Of course Jesse has an affinity for wading wet, so you might want to take that into account in your final decision.... :hmmm: FishCat owner/operator myself -- would recommend these as well.
For what it's worth, Creek Co does a major sale every year at this time. The $29 roundies are long gone (partly my fault :hmmm but the 420 and others are still there.
Seems like most of these tubes are more in the "hikable" catagory than the "backpackable" catagory. Add 10 or 12 pounds and bulk of float tube and waders and fins to a backpack, and there's no room left for a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad, and more. If you're backpacking any of these tubes, you must have a hella' big pack, or you are less than minimalist in the rest of your gear. Sg
Backpackable I'll still stick with the compromise of hte flytepacker. You can use a backpack strap capable float tube and use the side pockest for minimal gear, but this is a hike in option, not a long backpacking option. I guess perhaps I'm unsure of hike in vs backpack. To me a backpack trip is not just something you do in a day and are back out. I'd not think a float tube, fins, waders and all that jazz be very comfy on a backpack trip with the other gear associated with a trip of that nature. Hike in, hell yes, use the fishcat with a day's worth of stuff in the side pockets, easy. Backpack, not so sure this is the combo to use.
The Flytepacker is a good option, as is the Curtis Raft (if you can find one) I think the elegant solution lies in the arena of a bottomless packraft. There is a guy in my Hilakers club that had one custom made by alpacka rafts , looks like a scaled down version of a Watermaster (The alpackamaster?). With just a packraft alone, you still need paddles and it makes a nice sail on windy days. I like having my arms free to cast and my legs (largest muscles in the body) to use as propulsion. You still need flippers and waders with it, but its superior to just a packraft. My son and I have used the ODC 420 with good success, here are a couple of picts at an undisclosed location to show the advantage of using float tubes (warning:fish porn). View attachment 46787 View attachment 46788 The lake was a tough hike in (4000+ feet elevation gain over 7 miles), but worth every blister. We were there for 3 days and ate like kings. The float tube and the waders fit in the lower compartment of my pack, it added a good 9 pounds to the pack, but with todays ultralight equipment, we could do it. The main equation to deal with is the space, so everything fits in the pack. A little extra weight just means you walk slower and take more breaks. Having your hands on the rod at all times is crucial (not to mention that its easier to release yourself from a snag if your feet can do the steering and propulsion). I used my sleeping pad (Thermarest) as the seat instead of using the styrafoam inserts. I keep thinking that this design would work well, just need to use lighterweight materials (like flytepacker fabric). Perhaps just a doughnut made out of lightweight material with an integrated set of waders will do the trick.
Jim, I have a Curtis raft for backpacking. It lacks the advantages of a float tube with waders and fins, but it weighs only 2 pounds and has very little bulk, making it backpackable. My doughnut float tube, fins, and old Red Ball 14 oz waders don't leave enough room for overnight gear in my 6,000 + ci North Face expedition pack, which I've forsaken for ultralight gear these days. Sg
I have an old military pack that I can fit my full float tube, waders and pump into for hikes in. I have lashed my tent beneath that pack and added a dry bag with the rest of my overnight stuff. Unsrue how much it weighed, but it weighed enough that I got a hell of a workout. I've read it many times by many reliable folks here, every boat is a compromise. I'm not willing to cut the floor out of my flytepacker raft for the sake of foot propulsion ... yet. I do have a friend that has taunted me to do just that though.
FYI: There is a FlytePacker raft in this forum's gear loaner program. Check out this thread for more info: http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com...t-sent-in-for-inclusion&highlight=flytepacker My brief review ran in Backpacker last summer: http://www.backpacker.com/may-2011-gear-review-flytepacker-raft/gear/15727
This thread has me hankering to do some over-nighters at some mountain lakes. While in Boy Scouts in CA early 70's, we did week long+ trips all over the Tahoe Basin. Our scout leader was a state biologist and he did field studies there. The 15 or so of us were in hog heaven every summer! Back then it was telescoping rods, Mitchell reels, Mepp's and Panther Martin lures...fun stuff. Since moving to WA, in 1986, I have not been on a single backpacking trip. I keep thinking about doing so, but just never have and my other friends don't seem inclined. I need to spend some time on the lakes forum and try and finagle my way in on a trip
I have the Curtis (similar FlytePacker). Great for backpacking trips for the weight and compactness. But I've been looking for another backpacking float tube for different weather. The Curtis/FlytePacker is fine for the warm and dry summer if you don't mind laying down fishing (still need to insulate the bottom or you'll freeze), but not what I want to use for the colder or rain. I'm considering Outcast Trinity and Creek Company ODC. What are the differences? Pump portability? Inflatable vs. foam seat? Tube diameter? Stability? Compactness? Windage? Seems to be some trade offs. I was thinking of an inflatable seat for compactness, but wonder about the seat deflating when hitting the colder water. Nice to be further out of the water in a foam seat when the water is mountain cold. Perhaps the foam seat can be optional? The lighter and more compact means the further the adventure, and without wearing yourself out. Jake
Jake, I have had both and foam didn't sit me higher than inflate. But, I prefer inflate. You can really adjust the ride and it dosen't sag like foam will. If you are worried about shrinking in cold, try putting your boat in the water then get your other gear all ready. Then check the tube and inflate if needed. Trinity: Inflated Size: 41" x 54" Tube Diameter: 13" Fabric: 420 UCN Material Weight: AireCell Material: UCN Seam Construction: Welded Warranty: 5 Valve Type: (4) Tube Summit Weight: 7 lbs. Load Capacity: 300 lbs. ODC Individual 14 gauge PVC bladders with high volume Boston Valves. Tough 420 denier nylon upper cover. 30 oz. PVC bottom cover for added durability. Thick foam seat and adjustable seat back for all day comfort. Rear storage area. D-Rings for Optional Pack Straps. (not included) Doe's not come with a pump. Overall Weight - 16 pounds. Weight Capacity - 300 lbs. Packed Dimensions - 22x19x12 inches. ODC Ultra Lightweight 420 denier nylon cover Individual 14 gauge PVC bladders with high volume Boston Valves Thick AIR SEAT back and bottom can be adjusted for all day comfort Large side storage pockets Generous rear storage area D-Rings for (optional) Pack Straps The 420 Ultralight COMES with it's own Carry/Storage Stuff Sack! Overall weight approx. 8 lbs. Weight capacity - 300 lbs. Packaged size 10"x10"x16" The Trinity is by far a superior tube, but do you need that. The ODC's are very popular. Big feature difference is material. I can't find the sizes of the ODC's but I know the Trinity is larger. And it is lighter (not by a whole lot, but could matter). Plus the Trinity appears to be bladderless. If you float a lot, then I would look at the Trinity, if you don't, then ODC would be my choice as well, but again, with the inflatable seat.
Maybe so. Here's a shot of the weight of mine on our digital shipping scale. Hard to imaging that they'd increase the weight by nearly 2 pounds, but I guess anything is possible. K
Until recently the ODC was on sale at Cabela's for $160 but I found some reviews of the ODC that said a bladder had split. Although they were happy with Creek service for replacements that could be hazardous or ruin a trip. So my Outcast Trinity is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. The Outcast backpack they used to sell for it looked to be about the size of my Fishpond Tundra Tech Pack. If the Tundra backpack is big enough to carry the float tube for a day trip that would be awesome as I use it for nearly all of my other fishing. I have summit, short-haul, and expedition sized mountaineering packs when I need to carry more volume or weight. I also have an old Jan Sport style MSR external frame pack with the ultra comfy continuous cord ventilated backband suspension that Ome Daiber came up with. I've used my Korkers with the non-studded King-On soles for hiking boots with neoprene socks I brought to wear over liners and light wool socks for the hike out, or Keen H2s over my fly weight waders would work fine in lakes.
I'm not exactly sure where "the ridge" is located but if it's anywhere near Issaquah, WA...I believe that Creekside angling had a trinity on sale. Dont remember the price but if you're near by, it might be worth calling them. Sorry for the lack of specifics.
Has anyone seen this tube in person? http://store.bucksbags.com/fishing/float-tubes/high-adventure-roughneck.html
Finally, yes I saw a pre-production Roughneck at a club meeting in January 2010, then it never appeared on their website. I was only mildly interested in float tubes at the time so I don't remember the finer details like exact weight or whether the seat was foam or inflatable. I hadn't looked closely at wedge tubes before and was struck by it's size, and how much heavier it was constructed as compared with my vintage early 90s and my son"s 6 year old "Original" U-Boats; it was more like my Water Master. The High Adventure looks more like a heavier version my son's "Original" U-Boat with a galvanized frame (really?) instead of the simple strap that goes around the U-Boats' tubes to keep the ends separated.
Interesting. The specs table at FishUSA.com says 8.5 but maybe they are wrong. It does say assembled weight but I'm not sure why that would matter. I found an old Caddis Nevada for 35 bucks on Craigs list. It isn't anywhere near as stable or buoyant as my Super Fat Cat but it is less than half the weight at 6 pounds. With all the great canned microbrews out there....I need to drop the weight of the gear in my pack Wilken
