WE SEARCHED LONG AND HARD FOR PACKRAFTS TO USE FOR OUR TRIPS TO THE RIVERS OF XINJIANG & TIBET, A PROCESS THAT LEAD US TO THE LIMITS OF WHERE PACKRAFTING AS A PURSUIT HAS EVOLVED TOO. ALONG THE WAY WE HAVE USED SOME VERY GOOD BOATS, NAMELY THE KOKOPELLI NIRVANA SPRAYDECK, AND FOR ANYTHING WITHIN ‘NORMAL’ PLANS THESE ARE EXCELLENT OPTIONS. BUT FOR OBJECTIVES LIKE THE NORTH SIDES OF THE KARAKORAM & KUNLUN, OR TIBET – PLACES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPLORED BY PACKRAFT – WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW.
THESE PACKRAFTS ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO THE SAME CRITERIA OUR OTHER EXPEDITION GEAR ;
– BE LIGHT ENOUGH TO CARRY TO >6000m
– CARRY LOADS SECURELY FOR FIRST DESCENTS
– WORK IN VERY COLD CONDITIONS
– SURVIVE EXPEDITION EXTENDED HANDLING
– PERFFORM A LOT OF BASELINE EASY USE AND REGULAR TECHNICAL STUFF
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE’VE HAD TO DO THIS.
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FORTUNATELY HAVING JIYUE ZHANG ON OUR STAFF – THE GUY RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE HIGH ALTITUDE RIVER AND PEAK TRIPS THAT ALMOST CERTAINLY ANYONE ELSE – WE COULD MATCH ADVANCES WITH PACKRAFT DEVELOPMENT TO DECADES OF EXPEDITION-LEVEL DESCENTS AND END UP WITH BOATS EXACTLY FOR WHAT WE WANT, NAMELY; 3-4 WEEK TRIPS, TO VERY HIGH, REMOTE & COLD PLACES, WITH SEMI-TECHNICAL WATER AND NO SUPPORT BEYOND THE ROAD. PUT ANOTHER WAY THE DEMANDS WERE LIGHT, TOUGH, FUNCTIONAL AND HIGH PERFORMANCE.
AND THAT’S WHAT WE GOT.
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WEIGHT
THE ‘FULL FIGHTING’ WEIGHT OF THE ARKATAG II IS JUST UNDER 3.5kg, THAT’S INCLUDING THE EXTRA FLOOR, SPRAY DECK & ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT POINTS (MISSING IN THE IMAGE OF THE FIRST PROTO). THAT’S LIGHT FOR A NORMAL PACKRAFT, BEFORE YOU CONSIDER HOW MUCH BIGGER AND BLINGED OUT THE ARKATAG II IS. WE ACHEIVED THIS BY STRIPPING OUT ANYTHING THAT WASN’T NEEDED, RETHINKING HOW SOME THINGS WERE DONE AND COMBINING MATERIALS TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
AFTER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WE HAVE LEFT THE THIGH BRACES OUT OF THE ARKATAG II.
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DURABILITY
WE ALSO PRODUCED SOMETHING SO LIGHT IT COMPROMISED DURABILITY FOR ALL ELSE (THE ARKATAG PRO; AN OPTION WE RETAIN FOR TRIPS THAT REALLY KICK OUT THE JAMS), BUT FOR THE SAKE OF EXTENDED USE & SUSTAINABILITY WE MAKE THE ARKATAG II FIT THE NORMAL LIFETIME EXPECTED OF A PACKRAFT. WE USE A STANDARD HEAVY DUTY FLOOR WITH GOOD ABRASION RESISTANCE WELL UP THE TUBES, A DESIGN THAT MOVES SEAMS AWAY FROM HIGH-WEAR AREAS, CONSTRUCTION WITH GENEROUS SEAM ALLOWANCES, VALVES THAT SIT BACK WITH MINIMAL PROFILE AND ARE EASY TO MAINTAIN, AND BY LEAVING OUT FEATURES THAT COULD COMPROMISE DURABILITY BUT BE RESOLVED IN OTHER WAYS.
WE TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY IMPACTS A PACKRAFT BEING USED FOR THE THINGS WE DO AND MADE A BOAT THAT RESPONDS TO THAT, NOT JUST IT’S USE IN THE WATER, WHICH MEANS PORTAGE OVER ROCK, ICE & INFRASTRUCTURE, BEING ROPED INTO SOME LOCATIONS, DAY-AFTER-DAY USE FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, BIG TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIALS THAT INCLUDE VERY LOW, VERY HIGH UV EXPOSURE AND LONG PERIODS OF USE IN HIGH-MINERAL WATER. BEING BOUNCED AROUND ON TRUCKS, CAMELS & DONKEYS ALSO CAME INTO IT.
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FUNCTION
EVERY EXPEDITION IS DIFFERENT AND OUR SORT OF EXPEDITIONS HAVE DIFFERENT DEMANDS TO STUFF IN ALASKA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND & ELSEWHERE, WHICH MEANS THINGS NEED TO FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY. THIS IS NOT A BOAT FOR DYNAMIC JUNGLE DESCENTS AND TIGHT CANYONS, IT’S FOR 40kM DAYS OFF GLACIER SNOUTS, THROUGH ICY RAVINES AND COMPRESSED RAVINES, WITH LONG DROPS AND LONG PORTAGES. IT HANDLES BIG WATER RATHER THAN TIGHT WATER.
THE ARKATAG II EXPEDITION PACKRAFT IS MADE FOR BIG DAYS ON THE WILDEST RIVERS ON EARTH, DEMANDING EFFICIENCY, GOOD VISION, DECENT TRACKING, BUT ALSO SUSTAINED DROPS OF GRADE III+ & OCCASIONAL DESPERATE SECTIONS. THE ARKATAG II HANDLES A DRAFT OF ABOUT 10cms FOR WIDE DESERT BENDS AND ENDORHEIC BRAIDS OR LANDING OVER ICED SHORES.
WE ESCHEWED INTERNAL STORAGE SYSTEMS DUE TO DURABILITY ISSUES, IN FAVOUR OF STORING GEAR INSIDE AND ON TOP OF THE BOW. A 50L PACK WILL EASILY FIT INSIDE THE FRONT, SERVING AS A FOOTREST, WITH THE SPRAY DECK ZIPPED OVER TOP AND ADDITIONAL STRAP ATTACHMENTS TO LOAD MORE GEAR ON TOP OF THAT AS WELL AS SOME SPACE BEHIND THE SEAT.
DESIGNING THE ARKATAG II MEANT FACTORING IN USING THESE BOATS IN VERY COLD CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRED A RAISED FLOOR OPTION AND SPRAY DECK. OF COURSE THESE ELEMENTS ALSO RELATE TO WHITEWATER, WHERE THEY WORK AS NORMAL CONSIDERING THE BOATS LENGTH AND LOAD (YOU WON’T BE DOING DROPS OR PLAYBOATING WITH 30kg OF GEAR – PROBABLY), AND IN THE COLD PROVIDE A LOT OF PROTECTION FROM COLD AIR, WIND AND LOSING HEAT BOTH INTO THE AIR AND BELOW.
SET UP-WISE THE BOAT AND FLOOR BOTH HAVE D7 VALVES AND WEBBING ATTACHMENT POINTS ALL ROUND.
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PERFORMANCE
THE ARKATAG II DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN – ‘SHIPTON-STYLE’ EXPEDITIONS.
FOR A PACKRAFT THIS LIGHT – CARRYABLE FOR HIGH ALTITUDE ASCENTS – WHEN LOADED FOR THE DESCENT THE ARKATAG II TRACKS WELL, WEIGHTS WELL AND ALLOWS GOOD VISION FOR TAKING ON REAL RIVERS. STORING WEIGHT LOW AND CENTERED IN THE BOATS BOW MEANS GOOD PERFORMANCE IN WIND, GOOD TRACKING ON EASY SECTIONS AND PRECISION WHEN PLANTING THE BOW IN MOVING WATER. THE ADDITIONAL LENGTH AND REARWARD SEATING MINIMIZES THE ‘PACKRAFT SPIN’ THAT’S UNWANTED ON LONG EASY SECTIONS, BUT THE NARROW WIDTH AND RAISED FLOOR LETS YOU USE THE SIDES EVEN WHEN WE HAVE LEFT THE THIGH BRACES OUT.
THE MAIN CONCERN OF THIS BOAT IS COVERING VARIABLE WATER FOR MANY HOURS A DAY, LOADED WITH GEAR AND TRIMMED OF ANY LUXURIES BUT STILL PERFORM EFFICIENTLY, SO WE USE BOTH A RAISED FLOOR AND A RAISED SEAT FOR BETTER PADDLING AND KEPT THE INTERNAL WIDTH TIGHT FOR GOOD BODY CONTROL.
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OTHER STUFF
BEYOND WHAT WE DO WITH THESE BOATS THE ARKATAG II WILL FIT MOST OBJECTIVES THAT DEMAND THE GEAR AND ABUSE OF LONG TRIPS IN HARSH TERRAIN, ESPECIALLY ONES COVERING A LOT OF WATER EACH DAY.
WE MAKE OUR BOATS IN ORANGE, THAT MAKES THEM VISIBLE WHEN NEEDED YET WHEN IN THE TERRAIN WHERE WE USE THEM (DUSTY HIGH ALTITUDE DESERT) ALSO KEEPS THEM FAIRLY LOW SIGNATURE. FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS WE CAN DO THEM IN VARIOUS OTHER COLOURS WHEN THEY BUY THEIR OWN.
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WHY NO INTERNAL STORAGE?
THIS QUESTION ALMOST ALWAYS COMES UP SO WE WILL ADDRESS IT HERE. INTERNAL STORAGE IS A GREAT IDEA BUT FOR THE TRIPS WE DO IT HAS TOO MANY ELEMENTS THAT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS FAILURES. WE SEE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING THEM BUT IN THIS CASE IT’S OUTWEIGHED BY WHAT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC PROBLEMS.
– BY NECESSITY THE TIZIP ACCESS NEEDS TO BE IN THE STERN, WHICH WE FIND WITH THE LARGE LOADS WE CARRY CREATES BALANCE ISSUES
– THE TIZIP ITSELF, WHILST VERY GOOD AND PERFECTLY ADEQUATE FOR MOST TRIPS, JUST DOESN’T MEASURE UP FOR THE TEMPERATURES & ENVIRONMENT WE USE OUR BOATS IN. THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND CONSEQUENCES FROM GETTING IT EVEN SLIGHTLY WRONG, OVER A LONG TRIP IN COLD WATER, WITH A HEAVILY LOADED BOAT JJST DON’T ADD UP
– THE SHALLOW NATURE OF ASPECTS OF OUR TRIPS, LIKE FROZEN SHORES AND DESERT BRAIDS, IS PROBLEMATIC WITH THE LOW AND IRREGULAR STORAGE ABRAIDING THE LIGHTWEIGHT WALLS OF THE TUBES
– INTERNALLY LOADED PACKRAFTS ARE HARD TO PORTAGE AND PUT IN, ESPECIALLY ON SOME OF THE STEEP EMBANKMENTS WE ENCOUNTER. FAR EASIER TO WEAR A LOADED PACK AND CARRY THE BOAT THAN MANHANDLE A HEAVY, UNBALANCED BOAT
– THE TIZIP IS PROBLEMATIC WHEN CARRYING THE BOAT, CREATING AN ELEMENT THAT NEEDS SPECIAL CARE THAN CAN COMPROMISE IT’S INTEGRITY IF DONE WRONG. THIS HARDLY MATTERS WHEN IT’S A FEW DAYS IN A PACK, BUT ON OUR TRIPS IT’S OFTEN WEEKS OF HANDLING ACROSS SEVERAL MODES OF TRANSPORT, IN DUSTY ENVIRONMENTS THAT CAN STRESS AND WARP THE TIZIP.
– IT’S A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER AND A FAIR BIT CHEAPER
THE ARKATAG II & ARKATAG PRO MAKE UP FOR NOT USING INTERNAL STORAGE BY THE BOATS INCREASED LENGTH THAT LETS US LOAD UP INSIDE THE BOATS INTERIOR WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE TUBES, AND WITH LARGER AND MORE EASILY PACKED LOADS. BOATS NEED NOT BE TOTALLY DEFLATED WHEN STUFF FROM INSIDE IS NEEDED, AND PORTAGES ARE MAGNITUDES EASIER AND FASTER.
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*THE ARKATAG II WAS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE CRUX AK70 PACK
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