Why do I see packrafters without helmets in some pictures?
Alpacka rafts aren’t strictly whitewater vehicles. They’re designed for fishing, lake-floating, fording, and river floats as well as whitewater. Many Alpacka rafters never run whitewater in their boats. Others use boats as part of long treks and may be weighing a variety of safety factors including load weight. Some packrafters combine such activities as long mountain-bike rides followed by what they deem relatively ‘safe’ water, and you’ll see them in bicycle helmets. Although we recommend that boaters always use equipment appropriate to the situation, consulting such sources as the National Paddle Sports Association, we recognize the complexity of the “situation on the ground” for many packrafters. The uses of Alpacka rafts are extraordinarily broad, and reasonable practices vary.
