I am going into some high country around 11,000 feet and will be hopping from lake to lake. I will be leaving in a couple weeks. I have plenty of float craft but all are quite heavy and bulky. Nothing I would want to pack a mile. What recommendations do you guys have. I need to buy something quick. Hoping for something light weight with open front and packable. Let me know what you remote guys have used.
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I'm nuts but I take my toon. It's a 6 ft kick boat and we pack it 4.5 miles but we started using a deer cart to haul it so we could take all the camp gear and kids stuff. Love the trip it's an annual highlight. I talked to Bucks Bags a year ago and gave them some ideas and they told me they would have a new back country boat out this year. I haven't followed up but you might check. They used to build a bronco model that had an aluminum frame and was fairly light weight. Good luck and let us know what you decide on. Later J
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It depends on how rough the country is you're headed into. A few of the places I go in the Uintas there's no way you could even get a horse to, leave alone a deer cart. Problem is when backpacking a tube, waders, fins and all the gear required to float tube in the backcountry it leaves little room for a tent, sleeping bag and food. I've made some crazy 6-8 mile day trips to big brookies in order to bring a float tube on my back. Guess you have to "weigh" the benifits. Perhaps one guy could carry the fishing gear and the other the tent and food and stuff. I've even thought of taking some stuff up one trip and stashing it for the summer so I could go up light a few trips, but then there's that dreaded trip to bring it out.
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[quote brookieguy1]It depends on how rough the country is you're headed into. A few of the places I go in the Uintas there's no way you could even get a horse to, leave alone a deer cart. Problem is when backpacking a tube, waders, fins and all the gear required to float tube in the backcountry it leaves little room for a tent, sleeping bag and food. I've made some crazy 6-8 mile day trips to big brookies in order to bring a float tube on my back. Guess you have to "weigh" the benifits. Perhaps one guy could carry the fishing gear and the other the tent and food and stuff. I've even thought of taking some stuff up one trip and stashing it for the summer so I could go up light a few trips, but then there's that dreaded trip to bring it out.[/quote]
I am quite the pack mule now, let me know when you need some help with hauling gear!
I roll up a fish cat and put it with my fins, pump, gear, waders, auqua socks, and my net in a backpack. Just make sure you get the one with the inflatable seat. That or if you really want to go light look into the trinity it only weighs 6lbs.
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I have an older Caddis Navigator II that i use to pack in.
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Since its seat sits low in the water I strap a Creek Co. inflatable seat on it. It rides quite nice then, and it weights about 8 lbs.
If you are buying for packing in, make sure it doesn't have the pvc coated bottom that some of the new ones have for durability as they are heavier.
I am sure there are several other brands of older tubes that you could find and adapt for hiking. Just look for the ones with the lighter nylon cover....and in good shape.
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Thanks for all of the tips. I will have a base camp where I will sleep eat etc that wil be something I can get to via atv. It is just the short hikes in with only my fishing stuff I was concerned about. Thanks for all advice given. Looks like I need to do some shopping around.
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