Premium HEYBOARD 10'6" Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board (32"×6") - Complete SUP Kit with Non-Slip Deck, Waterproof Bag, Adjustable Paddle, Safety Leash & Hand Pump - Perfect for Yoga, Fishing & Family Fun on Lakes, Rivers & Oceans

The Heyboard iSUP whose dimensions put it right up against the similarly-sized DvSport Sunshine and makes it more advanced than the popular Runwave Kohala. In other words, it should appeal to both beginners and those more experienced/transitioning to the intermediate level.WHY NOT RENT?The typical rental fee for a SUP in our area ran for $30/person for two hours. So, doing the math for an inflatable SUP at $300, that would equate to 10 rentals for up to 20 hours of use. It made sense for us to purchase one instead to save in the long run.What makes the Heyboard a great beginner/intermediate paddle board? Are epoxy (solid) SUPs more durable than inflatable ones? As it turned out, no. See the Pros and Cons for more details.PROS- Very lightweight: 18.5 lbs-- Light enough to be carried to remote wilderness locations- Minimalistic graphic design- Less expensive than hard boards- Fast to deploy/inflate-- First time, an iSUP took me 20 minutes reading instructions and looking for the parts-- Subsequent times took roughly 9-11 minutes to get paddle-ready-- Consider using an electric pump for faster deployment. See TIPS section for more- Compact and portable-- Folds away easily to the size of a sleeping bag--- Simply deflate, remove specific parts, protect the fins, and roll away-- Takes up less space than hard boards-- Can fit in a smaller car, is easier to carry around, and can be checked in on an airplane (and helps save on rental fees)- Carry handle at center of board for one-handed transport- More durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures-- This did not initially make sense: why would an INFLATABLE be more durable than a HARD board?--- Hard boards are more prone to cracking, scratches, and appearance of holes that require immediate fixing. Who knew?- Causes less injuries than hard boardsInflatable SUPs are more durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures- D-Rings already affixed to help turn it into a kayak with an included seat for one. Add another seat for two (for tandem kayaking)- Excellent board for beginners and leisure paddling, though its shorter length and more narrow width makes it slightly more nimble and advanced than the Runwave Kohala-- Good transition board for more skilled beginners-- Inflatables cause less fatigue- Bungee tie down at front to hold gear (ie. water bottle, lunch, jacket, sunblock)- Excellent stability aided by its 6" inflated thickness, 32" width, 10'6" length-- Volume was not provided. To get an estimate, take about 24% off the dimensions to account for the irregular shape: 304L-- More narrow width, shorter length makes it more nimble than the Runwave-- Extra volume adds more stability and weight support over hard boards--- Supports up to 300 lbs, according to the manufacturer, though 330 lbs should be ok based on my experience with boards of similar size-- Its dimensions make the board perfect for recreational, beginner/intermediate paddling- Can be used for surfing on small waves, though it will not be very nimble because of its large size- Based on my research, inflatables can last 10 years or more, depending on maintenance, storage environment, and other factors- Back foam has a bump for better seated comfort- Multiple accessories included-- Carry bag/Backpack-- Manual pump-- 3 fins (1 removable)-- 3-part, floating, length-adjustable aluminum paddle-- Safety leash with key compartment-- Repair kit-- Waterproof bag for cellphoneCONS- Takes time to inflate or deflate-- Hard boards are ready to go and require little to no preparation-- Took 12-16 minutes to deflate, clean up, roll up, and pack away- For some, the graphic design is too minimal- Requires a pump-- Inflating a paddleboard to 12-15 PSI (about 1 Bar) takes quite a workout- Does not perform as well or as fast as hard boards, making them not as good for racing competitions, though the performance gap between SUPs and iSUPs is narrowing- iSUP is puncture resistant, but not puncture-proofTIPSBOARD PREPARATION- Ensure the valve is clean and free of dust and debris- Inflate the Heyboard iSUP to between 12-15 PSI (15 PSI is best)-- Warning: Do NOT go over 15 PSI with this iSUP!-- If the board will be left in the hot sun, inflate to only 12-13 PSI, and let the heat increase the internal pressure-- In general, inflatable SUPs should be inflated to 15-17 PSI (no more than the rated max), even if the manufacturer states that it can go as high as 25 PSI- If using an electric pump, inflate to 10-12 PSI, and hand pump the rest to 15 PSI-- Do NOT use an air compressor as it could easily overinflate- Double-check board pressure before heading out-- Before first use, leave the board inflated for a day and see if it loses pressure. If it does, refer to the manual on how to find the leak-- Leaving board in the sun/heat can increase pressure, and in the cold can have pressure decreasedA safety leash is NECESSARY to help keep the board attached to you. Not having one could separate the board from you by the wind or stream, forcing you to swim all the way back to shore. A leash can SAVE YOUR LIFE!- You should always have a safety leash-- Attach ankle cuff to the less dominant leg and the other end to the loop at the tail of the board-- Keeps board close to you when you fall into the water, and prevents any waves or wind from moving it away- Do not drag paddle boards across the pavement as that can puncture and damage-- The board has a carry handle at the center. Lift board onto its side with the handle facing away from you (bottom of board faces you), and grab the handle to lift the iSUP off the groundCHOOSING A BOARDThe following are general guidelines on how to select the right board. I am not a professional SUP rider and suggest you visit a paddle board shop for advice appropriate to you.- The wider a board, the more stability is added (useful for beginners or tandem riders) but harder to paddle-- 31" and wider are perfect for beginners and tandem riders-- 30" or narrower, due to less drag on the board, increase mobility and speed, suitable for surfing- The longer a board, like snowboards, the more streamlined it is to cover distance-- 12′ and longer are designed for racing-- 9′ – 11′ are great for recreation-- 9′ or less are intended for surfing due to more nimble mobility- The thicker a board, the heavier of a rider it could carry-- 5" or thicker are best-- 4" are perfect for children and light paddlersIt is better to be too light than too heavy for a board- The higher volume of a board (measured in Liters), the more weight and height of a rider it can accommodate due to increased buoyancy, and be more stable-- Choose a board that is at or below the suggested weight limit--- Going above the weight capacity can introduce a sinking drag and be harder to paddle on--- Take into consideration---- Overall weight, including any food, water, gear, and companions---- Your skill level and age---- Water environment and activity type-- Check out a SUP Volume Calculator (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)--- Not all boards with the same volume are the same. Their concavity and overall shape, among other factors, affect a board’s performance--- Beginners: Total weight x (1.1 to 1.4)---- If you are 170 lbs and plan to bring a 50 lb child with 10 lbs of food and water, total weight is 230 lbs. Volume should be between 253L – 322L--- Intermediate or Advanced: Total weight x (0.9 to 1.1)-- 200L and up are generally great for recreation and beginnersKeep in mind that after a few times of paddling, you may find yourself quickly advancing in your abilities. My personal recommendation with anything I do is to always get something that is at least a notch above my current skill level.CONCLUSIONThe Heyboard with its wide and shorter form factor makes for a very stable, beginner-friendly inflatable that is just advanced enough for the person looking to transition into intermediate level. Its approximate volume of 304L, 6" thickness, and 300 lb maximum weight-capacity could accommodate two adults, but be sure the board is fully inflated so a flex or sink would not hinder paddling efficiency. Like all the other iSUPs and hard SUPs I had used last year, paddling around in the water had provided a great amount of joy, memories, and much-needed exercise. My son went from someone being fearful of water to wanting to go out with me every time, even agreeing to learn how to jump into the ocean and flipping himself to safely float with a life vest.My favorite had been the DvSport Sunshine iSUP for its streamlined performance, but this Heyboard is right up there with it.Purchasing an inflatable stand up paddle board was an eye opener and money saver over rental fees. It very much was more stable, VERY lightweight, and easier to stand on for longer periods of time than hard boards, but I also felt more pride taking care of something that was mine. Inflatables not only take up less garage space, but they are also more compact to transport in a car’s trunk.