Aqua Marina Hyper
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re searching for a beginner-friendly inflatable touring board that is under $1,000 USD check out the Hyper from Aqua Marina. This board is designed with touring in mind and can go mid to longer range distances, in the ballpark of 3 to 5 miles. The Hyper is available in two different sizes, 11’6 or 12’6 and comes with a leash, fin, pump and bag so if you need a paddle you’ll have to get that separately.
First Impressions
Aside from the bold colors used in the design, the double chamber on the Hyper immediately grabbed our attention. This double chamber is a huge value add. Not only does it add an additional layer of safety by adding up to 48 liters of safety floatation but it also helps the rigidity of the board. Win-win. Another noticeable feature is the hydrodynamic rail edges (REC Edge™) incorporated here. One of the trade offs of having an inflatable is that you lose the ability to really shape the board for performance in the water and one of the features that you lose is the ability to have an edge on the rails, which helps the board normally get a, what's called a bite or a hold, like an edge and track in the water. But with these rail edges, this is an attempt to add a bit of an edge to the tail of the board to help the water flow better, like you would see on a composite board. Very thoughtful touch!! The board features a number of bells and whistles that are great additions. The bungees on both the nose and tail of the board are great for storing gear but they’re also unique in that they’re flat instead of the cord shape which is a nice touch. The board was really manageable when carrying to the water and is at an average weight for an inflatable of this size. Wasn’t lightweight but not overly heavy either. On the water, the board felt very stable despite it being narrower than the standard 32”+ that typically make a board stable. The dual chamber very likely has helped on that front, not to mention the added safety that it brings. Overall, this board would be a good transition board from all around to touring as it's still pretty stable and good for a more novice paddler. Even though this board doesn’t come as a complete package (paddle not included) what it does feature was really impressive and deserving of Supconnect’s A-Grade.
Benefits
-
Primary Use
TouringPaddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines
-
Durability
DurableDurability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.
-
Stability
AverageStability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.
-
Glide
AverageGlide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side.
Learn more on the Aqua Marina website.
Features
-
Dimensions
12'6" x 32" x 6"Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).
-
Weight
27.5 lbsStandup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).
-
Volume
240 LVolume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf.
-
Capacity
370 lbsCapacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.
-
Add On's
Bungee Nose, Bungee Tail, D Ring, Leash IncludedAdd-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.
-
Handle
StrapHandles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.
-
Holders
NoFishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.
Sizes Available
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|
| 11 Feet 6 Inches | 31 Inches | 6 Inches | 330 L |
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 32 Inches | 6 Inches | 370 L |
Similar Products
Pau Hana Solo Backcountry
$1,249
Bay Sports Tour
$1,195
SIC Maui Okeanos Air
$929
Kokopelli Chasm-Lite
$999
For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.