The Refuge is the dream boat for the old school packrafter, the person who spends their winters drawing lines on maps and their summers exploring their own unique route.
Refuge
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Estimated Ship Date: 6/6/2025
Spray Skirts Sold Separately For All Decked Models in 2025
Product Description
Do you spend your free time looking at maps, drawing lines up one river valley and down the next, creating your own unique line across the landscape? Epic Alaskan traverses are the original and uniquely packrafting adventures. They are why we started Alpacka Raft and why we made the Refuge—a minimalist yet full featured packraft.
The Refuge features our smallest hull design, lightweight tubes, full strength floor, Cargo Fly internal storage, Whitewater Deck, and optional patented 3-point thigh straps. Weighing under 7lbs fully outfitted with lightweight fabric, the Refuge is ideal for trips that combine long sections of hiking and long sections of floating in up to Class III whitewater.
What's New for 2025
For 2025, the Refuge hull remains the same but we’ve a few changes to the outfitting.
A lace-in seat allows the seat to be suspended from the side tubes, which helps with floor wear on very shallow streams.
Three-point thigh strap compatibility provides much better control than two-point thigh straps, at a lighter and more packable setup than four-point thigh straps.
Recommended Uses
Landscape Traverses
We made the Refuge specifically for landscape traverses that combine multiple sections of both walking and floating.
Flatwater
The Refuge is a good flatwater boat and easy to paddle, but we recommend the additional space of the Caribou, Mule, or Ranger for flatwater river trips.
Lightwater
The Refuge is great fun in lightwater and a blast to paddle for most skill levels, even if you aren’t on a big landscape trip.
Whitewater
The smaller tubes and lower profile of the Refuge make it more challenging in whitewater for novice and intermediate paddlers than whitewater specific models like the Expedition, Gnarwhal, or Mage. But advanced paddlers will really enjoy the playfulness of the Refuge in up to Class III whiteater. The Refuge is also particularly fun for surfing and play in easy whitewater play parks.
Features
Attachments
4 Bow Grab Loops, 2 Stern Grab Loops, 2 Strap Plates, 2 Double D-Rings, 2 Ankle Webbing Loops, Seat Toggle, and WW Footbrace Toggle
Seating & Rigging
Scout Lace-in Seat, Foam Backband, optional Patented 3-Point Thigh Straps and WW Footbrace, PEX Rim Pole (Spray Skirt Sold Separately)
Click here for details on how to set up your optional 3-point Thigh Straps.
Materials
Proprietary TPU coated LW 210d nylon hull and 840d nylon floor (Made in USA).
Includes
Inflation Bag, Stuff Sack, Cargo Fly Kit, and Basic Repair Kit
California Proposition 65 Warning
Using the Aquaseal in the repair kit will expose you to toluene, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Build Configurations
Whitewater Deck
The Refuge comes standard with the Whitewater Deck, our driest and warmest configuration. It is ideal for all water types in cool climates. The Whitewater Deck features a large kayak style cockpit and one-piece PEX spray skirt rim (Spray skirts sold separately). This build has attachments for 3-point thigh straps and a WW Footbrace, which can be purchased separately.
Whitewater Deck (With Optional Rigging)
This build adds our patented 3-Point thigh straps and WW footbrace. This is our preferred configuration for more lightwater and whitewater adventures. The 3-point thigh straps and WW Footbrace are compatible with all builds and can be added later if you purchase the basic Whitewater Deck build.
Cargo Fly Zipper
A standard option on the Refuge, the Cargo Fly is the ultimate packraft gear storage solution. It features an airtight zipper installed in the stern of the boat to allow you to load your gear inside the tubes. The system provides drier and more secure gear storage and improved paddling performance due to a lower center of gravity. The Cargo Fly is perfect for expeditions, whitewater performance, and keeping your gear dry in any conditions.
Small Internal Dry Bags may be purchased separately and are designed to work with the Cargo Fly system. The bags clip in place along each side of the tubes with a side release buckle and allow for better organization and weight balance than placing the contents of your pack loose inside the Cargo Fly. They also act as additional balanced air chambers to make it easier to get to shore in the event of a puncture.
Weight Capacity
The Refuge is designed for ultralight landscape traverses. Ideal for paddlers under 220lbs carrying cargo under 50lbs. Larger paddlers should consider Caribou, especially in shallow conditions.
Specifications
Paddler Size Chart
MediumLarge
Paddler Height in Feet/Inches5'6"- 5'11 5'9"-6'2"
Paddler Height in CM167.64 - 180.34cm 175.25 - 187.96cm
*The Refuge is designed for a true to size fit with enough knee bend to engage the thigh straps, but keep your legs more extended for better downriver performance. If you are in between sizes, the smaller size will generally provide more positive thigh strap engagement.
Dimensions*
MediumLarge
Exterior Length86in | 218cm89in | 226cm
Exterior Width34.5in | 88cm34in | 87cm
Interior Length46in | 117cm49in | 125cm
Interior Width at Hip14.5in | 37cm15in | 38cm
Packed Size20x7in | 51x18cm20x8in | 51x20cm
Weights*
WW DeckMediumLarge
Base Weight4.9lb5.0lb
Kitted Weight6.0lb6.1lb
Complete Weight6.75lb6.9lb
*Due to the handmade nature of our packrafts and natural variances in weights between different colors and production runs in our fabrics, all weights are averages and will vary from boat to boat.
**Base weight is the boat only. Kitted weight includes the seating and rigging (excluding thigh straps and WW footbrace ~10oz). Complete weight is everything in the stuff sack at shipping.
