I believe Justin was using Strava through his Garmin watch. We’ve since switched to using data from an NK Sports Speedcoach, as we’ve found that to be a lot more accurate.

Thank you so much for such detailed review. Mind if I ask what is the software you are using in tracking paddling as you showed screenshot here?

Hi Rian,

It ultimately comes down to what you need as a paddler to decide whether or not it’s worth the extra money for you. If you need a lot of volume/stability and a higher weight capacity/stiffer construction, then the Blackfin is worth a little bit of a splurge. If you don’t need a ton of excess stability and will mostly be doing solo paddling then you’d likely enjoy the iROCKER 11′. I will note though that if you’re a heavier paddler or want to be able to truly load up with a ton of gear, that Blackfin XL is phenomenal.

(P.S. It’s awesome how responsive you guys are to the questions and comments here!)

Yes, you will gain performance on a hard SUP, though we’ve found the performance difference to be minimized on some of our high quality inflatables. You’re right about them sitting lower in the water as well; this lowers your center of gravity, allowing you to feel more stable in heavy chop. They’re ability to sit low in the water also helps when you’re paddling against the wind, since not as much of the bard is exposed above the water surface. As for the hulls, generally speaking, hard boards will have either a planing hull or a V-hull. A planing hull is the ‘U’ shape and, when combined with an ideal amount of rocker, enables your board to glide over top of the water and over any wake and chop (though they can sometimes be a bit tricky going against the wind; you just need to take a step forward on your board to lower your nose a bit). Hard SUPs with ‘V’ hull (sometimes called a displacement hull) are fairly self explanatory (the nose is in a ‘V’ shape), and enable the board to slice through the water, thereby displacing the water on either side and contributing to a faster board overall. One thing to consider with V-hulls though is that they’re ideal in flatwater, and can handle a moderate amount of chop, but it’s super easy to bury your nose when the bumps get too big.

The main things to consider when deciding between a hard SUP and inflatable is volume. Inflatables typically have more volume than a hard SUP, meaning they’re able to support more weight than a hard board with the same length and width; this is especially important to consider if you’re a taller/heavier paddler. On top of that, there’s also the storage component to inflatables; if you don’t have the space or the ability to transport a hard SUP, than an inflatable is probably a better bet.

That’s undeniably a tough choice, though either of those boards will handle wind and chop really well, so it ultimately just comes down to your preferences. The Blackfin XL is super stiff and has tons of stability, though it won’t be quite as fast as the 12’6 voyager. On the other hand, the 12’6 Voyager is just as rigid as the Blackfin XL due to the RSS battens and MSL construction, and is inclined to pick up a bit more speed, though it’s not quite as stable since the Blackfin XL has an extra 1″ in width (that’s not to say the Voyager 12’6 is unstable though, just isn’t as rock solid as the Blackfin XL).

Another aspect to consider is cargo space. If you’re consistently paddling with gear or more than a couple drybags, the Blackifn XL would be the better option as it has tons of storage space, where as the Voyager 12’6 has enough room for a couple of drybags, but not much else. It’s also worth noting that unlike the Blackfin XL, the Voyager 12’6 does not come with a paddle, but the rest of Red Paddle Co’s included accessories are a fantastic quality.

I realize that all of that info may be a bit confusing, so lets leave it at this: if you want stability above all else, with the option to bring along a load of gear, go with the Blackfin XL. If you’re looking for a SUP that offers a higher level of performance and speed, while still maintaining an accommodating level of stability, go with the Voyager 12’6.

Shawn,

The construction and performance are essentially the same, the main differences are just cosmetic.

Find iRocker on Instagram. They were crazy amazing helping me with the warranty.