As promised in one of my previous articles, I want to explain more about the iSUPs in other words the inflatable Stand Up boards. The inflatables were looked down as weird products couple of years ago but now they are a big part of the SUP market. There are reasons for that: They are easy to transport and store, versatile to use in the sea or rivers, don’t break like rigid boards and are easy to repair. Still the inflatables do not perform as the rigid boards when it comes to racing or surfing due to the lack of sharp edges or specific bottom shapes. But they are significantly better than the early versions from 4-5 years ago.
An inflatable board is basically made of PVC, nylon, glue and air. The main material is called ‘Drop Stitch’ 
which gives the board its shape and rigidity when filled with air. The boards differ by the quality of the materials used, the thickness (thicker means in general stiffer), shapes, fins (fixed or external fins) and the weight.
I divide the inflatable board brands in three categories:
- The pioneers: These are the brands that started producing iSUPs first and still only develop only iSUPs. They have innovative solutions. ULI in USA and Red Paddle Co. are two companies who are still ahead of the other players.
- The established brands: These companies spend significant money and attention developing their iSUPs in addition to their rigid SUP boards. Starboard and Mistral are on the top of this group. Starboard has innovations like double action pumps and inflatable windsurf boards. Mistral developed a patented lightweight material. Naish, Fanatic, SIC, BIC are also players in this group.
- Less or unknown brands: This field is a jungle. There are so many brands that sell iSUPs, it is very difficult to judge the quality of the products. My recommendation would be to avoid them or investigate the products before buying.
Let me share with you my observations about some of the most popular iSUP models that I have tested before.
Red Paddle Co. – Ride Series
This is the best selling all-round model of Red Paddle Co. A traditional surfboard shape gives good stability, decent speed and tracking. There are 3 different sizes to pick from depending on the rider’s size. Red Paddle has a very well thought through backpack with easy access and small wheels to pull. The material and finishing are high-end. These boards can easily be pumped up to 20 psi.
Red Paddle Co. – Sport 11
This is a new model from Red Paddle. I am testing one currently to paddle around Mallorca. It is faster than Ride but easier to pump than the 12’6 Explorer or Race models. A good compromise indeed. It is thinner than the Ride models but still stiff enough thanks to the plastic rods on each side, a patented solution from Red Paddle. Surprisingly stable and fast enough for cruising. It comes with the new Titan pump, which combines two pumps in one, another cool invention from Red Paddle. My favorite iSUP of this year.
Mistral – Super Light Equipe 10’5
This is definitely the lightest high quality iSUP in the market now. Mistral developed this patented material, which is 20-30% lighter than the traditional drop-stitch material. A good choice for users who travel a lot and need to carry their backpacks for long distances. Mistral entered the SUP market later but has a big commitment to the iSUP segment thus has an impressive collection of iSUP products.
Mistral – Adventure 11’5
This model is for larger riders and is more robust than the Super Light versions. It is a very versatile model and has very good material finishing. Mistral iSUPs come with single action pumps and traditional backpack set-ups. I hope they will upgrade the backpacks next year.
Starboard – Astro Drive 10’5
Starboard is a big player in the SUP game. They have the biggest product portfolio of SUP products in the market. Their iSUP range is called Astro and has 20 different models in it! The narrower all-round model is called Drive. It has a very good finishing. Nice newer design backpack, quality fins and a double/single action pump which works good maybe not as good as the Titan pump but is smaller.
Starboard – Blend 11’2
A more stable and versatile version compared to Drive. It has a wider tail and more volume, making it more suitable for heavier riders. If a board will be used in various conditions by different size people, this would be the right board. The quality is top notch. Starboard made its iSUP boards with impressive good quality this year.
As I mentioned before, there are many other brands and models of iSUPs. I shared with you some all-round models that I could test. But brands like ULI in USA have impressive products too.
Until the next article I wish you a lot of fun time on the water. If you have any questions about SUP surfing or real estate in Mallorca (which is my real job), you can reach me at ahmet@mallorcaresidencia.com. Information about SUP events in Mallorca can be found on our Club de SUP Mallorca Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/clubsupmallorca
Ahmet Senoglu
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