Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Discover the thrilling world of backcountry rafting with Kokopelli’s revolutionary inflatable packraft, the Rogue R-Deck. While I have quite a bit of kayaking experience out in the rivers and lakes of Oklahoma and Texas, and a few group Colorado white water rafting trips under my belt, carrying my own raft out deep into the wilderness was something I didn’t know was even possible. Thanks to Kokopelli, not only is it possible, but it is quite attainable! They designed an inflatable packraft that weighs a mere 9.1 lbs and packs down into the size of a large roll of paper towels and its name is the Rogue R-Deck. Kokopelli states that this raft is rated up to Class II rivers, and is “THE packraft for bikepacking, backpacking, high alpine lakes, fishing, climbing, travel, whatever you can throw at it, wherever you can throw it.”
Table of contents
Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck Specifications:
Weight: 9.1lbs
Outer Dimension: 90″ x 37″
Pack Size: 16″ x 8″
Capacity: 300lbs
Chambers: 1
Sidewall: 210d TPU + Nylon
Floor: 210d TPU + Dupont Kevlar Aramid-Nylon Blend
Warranty (Boat): Manufacturer Lifetime
Out of The Box
The Rogue R-Deck comes with an inflation bag, inflation tube, compression strap set, EVA backband, inflatable seat, combing-ring tube, R-Deck (removable spraydeck), emergency repair kit, and TiZip Zipper Lubricant for those who get the upgraded TiZip option. For those looking to keep up the ultralight trend, the Poudre Adventure Paddle from Kokopelli is a great option. The Poudre paddle can be broken down into 4 pieces which make it easy to pack in a backpack or carry-on suitcase. These worked great for me while feeling more durable than I initially would have thought.
TiZip
While the mere pack size and weight are what initially drew my attention to the Rogue R-Deck, in my mind the most distinguishing factor is Kokopelli’s TiZip system. While available without this zipper system, for an extra $150 you can add the optional TiZip zipper to store gear inside your packraft for multi-day trips. You heard that right. This feature allows you to store gear INSIDE your raft. Not only does this provide more space for hauling gear for multi-day trips, but it also lowers the center of gravity. In turn, this helps stabilize the whole raft and reduces air resistance on windy lakes.
While I was initially skeptical of a zipper holding an airtight seal, the TiZip held up through class 4 rapids (not recommended for this raft) and on a 13-day Alaskan backcountry trip my buddy took it on. It was just big enough to stuff in a 65-liter pack filled with gear which sat sideways in the rear portion of the raft. Smaller gear also fits further forward or on either side of the raft.
R-Deck
As mentioned in the name, the Rogue R-Deck features a Removable Deck. This clever design allows rafters to easily attach a spray deck to the packraft, converting it into a more kayak-like experience. Offering this dual functionality allows the Rogue R-Deck great versatility while catering to those seeking both pack rafting and kayaking experiences. This unique feature allows rafters to quickly adapt to different water conditions and have one raft that is well-suited for lakes, rivers, and up to Class II rapids. Since any water accumulated in the raft stays in the raft, the R-Deck provides a great splash guard. Not only did it help keep water out, but it also provided a bit of shade to my shins and ankles which get sunburned easily.
Rogue R-Deck Seat
The seat that comes with this raft is a two-part system. Featuring an inflatable base, the Rogue R-Deck is quite comfortable. It is quick to air up with the attached mouthpiece. The inflatable seat is also large enough to fit different body types and has a strap to lock it securely to the aft end of the raft. I found these to be more comfortable than any kayak I have ever used before. Due to the inflated seat and inflated raft, everything forms well to your body to provide good support.
Utilizing an EVA foam backrest is the second part of the seating system. This is quite comfortable and uses four different straps to lock it in place. The straps are also easy to access for quick adjustments on the fly. There is also a zipper pocket on the back of the backrest to help securely stow some gear. The backrest can be installed using either the hooks on the outside of the raft which provides support in the mid back, or with the hooks on the inside of the raft which would provide better lumbar support.
Inflating the Raft
This raft comes with what Kokopelli calls an “inflation bag.” Having never used one before, it was quick to figure out and worked quite well. It took me under 5 minutes to air the raft up 80% of the way using the inflation bag. Once you start hearing air leak back out of the valve simply unscrew the inflation bag, and attach the tube with a mouthpiece. From here it takes just another minute or two to inflate the raft the rest of the way.
For those who don’t want to waste time airing up this packraft, Kokopelli has designed an ultralight 6oz Feather Pump. It can inflate the raft in 60 seconds and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a 40-minute battery life. This could also be used for sleeping pads or inflatable mattresses. It can be charged with any USB to allow for recharges using solar or battery packs. While the Feather Pump is not included, it is a solid upgrade that saves time out in the field. Being both lightweight and quite small, it is easy to throw in a pack and not notice it is even there.
Durability
For a lightweight raft, many may wonder how well the Rogue R-Deck can hold up. The floor uses a “best-in-class 210d DuPontTM Kevlar® Aramid-Nylon Blend* reinforced floor system for increased durability on the water.” Kokopelli also utilizes 210d TPU + Nylon sidewalls trying to get a good combination of strength and weight. Throughout testing, the floor held up great. The sidewalls did end up receiving some punctures, but more on that later. My buddy and I took it down 18 miles of the Gunnison River. We faced Class II-IV rapids throughout the whole journey. While this raft is not rated for anything higher than Class II rapids, the Rogue R-Deck survived this expedition. Even after being slammed against multiple large rocks, and being thrown over multiple times. Also, to access this stretch of the river, we had to hike these rafts down 3,000 feet of elevation on a steep slippery trail. Before finding the Rogue R-Deck, I never would have thought it to be possible to lug a raft down such a decent. However, at less than 10lbs, the raft hardly made the decent more difficult than it would have been on its own.
Also, for those attempting any sort of rapids, I would highly recommend the Kokopelli Alpine Ultralight Sprayskirt. This skirt fits around you and snugs down tight to the removable spray deck of the Rogue. It uses elastic and wraps around the included combing-ring tube. Since this raft is not self-bailing, you will want to keep water from pooling up inside the raft. It can be difficult to get the Ultralight Sprayskirt to lock down in place. However, it is necessary for any sort of rapids. While the Ultralight Sprayskirt can be sort of a pain trying to get it to lock down in place, it is necessary for any sort of rapids.
Maneuverability
After this white water trip in Colorado, we took the Rogue R-decks down an 11-mile section of the East Fork Trinity River near Dallas TX. While the water was shallow, and the current was almost non-existent, the rafts held up great. We had multiple rock hits, and there was plenty of debris, trees, and branches strewn throughout our journey. The one downside I found was that without a current these rafts are harder to paddle than a kayak. Two of us were using the Rogue R-Decks and another friend was using my kayak. The kayaker suffered the least, but we all had to paddle 90% of the distance due to slow currents and the occasional headwind.
SEE MORE: How to Hunt Bears from Boats
Alaskan Trip
Between these trips, my friend Brayden Wuebbeling also took two Rogue R-decks to Alaska on a charted bush flight to the Alatna River in the Brooks mountain range with his brother Bryce. His trip was 13 days and consisted of rafting 80 miles and hiking another 50 miles. The hiking was interspersed so having a lightweight raft that could be packed on the go was a must. For this reason, they both chose the Rogue R-Deck for their trip.
However, throughout this journey, the Rogue R-Deck ended up receiving multiple punctures due to sticks and even rocks in the river. Most were small punctures that were easily repaired using the included emergency repair kit, but there was one large gash that took extra mending.
The puncture below was from a rock striking the front of the raft.
Rogue R-Deck Summary
The Rogue R-Deck by Kokopelli is a versatile inflatable packraft that revolutionizes the world of backcountry adventures. Weighing a mere 9.1 lbs and packing down to the size of a large roll of paper towels, this packraft is incredibly lightweight and portable. Its standout feature is the ability to transform into a decked vessel, allowing adventurers to attach a spray deck and experience the thrill of a closed cockpit kayak-like ride. With a rating of up to Class II rivers, the Rogue R-Deck is versatile enough to tackle various water conditions. The TiZip-equipped Rogue R-Deck is also a unique feature that is an amazing design for multiday river trips and comes with an MSRP of $1,349. While debris may cause issues, this packraft is an awesome option for alpine lakes or more gentle rivers.
