It's not a touring board; it is an all-around board. Speed was as expected for an 11' all-around.

@@InflatableBoarder "Specially designed for light touring, its 32-inch width ensures unmatched stability while its unique touring shape guarantees optimal glide." So I was under the impression it was a touring board I was purchasing.

@@akdjdj2399 It may say that in the website description, but it is an all-around size and shape. A board designed for touring is always going to be longer and narrower, typically 12-14' x 28-30". There are some exceptions, but they will be making tradeoffs like speed or tracking performance to do so. 11x32 (well, 31.25 for the Naia) is a class all-around size and the overall plan shape is one we see quite commonly on all-around SUPs. The Spruce is the only model The Wild Tribe makes that falls into the category of a true touring board.

My pleasure - thanks for the great race!

They are different boards with different uses. The Diatom CX is a cruiser-style board that's a bit more nimble (and of course the graphics!). The Switch Pro is designed for a bit more accessory versatility with the Isle Link system, kayak kit, and motor mount, and it's significantly larger overall. For a more exact recommendation it would depend on the paddler size and use.

I am in Arizona and on lakes and river I am 5.6, 250 lbs would like to be able to have an option for a kayak seat which I did see on the sea gods that was an option. I have been SUP boarding for a while I just rented hard boards and as of recently the place I rent from has inflatable boards which I haven’t been keen on however I saw these two and they look like a great option.

@@MeloneeCrouse Either of those could work for you, however I would recommend the Isle Switch Pro since it comes with the kayak seat already and has welded rails (better for hot climates).

@@jeffloucks2120 it will depend on your height, weight, and how you plan to use it. All three of those are good boards for beginners, but have some advantages/disadvantages based on those elements.

@@InflatableBoarder Thank you. I'm 5'7" and 175. Mostly recreation and relaxation but would appreciate something that isn't a complete dog while paddling speedwise. So maybe an allrounder with a shape that leans a little towards effeciency?

@@jeffloucks2120 in that case I would recommend the Isle explorer 3 if you want something a little more efficient or the Nixy Newport G5 if you want something a little more agile.

@@travisprewitt2687 Thanks Travis! It was good meeting you. Hope to paddle with you again!

Would love to have you! You'd really like this event.

From the KZbin audio library - called "Steppers to Heavan"

Working on it! :D

Either option will work for you. If you want more stability, then go with the Komodo 10'6 (the extra width makes a bigger difference than the length). If you want something that will paddle a little faster, then go with the Adventure 11.

@@InflatableBoarder thank you for the reply would you say the Komodo 10'6 is a better board over all then the 11'6 air? I'm just a casual paddler.

@@onetongrand Yes, the 10'6 Komodo is a more rigid and better-built board than the Air and it comes with better accessories. Performance-wise they are a little different with the Air being marginally faster, but the Komodo noticeably more stable. The 11' Adventure uses the same construction as the Komodo, but with a slightly faster shape

You'll need to check the instructions that come with your board. This information is also usually written next to the valve.

I'm still working on the review, but the good news is Glide has the O2 Mako available to ship today!

That's asking a whole lot from a single board, most of those uses would benefit from very different shapes and sizes. As far as being able to do a bit of each with a single board, The 11'6 Ultra would be a good choice. It's a bit more stable than the CX ultra and the extra length will help a touch with longer trips. But the CX's smaller tail and shorter length would be marginally better for surfing (but not by much).

There are plenty of D-rings to attach two seats, but you may not have enough leg room for two adults. Fore that you'll want a longer (11'6") board.

It's an Umpqua chest pack. They don't make that exact one any more (converts/connects to a small backpack as well) but the Umpqua Rock Creek Chest Pack ZS2 is pretty close.

The biggest difference between the 12' and the 14' is their maneuverability. the 12' is much easier to turn than the 14'. Stability-wise they are fairly close, but the extra half-inch of width on the 12' gives it a slight advantage. Either would be a great option for Antelope Canyon.

@@InflatableBoarder Do you think there is a minimum height for a person to use a 14' board?

@@LL-zg8ff Absolutely not. Height and board length aren't really correlated for sizing. Length primarily dictates the general use of the board (shorter boards 10-12' for all-around/cruising, longer boards for touring/racing).

You're welcome!

Absolutely. The Explorer 3 is great for beginner paddlers.

Yes, but both will likely be most comfortable while seated. The Isle Switch/Switch Pro and Pioneer Pro 11'6 are better suited for paddling with two people.

It's very easy. Isle includes pressure-fit inserts for the fins to make them completely tool-less. All you do is insert the front of the fin into the gap of the fin box, slide if forward, and then press the back of the fin (with the plastic insert) down into the box.

@@InflatableBoarder thank you so much!

thanks!

The 11'6 is my preferred board between the two. It tracks much better than the 10'6 making it easier to paddle any longer distances, but it is still very stable. The 10'6 is better if you want more maneuverability rather than tracking performance.

In this video I'm wearing a Kokatat Maximus Centurion Type V Whitewater PFD. It does have a quick-release belt/ring built into it. You can also get quick release belts from Bluefin, Red, and other SUP companies for a very small fraction of the price of a specialized PFD. geni.us/bluefin-qrbelt-bap

Blue fin releash. Once you’ve pulled the release toggle you’ll have to remember to hold onto the belt so you don’t lose what you’ve put in the pocket. Instead I use a Whetman equipment quick release cam buckle, attached to the bottom strap of my pfd. When you pull the toggle it just releases the leash and board.

@@richardswinson4381 The Bluefin ReLeash has two release points. One releases only the leash. The other releases the entire belt as a backup.

Definitely check out the Explorer Pro 12'. It's extremely rigid and just a touch heavier. www.inflatableboarder.com/isle-explorer-pro-12-isup-review/

@@InflatableBoarderjust purchased the explorer pro since we were able to get an explorer 3 package free. Great deal! Thank you for helping me make my decision!

Thanks!

Thanks! I'm not a fan of "reviews" that don't actually do any reviewing, so we've definitely tried to paint the most detailed picture we can.

Sorry to hear that. I'm not sure what you mean by "kayak-like." This generation is slightly less rigid than the previous generation, but significantly lighter weight and still more rigid than average in our test of over 120 different boards.

Thanks! Enjoy your new ride!

That's a great deal! Enjoy!

The Explorer 3 is great for a beginner. In terms of tracking, the Explorer is actually a little easier to track straight because it's narrower, but they both do a good job. The Switch is definitely a better choice for larger paddlers, paddling with a partner, or bringing a significant amount of equipment for fishing, etc.

Thanks for the reply. Just ordered the Explorer 3! Looking forward to the learning experience of trying to paddleboard for the first time.

So far no issues. They are also coated with a finish (I'm not 100% sure what that finish is) so it isn't just raw PE fabric. The anchoring mechanism for the tabs is quite secure and I've not had any issues with them ripping free. For having so many mounting points I much prefer the PE tabs to having dozens of D-rings.

Our bend test uses 170 pounds. The Wulf still performed poorly at this weight (20th percentile). Our other testers are also in the 160-170 pound range and have had similar experiences with noticeable flex and lackluster performance given its retail price. 10'4" is about average length for an all-around or cruiser-style SUP for adults, but 34" is way too wide for children to be able to paddle effectively.

@@InflatableBoarder common knowledge that 10ft is the economy size, meant for small people. 11.5 is the average size meant for average people and 12ft+ is meant for beer bellies. Absolutely no one is selling it for the MSRP. It's online for $300-400. I paid $220 for it. Anything under $500 is either a no name brand or an economy model. If it flexed with 160lbs, why do a review way overweight? What's the point? As for kids, they handle the wide sups just fine.

FYI: Sam's club in Nashville, TN is selling it on clearance for $163.54. Figured you can't go wrong at that price and picked one up to take along on the boat to give my kids something else to entertain themselves with.

@@joshwilliams9122 wow! That's insane cheap! Man, I wish I got that deal. Just grabbed mine yesterday. I wish and wonder if there was any way to get the price you paid.

@@Original_Waterboy Hi there. Length typically denotes the intended use of the board, width denotes stability and (along with thickness and rigidity) weight ranges. While some longer boards are also wider and meant for higher capacity, like the Starboard 12' iGO, not all are. Just because a board is longer doesn't automatically give it a higher rider weight range. Touring and Racing boards are prime examples. And on the opposite end of the spectrum there are boards like the Blackfin Model X and Isle Pioneer that are only 10'6" long, but have a significantly higher rider weight range. Bote lists the maximum capacity of the Wulf 10'4 as 250 pounds and recommends those above 200 consider a different board. At the time of the review there was no Wulf 11'4 model. Sales come and go, so we cannot possibly evaluate the overall value of a product based on a potential sale price. Even at it's current sale price you can easily compare the Bote Wulf 10'4 to the iRocker Cruiser (10'6x33) with a much better construction and accessory kit within $50. All paddle boards flex with any amount of weight. Even high-end carbon fiber boards flex - we've measured it. How much they flex will be dependent on their construction - hence why we test them both in a controlled situation and with a paddler. As I mentioned, I was not the only paddler in our group to test this board and even our 160-170 pound paddlers experienced notable flex in the board.

This was shot at Saguaro Lake outside of Mesa, AZ

Glad to hear you are enjoying it and Hydrus was able to get you a replacement handle so quickly!

That's a great deal, and it's a fantastic board for a beginner.

No, but the Hobie Recon is nearly a clone of this (the Blackfin Model XL). There are a few minor differences in features, and in our bend test the Recon was not quite as stiff (1.57" of bend for the Recon vs 1.0" of bend for the Model XL)