Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Overview
The Bote EasyRider 10’4 is a casual cruising SUP and inflatable kayak all in one package. With an extra-stable shape and comfortable inflatable kayak seat you can sit back and relax with this excellently-priced all-inclusive package.
— Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review Summary and Ratings —
Bote EasyRider 10’4
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Construction & Durability
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Features and Versatility
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Stability
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Speed
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Maneuverability
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Tracking
Overall Score
The EasyRider 10’4 is great for relaxed paddling whether you are standing or sitting.
Pros
- Includes a complete kayak conversion kit
- Stable shape is great for beginners
- Very comfortable inflatable kayak seat
- Easily maneuverability
- Magnepod accessory compatible for drink tumblers, speakers, and more
- Lightweight construction makes carrying the board easy
Cons
- Lightweight construction does have more flex when standing on the board
- Kayak seat is comfortable, but doesn’t have any foot brace/rest
- Aluminum paddle is noticeably heavy and stiff
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Construction and Durability
The Bote EasyRider 10’4 uses Bote’s lightweight single-layer AeroUltra construction technology found in many of its inflatable paddle boards like the Wulf, Breeze, and Flood.
Bote’s AeroUltra construction is designed to be lightweight, packable, and easier on the wallet while still bringing a quality paddling experience to the water.
Inside the EasyRider 10’4 is a standard knitted drop stitch core that uses layers of knitted polyester fabric as a base layer for the deck and hull, and connects the two layers with thousands of yarns to keep the board flat when inflated.
The outer shell of the EasyRider is made of a single-layer fusion PVC material that is applied directly to the fabric base layer. This keeps the board light and eliminates manufacturing errors that can occur with hand-laminated dual-layer systems.
The deck and hull are then joined together with a heat-pressed seam, utilizing high-heat-activated glue, to complete the airtight chamber for the board. A second outer layer of PVC is glued around the first rail layer for additional protection and support.
Once the EVA foam pad and other accessories are installed, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 weighs in at just 19.6 pounds and has a maximum recommended inflation pressure of 15 PSI.
At its full inflation pressure, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 performed in line with Bote’s other AeroUltra iSUPs in our bend test. With 170 pounds of weight added to the standing area of the board, the EasyRider bent just over 2.25”. That is a fairly significant amount of flex within our data, but more important than our technical test is how the EasyRider feels on the water.
While on the water with the Bote EasyRider I could tell that it wasn’t as stiff as many of the other iSUPs I’ve tested, but it also wasn’t making a large impact on its performance for normal paddling activities.
While standing still on the EasyRider 10’4, I could tell the board had some flex when I was looking for it, but once I started paddling at a casual pace I didn’t truly notice the flex. However, I do think the flex of the board is negatively impacting its stability – more on that in the stability section below.
When I pick up the pace and start paddling harder for a sprint, then I do really begin to notice the flex in the board. The EasyRider 10’4 flexes very noticeably during fast-paced paddling and becomes pushy in the water rather than gliding smoothly. I also felt quite a bit of flex and vibration while walking around on the deck.
While the EasyRider 10’4 isn’t incredibly rigid, it’s important to remember what this board is designed for – casual cruising and hybrid use. At slow, all-day, cruising speeds and when using the EasyRider as a kayak, the amount of flex is fairly minimal and doesn’t impact the glide performance of the board.
Specifications
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10’ 4” |
| Width | 36“ |
| Thickness | 5“ |
| Weight | |
| Max Capacity | 250 pounds |
| Board Weight | 19.6 pounds |
| Kit Weight (SUP & accessories) | 37.2 pounds |
| Buying Info | |
| List Price | $649 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Returns period | 30 days |
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Features, Accessories and Versatility
The Bote EasyRider 10’4 has a versatile feature set with everything you need for a fun day on the water. A large cargo area, multiple D-rings, and a large comfortable deck pad create a versatile paddle board, but what really brings the EasyRider 10’4 to the next level is it’s included kayak conversion kit.
The EasyRider 10’4’s kit has just about everything you need to get on the water. Included with the board itself you also get:
- Single-chamber hand pump
- Coiled leash
- Repair kit
- Large slide-in fin
- 3-piece aluminum/ABS SUP paddle
- Additional blade for kayak conversion
- Inflatable kayak seat
- Two 4’ cam straps
All of this easily fits in the nylon backpack-style bag included with the board. The only other things you’ll need are a lifejacket, sunscreen and water!
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Paddle
The EasyRider 10’4 comes with a 3-section / 4-piece aluminum paddle that can easily switch from SUP to Kayak paddle in seconds.
The new aluminum paddle that comes with the Bote EasyRider 10’4 is designed for versatility, durability, and ease of use.
This new paddle features a slightly smaller paddle blade than what’s found with some of Bote’s other models like the Wulf. The smaller blade is still made of a durable ABS plastic and shares a similar shape. The teardrop style blade has a moderate scoop profile and a small offset to make it very easy for beginner paddlers to use. There is a small amount of flex in the blade, but combined with the aluminum shaft it does create a very stiff feeling in the water.
Aluminum is an interesting material for a paddle shaft. On one hand it’s incredibly rigid allowing you to transfer every bit of power from your body into a very solid stroke. On the other hand, that same stiffness and the additional weight of the material can take a toll on your body if you are paddling for long periods of time. While it is very solid feeling in the water, it is important to take care of the aluminum paddle shaft while off the water, as aluminum can bend if stepped/sat on or otherwise stressed, and it can’t really be bent back.
The main section of the paddle shaft is also covered with a rubberized grip sleeve. Whether or not to add grip sleeves to a paddle is a personal choice. I’m not actually a fan of them myself as I find they tend to rub or irritate my hands. However many people do like the additional traction they provide.
The paddle shaft is also completely symmetrical with a button release and compression collar on each end. When putting the paddle together it doesn’t matter which end you use for the blade or for the handle section. However the handle does not have any indexing measures, so when adjusting the handle, make sure the palm grip is properly aligned with the paddle blade.
When you want to switch the EasyRider 10’4 into kayak mode, changing the paddle is simple. Just remove the SUP handle, and insert the included additional paddle blade. The button release will align the two paddle blades together automatically.
Overall, the included aluminum paddle is versatile, but it is also heavy and stiff-feeling in the water. This is one of the tradeoffs with the EasyRider 10’4 versus the new LowRider 10’6 – which comes with the same paddle design in a lighter-weight and more comfortable fiberglass build.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Stability
At 36” wide, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 has beginner-friendly stability, however there are a few caveats due to its construction.
Lots of different aspects of a paddle board can impact its stability. Most commonly known are the overall size of the board and its rigidity. Shape and weight can also affect a SUP’s stability.
My first impressions of the EasyRider’s stability were decent. It’s a wide board with a wide shape and I didn’t have any real issues balancing on the board. It is a little less stable feeling than the LowRider 10’6, which shares much of the same size, shape, and bend test result; however the LowRider 10’6 has a full length deck pad which changes how it responds on the water.
I did find that the EasyRider’s flex, rebound feel, and light weight did detract slightly from its stability. In fact, I wrote in my notes that it feels almost identical to the Bote Wulf, but it took me a few minutes to remember that the EasyRider is actually 2 inches wider than the Wulf.
Lightweight paddle boards tend to have a bit of a “twitchier” feel to them as they don’t resist shifting your body weight as easily as a heavier board. Likewise, lighter boards often have a different rebound feel when you flex the board by moving around on it. In the case of the Bote EasyRider 10’4 I found that it had a very springy rebound while walking or bouncing on the board.
Now, with all of those caveats listed I will say that the Bote EasyRider 10’4 does still have good stability overall. It’s just not the most stable board in this size range. The sheer size of the board makes up for quite a bit of the flex and weight. During normal use as a paddle board it has good, beginner-friendly, stability. I would say that Bote’s recommended 250 lbs weight capacity is a good level to observe and not overload. While going over this weight limit won’t sink the board by any means, it is going to negatively affect its performance, including stability.
Overall I think the LowRider 10’6 is extremely stable and a great option for SUP anglers and/or bringing along a pet or smaller passenger.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Speed
With a name like EasyRider, I don’t think anyone will be surprised that this paddle board isn’t a racing SUP, but it does perform well at normal cruising speeds.
No matter the paddle board, we always run our complete battery of tests, even though not every board is meant to excel in every possible category. The EasyRider 10’4 is a cruiser-style SUP that’s designed for casual paddling and good times with friends.
In our sprinting test, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 clocked an average sustained sprint speed of 4.9 MPH, and a peak speed of just 5.2 MPH. That is definitely on the slow side for most paddle boards we’ve tested. Considering the size of the board (36”) and its flex profile, this is right about where I expected the EasyRider to perform. It’s not a sprint racer, and that’s OK.
So when we slowed things down to a normal paddling speed, it was great to see the EasyRider performing right alongside with its peers. At a casual pace of 25 strokes per minute, the EasyRider 10’4 cruises along at an average of about 3.5 MPH. That’s very standard for a wide, cruiser-style iSUP.
While the EasyRider does get pushy and difficult to paddle when sprinting, it actually glides pretty efficiently at normal speeds. While paddling around that 3.5 MPH speed I was able to take a single stroke and glide for an average of about 18.5 feet, or 1.8 board lengths. That’s much more efficient than I had anticipated based on its size and rigidity.
Overall I think the Bote EasyRider’s speed performance is exactly where it should be. Even though it’s not very quick on the sprint, it is easy-paddling at regular speeds.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Turning and Tracking
Cruiser SUPs like the EasyRider are known for their easy maneuverability and moderate tracking performance. The Bote EasyRider 10’4 is no different.
In our maneuverability testing, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 did well. On average I was able to turn the EasyRider in a complete circle with just over 6 forward sweep paddle strokes. That is right about average for most all-around style paddle boards and just slightly slower than I expected. But the EasyRider does turn very easily with reverse sweep strokes – needing just 3.5 strokes to make the same 360° turn.
Likewise I found the EasyRider steers readily and can quickly turn up to about 90° without much effort. While there is noticeable flex and rebound when walking on the EasyRider, once you are at the back of the board, the wide square tail gives it plenty of stability for easy pivot turns.
When it comes time to head off into the sunset (or back to the beach for a refreshment), the Bote EasyRider 10’4 has fairly standard tracking performance for a cruiser-style iSUP.
In our 10-stroke tracking test, the EasyRider 10’4 deviated an average of 23° off course by the tenth stroke. While that is a little less accurate than a typical all-around paddle board, it does fall in line more closely with other cruiser-style paddle boards.
Just like how the EasyRider 10’4 is easy to steer onto a new course, it also responds well to steering strokes to help keep it moving in a straight line while paddling at casual speeds. Picking up the pace and paddling quickly, though, does generate more flex in the board and I found it to significantly reduce the EasyRider’s tracking performance.
Under the board, the EasyRider 10’4 has a single slide-in fin box and comes with a large surface area, 10” fin. This is a beast of a fin compared to what most all-around and cruiser-style paddle boards come with. The large surface area helps increase tracking and stability, and the position of the fin itself (slightly forward on the board) allows you to still easily turn the board.
Unlike many of Bote’s other iSUPs, the EasyRider 10’4 does not have fixed side bite fins. I think this is a huge improvement. These small side fins don’t really aid in tracking performance or stability, and are actually quite thick. The only thing they really do is create drag and slow the board down. While Bote does consider these side fins to be an additional feature on the LowRider 10’6 and 11’6, if you paddle in shallow water, you really do want to get a 3” or 6” center fin rather than rely on the fixed side fins.
The slide-in fin box is easy to use and understand, but I do have a few qualms with it. First, the vast majority of boards I’ve used that have this fin box require some hammering to get the in installed and removed. I’ve ruined multiple metal water bottles trying to do so! I’m not sure what it is about these fins/fin boxes, but the manufacturing tolerances just seem to be too far off for consistent, easy use. It’s also much harder to find alternate or replacement fins for these fin boxes, especially if you lose one and need an on-site replacement. Lastly, I’ve also seen these fin boxes crack and deform if the board is rolled too tightly.
Thankfully, Bote has increased the size of the bag for the EasyRider 10’4, so you can easily roll the board in such a way that it keeps the fin box flat. Ultimately, though, I’d love to see Bote switch to a more standard fin box system for its inflatables.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Kayak Performance
One of the biggest features of the EasyRider 10’4 is its included kayak conversion kit!
The EasyRider 10’4 comes with a second paddle blade and an inflatable kayak seat for a quick conversion to a sit-on-top kayak.
I really like the Bote inflatable kayak seat. I find it to be very comfortable and supportive. I’ve even used it as a regular chair while SUP camping! Both the seat and the back inflate up to 10 PSI, and there is a built-in elevator tube under the seat to help position your hips and legs at a more comfortable angle.
Once the seat is inflated, Bote includes two 4’ cam straps to attach the seat to the board. There are three positions on the board and two positions on the seat for the strap so you can dial in the exact position that you want. While the seat is very comfortable, only having two attachment points left me feeling a little disconnected from the board compared to the four-point connection system on the Isle Pioneer 3. While it’s a small difference between the two, it does make it a little harder to control the tilt of the EasyRider 10’4 while seated.
The paddle transformation is also very quick. All you need to do is swap the SUP handle for the extra paddle blade, and the button-release connection automatically aligns the two blades.
While paddling the EasyRider 10’4 as a sit-on-top kayak I did feel very stable. It was actually quite difficult to tilt the board on purpose for testing and for carving a tighter turn.
I did feel that it was a little harder to turn the EasyRider as a kayak without using more advanced strokes, but the casual speed and tracking performance were both noticeably better. Bote does not currently offer any type of foot brace for the EasyRider 10’4, so you aren’t able to as easily capitalize on using your whole body for better paddling efficiency and control.
When using the paddle with two blades, you tend to twist the paddle shaft more in your hands as you adjust for each stroke. Here is where I found the paddle shaft grip to be a little too much, and actually rubbed a small blister onto my thumb, even with a loose grip. The aluminum paddle is also noticeably heavy, especially with two paddle blades, which does make paddling for long periods of time more tiring.
Overall I feel that the kayak performance and conversion kit for the Bote EasyRider 10’4 are great for a casual paddler. The seat is very comfortable and paddling performance is still in-line with using the EasyRider as a SUP.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review – Warranty and Customer Support
Bote includes a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty with the EasyRider 10’4, but only after it is registered with Bote. The bag, paddle, and other accessories are only warrantied for 90 days from the date of purchase. After purchase, users have a 30 day return period for like-new products returned with all accessories. Returns are subject to a 20% restocking fee and the cost of shipping. This is a fairly strict warranty and return policy, and the warranty period extends for what I consider to be the minimum brands should be covering their products. You can contact Bote’s customer service team via web form, website chat, email, or social media.
Final Thoughts – Bote EasyRider 10’4 Review Summary
The Bote EasyRider 10’4 is a good option for newer paddlers who don’t want to choose between buying a SUP or buying a kayak for casual paddling. It has good SUP performance as a cruiser-style paddle board, and the conversion to sit-on-top kayak is easy and comfortable. The heavy paddle and lower speed performance do limit the EasyRider 10’4 to shorter paddling adventures, but still offers a great way to get out on the water in one convenient, and well-priced, package.
Bote EasyRider 10’4 SUP + Kayak FAQ
Does the Bote EasyRider 10’4 come with all of the accessories I need to use it as a kayak?
Yes. The Bote EasyRider 10’4 comes with an inflatable kayak seat and a convertible paddle so you can use the EasyRider for both SUP and kayaking.
What’s the difference between the Bote EasyRider 10’4 and LowRider 10’6?
These two paddle board/kayak combos are very similar in performance, but differ in their features and accessories. The EasyRider 10’4 has a standard-length deck pad and aluminum paddle, and the LowRider 10’6 has a full-length deck pad and fiberglass paddle.
Can I take my kids or pets on the Bote EasyRider 10’4?
Yes, the Bote EasyRider 10’4 has good stability and plenty of room on the board for a child or pet passenger. The Bote LowRider 10’6 is a slightly better option, though, with a full-length deck pad.
Can I use the Bote EasyRider 10’4 with two adults?
It’s not recommended to use the Bote EasyRider 10’4 with two adult passengers. The Bote LowRider 11’6 is much better suited to tandem paddling, and even comes with two paddles and two kayak seats.
Is the Bote EasyRider 10’4 a good value?
Yes, the Bote EasyRider is a great value for paddlers looking to get on the water with a SUP + Kayak hybrid while still being budget-friendly.