The Retrospec Weekender Tour is a high capacity touring SUP for those on a budget.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review — Overview
Retrospec has been making waves in the affordable iSUP space for a while now and their newest board – the Weekender Tour XL – offers some unique options for paddlers.
I’ve always felt that the original Weekender Tour was far more of an all-around board than a touring SUP, so I was excited to see this new Tour XL model designed with more distance in mind.
But in keeping with Retrospec’s design ethos of making the outdoors more accessible, the Tour XL eschews a traditional touring SUP size for one that is more approachable for newer paddlers, but also has the added benefit of higher capacity and stability for more experienced paddlers loading up for multi-day trips.
And, of course, in true Retrospec fashion, the Weekender Tour XL also comes in with a budget-friendly price tag and just the right kind of fittings and accessories to benefit a huge range of paddlers.
— Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review Ratings and Summary —
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review
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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 Weekender Tour XL is an entry-level touring / expedition paddling board with a very approachable price point.
Pros
- Classic, time-tested construction
- Good rigidity and stable shape for newer paddlers
- Easy to use fittings
- Clean, modern look
- Tracks well for distance paddling
- Kayak seat compatible
- Amazing value for paddlers on a budget
Cons
- The extra width is good for stability, but detracts from efficiency
- The three-fin setup is not necessary for a touring board; we’d like to see a single fin box with a touring-style fin
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Construction and Durability
The Weekender Tour XL uses Retrospec’s AerGlide-Fusion, dual-layer construction for a more rigid feel on the water.
The Weekender Tour XL uses a dual-layer PVC shell and dual-layer glued rails.
The Weekender Tour XL uses a time-tested construction with dual-layer materials quality entry-level performance and value.
The board is made of essentially three layers on the top and bottom. First is the knitted drop base fabric material. This polyester fabric is joined to another layer of fabric with thousands of drop-stitched yarns to connect the top and bottom of the board keeping it flat and rigid when inflated.
That fabric is then coated with a layer of PVC material to make it airtight.
A second layer of reinforced PVC material is then fusion-laminated to the first using heat and pressure. This ensures a solid bond and eliminates manufacturing errors that can occur when hand-gluing multiple layers of material together. It also makes the board lighter than a hand-glued dual-layer construction.
he top and bottom layers are glued together with a layer of reinforced PVC to finish the airtight chamber of the board. Another layer of reinforced PVC is then glued around the first to provide protection and help increase rigidity when inflated.
This dual-layer PVC construction has been in use for many years and is known for its reliability with standard use and basic iSUP care.
Once the main body of the board is built then the deck pad, valves, and other features are added. Altogether the Retrospec Weekender Tour weighs in at just 24.5 pounds for the board only. The full kit with all of the other accessories brings the total to 33.5 pounds.
On the water, I did not notice any significant flexing/bending while paddling normally.
The Weekender Tour XL has a maximum recommended inflation pressure of 15 PSI. With the board fully inflated, we put it through our standard bend test procedure and found that it bent just under 1.8” with 170 pounds of weight.
That is slightly more bend than our current running average of 1.6”, but is well within the typical range we see on dual-layer, 32” wide, iSUPs without additional stiffening elements.
On the water I didn’t notice any real flexing or bending while standing on the board or paddling normally. I could generate a moderate amount of flex while jumping on the Tour XL, and I could feel more flex while paddling hard during a sprint. But, this level of rigidity is right on par with this construction type and size. The extra length in the board does magnify the total amount of flex when measuring at the nose or tail (instead of under the rider), but had only a minimal impact on speed and no real impact on tracking.
Bouncing on the board and paddling hard does create a moderate amount of flex.
However, it is important to note that we test both the extreme and the typical situation. While the moderate flex is quite noticeable when testing for it, during regular paddling at a cruising speed I did not notice any flex in the board or any impact on performance from flex. Considering the construction and price point of the Tour XL, this is an impressive result.
Specifications
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 12’ 6” |
| Width | 32“ |
| Thickness | 6“ |
| Weight | |
| Max Capacity | 350 pounds |
| Board Weight | 24.5 pounds |
| Kit Weight (SUP & accessories) | 33.5 pounds |
| Buying Info | |
| List Price | $429.99 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Returns period | 50 days |
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Features, Accessories and Versatility
The Weekender Tour XL has a basic, but useful set of core features, and a few extra fittings that make it even more adaptable to different uses – including their EasyLink system for attaching a kayak seat or shoulder strap.
The Weekender Tour XL is 12’6” long, 32” wide, and 6” thick. It has a recommended maximum capacity of 350 pounds and comes with a complete kit of accessories.
The nose has a typical “arrowhead” shape seen in many touring style boards that blends wider shoulders for stability and a narrower nose for improved efficiency.
There is a built-in accessory mount on the nose that has both a threaded insert and a GoPro-style foot attachment. This is compatible with many available accessories like camera, phone, and fishing rod holders.
There’s a large cargo bungee on the front of the board threaded between six stainless steel D-rings. This cargo bungee does not have clasps or connectors for removal.
The Weekender Tour XL has three carrying handles (nose, center, and tail). The deck pad is made with a brushed-texture EVA foam and has grooves for improved side-to-side traction.
There are two velcro tabs on the right side of the board that can be used as a paddle holder, or as a fishing rod holder as well as EasyLink tabs for a kayak seat (sold separately).
The left side of the board has two sets of EasyLink tabs for a seat or a shoulder sling (sold separately).
There is a smaller rear cargo space near the tail with 4 D-rings and a removable bungee cord.
The rear of the deck has an elevated kick pad to keep you from accidentally walking off the rear of the board and providing a bit of extra stability and control when lifting the nose of the board.
The tail of the board has a medium-size square tail for improved stability. There is an inflation valve, leash tab, and carrying handle on the tail as well.
Under the board, there are three slide-in fin boxes. There’s really no need for three fins on any flatwater board, but definitely not on a touring-style board (multiple fins are really only useful in surfing situations). But the ability to change the fin setup can allow you to use the board in shallow water conditions where just the longer center fin may be too deep.
The Weekender Tour XL comes with a complete kit of accessories including a waterproof phone bag.
Retrospec has outfitted the Weekender Tour XL with a core set of accessories to get you on the water (just add a PFD!):
- Weekender Tour XL iSUP
- Custom-fit carrying backpack
- Waterproof phone bag
- 3-piece aluminum/nylon paddle
- Color-matched coiled ankle leash
- Three fins
- Single-chamber hand pump
- Repair and maintenance kit
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Paddle
The Weekender Tour XL comes with a basic 3-piece aluminum and ABS plastic paddle.
The Retrospec aluminum paddle is well balanced and user-friendly, but feels lacking for a touring board.
Most aluminum kit paddles are heavy, unbalanced, and uncomfortable to use. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say this paddle is lightweight, I was impressed with its balance and feel in my hand.
The paddle blade is not overly large, nor is it a confusing shape for beginner paddlers. In fact, Retrospec even prints “Front” and “Back” on the blade itself to help remind new paddlers which way the paddle should be oriented. It felt good in the water for forward strokes without any wandering or fluttering. However, I did notice significant wandering and fluttering when making reverse strokes (using the back side of the blade). While reverse strokes aren’t incredibly common for new paddlers, it does make learning and using them a little harder as the paddle blade is more difficult to control in the water.
The powder-coated aluminum shaft is comfortable to hold, and the light gray color helps keep it from becoming dangerously hot in the sun. The handle section not only has a printed scale to easily adjust the length of the paddle, but it also has an indexing groove to keep the handle aligned with the blade.
I’ve never seen an indexing groove on an aluminum kit paddle until now. This is such an awesome feature for new paddlers. Between the markings on the blade and the indexing groove, it is incredibly easy for new paddlers to make sure they are using the paddle properly.
The adjustment collar uses a rather small compression clamp to hold the handle section in place, and every copy of the paddle I was sent (one with each board) needed to be tightened to hold the handle in place. However, the clamp can be tightened without tools by simply opening the lever and turning it (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey).
The palm grip is a comfortable size and has some texturing on the back and front, but not on the top of the handle. This is great, as too much texturing can be uncomfortable, but I found it was just enough to feel very secure in my hand without rubbing my palms.
While it is still a bit on the heavy side, the Retrospec aluminum paddle is quite nice for a low-cost kit paddle. It fits together well, and the inclusion of the indexing groove for the handle is a step above the competition for sure.
For a SUP like the Tour XL, this aluminum paddle is going to get very tiring to use if you are planning for long days on the water. We highly recommend upgrading to a fiberglass or carbon fiber SUP paddle for a more enjoyable experience on longer trips.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Stability
At 32” wide, the Weekender Tour XL is an extremely stable touring SUP.
The extra width and shape of the board gives it a comfortable feeling even when held on its edge instead of flat.
Most touring-style paddleboards are between 28-30” wide. The slightly narrower shapes allow the boards to paddle more efficiently and faster while still being reasonably stable. The Weekender Tour XL is 32” wide — as wide as a standard all-around paddleboard.
This has some obvious benefits for stability. The Tour XL is extremely stable for a touring board. I have zero issues paddling it in flat water or chop and can easily hold it on its edge, rock it side to side, and walk around on the board.
The extra width also gives the Tour XL a higher maximum weight capacity and a little extra rigidity boost compared to if it had been made in a more traditional 30” width.
The Weekender Tour XL rocks smoothly from side to side.
Even walking to the tail of the board for a pivot turn was easy. The Tour XL has a mostly parallel mid section and wider shoulders and hips that give it a very consistent feel as you adjust your standing position forward and back.
The deck pad on the Weekender Tour XL is made with a soft, brushed EVA foam and it has grooves running the length of the pad for additional traction.
Overall, I found the Weekender Tour XL to be among the most stable touring boards I’ve used.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Speed
While the extra width of the Tour XL helps improve its stability, it does detract from its speed and efficiency compared to more traditional-size touring boards.
Paddling at higher speeds on the Weekender Tour XL is possible, but is hampered by the aluminum paddle and extra width.
For our speed testing, we evaluate performance at the top speed of the board, but we also look at how it performs at more realistic cruising speeds.
In our sprint test, the Retrospec Weekender Tour XL performed nearly identical to the original Weekender Tour. At a sustained sprint, the Tour XL kept up a 5.0 MPH pace, and I was able to spin up to a maximum of 5.6 MPH for very short distances.
This really highlights the importance board width and the paddle make in determining maximum speed. Without going into a lot of math, longer boards will be able to paddle faster, easier than shorter boards. But that wasn’t really the case with the Tour XL vs the Tour. The width and general shape of the two boards are identical, as is the paddle. The Aluminum 3-piece paddle is heavy and difficult to use at a fast pace. There’s also the risk with aluminum paddles bending out of shape when used under heavy loads (I have had this happen even at cruising speeds with some aluminum paddles).
Slowing down your stroke rate for a more casual long-distance cruising speed on the Tour XL is far more comfortable, but tells nearly the same story between the two boards. At a casual pace of 25 strokes per minute, I found myself traveling around 3.2 MPH on average at this slower pace. This was, again, the same as the original Tour. But, I did find a small difference in glide distance between the two models.
Once I was at this cruising pace, I could take a single paddle stroke and move just over 22 feet on average or 1.8 board lengths before slowing down. Compare that to 1.7 board lengths (19.5 feet) of glide with the original Tour. 1.8 board lengths is right at the dividing line between an efficient all-around board and the base level for most touring boards.
In all, the Retrospec Weekender Tour XL is not built as a speed-oriented touring board, but as a comfort-oriented touring board. The extra width makes it easy to use at casual speeds, but does pull back from its overall speed and efficiency. If you are looking for a faster whip, then I’d check out some more traditional 30” wide touring SUPs.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Maneuverability and Tracking
As a touring paddleboard, the Weekender Tour XL focuses more on tracking performance than it does maneuverability.
Turning the Weekender Tour XL takes a little bit of effort, but is surprisingly nimble for its length.
Most touring SUPs will be difficult to turn. It’s the result of a longer waterline and a beefier fin farther away from your pivot point. The Weekender Tour XL, though, was surprisingly fast to turn.
With an average of 9.5 forward sweep strokes – paddling in an arc from nose to tail – I was able to turn the Weekender Tour XL in a full 360° circle from a standstill.
That’s not going to win an award for Most Agile, but it’s definitely faster than I expected with many touring SUPs needing 10-15 strokes to complete the same test.
Using more advanced strokes (like a cross-bow draw) turned the board even quicker, but I found it easy enough to steer up to about 30° with just basic sweep strokes while paddling.
Tracking performance was a touch less than average for a touring paddle board.
That maneuverability also translates into tracking performance. In our tracking test, the Tour XL deviated an average of 8° off course after 10 strokes on a single side. That’s quite good when comparing to all-around and cruiser-style SUPs, but is at the lower-end of the spectrum for touring boards (anywhere from 2-8° in our test).
That being said, the Weekender Tour XL still has enough tracking performance to make it a very usable touring board, it just may not be quite as efficient as some others.
The Weekender Tour XL comes with a center 9” fin and two 4.5” side fins.
Under the tail of the Weekender Tour XL, you’ll find three slide-in fin boxes, and the board comes with a 9” center fin and two 4.5” side fins.
We do all of our testing with all of the included fins installed. It’s the most common way that people use their paddle boards, so it’s the most important way to test.
With a touring board design, it’s not necessary to have three fins. In some “unofficial” testing with just the center fin I found the maneuverability and tracking results to be very similar as the overall board length is playing a large role in these features for this board. I’d still prefer to see the Weekender Tour XL ship with a single fin box and a more traditional touring fin. That would help reduce drag for improved speed and efficiency, and help improve tracking performance overall.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Warranty and Customer Support
Retrospec warranties all of their inflatable SUPs for 2 years from the date of purchase. This is a fairly typical warranty length and is actually more than most iSUPs in this price range. Additionally, they offer a 50-day return period, however, all returns are subject to shipping fees. There is no explicit warranty period for the included accessories. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Retrospec customer service team via telephone, website form, website chat, and social media.
Retrospec Weekender Tour XL iSUP Review – Overall Impressions/Review Summary
The Weekender Tour XL is a great budget-friendly option for new paddlers wanting a touring board, or intermediate paddlers wanting an expedition-style SUP.
The Retrospec Weekender Tour XL fills a very interesting niche in the paddleboard space – the wide touring SUP. Very few brands choose to make this size/shape board, instead opting for a narrower design to optimize speed, efficiency, and tracking. While the Weekender Tour XL may not be the fastest or most efficient touring SUP it is certainly one of the most comfortable and beginner friendly options available. And when you factor in the sub-$500 price point for a complete kit, the Weekender Tour XL has a lot to offer for paddlers looking for more distance in their paddling.
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