The Slingshot Inflatable SUP is the perfect paddleboard for people who want to do a little bit of everything.
By “everything”, I mean touring, surfing, fishing, camping, racing, yoga, taking your dog out paddleboarding and more. Here’s why Slingshot’s 2016 Crossbreed Airtech can do so much:
1. The Slingshot SUP has a Large Surface Area
This board is 11′ long and 34″ wide. Although 11′ isn’t exceptionally long, combined with the extra 2-3″ in the width it makes this model much more stable.
Due to the fact that it is larger makes it a good choice for people who want that additional stability. This includes beginners, yoga enthusiasts, anglers, etc..
Due to the additional width on the Airtech, it has a greater maximum weight capacity of 350. If you are a big and tall person, you want to paddle with a pet or child, or you have extra cargo to carry, this is a great option.
Dimensions: 11′ long, 34″ wide, 6″ thick
2. Crossbreed Airtech has a Fast, Maneuverable Design
Racing paddleboards typically have a pointed nose, like this model. This feature helps the board glide more streamlined through the water with less effort from paddling.
The large tracking fin helps the SUP propel efficiently in a straight line rather than zig-zagging with each paddle stroke. Many racers look for this feature when covering long straight distances, and the Slingshot Airtech comes with this fin in the package.
3. The Cost Benefit of Being Ultra-Portable…
Like all other inflatable stand-up paddleboards, the Slingshot can deflate and roll up into the size of a large backpack. It only weighs 26 lbs. It can then be carried on an airplane or in the back of a car to your vacation destination.
You can save a lot of money on luggage and transportation fees as well as equipment rental costs. If you enjoy traveling, this gives iSUPs a huge cost advantage over traditional hardboards.
4. More Rugged & Durable than a Foam or Fiberglass SUP?
Yes, traditional hard boards are, well, hard. However, inflatables don’t suffer from dings or dents. They bounce off rocks, logs and other objects without showing any damage.
If you spend a lot of time paddling on river rapids or have an active family with lots of people using the board, this gives you one less thing to worry about.
Furthermore, when an inflatable SUP can inflate to 15 PSI, it has a firmness that many people mistake for a foam core board. They are solid to the touch. So much so that many manufacturers even advertise their product’s durability by driving trucks over them.
5. Extra Storage Features
Many SUP’s have bungee straps on the front of the board. This model has them on both the front and rear of the deck. This provides additional cargo carrying space for fishing, camping and more.
It also has 2 D-rings, one at the front and the other at the rear of the SUP. This is a nice convenience for towing or tying up. I have not seen other boards that offer this feature.
Slingshot Inflatable SUP Package Includes:
- Inflatable Paddleboard
- High Pressure Iar Pump & Gauge
- 9″ Removable Fin
- Backpack
- Repair Kit
- Extended 2-Year Warranty against product defects (longer than most other companies offer)
Note: the package does not come with a paddle. You will need to buy your own. If you want an SUP paddle that can break down for easy portability, I suggest a lightweight, adjustable, 3-piece paddle like the one from Super Paddles.
FYI, there is a shorter 10′ Model that costs about $30 less. I think the longer 11′ version offers a better value, but a shorter SUP can sometimes be more convenient.
