Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board 11'×33''×6''(6'' Thick) Non-Slip Deck with Premium SUP Accessories | Wide Stance, Bottom Fins for Surfing Control | Youth Adults Beginner

I live in Southern California where the weather is geared for paddle boarding all year long. I own several hard-top epoxy boards, mostly 7-foot boards. I paddle at least 4 days a week in the harbor for several years now. I’m always inviting my friends to come out and paddle with me but strapping and hauling a couple of boards on my little compact car was getting frustrating. I looked at different options and my husband recommended that I investigate getting an inflatable. I wanted to get something that was reliable, easy to assemble, with a reasonable price point. Pretty much I wanted a bang for the buck!As a super fan of epoxy and carbon fiber boards, I was determined to find flaws and dislike the ISUP, but after launching it and taking it for a spin, I love it! First, it arrived quickly in a nice compact box. After unwrapping it, I read the instructions which were easy enough to understand and follow. I was so eager to pump it up with the hand pump which took me 20 minutes.I had a specific question after I had pumped it up and immediately sent an email to the seller and they replied immediately with an answer to rest assure that my concern was not a problem at all. I wanted to make sure that the ISUP did not leak so I left it inflated for 2 days underneath a patio (out of the sun). To my surprise, it lost only a little bit of air (5 psi) the day I decided to use it for the first time.I just threw it on top of my car and strapped it to my roof racks so that I did not have to deal with the pumping at the launch site since I already had it inflated. Just my luck, the day I went out it was windy. I parked a block away. Normally with the winds, my other hard boards would be slightly heavier and difficult to carry, but not with this ISUP. It was light enough to carry with no issues. I launched off on my knees and began to stand. Upon standing up I noticed it was not as stable side to side unlike my hard-top board (so those of you who are beginners will have to go through a learning curve to find your balance) but once I got my bearings, I stood up and took off quickly. It glided smoothly and stayed straight through the course. The turning radius on this ISUP was a lot more challenging due to the size and took a lot of effort on my part to crank it make a hard right or left turn. I was able to paddle at a fast speed and stop the board quickly to a halt. This was the first SUP I could lay down flat on my stomach and enjoy just floating. The board never submerged keeping me dry while laying on top of it. Then I flipped myself over and sat up with my legs fully extended out. I was highly impressed that I could keep paddling it like a kayak. It was easy to just continue to stay straight without veering to a particular side. Then I purposely fell off the board and practiced getting back onto the board. The first time was not as easy as I thought it would be because it is a wider and higher (thicker) board than I am used to. After a couple of practices by holding onto the latch in the middle of the board, then pulling myself back up without tipping over the board was simple. I followed a few boats that past by with lingering waves and the board handled it well and I did not feel unstable while rocking and rolling over the waves.When I paddled my board back to the launch site, I saw a father with two young (age 3-5) girls on a similar but different brand ISUP. After telling him it was my first ISUP, we agreed to switched boards so that I could compare. I noticed immediately that his ISUP was noticeably narrower, shorter, and heavier than mine. His daughters both liked the fact mine was wider and felt more stable for them. He admitted that he paid twice as much as mine with the same items in the kit. I could not help but felt like I had scored on my new board!Here are other highlights:It is lightweight – 25 lbs length of a medium-size car like a Nissan Versa. The toughest part of stand up paddle boarding for beginners is after a long paddle session is carrying a heavy hard top board back to the car, which this one is not an issue.You can easily convert it into a kayak after purchasing a separate seat.A bungee system to store gear or towels.Non-slip surface with thick grade material (not easily punctured from a dog with long nails).Durable material with hard use from excess amounts of the paddle scraping the sides of the board or children jumping on it or dinging it against hard surfaces.Comes with instruction and a carry bag that fits all the items (leash, pump, paddle, patch kit, board) for easy compact storage and travel (the length of it is comparable to my medium size 30lb dog).Inflates in less than 20 minutes, deflated in less than 5 minutes.Here are the cons:The hand pump is not for the unhealthy. It might kick your butt as it did mine (a workout before a workout) Just take your time, don’t rush, and you’ll be fine. The last 5 psi will be challenging but keep going until you reach 15 psi otherwise the board will not keep you stable and not recommended to pump higher than that. It took me 20 minutes to inflate (I’m in my mid 40’s) but other reviewers say it took them less time.Must dry everything off well before repacking it back into the carry bag to prevent mold.Helpful Hints:The paddle stick needs to be screwed tighter before 1st use to prevent the handle from moving or twisting while paddling. Also, make sure that the blade of the paddle is facing forward while paddling.When launching off stand on your knees in the middle of the board (where the handle is located) with your knees shoulder-width apart. Then slowly stand up with your feet hip-width apart. Just practice standing up and down a few times before taking off far. Looking straight forward versus downwards helps with your balance.Always rinse your ISUP and paddle with fresh water after each use. Pat dry completely before folding and repacking in case. Do not leave it sitting in the sun for long periods.Remove the grey foam that is covering the little fins and attach the large fin before launching. Then remember to remove the large fin before repacking the board.Watch some YouTube Videos to see proper techniques on paddling – it will truly save you from falling and paddling, especially paddling against the wind. Also understand that LARGE MOVING WATER VEHICLE has the right of way, not SUPs, please allow them to pass you before you continue your path.Conclusion:This ISUP is great for a beginner to start practicing in calm conditions before moving up to a shorter faster board. As far as taking it out into the ocean, you could if you have great balance not recommended as a true beginner for sure. It is definitely not for surfing waves but can ride very small ones.I’m so glad that I bought this ISUP. It will be a great addition to my SUP family for visiting friends and family. The price is so worth the value.

The media could not be loaded. Stand up Paddle Boarding is FUN. Most people I have introduced the activity to end up loving it -- provided they can maintain their balance.WHY NOT RENT?The typical rental fee for a SUP in our area ran for $20/person for two hours. So, doing the math for an inflatable SUP at $400, that would equate to 20 rentals for up to 40 hours of use. It made sense for us to purchase one instead to save in the long run.PROS- Less expensive than hard boards- Fast to deploy/inflate-- First time, an iSUP took me 20 minutes reading instructions and looking for the parts-- Subsequent times took roughly 9-11 minutes to get paddle-ready-- Consider using an electric pump for faster deployment. See TIPS section for more- Compact and portable-- Folds away easily to the size of a sleeping bag--- Simply deflate, remove specific parts, protect the fins, and roll away-- Takes up less space than hard boards-- Can fit in a smaller car, is easier to carry around, and can be checked in on an airplane (and helps save on rental fees)- Carry handle at center of board for one-handed transport- More durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures-- This did not initially make sense: why would an INFLATABLE be more durable than a HARD board?--- Hard boards are more prone to cracking, scratches, and appearance of holes that require immediate fixing. Who knew?- Causes less injuries than hard boardsInflatable SUPs are more durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures- Excellent board for beginners and leisure paddling due to its wide base and long length-- Inflatables cause less fatigue- Bungee tie down at front to hold gear (ie. water bottle, lunch, jacket, sunblock)- Excellent stability aided by its 6" inflated thickness, 33" width, 10.6' length-- Extra volume adds more stability and weight support over hard boards- Can be used for surfing on small waves, though it will not be very nimble because of its large size- Based on my research, inflatables can last 10 years or more, depending on maintenance, storage environment, and other factors- Multiple accessories included-- Carry bag/Backpack for easier transport-- Runwave-branded Pump with max pressure of 29 PSI (2 Bars)--- Can pump air in or out. Connect the hose to the opening marked "OUT" to inflate-- 3-part, floating, length-adjustable aluminum paddle-- Safety leash with key compartment-- Repair kit- Very well-written manual with step-by-step, visual and text instructionsCONS- D-Rings not already affixed to help turn it into a kayak with an optional seat-- You will have to cement (4) D-Rings yourself-- Runwave Kohala has the D-Rings already attached and ready for use with a kayak seat- Flexes a bit more than my DvSport iSUP- Takes time to inflate or deflate-- Hard boards are ready to go and require little to no preparation-- Took 12-16 minutes to deflate, clean up, roll up, and pack away- Slower to turn and paddle than my DvSport due to its larger thickness, width, and length, but felt slightly more nimble than the Runwave- Requires a pump-- Inflating a paddleboard to 12-15 PSI (about 1 Bar) takes quite a workout- Does not perform as well or as fast as hard boards, making them not as good for racing competitions, though the performance gap between SUPs and iSUPs is narrowing- iSUP is puncture resistant, but not puncture-proofTIPSBOARD PREPARATION- Ensure the valve is clean and free of dust and debris- Inflate the Runwave Wood iSUP to between 12-15 PSI (15 PSI is best)-- Warning: Do NOT go over 15 PSI with this iSUP!-- If the board will be left in the hot sun, inflate to only 12-13 PSI, and let the heat increase the internal pressure-- In general, inflatable SUPs should be inflated to 15-17 PSI (no more than the rated max), even if the manufacturer states that it can go as high as 25 PSI- If using an electric pump, inflate to 10-12 PSI, and hand pump the rest to 15 PSI-- Do NOT use an air compressor as it could easily overinflate- Double-check board pressure before heading out-- Before first use, leave the board inflated for a day and see if it loses pressure. If it does, refer to the manual on how to find the leak-- Leaving board in the sun/heat can increase pressure, and in the cold can have pressure decreasedA safety leash is NECESSARY to help keep the board attached to you. Not having one could separate the board from you by the wind or stream, forcing you to swim all the way back to shore. A leash can SAVE YOUR LIFE!- You should always have a safety leash-- Attach ankle cuff to the less dominant leg and the other end to the loop at the tail of the board-- Keeps board close to you when you fall into the water, and prevents any waves or wind from moving it away- Do not drag paddle boards across the pavement as that can puncture and damage-- The board has a carry handle at the center. Lift board onto its side with the handle facing away from you (bottom of board faces you), and grab the handle to lift the iSUP off the groundCHOOSING A BOARDThe following are general guidelines on how to select the right board. I am not a professional SUP rider and suggest you visit a paddle board shop for advice appropriate to you.- The wider a board, the more stability is added (useful for beginners or tandem riders) but harder to paddle-- 31" and wider are perfect for beginners and tandem riders-- 30" or narrower, due to less drag on the board, increase mobility and speed, suitable for surfing- The longer a board, like snowboards, the more streamlined it is to cover distance-- 12′ and longer are designed for racing-- 9′ – 11′ are great for recreation-- 9′ or less are intended for surfing due to more nimble mobility- The thicker a board, the heavier of a rider it could carry-- 5" or thicker are best-- 4" are perfect for children and light paddlersIt is better to be too light than too heavy for a board- The higher volume of a board (measured in Liters), the more weight and height of a rider it can accommodate due to increased buoyancy, and be more stable-- Choose a board that is at or below the suggested weight limit--- Going above the weight capacity can introduce a sinking drag and be harder to paddle on--- Take into consideration---- Overall weight, including any food, water, gear, and companions---- Your skill level and age---- Water environment and activity type-- Check out a SUP Volume Calculator (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)--- Not all boards with the same volume are the same. Their concavity and overall shape, among other factors, affect a board’s performance--- Beginners: Total weight x (1.1 to 1.4)---- If you are 170 lbs and plan to bring a 50 lb child with 10 lbs of food and water, total weight is 230 lbs. Volume should be between 253L – 322L--- Intermediate or Advanced: Total weight x (0.9 to 1.1)-- 200L and up are generally great for recreation and beginnersKeep in mind that after a few times of paddling, you may find yourself quickly advancing in your abilities. My personal recommendation with anything I do is to always get something that is at least a notch above my current skill level.CONCLUSIONThe Runwave Wood with its wide and medium length makes for a very stable, beginner-friendly inflatable that can easily accommodate tandem riders.Although my favorite is the Bluefin Cruise iSUP for its more streamlined performance, this Runwave Wood makes for an excellent pick as a beginner/intermediate board.