Assembly Instructions

Flying with Folding Boats

Mapping Out Your Next Trip

Packing & Securing Gear in a PakCanoe

Repair & Maintenance of Pakboats

Skin on Frame Boats

Surviving Mosquitoes & Black Flies

GEAR TO GET YOU PADDLING, WHETHER YOU'RE NEW TO CANOES OR HAVE LAKE WATER RUNNING THROUGH YOUR VEINS.

Backpacker Magazine, June 2002 Review.

By Alan Kesselheim

In 20 years of exploring North America's Wilderness waterways, I've covered more than 10,000 liquid miles. I've paddled the breadth of Canada twice and navigated Alaskan rivers with young children in tow. Along the way, I've used battered aluminum canoes and sleek craft that cost more than my first car. Here is what I learned: A lot of things will float, but it is wise to invest in a boat that will perform well and last a lifetime. Here is a sampling of the craft and accessories I've encountered for all-purpose, multiday backcountry paddling.

ScanSport PakCanoe 160

This portable boat is great for folks drawn to blank spaces on the map.

A common dilemma is how to transport a big, bulky boat on remote wilderness trips. The solution? PakCanoes, the first folding boats I've used that can withstand the rigors of the backcountry, assemble quickly (20 minutes), and handle as sweetly as traditional canoes (actually drier in waves). Best of all, the 16-foot model stuffs into a large duffel you can check on a plane. The canvaslike hull is coated with abrasion-resistant PVC for protection from rocks. An additional laminate of closed-cell foam protects the bottom, and the whole thing stretches over an anodized aluminum tubing framework. After a 2-week expedition down the Yukon river, the hull of my PakCanoe looked positively unscathed. The 160 is ideal for multiday backcountry journeys.