Body Glove Tandem
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a two-person SUP/Kayak hybrid inflatable board that is affordable and durable and stylish, the Body Glove Tandem is worth checking out. This standup paddle board is 15 feet long and comes fully loaded with everything you need to get on the water. Board, paddle, pump, leash, kayak seats and more are all included here which make this package a great value. The board is a bit on the heavier side and weighs 38 lbs so it is tougher than most boards to carry solo, but if you’re carrying it with another person it should be relatively easy. The shape of the board makes the Tandem best suited for touring-style paddling. Retailing at $1,499 this board does sit in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability however, Costco offers this package at just $599 making it an incredibly affordable package with great value.
First Impressions
The Body Glove Tandem is the second of their SUP/Kayak hybrid boards (the first one being the Porter), this one offering the option of holding two paddlers. The package comes with two kayak seats that are already strapped on to the board out of the box and two adjustable paddles that transform into SUP paddles when needed. When you want to switch to SUP, just remove the seats from the deck of the board and you’ll be good to go. The board comes in a plain black bag that can be carried around but does not double as a backpack. The box/packaging like other Body Glove products come in a beautiful box with gorgeous imagery that show the versatility of the board. The board includes a handle on both the nose and tail of the board making it nice and easy to carry when you have someone with you. The deck of the board also has two different handles giving you a second option for carrying if you prefer to carry the board underneath your arm. The handles on the deck of the board also double as holders for the paddles as well as water bottles. There’s a nice graphic design to the board as well with a sort of map-looking design on the nose which is a nice play on the exploratory nature that paddle boarding allows. The board comes with a GoPro mount and has bungee cords on the nose and on the tail there are a few D rings for added attachments if you wish. If you’re paddling solo, this board will be tough to carry alone to and from the water due to its size and weight. Once you have the board in the water, the board is very stable and is perfect for all around paddling, fishing and spending time on the water. Long distances probably aren’t the best for this board with 1-3 miles distance being best. Overall, the design, quality and feel make this a great package, deserving of Supconnect’s A Grade.
Benefits
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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
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Durability
AverageDurability 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
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.
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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 Body Glove website.
Features
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Dimensions
15' x 34" x 5.4"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
38.2 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).
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Volume
unknownVolume 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
500 lbs / 226kgCapacity 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
Action Camera/Anchor Attachment, Cargo Bungee, Kayak Seat, Water Bottle Holder / Carrying Handle, 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 install.
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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.
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Holders
YesFishing 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 |
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Similar Products
Surftech Hercules
$1,399
Body Glove Porter
$999
Scott Burke SUPyak
$899
Surftech Runabout
$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.