Rent MRS Packraft from us!
With summer coming, it's also time for new products. The range of tents has already increased significantly in the run-up to summer and here you will find all the tents available for rent. As a completely new product range, you can now also rent a variety of packrafts from us. In the packraft rental business, we cooperate with Melomo, the official importer of MRS packrafts in Oulu, Finland.
Below you will find more information about what a packraft is, what kind of paddling skills are required to paddle a packraft and more details about our MRS Microraft, Alligator 2S, Alligator 2S Pro XXL MRS Nomad S1 D and the twin packraft for two persons MRS Barracuda R2. You can test the packrafts by renting a packraft by sending a message to info@talesntents.fi.
What is a Packraft?
A backpacking raft, an inflatable kayak, raft or just a packraft, many names and many uses. Packrafts are suitable for flat water, rapids or adventures even with a bike, what is then called bikerafting. The main advantage of a packraft over kayaks in particular is, as its name suggests, its packability in to a backpack. The packability of a packraft allows you to combine hiking and paddling with unprecedented ease and thereby expand your adventures. No longer are island huts, lake crossings or other bodies of water an obstacle to your trip, yet only, full of new possibilities! At the same time, logistical challenges on river sections are history when packraft is your choice and packed in a backpack.
Packraft packing volumes range from less than 40x30cm and weights starts just over 3kg and going up to 4.5kg per unit. Despite their light weight, packrafts can withstand heavy use and if packing space gets tight, you can rent a larger backpack to take a packraft with you. In principle, the packraft capacity is relatively the same as a standard trekking tent. However, if you are concerned about the capacity of your backpack, you can conveniently rent a Fjällräven Kajka backpack in 85 litres or a Fjällräven Kajka backpack up to 100 litres. Again, another challenge solved.
What Kind of Paddling Skills Do I Need?
You don't need any special skills to start paddling with a packraft, just a good mindset for adventures and common sense when it comes to safety. If you have any experience of paddling a kayak or canoe, you'll immediately feel at home with a packraft too. The advantage of the Packraft, especially compared to narrow kayaks, is its stability. A packraft is much harder to flip around, being very flat when paddling even in extreme rapids. In flat water, a packraft is also suitable for beginners interested in to start paddling, and the hourly speed can increas to around 4-7km/h, with some time, as paddling experience increases. You can't jump on water with just a packraft, you always need at least a paddle and a floating vest. This equipment is included in every rental. At the same time, as the packraft is inflated with air, we provide you with a USB rechargeable pump with the rental to facilitate inflation. If you are interested in moving towards any sort of rapids, a helmet is also a must. You can rent a paddling helmet together with your packraft rental for an additional fee of 10€ per rental.
Below you will still find a full list of the products available for rent and the additional price for the other products available:
1x Packraft
1x telescopic paddle
1x floatation vest
1x skirt
1x fin
1x filling bag and automatic filling pump
1x dry bag / 2x ISS dry bags (MRS Alligator 2S Pro XXL and Microraft L only)
1x repair kit
For an additional price:
1x paddling helmet
Packraft Models and Size Recommendations
Packraft models have their differences and the so-called classic model from MRS is the MRS Microraft, which is available in M and L sizes. This classic model performs on every trip and is a safe choice for a beginner, as well as for the more experienced rafter. If, on the other hand, you want to increase your paddling speed or head for flowing waters, the MRS Alligator 2S or MRS Alligator 2S Pro XXL models are the ones to choose. These are as agile as alligators when it comes to rapids and enjoying first rapids. The MRS Alligator 2S Pro XXL is also equipped with an ISS (Internal Storage System), which allows some of your belongings to be packed inside the packraft pontoon.
There are size differences between the models in terms of internal volume, and for this reason they have indicative recommendations according to the users' height and carrying capacity. The Microraft M size is suitable for a person of approximately 165-180cm in height and the Microraft L size for a person of 175-190cm in height. The Alligator 2S is designed for a person between 175 and 185cm tall and the Alligator 2S Pro XXL is suitable for a person up to 180-210cm tall.
All these models are suitable for both day trips and over night trips, with the ISS offering additional packing options for longer trips. For longer hikes outside cellular reach, it is recommended to pack an additional Garmin inReach Mini 2 or GPS MAP 66ii for any urgent emergencies to have the SOS functionaly available.
It's good to test the differences between the models, and you can rent different packrafts as a group to test the differences in practice. Come and experience the greatness of packrafting on water crossings, rapids, on longer paddling trips and hiking trips by contacting info@talesntents.fi.
J-T