Whee Aqua+ Wave Rider
- 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 affordable, inflatable paddleboard that is best suited for all around/recreational paddling, take a look at the Whee Aqua+ Wave Rider. This board is lightweight, easy to carry and is something that paddlers of all experience levels should be able to enjoy. The Wave Rider comes in a complete package (board, paddle, pump, leash + additional accessories) so you have all that you need to get on the water and start paddling. Priced at $519 this board sits in the mid-tier in terms of affordability.
First Impressions
At first glance the board colors definitely pop and are eye-catching with the blue and orange accents. Then when looking a bit deeper at the details a few things caught our attention. First, the attachments on the deck toward the nose double as action mounts and are also the attachment points for the bungee cords so that’s one thing that’s unique. Second, there are straps right above the deck pad which are nice for holding onto and are something we don’t see all too often. Third, the package includes a couple of nice accessories: a shoulder strap attachment to help with carrying the board as well as a waterproof phone case so you can take your phone and not worry about it getting wet. Speaking of the shoulder strap it did help with carrying the board and was pretty comfortable! Fourth and finally, the board has not one, not two, not three but FIVE grab handles throughout. Center of the deck, one at the tail, one on the nose and two right above the deck pad. This really adds convenience to the way you carry the board if you need help, need to anchor the board or other. When it comes to the quality of the board it’s not the highest quality but not the lowest either. The board does have some reinforcements on the rails but no extra reinforcements up and down either on the deck or on the bottom. The 3-piece paddle that it comes with has a nylon blade and a carbon, adjustable shaft. Again, not top notch quality but pretty decent. The included bag that it comes in appears to be made of lower quality material and is thin so use caution when moving the bag around as it does feel more fragile compared to other bags that we’ve seen. The traction pad felt nice and soft to the touch and was comfortable to stand on. On the water, the board was stable and easy to paddle and maneuver and also easy to carry (when not using the shoulder strap). Overall, the Wave Rider from Whee is a really affordable option for a complete SUP package and would work for occasional use for paddlers of all ages and skill levels.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Hybrid All AroundPaddle 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 Whee website.
Features
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Dimensions
11' x 32" 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
28 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
Unknown 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
150 kg / 330 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 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
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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HIKS Frio
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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.