Boardworks Shubu Riptide
- 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?
The Boardworks Shubu Riptide is a solid option for beginner paddlers looking for an affordable, easy-to-carry, inflatable board to paddle short to mid distances. At just $599, the Riptide is a great all-around and stable board for beginners and paddlers that want a simple, lightweight board for occasional use. A great entry level inflatable board.
First Impressions
At first glance the Shubu Riptide had pretty simple graphics with a nice mix of blues and greys. The design for the board is standard for boards in these same categories and the durability does seem somewhat fragile and should be handled carefully. The Riptide was easy to carry since it only weighed 21.2lbs and should be a board that paddlers of all sizes and ages can handle with ease. On the water the board felt very stable and the glide was slow which is to be expected since speed-centric designs are not at all a focus. The board also wasn’t too stiff and you could feel it flexing. But with an FCS II fin and bungee cord included this package is a great deal at its price point.
Benefits
-
Primary Use
All-Around 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
-
Durability
Somewhat 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
Very StableStability 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
SlowGlide 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 Boardworks website.
Features
-
Dimensions
10'6" x 33" x 5"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
21.2 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
276 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
255 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/ FCS II/ D RingAdd-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 |
|---|
Similar Products
Boardworks Shubu Solr
$749
Boardworks Shubu Kraken
$949
Surftech Runabout
$999
Pelican Antigua
$649
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.