Wilderness Lite...The Ultralight Float Tubes - Ever Tried?

Peach

Peach

Stillwater Fanatic
Has anyone have any experience using the Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro from Wilderness Lite? Looking for any recommendation or feedback.

I am looking a lite weight float tube to use to back into Alpine Lakes with. Ideally I am looking for a lite float tube which will fit into a backpack that I can also bring waders, full sized flippers, and neoprene booties, plus my fly gear and room for water, lunch, rain gear ect...

I currently own a Fat Cat with pack straps that I use for hiking into lakes less than a mile (think Lenice). I typically carry fully inflated. But any hike above an mile or mile and a half is too much and I am looking for a more lite weight alternative that I can hike into lakes which are 3 miles plus and maybe on overnight trips.

This Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro looks almost perfect for what I am looking for. I am a bit concerned about capacity since I am 6'5" and around 235 LBS and it is expensive at $387 bucks, but that includes the Float Tube, lite weight hand pump, and mess bag that it fits into and it weighs only 3.4lbs. Ideal set up for the Backpacking/Hiking Fly Fisherman IMHO. Just wanted some feedback before I pull the trigger and buy it.

Description and couple of YouTube Videos on the product linked below.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Peach

 
I have one. I think I bought it on @Dave Westburg 's recommendation. I think it is great! I went with the package that includes fins. The fins are nice because they are very light and pack flat. I have only used it half a dozen times, but was pleased each time.

Minor gripes: You sit lower in the water than your Fat Cat, which can be chilly. The inflation nozzles don't fit my KPump.

I had really good communication from the owner/manufacturer when I was deciding whether to buy it. Money well spent, in my opinion.

Edit: I am 5'11" and 220 lbs. It is plenty buoyant for me.
 
Peach- we met fishing a couple weeks ago...

I love my Wilderness Lite Pro. Simply put, it lets me go and fish great places I would never have gone to without it.

Regarding its flotation capacity: Remember about how big I was and note that I do sit IN it not ON it. I have been core-cold a couple times after a few hours on a lake.
 
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I have one as well.

My suggestion is to spend the extra money to get the inflatable Ice Out seat cushion. For me, at least, it made a big difference in staying warm. I'm 6' 190ish and without the cushion, at least half of my butt and thighs are IN the water. I'm still in the water with the cushion but more body surface area out so I didn't get cold as fast.

My only complaint with the cushion is, it's held in place with velcro so I have to re-position it occasionally. I purchased the cushion separately and sewed it in myself, so that could be the reason...but maybe not....either way, it's not a deal breaker cuz I'd rather be warmer.

Aside from that, they're pretty nice. I didn't use mine at all this summer due to back problems but I can fit all my fishing stuff in a 65 liter pack with enough room to add a a tent, stove etc for an over-nighter. I'd have to find my notes, but I think I was right around 30 - 35 lbs without tent or sleeping bag.

I say 'go for it'...it will help get you to some beautiful areas. (y)
 
Another positive review here Shawn. Great product, but you will get cold. They take a while to inflate using the pump that comes with them. My son has three for his business.
 
Another happy owner. I got mine prior to the Ice Out cushion update. They will mod my tube and send a cushion for $75. I honestly can't recall feeling cold but I do wear merino bottoms, long pants and a fleece vest. I use coated single layer stockingfoot waders with nylon feet, 3mm neoprene socks, Sockwa "G Hi" neoprene beach volley ball shoes to protect the wader feet, and the Outcast backpack fins that pack flat to save weight. I also carry an inflatable PFD and an extra cartridge. With one western fly rod my backcountry float tube fly fishing kit weighs a smidge above 10 lbs.

I carry it in a 1500 cui / 25 liter Fishpond Tundra pack for day trips and a 7100 cui /116 liter Seek Outside Unaweep pack for overnight to 4-day trips. Both packs have a wet gear compartment and/or a mesh pocket on the back large enough to carry wet tube, waders, shoes, hammock tarp, etc. I love that my daytrip weight is under 18 lbs; right at the Fishpond comfort limit, and my 4-day weight has been under 40lbs which the SO pack can carry very comfortably.

A minor complaint, the tube takes a while to deflate because of the small valves. Because of the time it takes to deflate and pack up I've left it home when going to areas like Indian Heaven Wilderness where there are many lakes in such close proximity with friends that weren't packing tubes and we wanted to fish multiple lakes in a day. But then I add a spinning reel, casting float, and a couple of lures to get some extra reach.
 
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Yet another happy owner, bought on @Dave Westburg 's recommendation. I purchased the lighter model (forget the name right now.) The main difference seems to be one gear pocket vs two; I'm fine with one. That model does not have velcro attachment points for the Ice Out Seat, and I too recommend the seat. It was pretty simple to sew velcro onto my tube. I have done one overnight with the whole tube, fins, pump, waders shebang, and managed about 30# for a one night trip. That's not bad!
In the past I was using an ultralight packraft from Supai Adventure Gear, and though it has a huge weight advantage, the lack of control really does not work well for flyfishing. 'Hard to put the fly where it belongs when the lightest bit of wind pushes you all over the place.
 
Brian Miller said:
A minor complaint, the tube takes a while to deflate because of the small valves. Because of the time it takes to deflate and pack up I've left it home when going to areas like Indian Heaven Wilderness where there are many lakes in such close proximity to each with friends that weren't packing tubes and we wanted to fish multiple lakes in a day. But then I add a spinning reel, casting float, and a couple of lures to get some extra reach.
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I noticed this too, and find that it really helps to give the tube plenty of pressure to force the air out. I've taken to lying on mine to deflate it more quickly, and taking my larger volume pack to either carry it partially inflated or stuff it in and treat the pack as a big compression sack. Carrying the tube inflated works well if you're not going through brush.
 
Phil K said:
I purchased the lighter model (forget the name right now.) The main difference seems to be one gear pocket vs two; I'm fine with one. That model does not have velcro attachment points for the Ice Out Seat, and I too recommend the seat. It was pretty simple to sew velcro onto my tube.
Click to expand...
:unsure:👍
 
Doublebluff said:
Peach- we met fishing a couple weeks ago...

I love my Wilderness Lite Pro. Simply put, it lets me go and fish great places I would never have gone to without it.

Regarding its flotation capacity: Remember about how big I was and note that I do sit IN it not ON it. I have been core-cold a couple times after a few hours on a lake.
Click to expand...
How can I forget our meeting and happy to hear you where able to catch what you where looking for. Thanks for the input, very helpful.

Peach
 
Thanks to everyone you provided input/feedback both in this thread and folks that sent me their opinions via mail. It convinced me that this tube is exactly what I need and everyone seems satisfied. Also due to the input, I will most likely purchase the special seat cusion and the lite weight fins they offer as accessories.
 
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Good call on the fins. They will be my next purchase in the spring….or maybe for Christmas ( if I remember) 👍

I found the weight difference surprising especially when every ounce or pound counts for an old guy’s back 😎
 
I have also purchased one and have only used it once. So far so good with a couple of gripes that have already been mentioned. I also bought mine before the Ice Out cushion was available. However, I was under the impression from the owner that I was SOL. So it is nice to know that my tube can be upgrades should I desire.

Since the valve on the Wilderness Lite is such that air cannot be added when it is closed, you need a pump that has a check valve. I saw that you can get a nozzle from KPump that will fit the tubing used to inflate the float tube. Unfortunately, my KPump Mini (I purchased used) was not made with a check valve and it cannot be retrofitted. So unless I decide to buy a new KPump Mini, I have to use the pump that came with my Wilderness Lite or one of those double action pumps.
 
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My gripe is patching. Does anybody have a dependable, quick solution for these?

I spent too many hours trying to get a vulcanizing patch to hold on a high lake that until I find a better solution I am tentative to take it. Great lightweight design though.

Maybe test some patch kits first.
 
Divad said:
My gripe is patching. Does anybody have a dependable, quick solution for these?

I spent too many hours trying to get a vulcanizing patch to hold on a high lake that until I find a better solution I am tentative to take it. Great lightweight design though.

Maybe test some patch kits first.
Click to expand...
have yet to find anything this will not grip to...far stickier and stronger than Gorilla Tape
1665159657129.png
 
Divad said:
My gripe is patching. Does anybody have a dependable, quick solution for these?

I spent too many hours trying to get a vulcanizing patch to hold on a high lake that until I find a better solution I am tentative to take it. Great lightweight design though.

Maybe test some patch kits first.
Click to expand...
The website does caution against using a patched tube which I can understand for limiting their liability (vaguely recall liability took Wood River -Gliderider down) so an inquiry to wildernesslite@gmail.com might not get a recommendation on patching.
Given the remoteness of lakes I take mine to, after a temporary field repair I'd buy a new bladder before the next trip. WL might answer a question about the bladder material (urethane...?) which could be a starting point for finding the correct patch material - adhesive.

TEAR AID – TEAR-AID® Repair Patch Official Site – For Fabric And Vinyl Repairs

www.tear-aid.com www.tear-aid.com
 
I have the Treeline version and it works well. I use aqua sphere swim training fins - made of a high density foam material that is super light weight. Everything in the pic below (waders, fins, net, tube, seat, reels) comes in right at 8lbs. I use a little battery powered usb pump to inflate/deflate and I sewed velcro and a clip on the seat that I use to attach an inflatable raft seat from alpacka rafts. Its a little more substantial than the one that WL sells and it fits well. I sewed a couple additional D rings on mine for attachments also (net etc).
WLtube.jpg
 
SurfnFish said:
curious, anyone have a woodsriver stealth or gliderider they'd like to sell?
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You might be able to find one out there but...
wildernesslitefloattubes.com

Replacement Bladders

We manufacture in the USA replacement bladder sets for both our Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro & Tree Line 2.x ultralight float tubes. These bladder sets also fit most Wood River V boat float...
wildernesslitefloattubes.com wildernesslitefloattubes.com
"We manufacture in the USA replacement bladder sets for both our Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro & Tree Line 2.x ultralight float tubes. These bladder sets also fit most Wood River V boat float tubes. All Wood River tubes were made almost 2 decades ago, many with PVC bladders that are well beyond their lifespan."
 
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Brian Miller said:
You might be able to find one out there but...
wildernesslitefloattubes.com

Replacement Bladders

We manufacture in the USA replacement bladder sets for both our Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro & Tree Line 2.x ultralight float tubes. These bladder sets also fit most Wood River V boat float...
wildernesslitefloattubes.com wildernesslitefloattubes.com
"We manufacture in the USA replacement bladder sets for both our Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro & Tree Line 2.x ultralight float tubes. These bladder sets also fit most Wood River V boat float tubes. All Wood River tubes were made almost 2 decades ago, many with PVC bladders that are well beyond their lifespan."
Click to expand...
yes, hence my interest now that bladders are available...tossed our Stealthriders after several decades of use due to mistrust of the bladder age, have never found another float tube to be so comfortable or 'perfect' in design. When I earned of them a few years ago, contacted Wildnerness to ask them if they had any interest in building a more robust float tube, ala 'Rider', and they weren't.
For us fans, it was a sad day when Pete Ross shut down WoodsRiver and moved to England.
 
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