Hala Playa
- 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 looking for a stable, inflatable, paddle board geared towards surfing and touring then the Hala Playa is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Fiberglass Hybrid Inflatable construction which is durable and has its ups and downs. Due to is 30 inch width, the board is fairly stable and it has 2.77 lbs per foot weighing 29.1 lbs total, making the board moderately heavy for its size. Its shape makes the Playa a hybrid between a surf and a touring board that can be used by intermediate paddlers and was designed for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid-range distance paddling between 3-5 miles. Retailing at $1,379, the board is among the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is rather thoughtful and the construction strikes as rugged. The Playa has some nice looks, coming with an interesting mix of colors and graphics, intended to be lively and eye-catching. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories using a combo of fiberglass and drop stitch technology and suits both touring and surfing. The construction does appear strong, as something that can handle heavy use. This paddle board is somewhat difficult to carry at its weight of 29.1 lbs but is definitely manageable and the glide is slow. In addition to the center strap in the center of the board, the board also has handles on the nose and tail of the board. After putting it all together, the Playa is a stable board that most paddlers should be able to stand on and paddle away.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Surf 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
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
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 Hala Gear website.
Features
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Dimensions
10'6" x 30" 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).
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Weight
29.1 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
318LVolume 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
200-350 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.
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Add On's
Bungee/Front and Rear HandlesAdd-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
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
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 |
|---|
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