Are you looking to venture farther away from civilization with a capable watercraft stowed in your backpack? The latest release from Alpacka Raft aims for low weight and high durability, adding a new model to the brand’s already diverse catalog.
The Mage, designed for intermediate and advanced 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 performance features from the Valkyrie V3, Alpacka Raft calls the Mage “the fastest, smoothest, and most responsive traditional whitewater packraft” the brand has ever made.
Its key feature is a full-length inflatable pad that sits below the raft’s tubes. That allows the boat to have a secondary edge when cruising through the water, according to Alpacka.
“When you’re trying to carve around features and into and out of eddies, this boat can get on edge and stay there really easily,” a brand representative said in an explainer video. “It allows the user to have more control over what you want to do and how you want to do it.”
Why Pick the Mage?
There’s no hiding the fact that we’re big fans of Alpacka Raft here at GearJunkie. In fact, five of our seven recommendations in the Best Packrafts of 2025 come from the Mancos, Colorado-based company.
So, what’s so special about the Mage? For starters, at just 6 pounds for a large-size, self-bailing model, the Mage weighs significantly less than either the 9-pound Gnarwhal or the 14-pound Valkyrie V3. But, it’s still got more cargo capacity for extended trips.
Moreover, the low-volume center panel used for the stern hull is longer and narrower than other whitewater models. That gives the Mage speeds similar to the Valkyrie while also boosting edging, secondary stability, and efficiency, the brand said.
A small increase in the bow and stern rockers means the boat rides over whitewater more easily than the Gnarwhal. That should keep paddlers high and dry without sacrificing speed, Alpacka said.
Other features include a whitewater foot brace connected directly to the boat, and self-bailing draining holes. The latter includes mesh-backed venturi flaps meant to increase speed and keep paddlers dry, especially while surfing.
“Our mission is to explore what’s possible in packrafting,” Thor Tingey, CEO and co-founder of Alpacka Raft, said in a news release. “The Mage represents the pinnacle of our passion and ingenuity. It’s light, lightning-fast, and handles large whitewater incredibly well. We are already inspired by what paddlers are doing with it, and we can’t wait to see where they take it next.”
Alpacka Mage: Pricing & Availability
At $1,600, the Mage arrives with a similar price tag to the other whitewater-oriented Alpacka Raft models.
Available in both a whitewater deck and self-bailing configuration, the Mage aims to meet the needs of a variety of paddling environments. The new model comes equipped with a lace-in whitewater seat, Alpacka’s patented four-point thigh straps, a backband, and a whitewater foot brace. It’s also available in three different colorful designs.
As for sizing, Alpacka is also kicking off a new sizing system for its packrafts. Instead of using sit length, sizes now align with standard height-based and general size categories such as small, medium, and large.
We haven’t gotten to test this bad boy yet — but Alpacka’s new Mage has already cast a spell.
