Are you seeking to enterprise farther away from civilization with a succesful watercraft stowed in your backpack? The newest launch from Alpacka Raft goals for low weight and excessive sturdiness, including a brand new mannequin to the model’s already numerous catalog.
The Mage, designed for intermediate and superior paddlers tackling Class III-IV whitewater, falls between the Class V-capable Valkyrie V3 and the beginner-friendly Gnarwhal. By combining an improved hull with efficiency options from the Valkyrie V3, Alpacka Raft calls the Mage “the quickest, smoothest, and most responsive conventional whitewater packraft” the model has ever made.
Its key function is a full-length inflatable pad that sits beneath the raft’s tubes. That enables the boat to have a secondary edge when cruising by way of the water, based on Alpacka.
“While you’re making an attempt to carve round options and into and out of eddies, this boat can get on edge and keep there actually simply,” a model consultant stated in an explainer video. “It permits the consumer to have extra management over what you need to do and the way you need to do it.”
Why Decide the Mage?
There’s no hiding the truth that we’re massive followers of Alpacka Raft right here at GearJunkie. Actually, 5 of our seven suggestions within the Greatest Packrafts of 2025 come from the Mancos, Colorado-based firm.
So, what’s so particular concerning the Mage? For starters, at simply 6 kilos for a large-size, self-bailing mannequin, the Mage weighs considerably lower than both the 9-pound Gnarwhal or the 14-pound Valkyrie V3. However, it’s nonetheless received extra cargo capability for prolonged journeys.
Furthermore, the low-volume heart panel used for the strict hull is longer and narrower than different whitewater fashions. That provides the Mage speeds just like the Valkyrie whereas additionally boosting edging, secondary stability, and effectivity, the model stated.
A small enhance within the bow and stern rockers means the boat rides over whitewater extra simply than the Gnarwhal. That ought to maintain paddlers excessive and dry with out sacrificing pace, Alpacka stated.
Different options embrace a whitewater foot brace related on to the boat, and self-bailing draining holes. The latter consists of mesh-backed venturi flaps meant to extend pace and maintain paddlers dry, particularly whereas browsing.
“Our mission is to discover what’s attainable in packrafting,” Thor Tingey, CEO and co-founder of Alpacka Raft, stated in a information launch. “The Mage represents the head of our ardour and ingenuity. It’s mild, lightning-fast, and handles giant whitewater extremely effectively. We’re already impressed by what paddlers are doing with it, and we are able to’t wait to see the place they take it subsequent.”
Alpacka Mage: Pricing & Availability
At $1,600, the Mage arrives with an analogous price ticket to the opposite whitewater-oriented Alpacka Raft fashions.
Accessible in each a whitewater deck and self-bailing configuration, the Mage goals to satisfy the wants of a wide range of paddling environments. The brand new mannequin comes geared up with a lace-in whitewater seat, Alpacka’s patented four-point thigh straps, a backband, and a whitewater foot brace. It’s additionally out there in three totally different colourful designs.
As for sizing, Alpacka can be kicking off a brand new sizing system for its packrafts. As an alternative of utilizing sit size, sizes now align with customary height-based and basic dimension classes akin to small, medium, and huge.
We haven’t gotten to check this unhealthy boy but — however Alpacka’s new Mage has already solid a spell.
