Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” Multi-Person Inflatable SUP Review | 2023

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Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” iSUP: Overview

The Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” Multi-Person iSUP inhabits a space that is larger than your normal all-around iSUPs, but not quite as large as a true Tandem iSUP. I like to think of it as a one-and-a-half rider board. The SuperTrip 12’2” is great for adult paddlers who want to bring a kid or two as passengers, paddling with larger dogs, or the occasional short trip with a second adult passenger.

— Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” iSUP Summary Ratings and Review —

Construction and Durability

The Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” uses the same DS Lite construction and materials that are found in Aqua Marina’s all-around iSUPs. This keeps the SuperTrip 12’2” lightweight and portable, but not particularly stiff.

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Aqua Marina makes two different versions of the SuperTrip – the SuperTrip 12’2” and the SuperTrip 14’. The two different versions are not only different sizes, but also totally different constructions. Both have a 6” thick drop-stitch core, however the SuperTrip 12’2” only has a single layer of PVC tarpaulin on the deck and hull whereas the SuperTrip 15’ has a double-layer construction.

The single-layer build in the SuperTrip 12’2” is the same as in Aqua Marina’s all-around iSUPs like the Monster and the Atlas. The single layer deck and hull are joined with the first rail layer using a heat-pressed adhesive before the second rail layer is added to the first. Having two rail layers provides additional stiffness to the board, but more importantly it also gives the SuperTrip 12’2” more abrasion and puncture resistance on the board’s sides – where it’s most likely to take an impact both on and off the water. The SuperTrip 12’2” does not have any rail reinforcement strips on the top or bottom of the rails. These narrow PVC strips provide another layer of protection to the rails both from physical damage and to further help prevent potential delamination.

The SuperTrip 12’2” performed similarly to Aqua Marina’s all-around iSUPs in our bend test as well. With our standard 170 lbs load, the SuperTrip 12’2” deflected 2.25” inches.

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On the water, the SuperTrip 12’2” was just as flexible. The lightweight DS Lite construction has proven itself to have low rigidity in all of the Aqua Marina iSUPs we’ve tested that use it. The SuperTrip 12’2” is no exception. Whether you are walking on the board, paddling, or just standing, you can easily feel the SuperTrip 12’2” flex with just the movement of the water. During the bounce test, the SuperTrip 12’2” flex becomes extremely visible.

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Specifications

Features, Accessories and Versatility

The SuperTrip 12’2” has a very minimal feature set, but still offers enough comfort for a day on the water.

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When evaluating the versatility of a multi-person paddleboard, one of the most important features is its carrying capacity. The Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” has a listed 460 lbs weight capacity. While that looks great on paper for a tandem iSUP, I have some pretty big reservations about recommending this as a paddleboard for two adults.

First, the SuperTrip 12’2” is barely longer, and is narrower, than Aqua Marina’s Monster and Atlas all-around iSUPs (12’x33” and 12’x34” respectively). While the shape of the board is just as important as its maximum dimensions, the SuperTrip’s shape advantage is only realized at the very tail of the board. The front ¾ of each of these iSUPs is nearly identical in shape with the amount of taper at the tail being the main difference. The reason I bring this up is because the Monster and Atlas are both significantly wider, designed as single-person all-around paddleboards, and both have significantly lower listed carrying capacities (375 lbs and 400 lbs respectively). Considering the difference in width and shape, I’m not sure how the SuperTrip 12’2” can be given a higher weight capacity than these other iSUPs. Regardless of how those numbers were derived, these weight capacities are still maximum-allowable, but not the recommended weight capacities to maintain performance. This is why I like to think of the SuperTrip 12’2” as a one-and-a-half person iSUP rather than a true tandem.

The relatively narrow width and low rigidity aren’t ideal for two full-grown adults, but are still completely usable by an adult and child, adult and larger dog, or two kids. The deckpad on the SuperTrip 12’2” is very large, so there is plenty of room for people and animals to spread out and sit or lie down.

One of the more limiting features of the SuperTrip 12’2” are its D-rings, or really a lack thereof. The tie-down points available are at the front cargo area, which is quite small for a multi-person SUP, but about the same size as what you’d expect to find on a basic all-around iSUP like the Aqua Marina Monster. There are no other D-rings on the board that could be used for kayak seats. I think this is a real shame because while I don’t recommend the SuperTrip 12’2” for two stand-up paddlers, it would make a good base for two sit-down kayakers. It’s just the right size to be used as a stable tandem sit-on-top kayak.

The SuperTrip 12’2” does have two sets of passenger handles on the sides of the board. These could be used to help secure additional cargo (like a cooler), but the placement may be an issue if you have two paddlers on board.

As a kit, the SuperTrip 12’2” is quite minimalistic. The kit includes the board, a single-chamber pump, a 9” “dolphin”-shape fin, repair kit, and carrying bag. It does not come with any paddles, nor does it include a leash (though there is a leash d-ring on the back of the board).

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Paddle

The Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” does not include any paddle, nor is there an option to bundle a paddle with the purchase of the board. If you need a paddle (or two) with the purchase of the Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2”, please make sure to add them to your cart separately.

Stability

For a solo paddler, the Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” has good primary stability, however for multiple paddlers the SuperTrip’s stability is far more questionable.

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Stability on a paddleboard comes from many different features. Some of the biggest are the board’s size and shape, but thickness, rigidity and weight all play a role as well.

At 12’2” long and 32” wide, the SuperTrip 12’2” is longer than a typical all-around iSUP, but similar in width to those designed for a single paddler. The long parallel sides and wide square tail both help to increase the SuperTrip’s stability while flat on the water and when tilted up on its edge. For a solo paddler, the SuperTrip 12’2” is one of the most stable iSUPs from Aqua Marina that I’ve tested.

However, the SuperTrip 12’2” is categorized and marketed as a multi-person iSUP, not a solo iSUP, and that is where things start to break down. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this review, I think the SuperTrip 12’2” is best looked at as a 1+ paddler board, not a true tandem board. What I mean by this is based on its stability profile, size, rigidity, and performance, two adults are going to have a very difficult time using this iSUP together. But, a single adult and a child, or a single adult and a dog (even a relatively large dog like a labrador), or two kids on the SuperTrip 12’2” would be fine. I also think that, overall, the same duos would feel even more stable on the wider Aqua Marina Atlas, or opting for the SuperTrip 14 (14’ x 34”).

Speed, Maneuverability, and Tracking

The SuperTrip 12’2” isn’t a multi-person race SUP (though Aqua Marina does have one available), but its speed is on par with their other similarly-sized all-around iSUPs. Tandem iSUPs are not frequently chosen for their top speeds. While there are some really fun multi-person racing SUPs out there, the SuperTrip 12’2” is meant for cruising with your bestie rather than racing to a finish line.

Sprinting on the SuperTrip 12’2” is quite difficult as the long, flexible board creates a lot of bounce. However it does paddle much better at reasonable cruising speeds, and glides moderately well.

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The SuperTrip 12’2” is actually quite maneuverable for its size (again, very similar to both the Aqua Marina Monster and Atlas). On the flip side of that, the overall tracking performance of the SuperTrip 12’2” was a little less than desirable. Part of this is because of the lightweight and flexible construction. When the board flexes in the water, the effective length of the board shortens and it becomes easier to turn. The other aspect of this performance is the fin. The SuperTrip 12’2” has a single slide-in fin box and comes with a 9” “dolphin”-shaped fin. This is a surf-style fin that is designed to let a board turn more easily compared to a touring-style fin that is designed to keep the board tracking straighter.

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Warranty and Customer Support

The SuperTrip 12’2” is covered by a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty, but is handled through their retail networks rather than directly from Aqua Marina. The available return policies will vary based on your specific retailer, but for North American customers you have a 30-day return period for new-condition products from the distributor, Zoppinh. Customer support is also handled by your local retailer rather than Aqua Marina Directly. With such a short warranty period and piecemeal approach to customer service, we’d like to see Aqua Marina put more faith behind their products with a more standard 2 (or more) year warranty period and be available for customer questions. So far we have been completely unsuccessful in reaching out to Aqua Marina directly with product questions.

Value

The Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” lies in an in-between space for stand up paddleboards. It’s pretty large for a one-person all-around iSUP (though certainly not unmanageable for a solo paddler), and it’s just a little on the small side for two fully-grown adults to use together. It does offer a lot of carrying capacity and a great platform to use with smaller passengers and dogs. However the very short warranty and lack of any paddles in the kit do reduce the overall value proposition for the SuperTrip 12’2”.

Overall Impressions/Review Summary

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While the SuperTrip 12’2” is not really large enough to be useful for multiple adults, I do think it has its place as a very manageable-size paddleboard for a solo paddler who regularly brings along smaller passengers. There’s plenty of room and volume for a child or a dog on the SuperTrip 12’2”. The passenger handles are both easily accessible, but out of the way when you don’t have someone else on board. The 32” width isn’t as stable as some of Aqua Marina’s other options (like the SuperTrip 14’ or even the Atlas All-Around), but is still easy for an individual to use.

Aqua Marina SuperTrip 12’2” iSUP FAQ