Thurso Surf Max Multi-Purpose iSUP Review – Versatility and Quality | 2025

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Overview

The Thurso Surf Max Multi-purpose paddleboard is a large, stable paddle board great for fishing, cruising, paddling with a passenger, or just about anything else. Newly updated construction and a refined feature set make the Thurso Max lighter, stronger, and even more versatile than before.

— Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Ratings and Review Summary —

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Construction and Durability

The Thurso Surf Max Multi Purpose paddle board (do you mind if I just call it the Max?) is built with the latest materials and techniques for longevity and durability.

The Max uses a new cross-woven drop stitch core that helps reduce overall board weight without sacrificing rigidity. Inside the board the hull and deck start with layers of woven fabric. Woven fabrics are lighter and have less stretch and flex than knitted materials. Those two layers are connected together with thousands of threads “drop-stitched” through both layers with a 6” gap. By angling these threads in an X pattern instead of a traditional V pattern, the core can use fewer threads and remain just as rigid. Those threads are what keep the board flat when inflated and give the board its 6” thickness (unlike Thurso’s Waterwalker and Expedition series boards, the Max is not available in a 4.7” thickness).

The outer shell of the board is made with two layers of fusion PVC. This process uses heat and pressure to mechanically laminate the reinforced PVC layers directly to the woven core fabrics. Fusion PVC eliminates hand-gluing from this step in construction making the board lighter, less prone to errors in the layup, and reduces the use of volatile chemicals.

Once the shape of the board is cut from the raw materials, the top and bottom are joined together by heat-welding a layer of PVC all the way around the rail. Welding, like fusion PVC, eliminates glue and creates a stronger mechanical bond that is less prone to errors and more resistant to damage from heat. Lastly, a second layer of PVC is glued around the rail to protect the inner seam band and provide more rigidity.

With the full-length deck pad and all of the built-in features, the Thurso Max weighs in at just 25.6 pounds – almost five pounds lighter than the previous version!

With this new construction and a maximum pressure rating of 20 PSI, things are looking good for the Thurso Max as I got it ready for our bend test. With 170 pounds of weight on the Max (at 20 PSI), it did extremely well with a total deflection of just 1.22”. That’s far more rigid than our running average of 1.6” and is also a great result against boards in the same size class. But our bend test isn’t the whole story when it comes to rigidity.

On the water, the Max feels very stiff while standing, walking, paddling normally, and even during a hard sprint. While bouncing on the board I did feel a medium amount of flex, and it did have a tight and springy rebound when I stopped bouncing. While that’s not the best result, I didn’t notice any problems with flex while using the Thurso Max in any of my testing or when paddling for fun.

Overall, Thurso has done a great job building the Max Multi-Purpose SUP. The lighter construction is easy to transport, and the welded rails will keep the Max on the water for a long, long time.

Specifications

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Features, Accessories and Versatility

The Max is decked out for pretty much all of your paddling needs. It’s built to easily accommodate passengers or pets, camping gear, or be used for some yoga or relaxation thanks to the full-length deck pad. While it’s light on fishing-specific attachments, the Max does also make a great option for SUP anglers.

This year Thurso is offering the Max Multi-Purpose as a complete package or as a “board-only” option. The “board-only” choice does include fins, leash, and a small accessory kit. However, the full kit includes:

• Thurso Max Multi-Purpose iSUP
• 3-piece carbon fiber/nylon paddle
• Electric pump with internal battery
• 1-9” fin and 2-4.5” fins
• Color-matched coiled leash
• Accessory bag and repair kit
• Wheeled SUP backpack

By choosing the full kit you do save money compared to adding those items individually to the “board-only” option, however you can also choose to change or upgrade the pump and paddle (or forego them entirely) when purchasing the Max as “board-only” and adding the exact accessories you want.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Paddle

TThe carbon fiber/nylon paddle that comes with the Max is great. While not the lightest carbon/nylon paddle we’ve tested (nor the heaviest), it has plenty going for it in the performance department. The medium-large blade and slightly stiff paddle shaft is very well matched for the larger size Max iSUP. It’s very easy to take just a few powerful strokes to get the Max up and running.

I do, personally, prefer to use smaller paddles than what I should be using (on paper), but find that this paddle blade doesn’t feel like it takes a ton of effort to paddle quickly.

The handle of the Thurso Surf carbon fiber hybrid paddle is also a little different from what other brands use. Instead of a rounded palm grip, the Thurso Surf paddle uses a T-grip with a rubberized coating. This grip gives you maximum security when holding the paddle and provides clear tactile feedback for how the paddle blade is oriented without needing to look.

Another thing that Thurso Surf does a little differently is they don’t require you to buy a whole new paddle if you decide you want to upgrade to a higher-end option. The carbon elite blade is designed to replace the paddle blade you already have, saving you nearly half the cost of a new carbon fiber paddle. The carbon elite blade is a very nice upgrade. The blade size shrinks just a little bit, but also reduces the weight of the paddle by 4oz and increases the power output with a stiffer construction than the stock nylon blade.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Stability

The Thurso Max is built for stability, and it definitely comes through. It’s a great option for beginners, larger paddlers, and anglers.

The Max’s 34” width keeps it incredibly stable on the water. Most of that width is maintained through the board’s length giving it a higher volume for a higher carrying capacity (370 lbs). The wide, square, tail and broad nose increase the Max’s stability as you move around the board or load it up for a day on the water.

There is not really any noticeable flex in the Max while paddling normally or moving around. While jumping on the board I did feel some moderate flex with a tight, springy rebound, but I didn’t notice it during normal use or when paddling hard.

The Max also keeps its stability while on its edge. This secondary stability helps keep you upright in choppy conditions and gives you more time to correct any imbalances before potentially going for a swim. Though with the excellent stability on the Max, you’ll find that’s not likely to happen.

The full length deck pad is comfortable and extremely grippy. The entire length of the pad is grooved and textured for really good grip whether you are barefoot or wearing shoes. This also makes it even more comfortable for pets and passengers as they also get to benefit from the grippy deck pad no matter where they are on the board.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Speed

The Max offers great cruising efficiency and can reach some respectable speeds when you want it to, but it’s not going to win your local race.

In our sprinting speed test, the Thurso Max did fairly well with a sustained sprint speed of 5.2 MPH when paddling at 75 strokes per minute. That’s a good speed at a pace most people can sustain for a 100m dash. At full-speed I was able to get the Max up to 5.6 MPH for just a few paddle strokes before I had to slow back down.

At a casual cruising pace of 25 strokes per minute you can take a brief pause between paddle strokes and still move along on the Max at around 3.6 MPH. That’s really not too bad and keeps up with most all-around iSUPs. Part of the reason why is because of its cruising efficiency. At that speed a single paddle stroke will propel the Max around 22 feet before you notice it slowing down – or about 1.8 board-lengths per stroke. That’s very good for a 34” wide board and helps keep the Max feeling smooth and easy to paddle on the water.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Maneuverability and Tracking

The Thurso Surf Max gives paddlers many different fin options to customize their maneuverability and tracking performance. The US and FCS fin boxes give you the option of hundreds of different fins to suit your needs.

Using regular forward sweep strokes to turn your paddleboard is an easy, beginner friendly way to steer. While at a standstill, the Max took an average of just over 7 paddle strokes to make a full circle with these forward sweep strokes. That’s actually a pretty average result overall for our maneuverability test, but when paddling the Max normally, it does take a bit more than average effort to turn more than 45°.

Now, there are several ways to turn your board and the forward sweep is one of the least efficient. With reverse sweeps, the Max turned much faster (just over 4 strokes) and of course stepping back for a pivot turn was even faster. The excellent deck pad gives secure footing while stepping back to the tail, and the wide shape and square tail make it very stable for beginner and intermediate paddlers who are learning this skill.

While paddling, the max steers well, but also does a great job of maintaining its course.

The Max handled our tracking test with ease. After paddling 10 strokes on a single side of the board, the Max only deviated off course an average of about 12°. That’s a great result for any all-around iSUP, especially a wider board like the Max.

In real life paddling, I didn’t have any issues keeping the Max on track whether it was at a casual cruise or when paddling for a quick sprint.

The max has a 2+1 fin setup with the center fin using a Universal Standard (US) fin box and the two side fins using FCS (also referred to as “two-tab”) fin boxes. Having all three fins does give you some options, especially if you paddle in a lot of shallow conditions, but realistically the side fins don’t make a big impact on flatwater paddlers. They are more of a vestigial element from surfing and paddling without them makes very little impact on the Max’s maneuverability and tracking performance.

The nice thing about these fin boxes is they are standardized and very easy to find whether you need a replacement for a lost fin, or want to change things up and try different fin sizes and shapes.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Warranty and Customer Support

Thurso Surf offers a 2 year warranty for their iSUPs, a 1 year warranty on bags and pumps, and a 60 day warranty on paddles and leashes. Thurso’s boards have all held up very well for us over the years, but it would be nice to see a longer warranty period, especially since the boards are now focusing on fusion and welded construction and should last even longer than before. If you have any questions for Thurso Surf you can reach them through their website form, email, or social media.

Thurso Surf Max iSUP – Final Thoughts

The Thurso Surf Max is a great iSUP for anglers, larger paddlers, beginners wanting a very stable board, and anyone paddling with a passenger or pet. The new construction is lightweight and uses some of the best materials and techniques we’ve come across. The full length deck pad, variety of on-board features, and high quality accessories all add up to an excellent kit with great performance. If you are looking for a versatile, high-quality paddle board that’s extremely stable, the Thurso Max Multi-Purpose is right for you.