iROCKER CRUISER iSUP Review 2023

iRocker Cruiser Review 2022: Overview

Cruiser stand-up paddleboards are where recreation meets relaxation. The iRocker Cruiser’s classic shape, extra width, and feature-rich deck let you paddle with confidence, get a workout, or relax with ease – whichever sounds best to you when you reach the beach.

The iRocker Cruiser is one of the best beginner boards from iRocker. It’s ideal for recreational paddling, bringing a dog or small passenger, yoga, or even some light fishing.

It is extremely versatile and includes high quality accessories. The iRocker triple-layer construction makes a stiff and durable board without adding unnecessary weight.

The Cruiser is also backed by iRocker’s excellent 3-year warranty and 90-day, no-questions-asked, guarantee.

— iRocker Cruiser Summary Ratings and Review – —

Construction and Durability

The iRocker Cruiser is built with a triple-layer composite construction. The board starts with a 6” drop stitch core with three layers of PVC material bonded to the core and each other on the top and bottom. The sides are wrapped in two additional layers around the board for both durability and additional stiffness.

When standing on the Cruiser you feel almost no flex in the board, and if you decide to do a few jumping jacks or burpees there is some bend, however the board recovers quickly and with little reverberation.

iRocker’s construction not only produces stiff inflatable paddleboards, but also helps prevent damage should you bump into something. Like all iSUPs, sharp objects can pierce the board, but additional layers of PVC make this less likely to happen. It also improves the board’s abrasion resistance, though you still should avoid dragging your paddleboard around in order to maximize its lifespan.

With a maximum weight capacity of 400lb, the Cruiser does very well for larger paddlers and paddlers who like to bring along a partner, dog, or a cooler and some fishing gear. While two adults standing right next to each other will put a noticeable bend in the board, by spreading out the Cruiser will still paddle well.

Specifications

Features, Accessories and Versatility

• Save

The iRocker Cruiser is loaded up with the same amazing set of on-board features as the All Around 10’/11’ with just a few small changes.

Starting at the nose of the board, the Cruiser’s front carry handle is mounted to the very front rather than on the deck. This is a departure from the deck-mounted handles on all of the other iRocker and Nautical iSUPs, but matches the Blackfin series of boards. I personally find the deck-mounted handles to be more comfortable to use when buddy-carrying your SUP, however the front position does allow you to keep your arm a little closer to your body while carrying it.

There are two D-rings on the nose – one on the deck and one on the hull. The D-ring on the hull of the board makes a convenient attachment point for an anchor, or if you were to tow your board.

iRocker has included two large cargo areas on the Cruiser, both stretching across 6 more D-rings each, and both have removable neoprene passenger handles. Four M8-threaded action mounts surround the standing area and are compatible with a number of different accessories for cameras, phones, fishing, speakers, and more. Six more D-rings are located around the sides of the Cruiser for attaching a kayak seat, cooler, or other items.

The deck pad has a logo-embossed finish and grooves running the length of the standing area for better grip and water drainage. The neoprene-padded center handle is comfortable to use. While we wish the padding could be removed to lower the handle profile for yoga, it is still small and soft enough to be out of the way.

As you move to the rear of the board, the deck pad continues all the way to the valve. The inflation/deflation valve is behind the deckpad along with a leash attachment point and third carrying handle. On the bottom of the Cruiser, there are three Flip-lock fin boxes to let you customize your fin set up to your needs.

All of these features lead to an incredible amount of versatility. Whether you are practicing yoga, paddling with a passenger, heading out for a SUP camping trip, or just paddling around your local lake, the iRocker Cruiser is well-equipped to meet your needs.

When you unpack your iRocker Cruiser you’ll find a set of well-thought out accessories. The triple-action Full Throttle pump makes inflating your iSUP incredibly easy. Simply attach the hose, start the pump at the indicated “1” position and start pumping. As you encounter resistance from the increasing board pressure, change the mode to “2” and then, finally “3” to make pumping to the recommended 15 PSI quick and easy.

iRocker’s flip-lock fins are simple to use and include spare latches and screws. I recommend adding these to the included repair kit right away. The repair kit includes color-matched PVC patching material and a tube of adhesive. Lastly you’ll find a valve wrench you can use to tighten the valve core if it does become loose over time.

Starting in 2021, iRocker began packaging the Cruiser (and the other iSUPs in the iRocker product line) with a premium wheeled carrying bag. The wheels are on the “outside,” rather than on the “backpack” side of the bag so they don’t bounce against you when carrying the bag with the shoulder straps.

You’ll also find a large front pocket, two side zipper pockets, two side mesh pockets, three carrying handles (plus the backpack harness), compression straps, and a large zippered fin pocket on the outside of the bag. Inside is another large pocket on the front panel and two straps to hold your board in place.

Paddle

iRocker’s kit paddle does an excellent job of balancing size, shape and weight to meet the needs of almost any paddler.

The blade has a more rectangular shape rather than a tear-drop shape many people might be familiar with. This rectangular shape gives the paddler more choice in how much power you use in each stroke by changing the depth of the blade in the water. A teardrop-shaped paddle puts most of its area on the end of the blade, forcing you to take a powerful stroke each time.

There’s a gentle scoop molded into the nylon blade to “catch” water as you paddle, letting you go faster and farther with each stroke while keeping the weight down.

The three-piece paddle shaft is made of carbon fiber to further reduce weight without sacrificing durability. It’s got a comfortable amount of flex in it as well to keep your shoulders from tiring out quickly.

The adjustable handle uses a pin-and-clip system that keeps your handle oriented correctly to the blade and lets you easily change heights for different paddlers or different situations. It’s capped with a plastic palm-grip handle that is comfortable to hold, but is ultimately not as durable as the carbon fiber handle included with the Blackfin line of boards from iRocker.

Stability

The overall shape and size of the Cruiser is built for stability. At 33” wide, the Cruiser is the widest iRocker board (though not as wide as the Blackfin X or XL), and is very stable – perfect for beginners or those who paddle with kids and dogs that like to move around!

The parallel sides and extra wide tail maintain that stability whether you are standing in the middle, loaded with a cooler and fishing gear, or stepping back to balance a passenger.

Speed

While the Cruiser excels in stability, let’s just say you probably don’t want to race with it. The slightly shorter length and extra width of the Cruiser does slow it down compared to its cousins the iRocker All Around and iRocker Sport. But the Cruiser isn’t meant for speed. It can get up and go when you want it to, but paddling the Cruiser at top speed will wear you out over time.

Maneuverability

The iRocker Cruiser’s shorter length does make it a little easier to turn, and its extra stability will keep you upright when turning quickly. The tail pad does extend to the rear of the board to provide traction when stepping back for a pivot turn, but doesn’t give quite the same level of confidence as it would if it had a raised kick pad to stand on. The wide tail does make it a little harder for the intermediate and advanced paddler to sink the tail for snappier turns, but does maintain the board’s stability well.

Tracking

At 10’6” long, the Cruiser has a shorter water line (how much length of the board is in the water when standing) than all of iRocker’s other boards except the All Around 10’. It doesn’t track as well as those other boards, but it’s no slouch. The triple fins help the board resist turning while underway and keep it moving quite straight once you stop paddling. Even when taking into consideration the Cruiser’s size and shape, it still tracks well and exhibited no signs of carving hard one way or the other while gliding.

Warranty and Customer Support

iRocker has one of the most customer-friendly warranty and support systems on the market. It starts with the iRocker no-questions-asked 90-day return period. Try out the Cruiser and if it’s not working for you for any reason, you can send it back for a full refund within this time. After that you are covered by iRocker’s 3-year manufacturing warranty, and their fantastic customer support team.

Value

The iRocker Cruiser is priced extremely competitively – it’s actually the least expensive cruiser-style board we’ve tested! The iRocker construction, accessories, and warranty are huge pluses when considering whether or not to buy the iRocker Cruiser, and make it a no-brainer recommendation from us.

Overall Impressions/Review Summary

The iRocker Cruiser is a feature-packed, super-stable, inflatable SUP that is ideal for beginners. Advanced paddlers may find it to be a little sluggish in comparison to other options, but won’t find it to be lacking in quality or versatility.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, casual-use iSUP, with a great set of accessories to take to the beach, enjoy with the family, or practice SUP yoga, the iRocker Cruiser is the board for you.

iROCKER Cruiser FAQ