As a family who loves being out on the water and takes full advantage of summer, we are always searching out swimming holes. We had the opportunity to try out the Isle Pioneer paddle board the past few months, and we loved it!
We chose Isle’s Pioneer model– their all around inflatable and best selling paddle board- because it was light and had a nice wide base that I thought would be stable for my kids. We used it on lakes, rivers, and flat water, and as novice paddle board users, we found it easy to use and stable. It has been durable and held up to lots of use by our family as well as friends who took it for a spin.
They also sent several accessories for us to try out, which made this board pretty versatile and convenient for everyday use in summer. It is easy to set up, take down, and transport, and stable on the water. There is a ton we loved about it and not much we didn’t love. In this article I’ll break down the details of our experience.
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Features and Specs
This paddle board is packed with lots of fun features and accessories. The Pioneer 3 is lighter than previous models and the price point is pretty good in my opinion!
Specifications are as follows for the Pioneer 3 model:
- Length: 10 ft 6 inches
- Width: 34 inches
- Board weight: 19 lbs
- Capacity: 285 lbs
- Price: $695 (on sale for $495)
- Included accessories: backpack, carbon paddle, rigid fin, and 6 ft leash
It is equipped with lots of attachment points (nice thick webbing loops) on both sides of the board to clip things on, attach the seat, and even carry the paddle. The carry bag has wheels as well as back pack straps for easy transport. There are also attached and adjustable bungees on the front and back for securing things.
Additional Accessories
As well as the included accessories, there are several add-ons that are fun. An inflatable kayak seat and foot rest (which they call the ‘cloud seat’), extra paddle blade that converts the paddle from a SUP paddle to a kayak paddle, a dry bag and an anchor kit are all worth the money to add on.
What is This Board Best For?
Single Passenger and Kids
This board is their ‘stability model’, ideal for single passengers who are beginner to intermediate paddlers. I chose this model because of it’s width and stability, since my kids would be using it primarily. They list it as a single passenger paddle board, but we were able to fit an adult (me) and two of my kids on it with no issues.
Calm Waters
My kids could also paddle it around independently on lakes and calm rivers. This board is not made for speed or whitewater/swift water, so it’s ideal for calm waters. It is stable enough for kids to jump off and climb back on without flipping though.
Those With Limited Strength
Although not listed on their website, I think this board would be great for those who struggle with strength or back problems, because it’s very lightweight (my kids can carry it), and the carry bag has wheels to tow, thus eliminating the need for heavy lifting. The option for the backrest would also be ideal for those needing extra support. They sell an electric pump to eliminate manual pumping as well.
What We Love
There is so much we love about this board, so I’ll break down the details of why in this section.
Easy to Use with a Great Carry Case
This board is incredibly easy to use. Right out of the box, everything was simple to figure out for us (first time paddle board ‘owners’). All the accessories were packed in their own mesh bags to keep things organized. We love the wheeled carry bag. It fit easily in the back of my van and could be stored nice and tidy in the garage.
It also has lots of inner zipper pockets for more organization. I love that it opens fully, like a duffel bag, to access everything very easily. The rolled up paddle board fit back in very easily after use as well, no stuffing or rolling as tight as possible. I really appreciate that!
Lightweight but Stable
It’s very lightweight (19 lbs!), meaning my 9 and 11 year old kids could carry and maneuver it fairly easily. Despite being very light, it’s very stable. My rowdy boys could jump off and back on this board while out on the water without fear of flipping it or causing others to fall off. I’m sure on windy days it might be tough to control with the lighter weight, but we never had any wind strong enough to give us a problem.
We could also double or triple up passengers on it while maintaining stability. However, the 285 lb weight limit is correct; we had a friend weighing more than that try to use it and it became very unstable and low in the water. So double up as long as the combined weight is lower than that!
Easy to Inflate and Deflate
This paddle board is pretty easy to inflate and deflate/roll up. With the hand pump, it took me about 15 minutes to get it to the required PSI. An electric pump would probably be faster than the hand pump, but deflating and rolling up proved pretty fast and easy. It is not hard to get it rolled up to fit in the carry bag which is nice.
We like the pump because it has a handy color coded gauge on top to let you know when you’ve reached the correct PSI. The lines to let you know the right PSI are green to ensure proper inflation.
Backrest and Kayak Conversion
We really loved the ability to convert this paddle board to kayak mode. The seat/ backrest inflated for a comfortable ride that puts you a little higher up for easier paddling. It secures to the board with straps that can be adjusted for height/length/recline. I did find it tricky to get just the right adjustment with the straps, but with practice it is fine.
It was really helpful for the kids, as they seemed to have more control on the water with a kayak style setup. The extra paddle blade affixes to the SUP paddle in place of the T-grip end in an easy conversion. For longer sessions, it was really nice to have a back rest.
Great Color Scheme
This may seem trivial to some, but this is a great looking paddle board. The color schemes available are pretty and fun. I think almost every time we took it out someone commented on how much they liked the colors and look of the board. We had the seafoam/dawn color combo. I should note- it’s a bit hard to keep clean. The colors are pretty but they show dirt and foot prints. I’m guessing maybe a power wash every now and then would help.
What We Don’t Love
There really isn’t a lot we don’t love about this paddle board. It’s been a great toy for the family this summer and I have mostly positive things to say. However, in the spirit of transparency, there are a couple things we had trouble with. These are not necessarily big ‘cons’, but just things to mention.
Fin Trouble
Unfortunately we lost the fin to the board on the first outing. I’m not sure if it was user error or a faulty connection, but it came off while paddling in a lake. Luckily we can order a replacement but it was not ideal. I should mention- even without a fin we didn’t have too much trouble maneuvering it around. It is advertised as a “click ‘n go, no screw needed” attachment, but I think maybe I should have attached it with the screws anyway.
Finicky Pump Hose
While we liked the pump, the hose connected to the pump is a bit finicky. It would come unscrewed while pumping kind of often even when screwed on tight, which was annoying. It is a minor thing, but something to be aware of. There are two sides it can screw in, so make sure you attach it to the correct side for inflation (it is labeled).
Backrest Adjustment
Although we loved having the seat/backrest option, and used it a lot, we did have a bit of trouble adjusting it. My kids could not put it on themselves without the backrest completely collapsing once they put weight on it. We just had a bit of a time trying to get the buckles in the right place for a comfortable angle.
However, I did notice there is an instructional video and guide to using it on their website, which probably would have helped had I looked! If you’re interested, check out the Cloud Kayak Seat & Footbrace informational video. I do find it nice that their website is very helpful- they have videos and articles explaining nearly everything.
Slow Drying Time
The top of the paddle board is covered in a nice foam, which is really comfortable to stand, kneel and lay on, but takes a long time to dry. After use, I would need to lay it out on the lawn or front porch to dry for quite a while before rolling it up for storage. Again, not a big con, but something to be aware of.
A Note About Safety
Of course paddling on the water is a lot of fun and a beautiful way to experience the water. However, with kids on the water, make sure you’re thinking abut safety always. I have heard too many tragic stories about preventable drownings this summer, and seen too many kids on boats without a life jacket. Even on calm water, things can happen.
Life jackets can be bulky and uncomfortable, which I think is a big reason kids and people don’t want to wear them. But the good news is there are lots of paddling specific life jackets that are comfortable and good looking. My kids love the NRS Youth Vista because it isn’t very bulky and it’s comfortable for all day wear. You can also refer to one of our other articles, Best Kids Life Jackets to help you choose one that works for you.
Love at First Paddle
Overall, we love this paddle board. All the accessories were so fun and made it really versatile. It’s really pretty and comfortable to sit/stand on. We loved keeping it in the back of the van for easy unplanned adventures, and the kids loved shuttling each other around the local lakes and river. Although we only tested it out for the summer, if I were to buy a paddle board, this would be it. And with the current sale, I just might!
Where to Buy
You can buy this paddle board or check out the rest of their fleet and accessories at the Isle Surf and SUP website.
Related Articles
- Evrwild Kids Kayak Review
- Best SUP for Beginners
- Family Kayaking: Choosing a Family Kayak
- Kayaking With Kids
- Boating with Babies and Toddlers
Isle Pioneer Paddle Board Review
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