Surftech Chameleon
- 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 on the market for an affordable, non-inflatable paddle board that works well as both an all around board and a touring board then check out the updated Chameleon from Surftech. The 2023 edition of this board has received some beautiful updates from previous versions and looks great. The Chameleon is an all-around/touring hybrid board that can be used by everyone with recreational paddling in mind. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid-range distance paddling, up to 3-5 miles max. The board comes in two sizes (10’4, 11’4) and colors (green, pink) and is quite light making it pretty easy to carry around. Starting at $1,130, the Chameleon is a stunning board that is versatile in use at an affordable price. Definitely check this one out.
First Impressions
Once again, Surftech wows with a beautiful board design. The 2023 Chameleon is offered in two different colorways and sizes. The smaller size, the 10’4, has a beautiful soft pink sort of watercolor graphics that are really unique. Most boards use solid colors so this is a really nice, fresh design. Similarly, the larger size that’s available, the 11’4, uses the same watercolor graphics but this size has more of a seafoam green. Again, really nice design. The deckpad is very simple in color and plays nicely off the rail color on the board. Speaking of the deckpad, it is made up of Surftech’s Bloom Foam tech which is made up of eco-friendly materials adding another nice touch. The Chameleon doesn’t come with a ton of bells and whistles and takes more of the simplistic approach with a bungee and accessory insert on the nose, the quality of materials and thoughtfulness in the design speak volumes. The weight of the board was nice and light for both sizes which not only made it easy to carry and handle out of the water, but on the water it was really easy to maneuver and turn. The board did feel quite stable, but beginner paddlers might be more comfortable on something with a touch more width and thickness to it. That being said, intermediate and advanced paddlers will love this board. The glide is smooth and the displacement nose design really helps it cut through the water and handle chop. And while the board has more of a touring shape/design it can definitely be used in small waves if you’re up for it. Overall, the Surftech Chameleon is an excellent, quality board that is very deserving of our A-grade. The 2023 design for the Chameleon is exclusively available at REI.
Benefits
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Primary Use
All-Around/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
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
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 REI website.
Features
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Dimensions
11'4" x 32" x 4.5"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).
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Weight
25.4 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
213 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
225 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/plug Insert on Nose, 3/4 Deck Pad/Bamboo FinishAdd-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 |
|---|
| 10 Feet 4 Inches | 31 Inches | 4.3 Inches | 182 L |
| 11 Feet 4 Inches | 32 Inches | 4.5 Inches | 213 L |
Previous Versions: 2020
The Surftech Chameleon has both a men’s and women’s edition (10’4 and 11’4) and is a touring specific board. This means that the board is fairly stable but still gives you range in terms of paddling. Often times you compromise the stability for range when looking at paddle boards but the Surftech Chameleon strikes that sweet spot. Starting at $1,050 this board is an incredible value. It’s really well-built, has beautiful graphics, and it gives you a touring board at a price point that normally was not previously found in the market. Most of these premium touring boards start at about $1,600+ so the fact that it’s just above $1,000 is remarkable. So, if you want a lot of bang for your buck with a beautiful glide, great stability this is a great pick. Just be sure you get the size that is correct for you. The 11’4 has more volume so if you’re above 185lbs you’ll want to get this size.
Previous Versions: 2017
On first impressions, the graphics and color are unique, the shape design is quite thoughtful and the construction strikes as strong. The Chameleon has some uncommon looks, coming with some interesting mix of color and graphics, intended to be quite lively. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features suited mainly for recreation and the construction does appear durable as something that can survive constant yet delicate use. This paddle board is somewhat easy to carry with its weight under 30 lbs and the glide feels average. There’s a plug insert on the nose which could be great for adding in a GoPro or other accessories of your choosing. And once you put it all together, the Chameleon is a very stable board that paddlers of all skill levels should be able to enjoy and have fun on.
Similar Products
Starboard Generation
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Surftech Lido
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Surftech Promenade
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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.