Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

I'm very pleased with this board. I got it to supplement my fiberglass SUP so I can travel and take a companion paddling when I want. The construction seems very beefy and the setup is pretty straightforward. On the water, there is a little give on the deck underfoot, but otherwise it is quite rigid. On a lake with a little chop and breeze, it tended to "ride" the waves a bit but it didn't affect balance. The initial stability is better than my glass board and it tracks very straight and with little resistance. I would not expect to surf this board on any kind of a serious wave--better for flat water and perhaps rivers. The D-rings on the foredeck are a nice touch that I haven't taken advantage of yet.

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

I have a traditional paddleboard that I really like but transporting can be a beast. The Hulu is almost as rigid and very fast. I just took it down river with small rapids and it was great. would not put fins on next time. Kept geting caught up but only minor scratches. Pumps up fast but is hard to disconnect. Everything stores easily in the bag. For the price, love it!!

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

Overall, this seems to be a very well designed board. It's very forgiving and handled class II whitewater very well. When a fin hit a rock, it detached partially from the board rather than breaking or damaging the board. We were able to reattach it without having to deflate.

Included pump gets the board to 10-12 psi, which is the manufacturer's recommendation. Definitely attach fins first prior to pumping. We sanded and cut notches into the pump's twist attachement so it was much easier to detach from the board's air valve.

If you're short, it's a bit awkward to carry but the attached D-rings make adding a strap easy. Also handy for surfing with a hydration pouch.

Included adjustable paddle seems ok but we did not test for flotation. To adjust, pull plastic ring near T-handle away from shaft, shaft will be slideable at that point. Line up holes at desired length and push ring back in.

Instruction manual appears to be written by real surfers.

Don't have anything to compare it to but don't have any complaints about it so far. If you are new to SUPs I'd recommend it.

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

This SUP is great! It works well in MN lakes and I'm excited about using it all over this year, which I will be able to do because it easily fits in my car. I've wanted a board for a few years, but didn't want to have to add a rack to my car. This SUP solves that issue.

I'm giving it 4 stars for two reasons. #1. The pump that was with the board had a crack in the tube, but REI has sent me a replacement, so that is not a big deal. #2. It is heavy, I added a strap to the middle to make it easier to carry. Not a huge draw back, afterall it is 11' long and I knew carrying it would be awkward.

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

I've taken this out twice now, both alone and with friends. I took a SUP lesson on Maui last year, and got hooked on stand up paddle boarding. One of the friends that joined me on that lesson has also tried out this paddle board and agreed - this is more comfortable to use than the boards we learned on! I don't see this being the perfect choice for surf - but for a great workout in calm water, especially for a beginner like me - it's perfect!

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

Just best to spend the extra $ for a C4, it will pay off in the end. We have a C4 10'6" atb that has never had an issue and we beat it! Better quality all around. Thought we could save on a Hula and have a 2nd board. It is an ok board for lakes and pools. Not the fastest or great tracking on a lake. It might handle the river a few times. I would not trust my life on a river trip on this thing. Not even close to the stiffness of the C4 inflatables. Would hate to see the 250# sugested weight on it! Does dot surf river waves very well.
If you want a toy SUP board for the kids go ahead and buy it. That is what mine will end up being. Wish I would not have gone cheap, my own fault! Do you research when it comes to an inflatable!!!!!!

Comments about Advanced Elements Hula 11' Stand Up Paddleboard - Special Buy:

Great board for the river, lake, or ocean. I've taken it down rapids and dragged it over rocks with no problems so far. It's relatively stiff for an inflatable. It's great for traveling, as it fits in a easy to pack bag. The paddle is adjustable and breaks down as well for easy travel. For the price, this is a great product.