Martin

Martin is an avid adventurer, who loves wild camping, fishing and cooking alongside his favoured packrafting sport. Martin provides some thoughts about his journey into packrafting below.

Growing up in the flat land of Suffolk next to the sea and the Norfolk Broads I’ve always been in or on the water, whether that was surfing, kayaking or fishing but coming from a very flat area, the mountains called.

After spending 6 years in the French Alps, the travel bug caught me and I ended up travelling and working around much of Europe, ending up in Cyprus teaching scuba diving.

After unfortunately getting caught up in the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka my wife and I decided to move back to my home county of Suffolk where I’ve done various jobs from firefighter, brewery manager and currently frontline with the Ambulance service.

Returning home I got back into all the leisure pursuits I used to follow and got into bushcraft and hiking.  I started writing a blog with the idea just to record what I did and then started making short films on YouTube. The whole idea of the blog and the YouTube videos was to inspire others to get outside and then this platform developed into vildmark.co.uk

Vildmark in most Scandinavian means wilderness and this name came from me falling in love with Scandinavia and also the views and respect that most Scandinavians have on ‘the nature’. I discovered packrafting about 5 years ago and realised its potential in opening up the doors to adventure due to the light weight of the craft.  Whether that’s adapting your daily dog walk to include a paddle or by spending 2 weeks out exploring the lakes of Southern Sweden.

For me, my favourite type of expedition is a 2 week packrafting trip in either Norway or Sweden, wild camping, fishing and exploring.  

With many Packrafts on the market there’s so much choice but it’s best to research which one will suit your needs.  I came across MRS Packrafts and took the Microraft L on a Swedish adventure a couple of years ago and this packraft quickly became my go-to packraft.  

It’s light, versatile, fits me and the dog, can be paddled on whitewater or across vast Scandinavian lakes of glass or filled with fishing gear for a day out fishing on the river.

I’ve tried and tested many Packrafts on the market and weekly I can be seen out with one on the train, bike or walk the trails and think, in my eyes that MRS produce some of the best Packrafts on the market for every condition and need.

Please feel free to have a look at my YouTube channel Vildmark channel trailer 2023 (youtube.com)  and more in-depth reviews and adventures at Vildmark.co.uk – Adventures Outdoors including packrafting, fishing, hiking and lots more. or just contact me on Instagram ᐯIᒪᗪᗰᗩᖇK.ᑕO.ᑌK (@vildmark.co.uk) • Instagram photos and videos or email: [email protected]

See Martin’s review of the MRS Microraft L below:

“I’ve paddled the MRS Microraft now for a couple of months getting used to it before a big expedition and I can safely say it is perfect for those who want to paddle a combination of white water and calm water. With the internal storage system and tie down points it can carry a lot of your gear (either internally or on the bow in a dry bag). Having the ability to install the skeg helps you track straight on longer paddles and removing it during a while water session allows for good movement. The cruiser deck is a great function, stopping paddle drips and rain from getting in the packraft during long days paddling or if your paddling white water it will limit the water ingress but not completely stop it. The Microraft is durable, not the lightest expedition packraft, but it combines all of the above functions allowing it to be an absolutely brilliant expedition packraft. The Microraft is an absolute brilliant all-round packraft, I really recommend it”