Pelican Flow
- 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 an very stable, non-inflatable, all-around board to paddle short distances and in the low price point of under $500, then the Flow from Pelican is worth looking at. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the extremely durable RAM-X™ construction and has both positives and negatives. The board comes in three different sizes, all of which are incredibly stable. Its construction is highly durable, however, the board is very heavy and very difficult to carry. Its shape makes the Flow an all-around board that can be used by anyone and is designed primarily for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short distance paddling, around the beach and dock. Starting at $299, the board is among the most affordable ones you can find.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color take a simplistic approach, the shape design is average and the construction strikes as incredibly durable. The Flow has almost no colors and graphics, only the bottom of the board and deck pad show pops of color giving the board a very clean and simple look. The shape design is commonplace for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for recreation. And the construction appears very tough as something that can survive heavy use and won’t break easily. This paddle board is very difficult to carry which is no surprise since it weighs 41.3 lbs and the glide feels slow and heavy which is also no surprise since lightweight constructions and speed-centric designs are not at all a focus. The board has 4 extra handles in addition to the center one on the deck on both rails and on the tail and nose. It also has a flex fin which works great when paddling in shallow areas like the river or over a reef and there’s no fear that the fin will pop out or chip off. And once you put it all together, the Flow is a very stable, very tough board that anyone who can walk can easily stand on it and paddle away.
Benefits
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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
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Durability
Very 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
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
Very 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 Pelican website.
Features
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Dimensions
9'4" x 31" 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
41.3 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
190LVolume 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 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/4 Soft handle sides and tail & nose/Flex FinAdd-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 |
|---|
| 9 Feet 4 Inches | 31 Inches | 6 Inches | 190 L |
| 10 Feet 6 Inches | 32 Inches | 6 Inches | 230 L |
| 11 Feet 6 Inches | 31.5 Inches | 6 Inches | 269 L |
Previous Versions
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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.