My Essential Gear for Packraft River Paddling

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Here’s a walkthrough of the core gear I bring on every packraft river trip. This isn’t a sponsored list — it’s what I actually use and why.

1. Kokatat Hydrus 3.0 Dry Top

In Hokkaido, the window for paddling without a dry top or full drysuit is extremely short. Even when air temperatures rise in summer, water temperatures stay cold year-round. The dry top forms the outer layer; mid-layer adjustments underneath handle the air temperature. For most conditions in Hokkaido, this layering approach covers the range.

2. Kokatat Hydrus 3.0 Dry Pants

Same reasoning as the dry top. Worth noting: even quality drysuits eventually start to leak as the fabric ages. One advantage of the two-piece (separate top and pants) approach is that you can replace just one piece when it wears out, rather than the whole suit. That said, a one-piece full drysuit will generally provide better waterproofing. Choose based on your priorities.

3. Aquabound Shred — Fiberglass Shaft / Nylon Blade, 4-Piece

I don’t have strong feelings about ultralight paddle weight, so I’m not using anything exotic — but I do prefer a paddle with tight construction and no play in the joints. If you’re driving to your put-in and leaving the car nearby, a 2-piece paddle is perfectly fine. But if you’re packing in on foot and want everything to fit in a pack, a 4-piece paddle is the natural choice.

I’ve written a separate post on 4-piece paddles if you’d like more detail.

4. Sweet Protection Wanderer 2

The top priority with any helmet is fit — it needs to sit securely on your head without shifting. Some packrafters repurpose a bike helmet or mountaineering helmet, and that can work in certain contexts. What makes a dedicated kayak helmet stand out is that the interior foam doesn’t absorb water and retain it, and the shell is designed to withstand hard impacts. For moving water use, those properties matter.

5. PFD — Astral Aquavest 300

For river use, a whitewater-rated PFD is the right choice. Aerated whitewater — the foamy, bubbly stuff — provides less buoyancy than flat water, so you need a PFD rated for those conditions. For adults, look for at least 7.5kg of buoyancy; for children, at least 5kg. US Coast Guard certification or Japan’s Sakura Mark certification are the standards to look for. And fit matters as much as rating — a properly rated PFD that doesn’t fit correctly offers little real protection.

Attached to my PFD at all times: a river knife with a serrated blade. If you end up entangled in a rope underwater, a straight blade won’t cut through it efficiently — the serrated edge will. This is non-negotiable kit for river paddling.

Also attached: a pealess whistle that works when wet. Voices don’t carry well on moving water, so a whistle is how you communicate at distance. FOX40 is a popular and reliable choice in the paddling community.

(Note: I replaced this PFD in 2024 due to buoyancy degradation from age.)

6. Sea to Summit eVac Dry Bag

This is where I store my repair kit and first aid kit — anything that must stay dry. When you’re on the river, assume everything not in a dry bag will get wet at some point.

7. Astral Rassler 2.0

Water shoes, heel-strapped sandals that won’t come off, or trail runners you don’t mind getting soaked — all can work for river paddling. The critical thing is traction: shoes not designed for wet conditions can be dangerously slippery on wet rocks in and around the river. If your packrafting involves hiking approaches or trail sections (which is common), you’ll also want something that performs reasonably well on the trail.

I’ve written in more detail about the Rassler 2.0 and the shoe search that led me to it — linked below.

8. Alpacka Raft Classic — Size M, with WR Deck

The Alpacka Raft Classic is from the company that originated the packraft as a product category — Alpacka Raft, based in Colorado, USA. The Classic is widely regarded as an all-rounder that performs well on both mellow river touring and more technical whitewater. “All-rounder” sometimes implies compromise, but the Classic earns its reputation as a genuinely high-performance boat that simply happens to be versatile. It carries the core DNA of what a packraft should be.

9. Repair Kit × 1, First Aid Kit × 2

I carry a repair kit for on-river packraft fixes, and two first aid kits for injuries. Both are sealed in LOKSAK waterproof bags, then stored together inside item 6 (the eVac dry bag). I plan to write a dedicated post on the contents of each.

10. Shuugakuso Original Mini Throw Bag + Mont-bell Throw Bag (15m)

Every paddler in the group should carry their own throw bag — it’s personal rescue equipment, not shared gear. Without one, reaching a swimmer in the current can be extremely difficult or impossible.

The Shuugakuso (a Hokkaido outdoor retailer) mini throwing bag is compact and light enough to carry easily on a packraft, and quick to deploy even for those without a lot of upper body strength. The Mont-bell 15m throw bag serves as backup and extension when more rope reach is needed.

11. Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL

Shown in the gear photo as a cockpit floor pad for insulation and protection, but I’ve since decided it adds more weight than it’s worth and it’s no longer in my kit. Left here for reference.

12. Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag (13L)

This larger dry bag organizes items 9 (repair and first aid kits in their LOKSAK bags), carabiners, and other small items. During river trips, it sits at my feet and doubles as a foot brace — keeping my legs braced for control while also storing gear. A genuinely useful dual-purpose system that helps keep overall kit weight down.

13. Webbing, Pulley, Carabiners, Electric Pump, Inflation Bag, AlpackaRaft Pack-A-Pump

Webbing is a versatile tool — useful for tethering the packraft to shore, creating anchors, improvising a harness, and more.

Pulley isn’t strictly essential (a carabiner can substitute in a pinch), but it enables a mechanical advantage system for extractions and rescue scenarios.

Locking carabiners are used both for securing the packraft and as part of rope-based rescue systems.

Electric pump and inflation bag are both part of the inflation setup. The AlpackaRaft Pack-A-Pump is a compact manual pump worth having for any Alpacka user — ideal for topping off pressure before launching, or re-inflating slightly after the packraft cools and contracts in cold river water.