone paddling expedition. This time, 1,100 miles south from the U.S.-Mexican border to the shores of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

Like many audacious ideas, the plan to hand paddle from Alaska to Mexico brewed over beers. The brothers were 22, out of college and looking for a way to push themselves physically and mentally.

“I didn’t have a clue what we were getting into,” says Ryan. Growing up on the shores of southern California, the twins worked as lifeguards and surfed their whole lives. “Prone paddling is what we know and what we love doing, there was no other way to do this trip,” says Casey. “It’s better this way; you’re more connected to the water.”

It wasn’t from a lack of trying that first expedition launched without sponsors. The brothers reached out to more than 30 companies without response. The only person willing to give the brothers a shot was Joe Bark from Bark Boards. “He was the only guy to give us a call back and say, ‘Let’s go for it,’” the Higginbotham brothers say. After receiving their boards, the brothers set about selling everything they owned to fund the rest of the expedition.

We learned how to be uncomfortable every single day

The Higginbotham brothers knew tracing the West Coast by hand was going to be tough, but they were unprepared for just how tough. “We learned how to be uncomfortable every single day,” says Casey. From rotator cuff problems, lower back pain, compressed spines, not getting enough protein and nutrients and hypothermia, Ryan and Casey went through it all.

“We get so used to living in our comfort zones and come to a place where we think we know everything,” says Casey. “We are numbed by social media and easy access to the Internet. We had to learn everything on the go—how to camp, how to be in uncomfortable spots. You grow a lot from a situation pushing your limits.”

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the largest selection of boats and gear ]

Though they started the first expedition with little, they weren’t in it alone. The had the support from family and friends, and kind-hearted locals helped fill their bellies and offered lifts into town for resupplies.

During the two years after the first expedition, the brothers worked odd jobs to make money to fund the next one. Even after the accomplishments of the first trip, it was still difficult to secure sponsorships, so they did without.

The brothers were more prepared for the second trip—they’d refined their launching and landing techniques, their equipment and were more mentally prepared for the journey. In Baja, gone were the heavy wetsuits, gloves and booties they’d needed to fend off hypothermia along the British Columbia coast. However, in Baja potable water was a scarce resource.

[ Also read: How Two Brothers Saved Indonesia’s Longest River By Building Kayaks From Plastic Water Bottles ]

The brothers buried six caches of dehydrated meals and energy bars along the coast in advance of the trip, but making meals was a time-consuming progress. It took eight gallons of salt water to create one gallon of freshwater using a portable desalination unit. Tiny fishing villages along the coast were a lifeline, with residents generously offering water and sometimes even fresh fish.

Now back home in California, the brothers are discussing the next adventure: “Something longer and more devastating,” they tease. They’re also working with a filmmaker to make a documentary about their prone expeditions.

“I wouldn’t call it enjoyable,” says Ryan, “but it was fulfilling.”

Trips: Kayak In Seattle, Washington

Trips

By

Virginia Marshall

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November 12, 2019

Seattle is synonymous with Puget Sound, a labyrinthine reach of the Salish Sea that defines the city’s geography and history. You could spend a lifetime exploring the arms, inlets, canals and islands of this vast estuary, viewing whales and floating over bioluminescence. Add to this Seattle and the Sound’s role as southern anchor of the Inside Passage coastal route to Alaska, and it’s little wonder the region lures paddlers from around the world.

[ Plan your next paddling adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Overlooked by many outsiders, however, is the city’s wealth of freshwater paddling possibilities. The largest of these, Lake Washington, borders Seattle to the east and offers an escape from the urban bustle with striking views of Unite the singular, icy hulk of Mount Rainier. Linking the lake to Puget Sound is the busy Lake Washington Ship Canal. Filled with freshwater thanks to the Ballard Locks, the canal makes a wide elbow at the foot of Capitol Hill, forming Union Lake. Kayak, paddleboard and canoe outfitters cluster here, launching tours into both lakes.

Where to Go

Seattle is nicknamed “The Emerald City” because of its year-round greenery | Photo: Visit Seattle. Alabastro Photography

If You Want to go guided

Alki Kayak Tours (www.kayakalki.com) boasts postcard views of the Seattle skyline right from their lovely pebble beach. Two-hour and half-day ecotours visit the Alki Lighthouse and search for harbor seals, sea lions and bald eagles in the environs of Elliot Bay and the Duwamish River mouth.

[ Also read: Kayak Tours On The Chicago River ]

For an overnight camping adventure, join them for a Puget Sound crossing to Blake Island State Park, where miles of beach and trails through madrona forest invite exploration.

If you Want to paddle and dine

Borrow a boat or board (or launch your own) from the kayak-filled docks at Agua Verde Paddle Club & Café (www.aguaverde.com/ ) on the Ship Canal’s Portage Bay. Tour Seattle’s vibrant houseboat community, drift through serene Washington Park Arboretum, and catch sweeping skyline views from Gasworks Park. When you return, grab a seat at the café’s waterfront deck and savor tasty Mexican cuisine and margaritas served up with a healthy portion of funky, lakeside ambiance.

If you Want to paddle into the sunset

With the sun flaming orange and pink atop the snowcapped peaks of the Olympic Mountains, sunsets on Puget Sound are divine.

[ Also read: 4 Secrets To Photographing Amazing Bow Shots ]

Shilshole Bay is a fine spot for sunset paddles, or take a tour in Elliot Bay and gaze back at the Seattle skyline with its glass skyscrapers and the Space Needle reflecting gold against the mauve ridges of the Cascades.

Seattle is nicknamed “The Emerald City” because of its year-round greenery | Photo: Visit Seattle. Alabastro Photography

4 of the greatest river running essential no one talks about

By

Jeff Jackson

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November 12, 2019

The best memories come from bad ideas done with good friends. | Photo: Robert Faubert

I couldn’t even begin to guess who figured this out first. I grew up on a farm, and it never occurred to me while milking cows and baling hay. Nor as a rookie raft guide doing day trips did it ever get mentioned. But after I talked my way into a multi-day guide job on Utah’s Canyonlands’ rivers it was—I was told in no uncertain terms—absolutely essential every night I slather my feet and hands in cow’s udder salve. Bag Balm to be exact.

Yeah, right, I thought. A joke on the new guy.

No joke. That’s what you do, and it works.

This is how it goes with the essentials. Sometimes we figure these things out for ourselves, but with river guiding’s ingrained mentor model, these things are often passed on from senior guides to the new ones.

The greatest river running essential no one talks about

1 Bag Balm

A trip to Intermountain Farm Supply—then the only place to get Bag Balm, though the word has now gotten out and now you can find it more easily—for a one-pound tin of medicated cream meant for cows’ udders. It has some magical qualities to deal with hands blistered from the oars and feet cracked from the endless wet-dry cycle. It is essential for river guides. A tin rode in the bottom of my drybag for many years.

BUY ON AMAZON

2 Nail clippers

I didn’t think much about my fingernails until I became a guide. And then it became crucial they were as short as possible at all times. Guides carry nail clippers in their life vest pocket.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the largest selection of boats and gear ]

Most rowing guides hold the oars thumb on end, rather than wrapped under. This means thumbs almost touch as they pass by each other a thousand times a day. Any nail showing means a bloody gouge on the opposing thumb if a stroke gets duffed. Likewise, long toenails get unceremoniously ripped off under cross tubes or when stepped on by clients. Best avoided.

3 Rubber boots

Before my first rip as a northern canoe guide in the Yukon, my trip leader took me to Canadian Tire in Whitehorse to buy a pair. Growing up on a farm, I wore rubber boots sometimes, but for canoe guides, they are essential.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ Plan your next paddling adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

That same trip leader directed me not to buy just any rubber boot, but the one with a liner, so it can be pulled out to dry at night, and a nylon cuff. She went on to show me how to replace the cuff lace with bungee and a cord-lock, making them pretty much soaker proof. Essential.

4 Channel lock pliers

I could also tell you about channel lock pliers, a frame wrench, or butane lighters—all also essential. But for me, it’s not so much about the essentials themselves. Many have their own personally approved packing list, or you can Google a generic list at a moment’s notice.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ Further reading: 8 Essentials For Paddling The Grand Canyon ]

The real story is the people who introduced them to me. It’s the guide-vine passing on this knowledge and the mentor relationships found in every guide team. Sometimes these essentials are passed on with genuine caring, other times with impatience and an undertone of “How can you not know this?”

I remember these mentors, and owe them all a nod every time I have a frame wrench at my fingertips when an oar stand slips; every time I replace the laces in a new pair of rubber boots (or step in over the tops and get away scot-free!); and every night as I massage cow udder salve into my feet.

[ Also read: The 7 Worst Tips For Beginner Kayakers ]

I appreciate those who have come before me and took the time to pass on the little pieces of their hard-earned expertise—perhaps passed down to them by their mentors. Another essential.

Tools in my pocket and pieces of gear come and go, but a mentor’s impact is everlasting.

Jeff Jackson is a risk management professor at Algonquin College, on the banks of the Ottawa River.

The best memories come from bad ideas done with good friends. | Photo: Robert Faubert

How Photographer Used Blacklight To Capture This Amazing Whitewater Photo

By

Conor Mihell

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November 12, 2019

Flourescene refers to the colored glow many substances emit when exposed to UV. | Photo: Markus Berger

Blacklight photography creates images using ultraviolet radiation and fluorescent inks and paints, captured in pitch darkness. It’s typically used in portraiture; if done well the results are otherworldly, revealing colors and textures beyond the usual perception of the human eye. “In blacklight photography, the flash doesn’t actually light the scene but rather provides UV light illuminating certain elements in the picture,” explains Markus Berger, an Austrian commercial photographer. “Those illuminations bring light to the scene and work as actual light sources.”

[ Also read: The Top 7 Photography Tips For Paddlers ]

Tracking a moving subject to compose and focus an image in the dark makes blacklight sports photography exponentially more difficult. But the challenge didn’t stop Berger, a Red Bull-sponsored lensman, from attaching ultraviolet filters to his Broncolor flashes and capturing ethereal images of BMX riders, skateboarders and breakdancers. Recently, he partnered with Viktoria Wolffhardt, an Austrian ICF canoe slalom athlete, to add the dynamic nature of flowing water to the list of technical difficulties.

Berger and Wolffhardt met at the artificial whitewater course at the Vienna Watersport Arena for the shoot. In daylight, they worked together to determine the best angle and perspective for a photograph. “I always consult with the athlete and try to work as close as possible to get credible outcomes serving both photographic but also sport-specific excellence,” notes Berger.

As darkness fell, Wolffhardt put on her wetsuit and helmet and Austrian visual artist Emanuel Jesse applied a design to her head and body blending into the one applied to her C1 kayak. “All the lines needed to flow and represent water,” Berger says. “We were just hoping the paint would hold up and not wash off after Viki’s first try.”

[ Also read: What happens when you combine professional kayakers with professional photographers and a strobe brighter than the sun ]

At nightfall, Wolffhardt launched and made her first descent through the gates. “This was the point when I learned water is just unpredictable,” recalls Berger. “Even though we had a fixed location and specific action in mind, every time Viki passed it was slightly different. That’s just the way it is with water. You have to go with the flow and stay alert to capture the moment when it arises.”

The unpredictably of moving water forces a photographer to stay in the moment, says Berger. “It brings you a bit closer to life.”

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the largest selection of boats and gear ]

Berger was amazed at Wolffhardt’s stamina. “She was tireless and simply amazing. She gave me at least 30 attempts to capture the image I wanted,” he says. “That is what stands out for me with this project—the heart and passion put in by the people who were there and believed in it from the beginning.”

As for the resulting images, Berger says he’s proud to have created pieces of art having never been done before. “I think the combination of street art, a high-class athlete, the nature of the water, and the way it was all photographed is a cool combination capturing the passion in so many ways,” he adds. “I think people today are used to looking at hundreds of images in a minute. But I still believe you can look at one great image for hundreds of minutes and find new details and stories.”

“That’s what this is all about—taking the time and allowing the photograph to sink in.”

Flourescene refers to the colored glow many substances emit when exposed to UV. | Photo: Markus Berger

Why Now Is The Perfect Time For Canoe Adventures

By

Kaydi Pyette

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November 7, 2019

woman paddling a canoe loaded with camping gear — neither rich or retired. just free. | Photo: jay kolsch

Some people still think venturing off into wild places is a dangerous past-time. My 91-year-old grandmother is one of them.

Whether I’m out for a weekend or a week, she worries. After each canoe trip, she asks me the same series of questions: Did I see any bears? Did I see any snakes? What about eels? She is also typically concerned about whether or not I washed my hair. The answer to all of the above is usually, “No, Grandma.”

[ Also read: How Risk Management Is Sucking The Life From Kids Paddling Trips ]

Growing up in the Great Depression, she’s from the era where folks were too busy trying to put bread on the table to go wilderness camping for fun. According to her, the only people who had adventures were either rich or retired. Thankfully, a lot has changed.

According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in 2013 the adventure tourism industry was valued at a whopping $263 billion worldwide.

That number is expected to grow by almost 50 percent by 2020. Traditional sun and sand or sightseeing holidays are losing ground to more adventurous activities, like canoeing.

[ Plan your next adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Experiences that challenge and satiate the explorer within aren’t just for the rich and the restless anymore. In fact, Millennials, families and Baby Boomers make up some of the largest growing segments.

The idea of people spending years dreaming and saving up for a challenging and even occasionally uncomfortable vacation is a notion that would confound my grandma. Her last foray on the water with a single blade predates Gore-Tex, ripstop fabrics and Kevlar—who am I kidding, it predates aluminum—so I forgive her for being a little skeptical.

Wilderness tripping looks a whole lot different today than it did just a couple of decades ago. Instead of setting off with a route scrawled on the back of a bar napkin, the average tripper now carries a topographic map and location-broadcasting electronics—a smartphone, if not a GPS or satellite communicator.

Space-age technology and materials may lack a certain degree of coureur de bois mystique, but what they might offer is far more tangible and valuable. Safety and accessibility. For everyone. Even my grandmother.

[ Gear review: SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Communication Device ]

It’s a good time to be an adventurous paddler. With just the click of a mouse, it’s easy to connect with outfitters, fellow paddlers, and even guidebook authors to get firsthand accounts and personal insights on routes.

It’s also easier than ever to find quality shops to buy or rent equipment or to find professional instruction. And thanks to social media and the Paddling Trip Guide, there’s no shortage of gorgeous images of watery locales to spur fantasies.

Whether you’re dreaming of a trip near or far, short or long, with your paddling mates or even with your grandmother, consider this a guidebook to your dreams.

Kaydi Pyette is the former editor of Canoeroots magazine.

Neither rich or retired. Just free. Feature Photo: Jay Kolsch

4 Secrets To Photographing Amazing Bow Shots

By

Tomasz Furmanek

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November 5, 2019

At the Paddling Magazine office, bow shots are a bit of a joke. Sure, we all take them—but we receive so many submissions featuring the pointed prow of our favorite vessel they tend to blur together, each as unremarkable as the last. The work of Tomasz Furmanek is different.

The Norwegian photographer has built a career on wonderfully composed bow shots. And since none of us are going to stop shooting from the cockpit anytime soon, we implore you to use Furmanek’s top tips to take your bow shots from meh to outrageously good.

1. Light

The best light for taking photos is usually during the golden hour, just after sunrise or just before sunset. The periods with low light, just before sunrise and after sunset, called the blue hour, are also very good.

Shooting at this time often means calmer conditions on the water, which will help achieve a nice reflection in the photo. Since you’ll be shooting in lower light conditions, it’s best to have the camera mounted on a helmet, or stabilized in your kayak by holding it close to your body.

[ Also read: 7 Photography Tips For Paddlers ]

Shooting on the water presents unstable conditions with paddler, kayak and water surface all potentially in motion. I usually take five photos of each scene to ensure I get a sharp one.

2. Plan ahead for your bow shot

Research or visit your photo location prior to arriving. This helps pre-visualize the composition of the photo so you know where you need to be to catch the light. Free online apps (try www.photoephemeris.com) have information on where the sun will be at different times of day for locations around the globe.

Keep your kayak bow clean and avoid unnecessary equipment on top of the kayak. Some gear, like a spare paddle, can add interest to the photo, so long as it’s placed in a visually appealing way. Wetting the bow before taking a photo will give the bow some shine, sometimes even making the colors of the environment reflect in the deck of the kayak.

3. Composition

Getting a good bow shot usually requires breaking some of the rules of composition. The kayak bow is a triangle with leading lines that direct the viewer’s attention towards the tip of the kayak and into the scenery beyond it.

[ Also read: A Paddling Photographers Nightmare ]

In calm conditions when the water surface looks like a mirror, it is good to have horizontal symmetry of the reflection. The symmetry that may be boring in a normal photo makes bow shots more balanced. Point your bow where you want to direct the viewer’s attention.

4. Settings and editing

Even if taking photos in automatic mode, I recommend underexposing the photo just a bit to get more details in the highlights. The darker shadows can be lightened in photo editing, but software can’t fix blown-out highlights.

If possible, shoot raw files as this offers the most editing options, however, Photoshop Express Mobile is a free smartphone app that works well for JPG images.

Tomasz Furmanek started shooting from his kayak three years ago, aiming to capture Norway’s wild and beautiful fjords and lakes and to motivate others to visit these remote locations by kayak.

Bonafide Kayaks and Big Adventures Join Forces in Merger

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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November 1, 2019

Bonafide-and-Big-Adventures-Merger — Bonafide Kayaks and Big Adventures Join Forces in Merger.

Native Watercraft and Liquidlogic Kayaks, together with Bonafide Kayaks, announced the merger of their businesses on October 31, 2019. Bonafide Kayaks founder Luther Cifers will serve the combined business as President.

“This partnership is simply ideal,” says Cifers. “It not only represents seamless philosophical alignment, but also brings together a diversity of strengths that will make this new business even stronger than the sum of its parts. Native and Bonafide are both known for offering unique and compelling products, and this merger allows us to combine our strengths, while building on the distinctiveness of each brand to develop industry leading product technologies that enhance the kayak fishing experience.”

Kelley Woolsey will serve as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, bringing a strong legacy of brand building and business development to the combined enterprise. “Our combination of brands: Native, Bonafide, Liquidlogic, and Hurricane, is really special. The team behind them is equally so, representing both industry experience and fresh, creative ideas. This will allow us to better serve our dealers by providing a complete offering of high demand specialty products and industry-leading customer service.”

Don Grigg, CEO of Native, Liquidlogic, and Hurricane, will serve as CEO of the combined companies. “Bringing these businesses together does so many positive things,” Grigg explains, “We both had amazing teams prior to this merger, and working together towards a common vision is going to be great for all of us. We’re confident that the collective in both people and brands will be a significant and positive force in the industry for years to come. From an operational and logistics standpoint, increased scale will work in our favor, allowing us to better serve our customers in all aspects of the business.”

[See Bonafide Kayaks in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide]

Bonafide Kayaks was founded by Luther Cifers in 2017, and began shipping its unique, premium fishing kayaks in January, 2018, rapidly ascending as a leading brand in the premium tier of paddle kayaks. As its name and its motto, “Live the Story You Want to Tell” indicate, Bonafide has been characterized by authenticity: in corporate philosophy, product design, and brand culture.

BIG Adventures is a paddlesports industry leader and innovator with the Native Watercraft, Liquidlogic, and Hurricane Aquasports brands. Each brand’s innovation and success is fueled by a deep passion for creating the best experience on the water. Native Watercraft’s proprietary Propel Pedal Drive system has set the standard for pedal driven fishing kayaks. Liquidlogic has long been a leader in whitewater, crossover and recreational designs. Hurricane has defined the recreational lightweight kayak category.

Get Outside With Paddling Magazine’s Trip Guide

By

Scott MacGregor

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October 29, 2019

a seaplane docked with green northern lights in the sky — what happens in vegas can stay in vegas. | Photo: Jay Siemens

Paddling is complicated. Not the simple act of placing a blade in the water and pulling your body forward. That part children figure out in a matter of minutes without any training.

I watched hundreds of families do just this at the East Coast Paddlesports Symposium. The volunteers tried in vain to provide rudimentary instruction. But really moms and dads and kids just want to get on the water and figure it out for themselves. And they do.

[ Also read: 6 Most Important Skills For Beginner Canoeists ]

We’ve been figuring it out for ourselves for generations, probably since the first sheets of birch bark were stitched together and since the first sealskin was stretched over a driftwood frame. How hard can it be, right? A little trial and error and presto we’re gathering beaver pelts and harpooning narwhals.

Elsewhere in James Island County Park, there were experts delivering seminars on packing, route finding, navigation, and menu planning. This is how canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and kayak fishing gets interesting. I like to paddle, but I love to travel. This is also how paddling gets complicated.

Planning and preparing all the details of a wilderness paddling adventure can be part of the fun. I love it but only when I have time to pore over maps and putter away at checklists.

Compared to the heyday of backcountry travel in the 1980s and ‘90s households today have fewer holidays and more distractions. With all the little details to consider paddling trips are postponed, sometimes indefinitely.

Why? Because I would rather you venture to Nahanni’s Virginia Falls than Niagara Falls

This must be why people go on cruises and all-inclusive island vacations. I will never go on a cruise, but I get it.

In the outdoor industry white papers, kayaking and standup paddleboarding participation are up. Canoeing is also hot again, making the top ten lists for aspirational activities in America. This new Paddling Trip Guide is well timed. People want to get on the water but have less time to plan than ever before.

Last summer, I almost booked a trip to the Whistler Bike Park instead of going on our annual family canoe trip. Why? Because they make it so damn easy. In two phone calls, one to the airline and one to the hotel I could have had it all organized—transportation, lodging, bike rentals, lift tickets and meals.

Many canoe and kayak outfitters are simplifying their offerings and streamlining their businesses to meet new clients’ needs. Their websites no longer list every widget of rental equipment they have to offer. Nobody has time for all that. I’ll take your six-day, all-inclusive, please. Here’s my credit card number. Kids, we’re going canoeing!

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all canoes ]

If 20 years ago you told me paddlers would or could book a vacation on the Internet, I’d have told you to open a window and get your head out of the epoxy and resin fumes. But this is the way things are going. Many of the 190 trips and services featured in this issue can be booked this way. More will surely follow.

My goal with this Paddling Trip Guide is two-fold. I want to inspire you to travel to destinations you may have not considered before while introducing you to companies who can remove the barriers and make your trips happen.

Many trips in this year’s guide are all-inclusive vacations but wait, there’s more. Inside you’ll find paddling skills clinics and rescue courses. Maybe you just need equipment rentals, a water taxi, food or a night in a cozy room before you head out. That’s here too. We don’t have every outfitter in every region offering every service, but we’re working on it.

Why?

I would rather you venture to Nahanni’s Virginia Falls than Niagara Falls. I’d rather you be mesmerized by the northern lights than the Vegas Strip lights. I’d rather you spot a bull moose in Northern Ontario than Mickey Mouse. Don’t even get me started about orcas at Sea World versus seeing them on the wild coast of British Columbia.

The Paddling Trip Guide is paddling made easy. Call now. I promise you won’t regret it.

Scott MacGregor is the founder and publisher of Paddling Magazine, Kayak Angler Magazine, and Paddling Business Magazine.

What happens in Vegas, can stay in Vegas. Feature Photo: Jay Siemens

Packraft Review: Kokopelli Packraft Rogue-Lite

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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October 29, 2019

Calling all adventure seekers. Whether you’re exploring high alpine lakes, need a river shuttle for your bikepacking adventures, or simply want the convenience of being able to store your kayak in a breadbox, Kokopelli’s Rogue-Lite delivers big action in a six-pound package.

Kokopelli Rogue-Lite Specs

Assembly Time 3-12 minutes
Paddlers 1
Length 7 ft
Width 37 in
Material Urethane-coated nylon
Weight 6 lbs
Price $825 USD

kokopellipackraft.com

With the Rogue-Lite, Kokopelli has created an ultra-lightweight, one-person, inflatable packraft capable of handling lakes and rivers that can also be packed onto the front handlebars. No small feat.

Like many minimalist packraft set-ups, the Rogue-Lite’s storage bag doubles as its inflation bag and pump. There’s some technique to master here but try it a few times and inflation happens faster. Even after a few tries, we’re still five minutes off the three-minute inflation estimate Kokopelli suggests. A fun challenge and certainly not a deal breaker.

The Rogue series is the first in the Kokopelli lineup to offer a Kevlar-reinforced floor system to maximize durability while reducing weight and packing size. One of the main differences between the Rogue-Lite and its predecessor is the original Rogue comes with a spraydeck, adding extra comfort and protection from the elements but also half a pound.

[ Also read: 6 Gear Essentials For Fall Packrafting ]

Both Rogues feature slight rocker in the bows and large-volume sterns, boasting excellent maneuverability and stability in flat water and on gentle rivers. With a waterline less than seven feet, the Rogues wouldn’t be your first choice for high-mileage lake routes.

Kokopelli Rogue-Lite [ B ] — Inflatable seat cushion

Kokopelli Rogue-Lite [ C ] — Access inside the kayak’s pontoons

Kokopelli has included four strategically placed nylon loop D-rings for secure gear storage and just enough space in the Rogue-Lite to make it suitable for ultralight multi-day trips.

[ Further reading: How To Buy An Inflatable Kayak ]

The innovative 21-inch-long Tizip, optional on the Rogue-Lite, makes this packraft even more versatile, giving paddlers access to the inside of the packraft’s pontoons to stuff more gear. Use with drybags, just in case, of course.

The four-inch-thick inflatable seat cushion keeps paddlers comfortable and offers a bit of height, improving paddling position. Kokopelli notes the Rogue-Lite does not come with the Rogue’s backband, but says, “leaning—chilling—against the stern or your backpack is comfortable and cool.”

Kokopelli Rogue-Lite | Photo: Michael Hewis

Learning To Never Paddle Impaired—The Hard Way

By

The Safer Paddling Campaign

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October 28, 2019

As a United Stated Coast Guard nonprofit grant recipient, the Water Sports Sports Foundation produces paddling safety outreach materials and distributes them through boating and paddling media providers.

Paddlesports currently has an inordinately high rate of accidents and deaths that for the past five years has been increasing, while power boating stats have been decreasing during the same period.

The goal is to create heightened public awareness of safer paddling making paddlesports safer and to ultimately reduce the total number of paddlesports-related deaths annually.

Salty Jefferson explains how you should never paddle impaired. — Image: Water Sports Foundation/YouTube

Speaker 1: This is the best day ever! Hailey, Hailey let’s go paddling right now!

Speaker 2: Are you sure that’s a good idea?

Speaker 1: Right now!

Salty Jefferson: I learned that lesson the hard way!

Speakers 1 & 2: Paddling legend Salty Jefferson!

Salty Jefferson: One night, I thought it would be a good idea to take out this gal I was seeing, Tonya. I loaded up the canoe with everything we needed: roses, candles, even some of that fine canned champagne. She leaned in for the kiss, but we flipped. Tonya didn’t make it. But from that day forward I never paddled impaired again.

Paddle Sober And Smart

Never mix alcohol and paddling. Coast Guard and state BUI (boating under the influence) laws apply to all vessels. This includes canoes, kayaks, SUPs and rafts.

Watch more videos from the Safer Paddling Campaign »