THURSO SURF Waterwalker 10’6″ SUP Review (126″)

A slightly smaller version of THURSO’s popular 11′ SUP model, the new Waterwalker 10’6″ measures 31″ wide, 6″ thick, and it weighs in at 24 pounds. This board shares the same shape and looks of its bigger brother, but is designed for small to medium-sized paddlers who don’t necessarily need an 11′ board.

Founded in 2016, THURSO SURF is an up-and-coming SUP company that’s currently in the process of expanding their lineup of inflatable paddle boards. The THURSO brand was initially launched with a single model and they’ve since released several new boards. We really love the fact that this young company is so attentive to customer feedback, eager to add requested features, and intently focused on delivering top-notch customer support — these are all traits of highly successful companies.

In this review, we’ll take a look at the new THURSO Waterwalker 10’6″ inflatable SUP and discuss the board’s features, construction and build quality, pros and cons, included accessories, warranty, and more.

In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary…

Pros	Very attractive design Durable construction Rigid Affordable price point Good blend of stability & maneuverability Grab handle at nose Convenient toolless fin system Bungee storage area for securing gear Large bundle of SUP accessories included Excellent customer support Solid 2-year warranty
Cons	Paddle came apart (an easy fix & company said it's been addressed) Logo graphic on top deck looks a bit sloppy No raised kick tail on traction pad
Price & Where to Buy it

THURSO Waterwalker 10’6″ Review: SUP Overview

Click Here to Buy the THURSO 10’6″ Waterwalker

Coming on the heels of THURSO’s popular 11′ model, the release of the 10’6″ Waterwalker iSUP is giving smaller paddlers exactly what they’ve been asking for — the same overall design and features of THURSO’s 11′ board in a more compact package.

The THURSO 10’6″ Waterwalker shares the same stunning design as the larger model. The top deck of the board sports an attractive, natural woodgrain look, and there’s a nice 2-piece EVA foam traction pad which provides plenty of grip. The larger portion of the grooved traction pad is white and gray, while the smaller rear piece is primarily black and gray.

A new addition to this model is the neoprene covered handle located at the middle of the board. The neoprene cover has a velcro closure which gives you the ability to wrap it around the shaft of your paddle and secure it to the board. This is a nice feature to have for those times when you’re on the water and need both hands free or want to jump off your board and take a swim.

THURSO could improve this handle even more in the future by making it removable. Being able to remove the neoprene cover entirely would be nice for those who prefer a lay-flat handle, and it’d be a great option to have when doing activities like SUP fitness.

Also located in the middle of the board are 4 stainless steel D-rings for attaching a kayak seat or tying down gear.

Moving up to the nose of the board, you’ll find 4 additional D-rings, a bungee cord storage area, and a newly-introduced grab handle. The bungee storage area is absolutely perfect for stashing your Crocs or flip flops while out for a paddle, and the convenient grab handle makes it super easy to pull the board in and out of the water. The grab handle replaces the 11′ foot model’s towing D-ring, and we think the handle is a lot more useful than the extra D-ring for the vast majority of paddlers.

Located at the board’s tail is another reinforced D-ring for attaching a SUP leash as well as a Halkey Roberts-style air valve…

On the flip side, THURSO used a 2+1 fin setup on the 10’6″ Waterwalker. All three fins are removable and they attach securely without tools or screws. To attach a fin, just line up the pin with the slot, push the fin down into the fin box, and then push down on the small lever to lock it securely into place.

Construction

THURSO boards are all built solidly using double-layered, durable drop stitch construction. The exterior of the 10’6″ features a tough, military grade PVC skin that resists cuts and punctures caused by run-ins with rocks, sticks, and other sharp objects. This is essentially a super rigid, bombproof board that you won’t have to pamper, and it can handle whatever you, your kids, and your dog can dish out.

Paddling Performance

The 10’6″ Waterwalker is a lot of fun to paddle. While not quite as stable as the company’s 32″ wide 11′ model, it still offers good stability and the board tracks well. The 10’6″ is definitely not the fastest board on the water, but that’s not what THURSO designed this board for.

In the maneuverability department, the board is very responsive and turns easily.

Overall, this is a nice all-around board that paddles a bit better than most boards in its class due to the fact that it has more of a touring shape to it. It’s a good choice for beginners and advanced paddlers alike, and performs well in both calm and choppy conditions.

Specs

Length	10'6"
Width	31"
Thickness	6"
Weight	24 pounds
Max Capacity	280 pounds
Price

What’s Included

THURSO does a fantastic job of delivering maximum value when it comes to their SUP accessory bundles. Included with the 10’6″ Waterwalker is a SUP backpack, insulated deck bag, 3-piece carbon fiber shaft paddle, coiled SUP leash, repair kit, and dual-action hand pump.

Backpack

The included backpack is roomy enough to comfortably hold the board, pump, paddle, and other accessories. On the front of the bag is a clear, zippered storage pocket for storing the board’s fins, and there are grab handles located on the top, sides, and rear of the bag.

On the rear of the bag are fully adjustable shoulder straps along with a sternum strap and adjustable waist belt. The sternum strap and belt really help to stabilize the large bag when it’s fully packed and on your shoulders. The back of the bag is padded for additional comfort, and the shoulder straps have stainless steel D-rings for attaching small accessories.

SUP Deck Bag

THURSO’s insulated SUP deck bag is a really nice bonus. The bag includes hooks and suction cup connections, but it slips nicely under the board’s bungee cord storage area.
The bag’s insulation keeps drinks and other items cool, and the bag has a 10-can capacity. There’s a substantial amount of paddling which does a good job of protecting whatever you’re bringing along, and the interior of the bag has an open mesh storage pocket.

The exterior of THURSO’s SUP deck bag is water resistant and there’s also a zippered mesh storage area on the lid which is super handy.

Carbon Shaft Paddle

The SUP paddle that THURSO includes with the 10’6″ Waterwalker is a nice upgrade over the paddles you typically see bundled with inflatable paddle boards. Most inflatable SUP packages come come with aluminum or fiberglass paddles, but THURSO throws in an upgraded 3K carbon fiber shaft paddle with all of their boards.

This is a nice-looking travel paddle that is fully adjustable and it breaks down into three pieces for easy transport. We really like the fact that the paddle can even be used without the middle section, making it the perfect size for children and smaller paddlers.

We did experience one minor issue with this paddle which we think is important to mention. During our testing, the bottom part of the paddle came completely off and we nearly lost the blade while out paddling. We read another customer’s review where they reported the exact same problem, so this wasn’t just an isolated incident.

Fortunately, this is not a big deal for the company to address — it’s a simple quality-control issue and the factory just needs to increase the amount of adhesive they’re using to secure the paddle components. We took a couple minutes to reglue the area that became separated on our paddle and it’s working perfectly again. Until THURSO gets this issue sorted at the factory, we’d recommend checking your paddle thoroughly for any weakness before paddling out with it.

Coiled Leash

Previously, THURSO included a straight SUP leash with their accessory bundle, but due to customer feedback, they’ve now switched that out for a coiled leash (which we prefer). SUP leashes are extremely important when it comes to safety, and we love the fact that THURSO is promoting safe paddling by including one with all of their boards.

The included leash is branded with the THURSO logo on both ends, and it features dual-stainless steel swivels to avoid tangles. There’s also a handy velcro key pocket built in to the padded neoprene ankle cuff — definitely a convenient feature to have.

Repair Kit

The included iSUP repair kit comes with a small brush for applying adhesive, an inflation valve wrench, two PVC patches, and three fin box replacement tabs. Glue is not included in THURSO’s repair kit due to government restrictions, but it’s readily available at many stores including Amazon.

Dual-Action Hand Pump

THURSO includes a nice dual-action hand pump with all of their boards. The pump has an easy-to-read, built-in pressure gauge which tells you exactly how much air is in the board, and the dual-action gives you two “gears” to use when inflating your board.

When you first begin pumping the board up, you’ll want to be in “Double Action” mode which will fill the board with air on both the up and down strokes. This is super efficient and will quickly get air into your board at the beginning, but you’ll need to change modes once the pumping gets difficult.

As the PSI climbs and pumping becomes more challenging, flip the lever over to “Single Action” mode to continue inflating the board to the recommended pressure of 15 PSI. The single action mode means that air will only be entering your board on downstrokes.

THURSO’s SUP pump does a good job of inflating the 10’6″ Waterwalker to the recommended pressure of 15 PSI, and it takes less than 10 minutes to get the board fully inflated and set up. The company also printed detailed instructions on the side of the pump, which is really convenient if you’re just starting out and aren’t familiar with how these pumps work.

Warranty

THURSO backs all of their inflatable paddle boards with a rock-solid, 2-year warranty. If you have any problems due to a manufacturer defect within the first 24 months of ownership, THURSO will replace or refund your purchase (your choice).

It’s also important to note that the company’s customer service is absolutely top-notch and they respond quickly to any and all reported issues. From our dealings with them, THURSO has proven to be an honest company that truly stands behind their boards — a refreshing thing to see in this day and age.

Final Thoughts

To date, we’ve reviewed THURSO’s 7’6″ Prodigy youth model, their 11′ all-around board, the THURSO SURF Expedition touring SUP, and now the 10’6″ Waterwalker. We have been really impressed by all of THURSO’s inflatable SUPs — they’re super fun, affordable boards that pack a lot of value. They’re also some of the best-looking inflatables on the market in our opinion.

THURSO’s 10’6″ Waterwalker iSUP is a great choice for small to medium-sized paddlers who want a stable, responsive board that is enjoyable in a wide variety of conditions. We really appreciate this SUP’s versatility, and it can be used for everything from flat water paddling to SUP fitness.

The new grab handle at the board’s nose and the neoprene cover on the carrying handle are nice updates, and we like the removable triple fin setup that the company has transitioned to since releasing their first model.

As far as areas to improve on, there are a few things that we’d address. First of all, the printed THURSO logo on the top deck of the board looks a bit sloppy — better care should be taken by the factory when applying the graphics so that the edges have a cleaner, neater appearance. Another quality control issue that we would immediately address is increasing the amount of adhesive used to secure the paddle components (UPDATE: THURSO just informed us that they have addressed this issue). This is an easy but important fix — the very last thing you want is to get stuck without a paddle while you’re out on the water. Lastly, there’s some room at the back of the board to extend the traction pad a bit, and it would be nice if the company incorporated a raised kick tail which is great for performing pivot turns and other advanced maneuvers.

Overall, we really like this latest model from THURSO and are excited about the new features that the company is incorporating. This is a really fun, extremely durable iSUP that is reasonably priced and comes with a ton of great accessories. If you’re looking for a versatile inflatable paddle board that really turns heads and is backed by a solid warranty, the new THURSO 10’6″ Waterwalker is a fantastic choice.

Click Here to Buy the THURSO SURF Waterwalker 10’6″