Glide O2 Quest 3.0 Inflatable SUP Review – Smooth Touring and Fitness Paddling | 2025

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Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Overview

Glide’s O2 Quest 3.0 is a fun, fast, and efficient paddle board. Its shape helps it paddle smoothly through the water, but does come with a tradeoff in overall stability. But when you are hitting the water for a workout, that playful feel helps engage your whole body.

With high-quality construction, and a robust kit of accessories, the Glide O2 Quest makes for a great fitness and light-duty touring SUP.

— Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Summary and Ratings —

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Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Construction and Durability

Glide SUP has always been on the forefront of technology for creating high-quality and durable SUPs. Their new 3.0 construction continues to push the boundaries of weight, rigidity, and durability.

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The Glide 3.0 Construction starts with a new “AeroMatrix” drop stitch core. The top and bottom base layers of the board are made with a woven polyester material rather than a traditional knitted fabric. By weaving instead of knitting, the fabric becomes lighter and has less stretch.

The two base layers are connected using thousands of drop-stitched yarns sewn through at alternating angles creating an “X” shape inside the board. This cross-stitched pattern reduces weight and increases rigidity while keeping the board flat on top and bottom when inflated.

The outer shell of the O2 Quest 3.0 is made with a dual-layer fusion PVC material with a high-density (1300D) reinforcement scrim. The fusion process is done at the material stage and uses heat and machine lamination to mechanically bond the PVC layers together and to the drop stitch core. This eliminates glue in the construction, further reducing weight and potential for manufacturing errors.

The top and bottom of the board are joined together with a new rail design Glide calls their ThermoFuse Rail. The ThermoFuse Rail uses heat and pressure to weld the materials together and adds a third layer of PVC for additional durability and rigidity. You can really feel the difference this rail construction makes when deflating and rolling the board at the end of the day. It’s actually quite hard to get the rails to compress and lay flat when the board is empty!

Once the board is built, the Glide O2 Quest 3.0 weighs just 20.8 pounds and has a maximum recommended pressure of up to 25 PSI.

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While the Quest is rated for up to 25 PSI, most pumps don’t inflate beyond 20 PSI, and through our testing we’ve found generally diminishing returns in rigidity beyond 20 PSI compared to the effort in hand pumping to these higher pressures. So we test iSUPs with a maximum of 20 PSI.

Even though we only inflated the O2 Quest 3.0 to 20 PSI, it still did very well in our static bend test. With 170 pounds of weight placed in the standing area of the board, the O2 Quest 3.0 bent just 1.26”. That’s much better than our running average of 1.61”.

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The Quest’s rigidity in our static test translated well on the water. While standing, paddling at both cruising and sprinting speeds, and walking on the board I did not feel any noticeable flex in the board.

While bouncing on the Quest I could generate a moderate to moderately high amount of flex that produced a light, bouncing rebound when I stopped. However, this was the only time I noticed any flex in the board.

Overall, the Glide O2 Quest 3.0 is a superbly built iSUP.

Specifications

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Features, Accessories and Versatility

The Glide O2 Quest 3.0 is a touring-style iSUP. It’s designed for speed and efficiency. It has a fairly unique shape. The widest part of the board is behind the midpoint, and behind the standing area. This creates an elongated front designed to minimize resistance in the water, but has a few tradeoffs – more on that in the Stability section of the review below.

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The size, shape, and built-in features of the Quest make it a great option for fitness paddling and light-duty touring. I do wish it had at least one threaded accessory mounting point for phone, camera, GPS holders and other accessories. The full-length deck pad is a nice feature if you plan to paddle with a small pet or passenger, but does reduce the ability to add after-market accessory mounts.

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Glide includes a full kit of accessories – and then some – with the O2 Quest 3.0:

• O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP
• Wheeled backpack
• Double-action hand pump
• Three-piece fiberglass/nylon paddle
• Inflatable kayak seat
• Tool-less 9” all-around style fin
• Coiled leash
• Repair kit

The only other thing you’ll need to get out on the water is a life jacket. The Glide rolling backpack is made with a durable nylon fabric and is large enough to easily fit all included accessories and your daily essentials. The included pump is effective at inflating the Quest, however we recommend an electric pump for easy, hands-free inflation.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Paddle

The Glide three-piece fiberglass/nylon hybrid paddle is a good mid-range kit paddle that is lightweight and comfortable to use for long periods of time.

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Glide’s fiberglass/nylon hybrid paddle is a great mid-range kit paddle that balances weight, flexibility, and ease of use in a budget-friendly option.

Fiberglass makes for a lightweight and comfortable paddle shaft material. It’s lighter than aluminum (and only a smidge heavier than carbon fiber), but flexes easily when under load while paddling. This flex profile reduces strain on your body making the paddle comfortable to use for long periods of time.

Likewise, the fiber-reinforced nylon blade has a medium-size rectangle shape for comfort, ease of use, durability, and to fit a wide range of paddlers. The blade flexes slightly when paddling, and will bend if you accidentally hit it on a submerged rock or drop the paddle on the ground. With a stiff carbon fiber or fiberglass blade you’re likely to chip it in either situation. With a medium size and narrow shape, the blade provides plenty of hold in the water to propel you, but is also comfortable for smaller paddlers. The slight scoop in the power face of the blade also makes it intuitive for new paddlers to use in the correct orientation.

The handle section is also made with fiberglass and a molded plastic palm grip. I found the grip to feel solid and comfortable in my hand. To adjust the length of the paddle, simply pull on the adjustment clip, slide the handle to the indicated height/length on the scale, and then push the clip back in. This pin-and-clip system is incredibly easy, robust, and it automatically orients the handle with the blade.

This paddle is a great kit paddle for paddlers of all sizes, however, paddlers wanting to maximize speed on the O2 Quest should consider a full carbon fiber paddle for lighter weight and increased stiffness.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Stability

The O2 Quest 3.0 is shaped for efficient paddling, but does so with a reduction in overall stability compared to other 30” wide touring iSUPs.

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Stability is a factor of many different elements. Board size, shape, and rigidity play the largest roles.

Just looking at the size of the O2 Quest 3.0 – 12’6” x 30” – you would expect it to have about the same level of stability as other 12’6” x 30” boards. However, the size spec doesn’t tell you about the board shape.

Fair warning: the next three paragraphs are technical.

The O2 Quest 3.0 has a teardrop or wide-point-rear shape. This places the widest part of the board behind the middle standing area (approximately 40% of the distance from the tail) and allows the front 60% of the board to gradually taper to a narrow point. This is a similar design as those found in marathon racing canoes.

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However, the seat of a marathon canoe (and the paddler’s center of gravity) is immediately adjacent to the wide point, whereas the natural standing area of the O2 Quest 3.0, to keep the board trimmed flat on the water, is about 10-12” in front of the wide point where the board is just under 30” wide. And, a SUP paddler’s center of gravity while paddling is further forward again during the stroke – where the board is closer to 28.5” wide.

In addition to the narrower width at the standing area that reduces primary stability, the tapered design of the board also reduces secondary stability. Primary stability is how stable the board is when it is flat on the water, secondary stability is how stable the board is when it is tilted to the side. The tapering shape of the board reduces how much of the board is in contact with the water when tilted on its edge, so there is less surface area and volume to support you when tilted.

So what does this mean?

On the water I noticed a few different things about the O2 Quest’s stability. First, while standing on the board on flat water the primary stability felt about typical for a 29-30” wide iSUP. However, I did notice the stability drop slightly as I began paddling – particularly whenever I was paddling hard. Leaning forward over the narrower section of the board to paddle made the board feel more reactive to changes in body position. The same is true when paddling in choppier conditions. The board no longer feels as stable as a 30” board, but more like a 28” one.

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When rocking and tilting the board, the Quest was also noticeably less stable than many other 30” wide iSUPs. While purposely doing this I was able to compensate well enough. However, when crossing boat wakes at any angle other than head-on, I did feel the board react more than I would typically expect. I also felt that same reactivity and more of a rolling feeling when paddling in choppy conditions, especially at a higher cadence.

When walking to the tail for a pivot turn, The wider rear of the board did give it a surprisingly stable feel with the nose lifted out of the water, including in rougher waters.

While the calculated volume of the O2 Quest 3.0 may technically support 400 pounds, I would not recommend this board for cargo heavy paddling or paddling with a passenger. The limited space and stability in the front of the board makes stowing larger items and balancing the overall load more difficult than on a board with a more parallel shape.

While this section may seem a little negative regarding stability, I do find there to be a silver lining. First, the Quest does paddle well (see the Speed section below). Second, most of these stability concerns are only going to be a real issue in larger chop and swell conditions or when heavily loaded. While using the O2 Quest 3.0 for a fitness SUP, the small drop in stability will actually help activate stabilizer and core muscle groups better than an overly-stable board. And for light/day touring, the rear area of the board has plenty of space for a typical day’s worth of supplies without overcrowding or upsetting the trim of the board.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Speed

The O2 Quest 3.0 is designed to be an efficient and fast paddling iSUP. Our testing shows a good speed profile with a very smooth paddling experience.

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The teardrop shape of the O2 Quest 3.0 is designed for efficiency and speed. The Quest did well in our speed testing with normal speed and efficiency for a mid-size touring SUP, but it felt incredibly smooth while paddling, especially in flatter conditions.

In our sprinting speed tests, the Quest kept a brisk 5.3 MPH average sustained sprint at 75 strokes per minute. When paddling flat-out, I was able to reach 6.0 MPH. I did feel that the stability of the board decreased as upper body movement increased while paddling at these high cadences, but I did not feel any flex or bounce in the board.

At a slower cruising pace, the O2 Quest 3.0 did very well with an average cruising speed of 4.0 MPH at 25 strokes per minute. That’s a pace that can be easily maintained for hours at a time without significant effort. At this pace I noticed that the Quest felt more stable than at a sprint, and that it was incredibly smooth to paddle. The board accelerated easily and had excellent glide. With a single paddle stroke the Quest traveled an average of 24 feet before I felt it slow down, giving it a gliding ratio of 1.9 board lengths per stroke. Another thing I noticed – or didn’t notice – was noise. The low rocker profile and streamlined shape easily and quietly cut through the water.

Compared to other 12’6” x 30” touring iSUPs, the Glide O2 Quest 3.0 has a fairly typical speed profile when using the included fiberglass paddle. If you want to move a little faster, switching to a stiffer carbon fiber paddle is the way to go. A stiffer paddle will more efficiently transfer power from your body to the board, and I found an increase of 0.2 MPH on average for both cruising and sprinting speeds by using a stiffer paddle, even though the blade was slightly smaller.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Maneuverability and Tracking

The O2 Quest offers decent maneuverability and tracking performance, but isn’t outstanding in either category. Rather, the tracking and agility balance sits in a realm between all-around boards and other touring SUPs.

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Turning the O2 Quest 3.0 is on the easy side for a 12’6” iSUP. In our maneuverability stress test, it took an average of 7.25 forward sweep strokes to turn the Quest in a full circle from a standstill. Using reverse sweep strokes turned the board even faster, needing just 4.5 strokes on average to make the same full circle.

I also found that the Quest responds well to other turning strokes like bow draws for smaller changes in course while paddling forward.

If you really want to turn on a dime, the wider rear of the board makes it easier to move to the tail of the board for a pivot turn compared to many other 30” iSUPs.

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In our tracking test, the O2 Quest 3.0 had similarly good performance, but we didn’t find it to be impressive. After 10 paddle strokes on a single side of the board, the Quest deviated off course by an average of about 12 degrees.

On a longer paddle session I could feel this while I was paddling. I found myself switching sides more frequently and needing more course correction than I had anticipated.

Both the maneuverability and tracking performance are impacted by the Quest’s shape and the supplied fin choice. The teardrop shape of the board feels like it creates a bit of a wagging effect while paddling for two reasons. The first is it passively encourages your paddle stroke to take a diagonal course as you follow the rail of the board. The second is the wide point of the board is behind where you stop applying power so the board has to pull more cross section through the water behind your paddle.

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The O2 Quest 3.0 comes with a single, split-style, Universal Standard (US) fin box, and a 9” all-around style fin. Most touring-specific SUPs tend to come with a touring-style fin that is straighter with a more rectangular shape and more surface area. This style of fin helps lock your course better and improves tracking performance, but decreases maneuverability.

With the teardrop shape and all-around style fin, the overall performance of the O2 Quest’s maneuverability and tracking makes sense. It puts the board squarely between all-around and touring-style SUPs in both categories. Since the Quest is a dedicated touring and fitness board I would like to see the board paired with a larger touring fin to help shift this performance toward better tracking for more efficient distance paddling.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Warranty and Customer Support

Glide warranties the O2 Quest 3.0 against manufacturing defects for five years, and their accessories carry a one-year warranty as well. There is a 30-day return period, however the customer is responsible for shipping costs and a 20% restocking fee. You can contact Glide customer service through their website, via email, over the phone, on social media, or in person through their retail network or at their Salt Lake City, UT warehouse if you happen to be in the area!

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – Final Thoughts

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I like it when brands try something different. No matter the outcome it helps push the industry forward whether it’s a rousing success or not. Glide’s 3.0 construction is a definite success that is unique, lightweight, rigid, and durable.

The O2 Quest 3.0 takes on a unique shape that has created benefits and drawbacks. The teardrop shape does make the Quest smooth and efficient on the water – both are great for a touring and fitness board. But, the shape has some drawbacks for stability, capacity and tracking. I believe that with some refinement to the teardrop shape and packaging with a different fin, the O2 Quest is primed to take on all aspects of SUP touring.

I think the O2 Quest 3.0 is an excellent board for fitness paddling and light-duty touring, especially for paddlers under 200 pounds.

Glide O2 Quest 3.0 iSUP Review – FAQ