The vast array of inflatable stand-up paddle board options available today is borderline bewildering, with seemingly untold manufacturers offering boards for every scenario.
Shortboards for surfing waves, wider boards for on-water yoga, and arrow-like shapes for racing are just a few. The quality and price tag of these crafts can vary so much that it’s often difficult to tell what you are getting.
Confused? If you need some inspiration to get started, we've got a great guide to the best inflatable stand-up paddleboards (often dubbed iSUPs, for short).
FatStick, a UK-based company that has been making various water sports accessories since 2012, understands that it now faces stiff competition from many cheaper upstarts, so it continues to offer the best kit at the most reasonable price.
The company started with hard boards, imported directly from reputable factories, creating products for recognised brands, but now offers a line of inflatable SUP packages, solid composite boards, foil wing boards, and various accessories.
Although its 10’6 and 11’2 all-around Pure Art and Wooden Menace models remain arguably the most popular, its 12’6 Inflatable Touring model, as tested here, offers a great mix of speed and efficiency without costing a fortune.
As FatStick puts it, "these are not just another generic inflatable paddleboard with our brand name thrown on it," as the company has invested plenty of R&D into perfecting the formula.
So, we took to the water to see if the years of aquatic experience had paid off.
FatStick 12’6 Inflatable Touring Paddle board review
Price and availability
FatStick is a direct-to-consumer company with a small brick-and-mortar shop on the south coast of the UK. However, it predominantly sells online, with all products packaged and delivered directly to your door the next day via a speedy courier service.
The 12’6 touring model is currently priced at £549 (approx. $699/ AU$1,064) for the entire package, which includes a pump, paddle (complete with kayak conversion), leash, three fins, a kayak seat, and a quick-release waist belt for the leash.
Having dealt directly with the FatStick team, I can say the customer service is top-notch. Someone is always on hand to offer advice and guidance throughout the process.
There are also plenty of guides on the FatStick website to get folks started, and the team often follows up to see how you are getting on. It's a neat personal touch, especially given the price bracket.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 12'6 x 31 x 6
- Volume: 260 litres
- Weight: 10kg
- Max pressure: 25psi
- Load carrying: Cargo netting, threaded accessory mount, seven handles
- Deck: Traction pad and kick tail
Design and features
Compared to the wider and more rounded outlines of the many beginner boards I have tested of late, this Touring model is decidedly narrower, with a more pulled-in nose and tail that give it an almost arrow-like shape for slicing through the water.
It only comes with the aforementioned dimensions, and no option to specify either five or six-inch rails like some brands do, but it doesn’t feel overtly chunky or as if the rails are sitting unnaturally proud of the water’s surface.
At 12’6, it’s a long board, which means you can stash a fair amount of kit up front, but in reality, that extra length is designed for performance, propelling the board through the water at greater speeds and with less effort from the paddler.
The entire package comes in a good quality silver and black backpack, which boasts both shoulder straps and a set of wheels if you prefer dragging it along. The entire set-up weighs in at 18kg, so dragging might be wise.
There are seven handles for carrying the inflated board in various ways, while both the front and rear feature D-loops for attaching an anchor or even towing from another vessel. There is a small section of bungee cord for carrying cargo at the front, too.
It is just about large enough for a waterproof backpack or something similar, so if you are expecting to cart cool boxes and whatnot, this isn't really the set-up for that.
Finally, there is a threaded accessory mount right at the nose of the board, which is great for those who like to document their adventures with one of the best action cameras.
Plus, the traction pad at the rear has a wedge-like, kick-tail feature, which allows those with a little paddle-boarding skill to perform kick-turns with greater ease.
Build quality and ease of use
First impressions are good, with all of the accessories feeling well-made and built to last, while the manual pump offers dual-chamber action for faster inflation.
However, the more iSUPs I test, the more I lean on an electric pump, which I bought to save me the mammoth effort of inflating these things. You can pick up a cheap model that connects to a vehicle's 12V cigarette lighter outlet for around £50, while battery-powered models are around £100.
FatStick includes an inflatable seat that can be attached with provided straps, as well as an additional paddle blade that transforms this Touring model into a kayak. The leash can be strapped around the leg or used in conjunction with the included quick-release waist band.
FatStick is an advocate for water safety, so suggests users wear their leash around the waist, in order to avoid it getting tangled in reeds and other potential obstacles.
Naturally, there are some telltale signs where the brand has managed to save some money. The bag, for example, is perfectly fine, but it just feels cheaper than the top quality backpacks offered by the likes of Red Paddle Co.
The bungee cord at the front cargo area is a bit on the skimpy side and I found that the carbon-wrapped paddle looked much better than it performed. There was a good deal of flex in it when paddling hard.
FatStick offers a full carbon two-piece paddle that is a worthy investment for anyone taking their paddling seriously.
Perhaps more importantly, the board feels robust and the overall construction is great. It feels solid when inflated to the recommended PSI and all of the handles and cargo securing points are reinforced for longevity.
Flip the board over and the US-style fin box is really easy to deal with, while its design means upgrading the fin (the included one is just a basic plastic thing) is a simple task. The two smaller side bite fins slide in and then secure with a pair of sliding clips.
These feel a bit cheap and could be prone to becoming brittle with a lot of salt water immersion, but we had no issues during the few weeks of testing on rivers and in the sea.
Performance on the water
Despite its length and rail thickness, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the FatStick Touring board was to heft in and out of the water. The skinnier profile generally makes it easier to tuck under the arm, and while not the lightest iSUP on sale, it’s no way near the heaviest, either.
With 260-litres of volume, the board is way down on some of the all-rounders we have previously tested here at T3 towers, which means it will feel slightly less stable underfoot.
This isn’t helped by the narrower deck, but it does mean the the board glides through the water with ease. There’s a tangible difference between stroke efficiency on this board than with something like the Isle Switch Pro I have been testing recently.
Like I previously mentioned, it is definitely worth upgrading the paddle, as there’s too much flex in it when putting the hammer down, but the board tracks nicely (thanks to the three-fin set-up) and the slightly raised tail on the deck pad makes it easier to lean bodyweight towards the rear and initiate tighter kick-turns.
There were a few paddling sessions where I faced a nasty headwind and completely timed the tides wrong, so essentially battled the elements for an hour as I paddled upstream.
On much larger and cheaper boards, I probably would have given up, but the FatStick Touring model picked up pace and managed to slice through the water with decent efficiency.
Of course, it isn’t likely going to trouble any hard-bodied racing SUPs any time soon, as I found there was still amount of flex throughout the length of the board, but those with some paddling experience will find it a much nicer place to rack up the nautical miles than many cheaper starter options.
Verdict
In terms of price and quality, the FatStick board hits a nice middle ground, offering a reliable board and acceptable accessories without costing an absolute fortune.
This is by no means the cheapest board the brand offers, but it promises additional performance for those who want to take their casual paddling to the next level.
Thanks to the sportier shape and dimensions, it’s possible to cover big distances fast, even with a backpack mounted to the front. Those stepping up from an all-rounder will appreciate the added efficiency, even if it does feel a bit unstable at first.
Also consider
There are stiffer boards out there, and the Isle Switch Prodeserves special mention, as its patented InfinityFiber technology really does make for an extremely rigid inflatable paddle board experience.
But similar models from that brand, such as the Red Paddle Co Ride MSL, can cost a lot more… before you start selecting a paddle and accessories.
