Alpacka’s got a new packraft out and though winter’s starting to roll in, we managed to sneak out and put it through its paces on the Daily section of the Colorado River outside Moab. (Any excuse to escape to Canyonlands country before Old Man Winter sets in.) And boy are we glad we did.
Available in either self-bailing or decked versions, the Mage, which will be available for shipping in January, was built as “a true, proper stepping-stone packraft.” Coming in at just 8 lbs., it’s more geared toward the intermediate paddler that knows how to edge or wants to learn and is interested in paddling up to Class III-IV whitewater. While we only put it through Class I-II paces on the Colorado, we charged eddy lines, punched holes and ferried onto small waves to see how it handled. The result: a resounding thumbs-up on all counts, proving it a master of all and more than capable on nearly any river feature we found.
It ferried well (though, obviously, not quite as well as a hardshell) and was nimble enough to avoid holes when needed and punch those when we so desired (all, of course, in the name of testing). But what we loved most, perhaps, was its outfitting. Alpacka has been making packrafts for over 30 years and it shows, with both their performance and outfitting getting more and more dialed-in every year. The thigh braces fit snug, securing us to the craft and allowing us to edge and lean. When not in use, they kept a super low profile against the hull. The backbrace is also bomber, almost like you’d find in a whitewater kayak, providing both lumbar support for aging vertebrae like ours and combining with the thigh braces to offer a triangular vector of control.
While we didn’t stuff them with anything too heavy (just a daybag or two), the cargo fly—bombproof zippers that let you stash gear inside the hull—also worked flawlessly. We’d trust it for any multiday outing. And when we paddled into camp where our fellow mountain bikers were unloading their gear, we could tell their eyes were as green with envy as the river’s emerald waters.
With the craft’s performance capabilities, say designers, also comes a little bit steeper of a learning curve. Beginner packrafters might want to consider the more stable Gnarwhal.
Info: www.alpackaraft.com
Mage Specs:
USE: Whitewater (Class I|I-IV)
BUILDS: Self Bailer I Whitewater Deck
INCLUDED RIGGING:* 4-Point Thigh Straps,
Whitewater Lace-in Seat, Whitewater Footbrace, Backband, Inflatable Floor, PEX Coaming (with WW build)
OPTIONAL RIGGING: Spray Skirt, Internal Dry Bags (IR Sixmile Skirt Recommended)
WEIGHT: ~8 – 10lb | ~3.6 – 4.5 kg
SIZES: S | M | L | XL
