As a beginner packrafter I had to figure out some details. Here are my solutions! The USB-pump is here: amzn.to/3hSa6Th
The USB-pump in UK: amzn.to/3oS5VZd
The USB-pump in Germany: amzn.to/3bVSrGl
There are of course many other options, but this pump is actually being used by packrafters.
Check out the Neoairs. I hope the valves are still compatible. If not: mcgyver your own way to make them compatible. This saves you the weight of one blow bag. amzn.to/3fj1Jyq
Or in UK: amzn.to/3vnyFLv
Or germany: amzn.to/2RFRcV4
The trick with tying your paddle to your raft is so that you don't lose your paddle, or your raft. It has a risk: If you would do it in big rapids the rope tied to the paddle and raft could form a hazard when you flip over. So you should not do it in those conditions. On open water however it is a must-do, to avoid that your raft blows away in the wind and you can't reach it any more. In all circumstances in between it is your own judgment.
The blow bag is pretty handy to put stuff in. It will still work if it has some puncture holes in it so don't worry about that. It is not waterproof but inside your pack it can work really well to keep for example your food together. If you roll up the sides, put it in the pack and close the pack that is a solid solution.
Rolling up the raft from one side. I know that in the video the result may still not look like a super tight package, but remember that when you roll it up in your house it is dry and clean and you can get the same result that you see on the manufacturers website. When you get out of the river however it is dirty and wet and you will be happy to have it in a somewhat manageable shape on the outside of your pack.
This video is part of a series on how I prepare for packrafting in remote arctic regions. A sad thing is that the specific trip has been delayed for a year due to the COVID pandemic...
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