Hi Bianca,

In short, yes, if you were catering to yourself, then the 10′ ultra would be great for you to get enough stability as a beginner but also leave a lot of room to develop your skills. The Cruiser Ultra would be great if you’re catering to yourself and your partner – the 10′ Ultra would be too small, and consequently unstable, for him if he’s already uneasy on the water. Also, the Cruiser Ultra would be a better fit if you do eventually bring a dog on on board; My dog and I are able to paddle the 10′ Ultra okay, but we’re definitely a bit cramped, where as it’s much easier on the Cruiser Ultra.

I’m looking to purchase my first SUP! I have, on occasion, paddled on friends’ boards without any issues and most recently, liked the quality and feel of the iRocker 10′ all-rounder (non-ultra version) when taking it out for a spin. I already own a canoe and a kayak, but like the idea of being able to throw a compact inflatable paddleboard in the canoe on canoe camping trips, so that I can get out on the water when no one else wants to join me. I LOVE the concept of the new iRocker ultra series for their lightweight construction and incredible packability, but am really stuck choosing between the 10.6′ ultra cruiser and the 10′ ultra all-rounder. I am a 5’4″, 135 lbs, 38 year old female. I am fairly fit and have excellent balance (I water ski, surf, alpine and xc ski etc.). My partner is 5’9″ and 165 lbs and while I’d like to think I’m catering to both of us, I think I will be the primary user for sure. We don’t currently have a dog, but maybe will one day (I mention this only as a – maybe I’ll put a dog on the board one day). For now I see myself paddling around mainly on flatwater or slightly choppy lakes, and perhaps some rivers, either by myself or with a friend or two. I see it being relatively relaxed, but am intrigued by the prospect of SUPping for cardio and getting a bit of speed up. I like the sound of the 10′ ultra for the latter, however, I’m ultimately still a beginner and will I enjoy the greater stability of the cruiser better? If I’m catering to both my partner and I, am I better off getting the cruiser to account for his height and skill (he’s a lot more uneasy on the water compared to me)? If I’m catering to just me, is there more “potential” for improvement in my own paddling performance on the 10′ ultra vs the cruiser ultra?

Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Laurie,

The Thurso WaterWalkers are the stiffest boards we’ve ever tested. They have a really nice gliding feeling on the water, and they hold speed pretty easily (not that they’re the fastest SUP out there, but you don’t have to work hard to maintain your pace). The 10′ Waterwalker is about 22 lbs, so it’s definitely lighter than your BOTE Breeze, and it’s super fun and maneuverable. I’ve had in a few different conditions, and it handles everything just fine. I think it’s a great choice for what you’re looking for; it’s one of my favorites here at the office.

Great reviews and great responses to questions. I have a couple of Cruiser SUP hard boards which I’ve had nearly 10 years and I absolutely love, but I also like keeping a board in my car so I can paddle whenever the mood strikes. For inflatables, I have a Bote Aero Breeze 10’8” which is good, fun, and stable, although it tends to get blown around a bit if it’s windy or choppy. I recently bought a Surftech Prana Air Travel High Seas board (it was a demo board, so a good deal). The Surftech is a bit heavy, and is stiffer to roll up than the Bote, and I don’t love it as much as I thought I would. I’m probably going to sell that one. I’m looking at the Thurso Waterwalker 10’. How does it compare in terms of stiffness to the Bote? Any other thoughts? I prefer lighter weight, with both good tracking and maneuverability. I also like wheeled bags, since I plan to fly with my board, but I can always buy a bag separately. I am 5’4”, 135 lbs, 62 yr old female, fairly fit, good balance, experienced paddler, year-round (love winter paddles) flat water, slow rivers, sometimes windy/choppy water. Do you think the Waterwalker is a good choice? Thanks so much!

Hey Neighbor!

So glad that you’re loving the area and paddling. I’m just going to rattle off a list of a few of my favorites, but let me know if you have any questions on any of them/would like any extra insight. It does seem like you’re off to a great start though; Quail Creek is beautiful and it’s tons of fun to paddle around the island at Sand Hollow.

Here’s my list:
– Ivins Reservoir (not super big, but it’s nice that there’s no boats and Xetava Gardens Cafe in Kayenta Village is a great place for a post paddle meal)
– Gunlock Reservoir (more mountain views than red rock walls)
– Navajo Lake
– Deer Creek Reservoir
– Jordanelle Reservoir
– Lake Powell (there’s a well known tour around horse shoe bend)

There’s quite a few more, but these are all relatively close by. Have fun, see you on the water!

Hi Lorrie,

The Blackfin XL is fairly wide and heavy, but it is one of the most stable options as you’re just learning. If you’re looking for something that would allow you to develop your skills a little bit and grow into the sport, I’d recommend Honu Fairlight. It’s lightweight at only 17.8 lbs, but will still be plenty stable for you to get started since it’s 33″ wide. Another thing to note about the Fairlight is that it’s 4.7″ thick (as opposed to the normal 6″ thick for iSUPs), which lowers your center of gravity and adds a bit more stability for someone your height in chop/waves (past the breakers, of course). The one thing to keep in mind though is that the Fairlight does not come with a paddle, but Honu enables you to choose from 3 high quality paddles that will be discounted if you bundle with your SUP.

Thoughts?

Thank you again!

Ian,

Glad they reached out! After I saw your comment I shot them a quick message to make sure they got you taken care of. iRocker really is doing everything they can to get back to everyone, and I’ve also never seen iRocker not take care of someone with a legitimate issue/concern.

I’m glad they were able to get back to you and get you taken care of!