Aqua Marina Beast

If you’re searching for a beginner-friendly inflatable standup paddle board that’s affordable check out the Beast from Aqua Marina. The Beast is great for beginner paddlers but also is something the entire family can enjoy. The board is measured at 10’6” x 32’ x 6 inches with a volume of 312L and weighs ~19lbs. The board is best for short-distance paddling of up to 2 miles and is best in flatwater conditions. The board comes with everything you need - paddle, pump, leash, and fin - and sits at the mid-tier price point with an MSRP of €549.

The 2024 Beast is getting better and better with each iteration. We first tested it out in 2018, then in 2022. Now, the 2024 version is once again new and improved with some remarkable upgrades. The first, and most obvious upgrade from its previous version is the updated graphics. The board still keeps its blue theme from previous versions but the updated graphics here give it a much more polished look. The colorways are more in line with deckpack colors and it all just looks a bit more cohesive. Another upgrade, and arguably the most important one to note here, is the updated technology. Before, the Beast featured a lightweight drop stitch technology but this new version features a double stringer technology which adds lightness and durability to this paddle board. It has additional stiffness and reinforcements -- they focused on excellent stability and rigid design all the way from the nose to the tail of the board. Big bonus and much appreciated update to this board. Another update to the board is the tail design. Previous versions had the tail a bit more rounded but with this iteration you’ll notice a more squared tail which helps with stability. For the included accessories, you’re also looking at an upgrade. The paddle is now a carbon-hybrid paddle, much better quality than what was included before and the leash was upgraded from a low-quality cord to a much more durable coiled leash. Even the storage/carry bag got an upgrade and is much better quality. Love the improvements there. Now let’s talk new features. The 2024 Beast features Aqua Marina’s all-new Red Strap bungee system which is thicker than standard bungees that you’ll see and it really helps further secure any cargo you wish to bring onboard with you during your paddle. Aesthetically, another under-appreciated detail is the branding on every touchpoint of the items that come in the package from the backpack, paddle, pump, leash, and fin which is always a nice touch and something that can and should be appreciated. Small details like these show the thought that goes in behind the scenes when designing the overall package. You can see all the intricate designs that they put into this paddle board. One of my favorite parts of the Beast is the red string bungee system that they have, it’s very unique, a lot of paddle boards do not have this and you can add whatever you like at the front as well as extra d-rings to add as well. On the water, my first impression of paddle boarding the Aqua Marina Beast is that you can really feel that double string layer when I'm out there. I feel very stable and I know the board is going to be durable. The side-to-side rocker, if you're an ultimate beginner, might test you a little bit but with a little bit of practice and getting comfortable on the board, I think it's honestly perfect for you. As I did the turning as well I love that the deck pad at the tail was raised to a kick which adds a ton of ease for turning and creates more stability. At the end of the day, the 2024 Beast from Aqua Marina saw some major improvements to the overall design and quality, not only to the board itself but also to the included accessories. The Beast has a beautiful updated color scheme and is a very budget-friendly board that the entire family should be able to enjoy.

We first reviewed this board back in 2018 and since then it has seen some updates. The 2022 version, aesthetically, matches the blue and yellow of the 2018 version that we first tested but is completely different in terms of the actual graphics. The board features an array of blue striped graphics on the deck that spruces up the board with a nice accent of electric green/yellow on the rails. And what’s more, the branding is on every touchpoint of the items that come in the package from the backpack, paddle, pump, leash, and fin which is always a nice touch and something that can and should be appreciated. Small details like these show the thought that goes in behind the scenes when designing the overall package. The Beast is made with Aqua Marina’s DS light tech technology which makes the board incredibly lightweight and easy to handle. Another perk of the weight here is the endless opportunity for adventure. Think about taking a hike in the mountains to a remote lake. Because it’s so light, it’d be much easier to carry on your hike than a board that weighs between 20-30lbs. One downside though of the weight being so light is that if you were on that water and the wind came up it could get caught in the wind and a beginner/lightweight paddler would struggle a bit. You could argue the same with a heavy board though so something to keep in mind/note here. In terms of add-ons, there are a bunch of D-rings placed all around the board, and the red bungees are connected to the D-rings at the nose. The fins that come with the package work, but we struggled a bit getting the fin to fit in the fin box. There needs to be a lot of pressure put onto the fin to get into the groove of the fin box. At the end of the day, the Beast from Aqua Marina has a beautiful color scheme with a pop of electric green and a beautiful blue array, and is a very budget-friendly board that the entire family should be able to enjoy.

On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is quite average, and the construction appears fragile. The Beast has some nice looks, coming with some interesting mix of color and graphics, intended to be quite lively. The shape design is average for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for recreation. The construction does appear weak, as something that is meant to be handled carefully. The pump for the board is a bit tricky at times to get locked in and took us a few tries to get it going but once it was attached inflating the board was pretty easy. This paddle board is very easy to carry since it weighs under 20 lbs and the glide feels average, which is to be expected since it’s an inflatable designed for all-around paddling. Once you put it all together, the Beast is stable, so most people should be able to easily stand on it and paddle away.