Blackfin Model X & XL Review | One Of The Top All-Around SUPs for 2023

For current pricing on the Blackfin X & XL click the links below:
geni.us/Blackfin-Model-X-YT
geni.us/Blackfin_Model_XL_YT
For in-depth written reviews of the X & XL board click the links below:
www.supboardguide.com/blackfi...
www.supboardguide.com/blackfi...
Unboxing and inflating the Blackfin X and XL brought an immediate bright and energized vibe to our office, and that’s not just because we received them in an array of fun colors. It’s also because we have always been big fans of iRocker and their dedication to making their Blackfin boards ready for adventure. We were eager to get out on the water and take them for a spin!
The new Blackfin model X and XL are both impressively good looking, as well as have rigid and durable construction that makes them super stable and able to handle high-weight loads. We appreciate this design because it allows for security on the board even when all of the action mounts are being used at once. Say you have a sand spear, a fishing pole, a cooler full of snacks, and a small child aboard, as long as the load is under the max weight limit then there’s room for it all!
The X and XL are identical when it comes to the features, but differ slightly when it comes to size, performance, and who should pick which boad. If you’re a smaller paddler and want more control over the board, the X will be for you. If you’re a larger paddler or you have you heart set on tandem kayaking, then the XL will suit you best! In this Blackfin X & XL review we do a deep dive on the similarities and differences between the two sizes in terms of their features, construction, and performance, and help you decide if the Blackfin X or XL is the board for you.
For all the details about Blackfin’s X & XL watch the full review and leave us questions or comments on the video!
#iSUP #inflatablepaddleboard #inflatablekayak #isle #islePioneerpro
0:00 Blackfin X and XL Review
0:58 Features
6:20 Construction
8:28 Performance Overview
10:04 Stability
12:11 Tracking
14:46 Speed
16:48 What’s in the kit
18:25 Conclusion

[@supboardguide]

SUP Question of the Day 🏄🏄🏄: What do you think of all the different colors of Blackfin X and XL boards?? Let us know in the comments below 👇👇👇

[@CharleneFlorida]

@supboardguide Hey Justin, do you know why the new 2023 model XL has a 14-16 PSI rating while my older Blackfin board is rated 16-18 PSI? I feel this makes a massive difference when additional passengers are on the board. On my older 2021 XL board @ 18 PSI with two smaller passengers, the water line is not even close to the top of the board, while the same setup with the 2023 XL board @ 16 PSI causes the water to be near the top of the board and sometimes overflowing. Needless to say, the drag is much higher, requiring much more effort to paddle and move the board.

[@jillschlender1657]

Love the Color choices.

[@grackleboi2523]

I just got a blackfin xl 2023 model to replace my recalled 2022 model. I really like the improvements, and it feels just as stable and nimble as the last. (Im about 300lbs and it holds me and my gear handily).

[@cre8iveworks]

Thanks for such an excellent detailed review. I just picked up the XL in the fuschia and it's absolutely such a vibrant, beautiful board - great job Blackfin!👌I also love all the mounts for cameras and various accessories. As a beginner, my first time trying the board felt really super stable and easy to maneuver. I loved it so much I decided to take a SUP lesson to learn strokes and skills.

[@universityofalaskasoutheas5881]

Great video all around. I'm looking to outfit our rental shop with iRocker boards, now considering a Blackfin Model X for myself. Thanks for the great review!

[@jillschlender1657]

Great review. Helped me decide to buy blackfin XL.

[@ryanellion]

Solid review!

[@supboardguide]

Much appreciated!

[@franklinwahl8611]

Love the Blackfin. I wish I got it sooner with the older color style. I also wish the mounts were optional or had soft covers (I don’t fish and moving around the board with a kid they got in the way a bit). I had to get River fins from a third party and they don’t use the strings and they just dangle, so kind of a bummer. The simplicity of the Atoll I have is awesome and split my time between the two, Atoll maybe winning out a bit. I’m still curious about the Reds.

[@Noreasta508]

I bought the XL last month after seeing one of your reviews and have gotten the run around on missing accessories I paid for but never received . Also they need to either package the sand spear with the mount or notate that the mount is required. The mount was not even listed on the website when I order.

[@supboardguide]

Email us directly if you continue to have issues and I can reach out to them to help get you everything!

[@SuperPiratemike]

Are you going to do a video review of the 2024 Blackfin XL Ultra? I am trying to decide between the XL and XL Ultra, but am leaning towards the XL due to its rigidity, maneuverability, and extended deck pad.

[@mth32871]

Between the Blackfin XL and the Isle Explorer Pro 14', which board would you learn towards for your own go-to board? They both seems like fantastic boards, so I'm torn trying to decide between the two. I like that the Blackfin XL has a larger load capacity, not that I will need it, and I like all the attachment points of the Explorer Pro (but I don't like that it doesn't come with any straps, and that they're $30 each). I plan to use a board mainly for meandering down the Arkansas River (in Wichita) and on a couple of local lakes, so very easy going for the most part. I appreciate your in depth reviews of both boards.

[@ttruong225]

what are the main differences between this and the Tahe beach sup yak? hoping to use one of these with kids and fish on lakes with it.

[@bbazinet11]

Awesome review! I currently have 2 Blackfin X and need a replacement for one of them, I am trying to decide between the Blackfin X, XL and XL Ultra, thoughts? Have you reviewed the Ultra yet?

[@chopstiickss]

Looking to get Model X. What are the chances that the board gets too hot in the sun and starts to expand then eventually pop while youre on the water? Is there a max temperature rating? Time duration out in the sun?

[@agent3012]

Since the Blackfin XL has all the accessories as optional, are there any reviews specifically on the BLACKFIN 3-Piece Carbon Matte Paddle 2022? Wondering if it's a good option, or should I be looking at a paddle from a different source?

[@CharleneFlorida]

Hey Justin, can you ask the owner Steve the same question but regarding the Scotty mounts; What percentage of customers are actually using Blackfin boards for fishing? I don't mind extra features if they're not in the way, but Scotty mounts seem to be there just to injure a knee or foot, and I'm not going to buy their board again until they fix this, as you suggested. I live in the Keys, and I know at least 15 people with Blackfin boards, and nobody is using them for fishing. To that point, everybody here is fishing, but it's very rare to see someone fishing on a paddleboard in general.

[@wshaway]

I wonder if it would be possible to have something 3D printed that would fit into the mounts to make them flat?

[@daveevans7151]

Great video! Thanks for the time. Thoughts on this vs the ultra xl?

[@supboardguide]

We just got the Ultra XL in and are testing it now - but from first take, I'm a huge fan of the Ultra XL. You do lose a bit of deck pad, but that's so it can fold in half.

[@daveevans7151]

@@supboardguide thank you! I ended up going with the XL due to the weight capacity. The more I thought about it, the more that made,the most sense. I want to use it for fishing and for hauling a kid and maybe a dog for fun. It will mainly be going in our camper. Your reviews are solid and really helped me in my decision, so thanks again.

[@gloppy101]

Snap in fins suck! I've lost two with hitting some hard object underwater. With US Finbox, I can find lots of various lengths and designs.

[@bdd606]

Can I attach a gopro to the XL ?😊

[@jp1806]

This or Water Walker board? Water Walker is stiffer but this has a higher weight capacity. Which one?

[@ericbakke3060]

what lake do you shoot your videos from in Utah?

[@supboardguide]

Generally we go to either Sand Hollow or Ivins. This one has clips from both.