How to bike pack raft

[@jansa940]

they didn't have the solo pack rafts when I was into kayaking years ago. They had inflatable kayaks with very little packing room, and also duckie style kayaks (mostly owned by rafting companies and not sold at stores). This really adds another diminsion because you can do white water rivers, and then ride mountain bike in and out without having to lug a hardshell kayak/canoe through the trails. In addition, you can camp along the rivers and not have to worry about having 2 vehicles parked at put in/take out. There is a man who wrote definitive guide books on canoeing. He would just leave his canoe at the put in location, and then drive and park his vehicle at the take out point, and then bike back up to where is canoe was (and then leave the bike hidden in the woods). His books were an essential guide at finding places to paddle (years before this information was readily available on the internet).

[@turboelephant6298]

Super helpful video. I was just directed here from the UK Fat Bike Club after I posted a question about rafts. Thanks!

[@JohnClimber]

Thanks for you nice comments

[@OldNavajoTricks]

0.33s damn that's a finelooking house!

[@JohnClimber]

@@OldNavajoTricks that's just outside of the Welsh town of Barmouth

[@qsmith]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you have it dialed in!

[@JohnClimber]

Cheers

[@marcellopacifici]

Really useful video, thanks!

[@JohnClimber]

No problems

[@MarkOates]

Very handy vid John. Great job!

[@canoecycle7005]

New subscriber good video I red your review on the Caribou from backcountrys website which helped me choose but won’t get it till the end of July thanks for your help

[@JohnClimber]

I'm glad I could have helped, like bikes a lot of pack rafts have been sold during lockdown. Trust me it will be worth the wait.

[@y1sco]

Hi John, highly informative thank you for taking the time to present, think you have helped made my mind up on which model to purchase.

[@JohnClimber]

Thanks, which pack raft are you thinking about and where are you based?

[@y1sco]

Hi John, I’m looking to purchase The Caribou as I’m like you having a Surly Pugsley and a gravel bike based in Scotland however I’ve been unable to contact backcountry.sco either by phone or email so probably have to contact the European supplier which is a pity! Thanks again for you valuable contribution it’s appreciated by the way how does The Caribou track in moderate water?

[@JohnClimber]

@@y1sco Andy Toop is the man to contact as he runs Backcountry Scotland. I'll drop him a message but he may be away fro a few days coaching. He's very reliable and will get back to you I'm sure

[@y1sco]

Thanks John just made contact with Andy think he must have received your message Cheers Ian

[@Professionalmoochers]

This raft is now on our list 🤩

[@276alnaz]

Great vid John 👍

[@JohnClimber]

Cheers

[@DIYPackraft]

Thanks for the tips! What would you like to see in the perfect bikerafting packraft (or do you think the caribou is perfect already)?

[@JohnClimber]

Thanks, The Caribou is almost perfect just needs to be more affordable to get more people into bike pack rafting. I'm talking to someone about a couple of changes for my perfect bike pack rafting boat.

[@fayleya3865]

This was an absolutely fantastic video thanks!

[@JohnClimber]

Thanks

[@alexmultimodalpackrafting915]

Great video, to the point and very informative!

[@JohnClimber]

Thanks

[@BicycleAdventureClub]

Nice vid 🤩 👍

[@DanaDetailingPros]

Hi John, I was very pleased to find your video. I just ordered my Caribou a month ago and am expecting in soon! I found the Exped stuff sack ideal and want to order it! Can you help me with the size? Was it a small or Medium? I would greatly appreciate the help😁 Kind regards, Brian

[@JohnClimber]

My stuff sack has 3 compression straps on its side and it says on the bag that it's a M for medium it's 56cm tall and the opening (when layed flat) is 35cm across. But it is around 6 to 10nyears old, so they may not make that model exactly the same any more

[@DanaDetailingPros]

@@JohnClimber That is a HUGE help! John! I can't thank you enough for responding so quick!!! And they still make a very similar model and I just didn't want to over shoot since the whole idea is size/weight. Kindest regards, Brian

[@DanaDetailingPros]

@@JohnClimber Your right! They are no longer making the compression straps anymore:( which made it perfect for the application. Horizontal vs. vertical. Big difference! Hopefully I can use some straps to get it nice and tight then compress moderately but not to tight to cause harm to the raft.

[@DavidWhite-uz7ob]

Love the Border 😉

[@JohnClimber]

They are the best dogs

[@Packraftexplorers]

Hi John, cool video but I have one question. I thought the Alpacka Mule is also esspecially for bikerafting, because it has the same shape of the bow like the caribou. Maybe the Mule is better for whitewater because with the different typs of spraydecks. What do you think? Cheers Tom. packrafteurope.com/collections/alpacka-series/products/mule

[@JohnClimber]

Thomas Tailor the Mule is to carry loads of all shapes and sizes that's why they have loops in to fit ropes and cords etc, the strapping points on the Caribou are flatter to take Titan or voile straps so it's more specifically designed to carry bikes much closer and tighter to the raft to I believe

[@zer013]

I just ordered my caribou. Which exped dry bag do you have?

[@JohnClimber]

It's an old one, with 3 straps, it's a size M and there is a code on the back of the M tag with the nunber 9030 on it, if that's any help.

[@JohnClimber]

It measures around 20" long too

[@zer013]

JohnClimber thanks for the quick reply. the side compression straps look useful for other gear too. I’ll probably grab a medium and a large.

[@JohnClimber]

@@zer013 please post up a link to the medium one here please as I don't know if they still do them

[@anywhereroam9698]

Good video, thanks. What Fat Bike is this? What dimensions are the wheels? I am interested in getting the same packraft, the Caribou, but want to avoid paddle strike. So I don’t want to get 29er x 4-5” tyres or they’ll take up too much room. What is the gravel bike? Is it 27.5” or 29er?

[@JohnClimber]

It's a 4.8" 26er wheel. And this Caribou has also carried my 29er+ bike and wheels too. The Caribou will handle these frames with minimal paddle strike, it's the only one designed for the job of bike pack rafting. The only other option is to buy a longer pack ratlft, but that will be very flexible and not as stable in choppy waters.

[@276alnaz]

Do the straps come with the raft or do you buy them seperate

[@JohnClimber]

Hi Mark, you need to buy the voile straps separately.

[@agtwil2863]

Great video! What is the handlebar harness you used?

[@JohnClimber]

The Wildcat lion harness is perfect

[@fayleya3865]

How do you go with portage when you have the bike tied up on your raft?

[@JohnClimber]

As the pack raft is so light you simply lift the bike and it hang underneath it. Over longer walks I'd take the wheels off, strap the frame with the pack raft to a back pack and carry a wheel in each free hand. Anything longer, pack it all into the bike and ride to the next spot to paddle

[@SlabbinNCabbin]

No need for a life preserver with tires that big, lol

[@JohnClimber]

Oh you do need them