This unique paddle board features a special area on the deck that is constructed of EVA covered fiberglass. The area is divided into two super stiff strips that you stand on when paddling, and the result is an inflatable paddle board that feels just as stiff as a rigid one.
Walker Bay has been building top-quality recreational water products since 1997, and their current stand up paddle board lineup consists of three models: The HardTop Stubby 9, the HardTop SUV 11, and the HardTop Tour 12’6″. The innovative Airis HardTop SUP line won Boating Industry’s top products award for 2015.
In this Airis SUV 11 SUP review, we’ll go over the materials used in the construction of the board, its best features, how this inflatable SUP performs in the water and who it is best for, the specs, what’s included, the warranty coverage, and more.
In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary…
Airis HardTop SUV 11 Review: SUP Overview
This is a great all-purpose board that is excellent for both beginners and expert paddlers. It glides well in the water and overall tracking is outstanding.
In addition to the unique RigiDeck fiberglass area on the deck of the board, there are also two bungee storage areas — one near the nose of the board, and one near the tail. This is awesome if you typically paddle out with a lot of gear as you’ll have no trouble finding a place to secure it all.
Another great feature that Walker Bay added to the Airis 11 paddle board is a grab handle at the bow. This makes it super easy to pull the board out of the water, and it’s a feature that we would love to see on more boards these days.
Of course, there’s also the standard carrying handle located at the center of the board which makes it really easy to carry the SUP around when it’s fully inflated.
There are stainless steel D-rings located at the middle of the deck for attaching an optional kayak seat, and another D-ring at the board’s stern for attaching your SUP leash.
Unlike many inflatable SUP boards, the air valve for the Airis HardTop SUV 11 is not located on the deck of the board at the tail. It’s actually located on the starboard rail near the stern, and it’s a good quality valve.
The unique construction of the Airis 11 iSUP allows it to maintain super stiff rigidity, even at lower PSI pressures. Further adding to the board’s excellent stiffness is the drop stitch construction and thick, high-strength center stringer.
The minimum PSI for the Airis HardTop 11 is 5, while the recommended air pressure is 7 PSI. If you want, you can inflate the board up to a maximum of 12 PSI for additional stiffness. The total volume is 297 liters.
The board easily pumps up to the recommended PSI with the included hand pump in just a few minutes. When you’re done paddling, just rinse the board off with fresh water, dry it, deflate it, and roll it up.
The board’s dimensions are only 26″ x 10.2″ x 19.7″ when fully deflated and rolled up, and it fits neatly into the included backpack for easy transporting and storage.
On the flip side, the Airis HardTop 11 SUP features a large, single skeg.
Walker Bay Airis SUV 11 Rating
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Durability
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User Review
( votes)Airis 11 SUP Features & Specs
| Length | 11′ | |
| Width | 31″ | |
| Thickness | 6″ | |
| Weight | 26.5 pounds | |
| Max Capacity | 250 pounds |
What’s Included
- Air retention
- Structural integrity of the tube/body
- Servicability
- Seams and gluing
The included accessories are covered for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase.
We’d really love to see a paddle included with the board. This would make the board even more attractive to beginner paddle boarders, and would really round the accessory package off nicely.
We’d also love to see a longer warranty coverage period. While many SUP companies offer similar 12 month warranties, the best warranties are 2 or 3 years in duration.
FAQ
How do you clean the Airis Hardtop SUV 11?
There’s not much you really need to do. Just rinse the board off with fresh water after each use, and be sure to dry it completely before you put it away. Once in a while, you can hit the board with some mild soap and water if it looks dirty.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Walker Bay’s Airis HardTop SUV 11 SUP left us extremely impressed.
This high-quality inflatable SUP is absolutely packed with great features, and the super stiff rigidity and paddling performance are top notch.
The only real negatives that we found are the lack of a paddle and a warranty period that is shorter than we’d like to see. We would really prefer to see a 2 or 3 year warranty instead of the included 12 month warranty, but that’s just being picky.
At the end of the day, the Airis HardTop SUV 11 paddle board is a great choice for beginners and advanced paddlers alike. If you’re looking for a super rigid, well-built SUP that is extremely versatile, this is one that should be on your radar.
