Bark Expedition
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a non-inflatable, fast, touring/expedition board then the Bark Expedition is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Pro Elite construction which is somewhat durable and has both ups and downs. Due to its width of 26 inches, the board is unstable, but, the lb-per-foot ratio is 2.16 weighing 27.02 lbs total. Its shape makes the Expedition a perfect touring board that should be used by intermediate to advanced paddlers. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for long-distance paddling of 5-10 miles plus. Retailing at $2,299 the board sits among the premium price tier but comes with the best that the brand has on offer.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are stunning, the shape design is quite thoughtful and the construction strikes as relatively durable given that its properly taken care of. The Expedition has some gorgeous looks, coming with an exceptionally beautiful play on color and graphics, intended to be potent and yet with class. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features suited mostly for expedition paddling and the construction does appear moderately durable, as something that can survive constant but delicate use. This paddle board is easy to carry being that it is slightly over 27 lbs (27.02 lbs to be exact), and the glide feels fast, which is great for expeditions. The board has a couple cool features incorporated: the GoPro mount located on the nose as well as bungee inserts on both the tail and nose. Once you put it all together, the Expedition is a fast, fun, board suited best for intermediate and advanced paddlers with expedition paddling on the agenda.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Touring UsePaddle 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
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Durability
StrongDurability 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.
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Stability
UnstableStability 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.
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Glide
FastGlide 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 Surftech USA website.
Features
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Dimensions
12'6" x 26" x 7"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).
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Weight
27.02 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).
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Volume
233 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
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Capacity
UnknownCapacity 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.
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Add On's
Bungee/Fin Included/3/4 Deck Pad/Tail Bungee Inserts/GoPro Mount on NoseAdd-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.
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Handle
Internal Ergo GripHandles 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.
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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 |
|---|
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 26 Inches | 7 Inches | 233 L |
| 14 Feet | 26 Inches | 7.5 Inches | 271 L |
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