Thurso Surf Expedition
- 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 inflatable, touring-specific paddle board that is under $1,000, the ThursoSurf Expedition might be what you’re looking for. The Expedition is designed for just that: going on expeditions, hauling gear, and paddling with longer distances in mind.This board is a great transition touring board for beginner paddlers looking for something to step up their game since it’s width is 30/31 inches (depending on which size you get). If you’re looking for something that is very stable you might want to look for something with a bit more width. At around 25 pounds the board is manageable and comes in at an average weight.
First Impressions
We first reviewed the Expedition back in 2020 and since then this board has seen some updates. But before we get into those, note that the board size we reviewed here for the 2022 edition was the Expedition 150, or the 12'6" version. Now onto the the updates: First, the graphics are slightly different with the deckpad having a minor design change, nothing too drastic there. Second, this new version features the carbon rails, adding more rigidity to the board. Back to the design: the board graphics themselves are rather basic but still very clean and simple and they translate into the included accessories that come with the board. The bells and whistles that come with this board are a nice touch; it has several D rings across the board, as well as two on the handle that is on the back of the board. It also comes with two different straps on the rails where you can strap the paddle to carry with bungees on the nose and the tail. The board was very manageable and easy to carry down to the water. On the water, with the board being slightly more narrow at 31 in. (yes just a few inches can make a huge difference) it had a nice glide through the water and I was going at an average speed with not a lot of effort. But being stable on the board, for most average people getting this board I don’t think they would feel stable at first – something that they would have to definitely work on. So this board might be better suited for intermediate paddlers who have paddle boarded before and want to get better and go longer distances but still have an inflatable. This is a good board for that, but for a beginner looking for a board it's possible that this board would be unstable. Overall, the Expedition is a pretty good value for the quality of the board and all the bells and whistles that are included in the package.
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
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.
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Stability
AverageStability 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 Thurso Surf website.
Features
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Dimensions
12'6" 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
25.6 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
360 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
160-210 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 Nose, Bungee Tail, D Ring, Paddle Holder, Paddle Included, Leash Included, Camera Holder, Handle on nose, Handle on tailAdd-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
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 |
|---|
| 11 Feet 6 Inches | 30 Inches | 6 Inches | 300 L |
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 31 Inches | 6 Inches | 360 L |
Previous Versions: 2020
If you’re looking for an inflatable, touring-specific paddle board that is under $1,000, the ThursoSurf Expedition might be what you’re looking for. The Expedition is designed for just that: going on expeditions, hauling gear, and paddling with longer distances in mind. This board is on the edge of being something that beginner paddlers are able to use since it’s width is 30 inches. If you’re looking for something that is very stable you might want to look for something with a bit more width. At 25 pounds the board is manageable and comes in at an average weight.
First Impressions
The Expedition by Thurso Surf falls into the highly durable inflatable category and seems like it has a lot of reinforced layers to it to make it able to last. The board has bungee cords on both the nose and tail of the board which is great for touring and hauling gear and accessories. The board also has a paddle holder which is always nice and convenient when you need to be hands free. The added handles on the nose of the board help with carrying the board in and out of the water which is always a bonus. Another bonus is the toolless 3-fin system that it comes with along with the paddle, leash, bag and pump that comes as part of the package. As far as the finish, it’s not a high-end and doesn’t look as polished as some of the other inflatables that we’ve seen.
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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.