Prebuilt and ready for immediate adventure.
Red
Orange
Orange
Configure your perfect build.
Agile Self-Bailing Whitewater Packraft
The MRS Viking EVO is a premium self-bailing whitewater packraft designed for rapid drainage and continuous action. Instead of trapping the paddler under a restrictive spray deck, the Viking EVO utilizes a thick inflatable floor and strategically placed drain holes to shed water instantly. This open-top design makes it the ultimate boat for technical rivers that require frequent scouting, portaging, and quick cockpit access.
The drainage holes are concentrated under the paddler’s heels and equipped with shielding plates that reduce drag — addressing the slow response that has long limited self-bailing packrafts. Paddlers familiar with traditional self-bailers will notice the difference immediately.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Viking EVO | Material |
| Body | 8.5 lb (3860 g) | 420D Nylon, 0.4 mm TPU coating |
| Floor | — | 840D Nylon, 0.6 mm TPU coating |
| Seat | 0.7 lb (307 g) | 70D Nylon (seat), 210D Nylon (surface) |
| Backrest | 0.6 lb (260 g) | EVA foam backrest |
| Quick-lock 5P thigh straps | 0.7 lb (303 g) | |
| Adjustable footrest | 0.5 lb (246 g) | |
| Skeg | 2.9 oz (83 g) | |
| Internal storage bag | 6.4 oz (181 g) | ISS models only |
| Valve | — | Standard Boston valve |
| Total weight | 12.0 lb (5460 g) |
Measurements may vary slightly with temperature and material variation; this is normal.
Dimensions
| Item | Viking EVO |
| Length (outer) | 106 in (269 cm) |
| Length (inner) | 54 in (136 cm) |
| Width (outer) | 36 in (92 cm) |
| Width (inner) | 14 in (35 cm) |
| Water line (length) | 94 in (238 cm) |
| Water line (width) | 33 in (84 cm) |
| Tube | 11 in (28.5 cm) |
Measurements may vary slightly with temperature and material variation; this is normal.
Accessories
0.6 lb (263 g)
1.0 lb (444 g)
0.8 lb (350 g)
0.5 lb (240 g)
3.0 oz (86 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. Rinse the self-bailing floor and drainage holes after use in silty or muddy water to keep them clear.
- 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.
- Drainage: The redesigned drainage floor has very low starting resistance — expect more agile starts/stops than traditional self-bailers. When entering calm water from rapids, some water will naturally sit in the floor; keep your weight centered to allow the drain holes to function efficiently.
- Comfort & Insulation: If you are paddling in cold water, we highly recommend wearing neoprene socks or paddling booties to retain body heat.
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 Viking EVO 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 Viking EVO best for?
The Viking EVO is best for technical Class II–IV whitewater, creeking, and frequent eddy-in / eddy-out runs. Its full self-bailing floor drains the cockpit continuously between rapids, making it well suited to whitewater training and multi-day expedition runs.
What is a self-bailing packraft?
A self-bailing packraft has a thick, inflatable floor and drain holes in the hull floor. When water splashes in from rapids or waves, it drains straight out through the bottom — keeping the boat from swamping so it stays buoyant and maneuverable in heavy whitewater.
What’s the difference between a self-bailer and a regular packraft, and how do I choose?
The difference is water management. A self-bailer lets water in and drains it back out continuously through holes in the floor; it uses a thick inflatable floor to lift you above those holes, which adds a little weight but allows very fast entry, exit, and self-rescue. A regular packraft — open or spray-decked — is built to keep water out with a lighter single-layer floor; if an open one swamps, you flip and dump it by hand.
For whitewater, choose a self-bailer for technical, shallow rivers with frequent scouting and portaging, where the open top lets you hop in and out without a restrictive skirt. Choose a spray deck for high-volume, cold rivers where staying dry matters most — it seals in body heat and sheds water, though it takes practice to exit quickly if you flip.
Do you get wet in a self-bailing packraft?
Yes. Because a self-bailer drains through open holes, there is always a little water on the floor and your lower body will get wet. In cold conditions, wear thermal protection such as a drysuit or wetsuit.
Are self-bailing packrafts slower on flat water?
Slightly. Two things slow a self-bailer on flat water: the drain holes and the inflatable-floor shape add hydrodynamic drag, and the small amount of water that always sits on the floor adds weight the boat has to carry. On lakes or slow rivers, a regular closed-floor packraft tracks and glides a bit faster.
For a long flat stretch where self-bailing isn’t needed, you can temporarily turn a self-bailer into a sealed-floor boat by taping the drain holes shut from the underside of the hull. This keeps water out and removes the drag-and-weight penalty for faster cruising; peel the tape off to restore self-bailing before the next whitewater section.
What makes the Viking EVO's self-bailing floor different?
The Viking EVO's redesign concentrates the drainage holes under the paddler's heels and adds shielding plates to reduce drag, making it more agile and faster-responding than traditional self-bailers. After a wave breaks over the bow, the cockpit empties on its own — no need to pull over and bail.
How does the Viking EVO compare to the standard Viking and the Alligator?
The standard Viking Self Bailer uses 11 drainage holes plus a baffle plate and the older floor design. The Viking EVO uses the redesigned high-drainage floor with shielding plates, plus 420D Pro-tier hull fabric. The sealed-deck Alligator keeps water out via the spraydeck instead of draining it through the floor.
What is the zipper on the seat for?
The Viking EVO seat carries a TiZip zipper on the seat bladder that serves two purposes: it allows easy maintenance and access to the seat’s air chamber, and it provides roughly 5 L of dry storage inside the seat. This seat zipper is separate from the hull’s Internal Storage System and is fitted on every Viking EVO.
Where is the ISS TiZip opening located?
On ISS models the hull TiZip is on the rear of the raft; when the zipper is closed, the pull tab sits at the far end, so it is easy to miss in photos. This is distinct from the seat-bladder zipper — the rear hull zipper is the access point for sliding the internal storage dry bags into the tubes.
Can I add a removable deck or spray skirt for cold-weather paddling?
No — the Viking EVO is a self-bailing model and is not equipped with a removable deck. Because the floor drain holes let water in by design, a deck would not keep the cockpit dry, so it offers no benefit on a self-bailer. For cold-water comfort, wear a drysuit or wetsuit with neoprene socks rather than relying on a deck; the EVO’s single drain area near the feet can be temporarily taped for a drier ride on flat sections.