Aquatone Playtime

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly inflatable SUP / kayak hybrid paddleboard the Playtime from Aquatone might be what you’re looking for. This board is priced at a very affordable price, $579 USD, especially when you consider you’re getting two for one here. This board suits beginner paddlers very well and is something the entire family can enjoy. The Playtime is best for short-distance paddling near the shore and in calm, flatwater conditions.

At first look this board is very unique and looks different from a lot of other boards you see that are SUP/kayak hybrids. The board features a dugout in the center of the deck. You don’t see this too often with inflatables and it definitely helped with the stability on the water. The graphics are fairly simple and feature a nice mix of blues and yellows. When it comes to the package it had nice graphics on the box and it comes with the board, convertible SUP/kayak paddle, bag, pump, fin and leash. It does not come with the kayak seat attachment so the images on the box were slightly misleading and we thought that would have been included. If you want the kayak seat, you have to purchase that separately. That being said, we were able to sit in the dugout area and paddle the board as a kayak. It was slightly uncomfortable since there was no backrest but it is definitely doable for a short time. When it comes to the construction of the board, the materials used seem quite lightweight which really helps keep the board nice and light but it does sacrifice durability so you’ll want to be a little more careful here in making sure you’re not dragging the board or hitting rocks. Carrying the board was also a little awkward as the handles to the board are on the rails rather than in the center of the board. There are also handles on the nose and tail of the board which is a nice option as well. It would be really easy if you have a helping hand but solo you might feel a little awkward. It is pretty lightweight though so definitely manageable. Another thing to note is the fin. What should have been an easy click in and go was actually kind of difficult and we struggled there for a bit trying to get the fin to fit. Also when it comes to the fins, there is an extra fin entry in the center of the board that you can utilize to help with tracking but you’d have to purchase that second fin separately. When paddling this board as a SUP it was really stable thanks to the width and thickness of the board. This board is extra thick – normally we see thickness on inflatables around the 6in. mark but the Playtime is 8in thick so that’s a unique design feature here and helps with stability and allows for a larger capacity limit. The board also features a ton of attachment points via D rings so if you’re interested in getting some fun accessories the board should allow you to use them. Overall, the Playtime is an affordable inflatable that can be used as both a SUP and kayak and is something the entire family can take advantage of and have a good time.