Description
The Packlite+ is a highly versatile, ultralight packraft from Advanced Elements, designed for adventurers who need portability, modularity, and decent performance. It sits somewhere between a traditional inflatable kayak and a packraft: light enough to carry, yet with features that improve tracking, comfort, and utility.
Key Features & Design
Here are the design elements that differentiate the Packlite+ and make it attractive:
| Feature | Description / Purpose |
|---|---|
| Modular Design | The Packlite+ can be configured in three “modes” depending on how much performance vs. weight you want. You can use it with its full complement of parts (seat + floor), or remove the drop-stitch floor, or remove both floor and seat to lighten it. This allows you to trade off weight vs stability and comfort. |
| Removable Drop-Stitch Floor | The drop-stitch floor provides rigidity, improving tracking, reducing “floppiness,” and enabling better performance. It helps the raft behave more like a traditional kayak when going straight, and even offers some stand-up potential (for fishing or photography) under suitable conditions. The floor is removable so you can drop weight when you don’t need it. |
| Inflatable Seat | A comfortable, adjustable inflatable seat is included, giving more comfort than just sitting on the floor. It helps with posture, fatigue, especially on longer paddles. |
| Robust Hull Material | The body is made from 210D nylon with TPU (thermoplastic urethane) coating. That gives strength, puncture/abrasion resistance, and decent durability for packrafts. The design includes two main air chambers for redundancy. |
| Gear Storage & Access | The raft has a 530 mm (≈21 in) Tizip airtight zipper for cargo access—handy for storing things you want to keep dry. There are numerous D-rings for tying gear, bow & stern carry handles to facilitate moving/dragging, etc. |
| Military-Style Valves | For inflation / deflation, the raft uses military-style spring (H3 / Spring™) valves. These are robust and relatively quick to use. A pump with a pressure gauge is included to help inflate properly. |
| Carry Bag / Packability | Comes with a backpack-style carry bag so when deflated, it can pack down small. The folded dimensions are compact so it can be carried by one person on trekking or stored easily. |
The Advanced Elements Packlite+ Packraft is a thoughtful design, well suited for users who demand lightweight, modular, and packable watercraft without giving up too much in terms of performance or utility. It balances several trade-offs well: you get a craft you can haul far (literally), yet when assembled fully you get more rigidity and comfort than standard soft packrafts.
It’s not perfect for all situations: for long distance touring, surf, big waves, or rugged whitewater, you’ll want a more specialized hull. But for many people, especially those wanting adventure without the burden of weight, or just wanting to explore remote water without worrying about transport, the Packlite+ is among the stronger options available.
Mia W. (verified owner) –
Inflates quickly and handles rough water better than expected. Packlite+ is a game-changer! order mine from – premiumkayak
Carl (verified owner) –
Impressive stability and portability for a packraft. A must-have at premiumkayak for weekend trips–
Rachel S (verified owner) –
Takes almost no space in my backpack and paddles smoothly on rivers. Highly recommended by – premiumkayak.com