Bote Lowrider Aero Paddleboard Review: This SUP Knows What’s Up

The very first thing I seen when taking the Lowrider out of the storage bag (which is way nicer than Bote’s older luggage, extra on that beneath) was the huge rear fin. It is for much longer than the removable fin on the Breeze Aero, and by far the deepest fin I’ve seen on a paddleboard. A sailor buddy of mine quipped, “That paddleboard has a draft.”

That deep fin makes the Lowrider monitor straighter, which implies you are not continually veering and correcting course as you paddle. Relative to the Breeze Aero and different boards I’ve used, there’s far much less side-to-side motion when paddling. The bigger floor space of the fin additionally makes the board a bit extra secure in tough water, particularly when mixed with the width of this board.

I’ve lengthy wished to do some multiday paddleboarding journeys, and I’ve gone as far as to load up about three-quarters of my gear, solely to resolve it simply wasn’t going to work. The Lowrider, nonetheless, is able to such feats. I didn’t have time to truly do a visit, however I did load it up and paddle round. As you would possibly count on, it was heavy, sat decrease within the water, and was sluggish to show, nevertheless it wasn’t that dangerous, particularly for those who put the seat on so you possibly can swap backwards and forwards between standing and sitting. It is most likely exterior most individuals’s use instances, however for those who’re a weirdo like me, know that that is most likely your finest wager for paddlepacking.

The Lowrider Is a Little Greater

Talking of the seats, they’re fairly comfy and secure. They are often hooked up in a wide range of methods. There are three tie-down factors on either side of the board, and the seats themselves have a strap that means that you can regulate the quantity you are mendacity again. They by no means get fairly as upright as you would be in a kayak, however I paddled a number of miles and had no again pressure or different ache.

One factor to bear in mind for those who’re a seasoned kayaker: You are a lot greater on the water than you’d be in a kayak. You are not going to need to paddle something technical, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a secure, comfy expertise, and the board is loads maneuverable. Cruising flat water, it was surprisingly quick and agile (for one thing this measurement), and the Lowrider did not blink even once I took it out in a 15-knot wind with fairly good chop. To my thoughts this is among the finest causes to get a hybrid. On these tough days once you aren’t going to be standing up, you possibly can nonetheless get out on the water.