Isle is known for their lightweight inflatables, and their All Around Airtech 10-foot iSUP, like the name suggests, is a general use model aimed at the middle of the road rider. The board may not be the best in heavy surf, but when it comes to flatwater and recreational use, the All Around Airtech is a solid performer with good stability, rigidity, and control. Constructed with Isle’s 2016 Airtech Fusion-Lite process, this board is 30% lighter than boards of similar size. Most 10′ boards range between 27 -30 pounds. The All Around Airtech, on the other hand, weighs only 21 pounds (updated to reflect weight of 2017 model).
The light weight comes at the cost of weight capacity, unfortunately. The All Around can only support riders up to 240 pounds. To Isle’s credit, they have included a number of features to appeal to as wide a swath of beginner and intermediate paddlers as possible. There’s a bungee system up front to tie down equipment. Multiple carry handles (front and center) to move the board while inflated. Tail mounted D-rings for leashes and dock ties. A 2+1 fin setup, and external accessories like a paddle, backpack, pump, and repair kit.
This board has a max inflation of 15psi, but the recommended range for riding is 10-12psi. Provided you’re under that weight capacity, this board should stay rigid and controllable for the duration of your ride. Just don’t take it anywhere too choppy.
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Top Features
- AirTech Fusion – The Fusion-Lite Construction is an alternative assembly method to hand-gluing the dual PVC layers together. Isle says that this machine process removes human error from the equation, and creates a higher quality seal that results in a lighter board.
- Unbeatable portability – This is the All Around’s greatest strength. 18 pounds is much lighter than pretty much everything else out there, and easy for even weaker riders to carry around without much difficulty. When rolled up it’s the tight sleeping bag size of many other inflatables.
- Diamond grooves – This board features a diamond groove deck as opposed to a simple textured foam. This is the current pinnacle in no-slip grip.
- Easy to operate inflation valve – Makes pumping up the board a bit easier. It can be locked in an open or closed position for rapid use. Average inflation/deflation time is 5 minutes.
- Bundled accessories – The usual stuff, but it’s nice that they include it so you can get right out onto the water once you have your board.
- 2 year warranty – Isle offers manufacturer coverage for workmanship and material defects.
What We Like About The ISLE Airtech 10′ All Around Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
- Compact, multi-purpose design – Isle designed this board to be a good starter board with the potential for various applications, and it fits that role. It’s not too big, and can be deployed with confidence in most areas.
- Great look – The shape of this board is nice, reminiscent of an old-school surfboard.
- Fin is easy to work with – Slides on and off, locking in place well. Won’t be a hassle to install, and in the event of damage is a breeze to replace with a new one.
- Diamond groove system – It keeps you steady on the board, and isn’t as harsh on the feet as some other groove patterns that are available.
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What We Don’t Like About The ISLE Airtech 10′ All Around Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
- Going slow – This board is not particularly fast. If you’ve a thirst for speed, it won’t be quenched by the All Around Airtech. If lightning quickness and hairpin turns aren’t your thing though, by all means, have at it.
- Doesn’t track straight – A few paddles, and then you’re drifting a bit. The fins help to correct this issue a bit, but it can get somewhat burdensome at times.
- No alternate color schemes – The blue and white is a nice look, but it would have been nice to see some other color choices. Red and black maybe? Some kind of green? Variety is generally not a bad thing.
This iSUP Is Best Suited For
All around convenience – This board is easy. What it lacks in performance it makes up for with it’s convenience and hassle free operation. You won’t be winning any competitions with the All Around, but that’s not what it’s designed for.- Compact lovers – This board is small and light. If you’re a fan of that style, you’ll feel right at home on this board.
This iSUP Is Not So Great For
- Heavier riders – 240 pounds is good for smaller individuals, but bigger riders are going to find that weight limit to be far too small. When you push the upper edge of this board’s capacity it gets very wobbly.
- Advanced riders, or those used to hard boards – Anyone used to riding at a high level is going to be disappointed by this board’s lack of advanced performance. Such riders might want to look at top of the line inflatables or epoxy/EPS boards.
The Verdict
This is a good, though not exemplary, beginner inflatable. It’s a popular model, and that’s because it appeals to a wide base with its middling stats. This is not necessarily a terrible drawback, as that makes the board easy for newcomers to get into and well suited to a position as a secondary board for intermediate paddlers. Anyone looking to ride a fast board, or something more specialized may want to look at other, more appropriate models.
Last update on 2021-08-05 at 22:30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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