Mule
Pairs with
Returns & Exchanges
For a full refund, items must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
Sale items are not eligible for returns.
Gift cards are non-refundable.
For more information on returns and exchanges, click here.
Description
If you are big and tall, finding performance outdoor gear is hard. So we’re making it easy with the Mule, a spacious packraft with plenty of room for you and your gear.
The Mule is a multi-purpose adventure packraft focused on flatwater, lightwater, backcountry hunting and sharing the water with your dog. It’s sized for the big and tall paddler or anyone that wants a bit of extra space on a float trip.
The Mule features a high volume hull with a center back stern to maximize buoyancy and cargo capacity, so you can easily carry yourself and all the gear you’ll ever need. The late rise bow provides additional foot room and makes carrying bulky heavy items a breeze.
The Mule is available with Open, Removable Deck, and Self Bailing configurations, plus you can add our innovative Cargo Fly zipper internal storage system. Additional options are also available in the Custom Lab, including the Gnarmule build for whitewater. Whether you are looking for leisure or need to get serious with a big mission, the Mule has got you covered.
Flatwater
The Mule is one of our favorite flatwater river trip packrafts. The larger size makes it extra-comfy for long days on the water, whether you are putting down miles or relaxing. The larger hull design is ideal for transporting larger cargo loads and more camp comforts. We recommend the Expedition or Tango if you are needing a faster packraft or better performance in headwinds.
Lightwater
The Mule is a great lightwater boat, especially if you are a big and tall paddler. We recommend the Removable Deck or Self Bailing build options for lightwater. Smaller paddlers will enjoy the extra space on flatwater, but may prefer a better fitting or more nimble boat in lightwater like the Caribou, Expedition or Gnarwhal.
Hunting
The Mule is our most backpack friendly hunting focused packraft. It won’t break your back on a 20-plus mile hike in and yet it will still comfortably carry caribou or elk sized game animals for the float out. This makes it ideal for sheep, goat, and deer/caribou hunters. Hunters needing extra cargo capacity should look at a Ranger or Forager, while hunters needing to cut every ounce possible should consider the Caribou.
Dogs
Dogs love packrafting! The extra space in the front of the Mule is perfect for bringing along your four legged best friend, especially for average sized paddlers. Larger paddlers or larger dogs should consider the Ranger.
How Does it Compare
Mule vs. Caribou vs. Ranger
The Mule has more leg room and cargo capacity than the Caribou, but at a more backpack friendly weight and bulk than the Ranger. We prefer the Caribou when weight and pack size are more important and the Ranger when you can afford the luxury of extra space, but the Mule is our choice for versatility. Check out the Recommended Uses for more specific situations.
Features
Attachments
4 bow grab loops, 2 stern grab loops, 1 bow handle, and 2 strap plates
Seating & Rigging
Classic Seat Bottom and Inflatable Seat Back. Removable Deck models also includes PEX Rim Pole (Spray Skirt Sold Separately)
Materials
Proprietary TPU coated 210d or 420d nylon hull and 840d nylon floor (Made in USA).
Includes
Inflation Bag, Stuff Sack, Basic Repair Kit, and Cargo Fly Kit (CF Builds only)
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
Open
The Open configuration is our simplest, lightest, and most economical build configuration. It’s perfect for anything where you don’t need the extra protection and performance of a spray deck or self bailer.
Removable Deck
The Removable Deck functions like a breakdown kayak style deck and features a large cockpit, one-piece PEX skirt rim (spray skirt sold separately), plus a water-resistant perimeter zipper to convert to an open boat for more relaxing days.
Self Bailer
The Self Bailer configuration is ideal for warmer climates, frequent entry and exit, hunting, fishing, dogs, and anyone that prefers a self-bailing style setup. Our self bailing design features a lightweight 3/4 length 7-inch thick seat in the rear that is protected by a sleeve and a heavy-duty baffled foot brace in the front that keeps your feet up and out of the water.
Cargo Fly Zipper
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.
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 Configurations
The Mule is designed to optimize cargo capacity with backpack weight. The following capacities are general guidelines based on our experience and performance goals. For more information, please visit our max capacities page:
- Passengers. Up to 260lbs for single paddler or 300lbs combined weight with additional persons or pets.
- Cargo. Optimum performance with up to 100lbs balanced load in the Cargo Fly. Up to 200lbs depending on conditions and paddler experience.
- Hunting. Hunter plus 100lbs of personal gear and 150lbs animal weight, more weight possible depending on conditions.
- Max. 600lbs on flatwater under ideal conditions.
Sizing and Specifications
Dimensions and Sizing*
*Due to the handmade nature of our packrafts, dimensions will vary slightly from boat to boat.
Weights and Packed Size*
*Due to the handmade nature of Alpacka packrafts and natural variances in weights between different colors and production runs in our fabrics, all weights are estimated and will vary from boat to boat.
*Weights include the seating and rigging, but do not include stuff sack, inflation bag or repair kit. Listed weights are 210d version. Add ~0.6lbs for 420d.