Awesome Rafts

We’ve seen a raft made of soda bottles, but this is the first time we’ve encountered one made from red Solo cups. Drew Dirksen shared this clip of a simple but effective raft that floats because of the air trapped between pairs of party cups. We wouldn’t trust it on the open seas, but it seems to work pretty well as a pool float.

2-liter bottles are pretty good at holding air, so they work well as floatation devices. Maker Chris Notap took this idea to the next level by gluing together 280 of plastic soda bottles with silicone sealer, transforming them into a totally legitimate raft. We wonder if there’s a limit to how large a raft you could make this way.

Uncharted Supply Co.’s single-person raft packs down small enough to fit in your backpack, but can hold up to 400 pounds once inflated. Plus, it airs up like those quick-inflate loungers, along with a mouth-blown top-off-valve, so requires no air pump. It’s great for a quick float down the river, or for emergency escape in a flood.