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Kayak-Style Whitewater Packraft
The MRS Mini Shark is a specialized, highly rockered whitewater packraft designed to punch through heavy hydraulics and turn on a dime. Its aggressive design profile provides massive bow volume to resurface quickly after drops, making it an exceptional tool for steep creeking and technical maneuvers where standard packrafts would fold or stall. The streamlined hull, upturned bow, and smaller-diameter tube make self-rescue easier after a capsize; a low-center-of-gravity seat keeps the paddler balanced and offsets the stability trade-off of the smaller tube.
A soft cushion is included to improve comfort. Because the Mini Shark’s hull must be inflated to 3 PSI (higher than the standard 1.5 PSI on other MRS models, to keep the small-diameter tubes rigid in whitewater), the cushion softens the seat surface for a more comfortable ride.
Optional Enhanced Floor + 3D Contoured Seat: An accessory upgrade is available for intermediate and advanced paddlers. The Enhanced Floor adds higher support and improved secondary stability to the hull, and the inflatable 3D Contoured Seat (which must be used together with the Enhanced Floor) conforms to the paddler’s hips for better comfort and boat control.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Standard | XL | Material |
| Body (hull + deck) | 8.9 lb (4050 g) | 9.8 lb (4450 g) | 420D Nylon, 0.4 mm TPU coating |
| Floor | — | 840D Nylon, 0.6 mm TPU coating | |
| Seat | 0.7 lb (313 g) | 210D Nylon | |
| Soft cushion | 0.6 lb (273 g) | ||
| Backrest | 0.6 lb (260 g) | EVA foam backrest | |
| Quick-lock 5P thigh strap | 1.1 lb (480 g) | ||
| Adjustable footrest | 7.5 oz (214 g) | 210D Nylon | |
| SpraySkirt | 0.9 lb (399 g) | 1.0 lb (443 g) | |
| Inflation bag | 4.8 oz (135 g) | Silicone-coated CORDURA® 30D | |
| Tie strap | 0.9 oz (25 g) | ||
| Coaming frame | 5.9 oz (166 g) | 6.6 oz (188 g) | |
| Valve | — | Standard Boston valve | |
| Total weight | 13.6 lb (6150 g) | 14.6 lb (6600 g) | |
| Recommended paddler weight | 187 lb (85 kg) | 220 lb (100 kg) | |
| Recommended capacity | 231 lb (105 kg) | 265 lb (120 kg) | |
Measurements may vary slightly with temperature and material variation; this is normal.
Dimensions
| Item | Standard | XL |
| Length (outer) | 115 in (291 cm) | 124 in (315 cm) |
| Length (inner) | 67 in (170 cm) | 75 in (190 cm) |
| Width (outer) | 34 in (87 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Width (inner) | 15 in (38 cm) | 16 in (39.5 cm) |
| Water line (length) | 102 in (260 cm) | 108 in (275 cm) |
| Water line (width) | 31 in (80 cm) | 33 in (84 cm) |
| Tube | 10 in (24.5 cm) | 10 in (25.5 cm) |
Measurements may vary slightly with temperature and material variation; this is normal.
Accessories
0.6 lb (260 g)
0.7 lb (313 g)
0.6 lb (273 g)
1.1 lb (480 g)
7.5 oz (214 g)
0.9 lb (399 g)
3.0 oz (86 g)
5.9 oz (166 g)
4.8 oz (135 g)
Care & Maintenance
- Heat Expansion: Air expands rapidly under heat. Never leave a fully inflated packraft sitting on shore in direct sunlight. Always release the valve on the packraft, seats, and backrests when out of the water to prevent pressure blowouts and seam stress.
- Freshwater Rinse: Always rinse the hull thoroughly with clean freshwater after paddling in saltwater, silty rivers, or sandy environments.
- Floor Crevice Cleaning: Sand and gravel can get trapped between the inflatable floor and the outer tubes. Deflate the boat slightly and flush these crevices with water to prevent the grit from acting like sandpaper against the TPU.
- ISS (TiZip) Care: Keep the zipper teeth meticulously clean. Before every trip, clear away sand with a soft brush and apply the included silicone lubricant to the zipper dock to maintain an airtight seal. Always ensure the zipper is fully closed before inflation. See our TiZip maintenance guide for full care instructions.
- Complete Drying: Never pack a wet raft away for long-term storage. Wipe it down with a towel and let it air dry completely in the shade to prevent mold, mildew, and polyurethane degradation. This is especially critical to prevent the TiZip from leaking.
- Climate-Controlled Storage: Store the deflated boat loosely rolled in a cool, dry place away from direct heat sources, extreme freezing temperatures, and harsh chemicals.
Performance Tips
- Cold Water Tempering: Air is highly sensitive to temperature. When transferring an inflated packraft from land into cold water, the internal air will condense and soften the tubes — this is normal, not a leak. Let the boat sit in the water for two minutes, then top off the pressure with a pump until the chambers feel firm again.
- Weight Distribution: To maximize hull speed and reduce side-to-side "yaw", distribute weight evenly. Heavy gear should be placed forward, as it helps lock the raft into a straight line.
- Skeg Installation: Always insert the tracking fin before fully inflating the boat. Using a skeg drastically improves forward paddling efficiency and reduces yaw. Choose the small skeg for whitewater maneuverability, or the large skeg for optimal straight-line tracking on open lakes and long river stretches.
- Seat: To enhance comfort, the seat cushion’s air pressure can be reduced — this lowers the seat height and lets it conform better to the body, also improving backrest support.
- Thigh Straps: Aggressively tension the thigh straps and adjust the backband before hitting rapids. A locked-in, tight fit is required for precise control.
- Air Pressure: The Mini Shark’s hull, floor, and seat all inflate to 3 PSI (higher than the 1.5 PSI standard on most MRS models) so it stays rigid in whitewater for best performance.
Warranty
- 3-Year Guarantee: Every MRS packraft includes a 3-year warranty against material and manufacturing defects.
- Zipper Coverage: ISS (TiZip) zippers are warranted separately for 1 year.
- US-Based Support: All inspections, claims, and support are handled directly from our California facility for fast, hassle-free service.
Internal Storage System (ISS Models)
Available on Mini Shark ISS models only.
Instructions for Use
1. Distribute weight evenly between the two storage bags. Because the bags cannot be accessed until the packraft is deflated, only store items that you will not need on the water.
2. Place your gear in the storage bag, fold the top closed, tighten as much as possible, and then insert the buckle at the top opening.
3. Open the TIZIP zipper and slide the storage bag into the packraft tube.
4. Once the storage bag is inside the tube, unfasten the top buckle, pass the strap through the two tie-downs, and re-fasten the buckle.
Tie-down fixings inside the tubes secure the storage bags in place, so they will not slide back and forth as the packraft moves.
New to packrafting? Our How-To & Care Guide covers inflation and the valve system, paddle sizing, field repairs, care & maintenance, and more.
FAQ
What is the Mini Shark best for?
The Mini Shark is best for fast, technical Class II–IV whitewater on tight creeks and rivers. Its compact, low-volume hull and fully sealed spraydeck favour agility and a kayak-style sealed-deck paddling position over flat-water cruising.
What's the difference between Standard and XL?
XL adds about 9 in (24 cm) of outer length and 8 in (20 cm) of inner length over Standard, with a higher recommended paddler weight (220 lb / 100 kg vs 187 lb / 85 kg). Standard suits paddlers up to ~6 ft / 184 cm; XL fits taller paddlers or heavier loads.
How does the Mini Shark compare to the Alligator 2S and Viking?
The Alligator 2S is the wider sealed-deck whitewater platform — more primary stability, higher recommended paddler weight. The Viking Self Bailer and Viking EVO are self-bailers — floor drains water rather than the deck sealing it out. The Mini Shark sits in the kayak-style agile-creek-runner niche with a smaller-diameter tube for easier self-rescue and a more aggressive rockered hull for steep creeks and heavy hydraulics.
What's the Enhanced Floor + 3D Contoured Seat option?
An accessory upgrade that raises the floor to improve secondary stability and adds a hip-conforming inflatable 3D Contoured Seat. The two must be ordered together — the seat needs the Enhanced Floor's raised surface. Recommended for intermediate / advanced paddlers seeking tighter boat control.
Why is the air pressure 3 PSI instead of 1.5 PSI?
The Mini Shark's small-diameter tubes need higher inflation pressure to stay rigid in whitewater. Other MRS models use 1.5 PSI because their larger-diameter tubes are stiff enough at lower pressure. 3 PSI is the supplier-specified operating pressure for the Mini Shark hull.
Can you roll the Mini Shark?
Yes — all MRS whitewater packrafts can be rolled, and the Mini Shark is one of the easier ones to roll thanks to its smaller-diameter tube, narrow kayak-style hull, and low-center-of-gravity seat. Tension the thigh straps firmly first; a locked-in fit is what makes a reliable hand- or paddle-roll possible.
Is the spraydeck included, and what is the coaming frame?
Yes — the SpraySkirt and coaming frame are included. The coaming frame is the rigid hoop that connects the spray skirt to the hull cockpit; the skirt itself is a TPU-nylon-and-neoprene composite that works in both whitewater and calmer water. The skirt and coaming are sized to the Mini Shark cockpit (Standard and XL use their own size), so they are not interchangeable with other MRS models.
Can I use the Mini Shark on flat water and lakes?
Yes — although it is built for fast technical whitewater, the Mini Shark is light and fast enough for short flat-water touring and lake crossings. Fit a skeg for those trips: it tracks noticeably better in a straight line with the larger skeg attached. It is a capable crossover for a paddler who wants one boat, though a dedicated flat-water hull will be faster over long distances.
