Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was a bit hesitant before purchasing this board, only because I had never heard of Atoll before and didn't know what to expect. My wife and I have been pricing paddle boards and reading reviews for months so when this one showed up in my search at a lower price than a lot of the others, it got my attention. After a few emails to the manufacturer and as much research as I could find online, I decided to pull the trigger. The 2 year warranty, amazing communication and customer service from the manufacturer combined with amazon's return policy helped make the decision a whole lot easier. Shipping was fast and the board showed up on my doorstep in a couple of days. As soon as I opened the box I was immediately convinced I had made the right decision. Packaging is neat an carefully wrapped. Everything described was included in the box. I'll descibe everything in as much detail as I can because I know some people are like me and want to know all the details before they buy something. Hopefully this will help make a few people's purchase decision a little easier. The package contains the board, a carrying bag, a 3 part adjustable paddle, a repair kit, and a pump. The board itself is made from thick pvc material, kind of like a zodiac boat if you know what that is. The deck pad is a thick comfortable foam that seems like it will hold up well. The baord is slightly heavier than other inflatable boards I've felt but I love that because to me, it feels sturdier and better-built. The board came rolled up and includes a nylon strap to hold it together when rolled . It also includes 2 inflatable "donuts" that slip over the 2 smaller fins (which are not removable) to keep them from rubbing holes in the bag or scratching the board. They're a little thing, but a nice touch. There is a large detachable fin that easily slides into the fin box on the bottom of the board. What I like about this one is the thumb screw that attaches the fin is secured to the fin itself so there is no hardware to worry about losing when taking it on and off by the water. Once secured, it feels rock solid and I had no concerns about it falling off. I inflated the board to the recommended 15psi and just as in the photos, it's sturdy enough to lay across 2 chairs and stand on. It does have some flex to it, but you're going to have that with any inflatable board. The pump that it comes with has it's own smaller bag to keep sand off. It has a built in pressure gauge so it's easy to see what pressure you're at as you pump. The hose on the pump attaches to the board with a twist lock mechanism. The valve on the board can be locked open to deflate the board but should be left in the spring-closed position to inflate. It attaches securly to the hose and I didn't hear any air leaking out as I pumped. It's not difficult to operate the pump but as others have said, it can get a little exhausting pumping it up all the way, especially if you take it to the full 15 psi. It gets harder to press as the pressure builds so the last few psi are pretty tough. Again, that can be expected with any inflatable paddle board though. If you don't want the upper body workout, get an electric pump. I didn't find it too terribly difficult. Besides, the convenience of having a board I can take anywhere and keep in the trunk of a car more than makes up for the small cardio and upper body workout I get before I use it. The board handles well on the water. I'm an intermediate paddleboarder. I'm not super fast, but I've been on several boards so I do at least have something to compare to when it comes to stability. My wife has a 12' foot fiberglass board. Although it's not quite as stable as hers, it's also a foot shorter and inflatable. It is however, much more stable than the 10'6" hard board I had been on previously. I was amazed at just how stable the Atoll board feels on the water. I jumped right up without having to "get the feel for it" and never had any trouble balancing. I rocked my feet back and forth to see how far I could get it to tip ton one side before it became unsteady to the point of falling off, and again, I was pleasantly surprised with the result. It's super stable. I did notice if you jump up and down, you can definitely feel the "springiness" that comes from having an inflatable board. However, it didn't effect my experience in any way, even when paddling in light chop. Paddling in the chop was no problem. Although the board is mostly flat, it does have some rocker built into the front so it handles chop and waves quite well. It's pointy nose glides through the water easily and when paddling side by side with my wife, I noticed my board was faster than hers, even though we were taking similar strokes. It also turns on a dime and is extremely manuverable. The paddle that comes with the board is adjustable and breaks apart into 3 pieces, although you really don't need to do that because it fits in the bag just fine when it's in 2 pieces. It's heavier than my wifes carbon fiber paddle, but it's aluminum so that's a given. I love it though. It feels sturdy and well built and the handle is very comfortable. I like that it has marks on the side of the telescoping handle so you can easily set it to your preferred length every time you use it. A simple twist lock releases the tension and allows the telescoping end to go in or out. Everything fits into a convenient backpack carrying bag. The bag has 2 shoulder straps as well as a waist buckle which helps take some of the weight off your shoulders. Sounds like a simple thing but on a long beach walk or hike, that makes a huge difference. I hope I've covered everything that a prospective buyer would like to know before purchasing. I'd be happy to give more details to anyone interested. Overall, I would highly recommend this board. Just make sure you do your research and know about the pros and cons of having an inflatable board. The convenience is great and for what I'll be using it for, is worth whatever minor performance sacrifices there might be when compared with a hard board. I'm extremely pleased with the board itself but I also want to give a shout out to the customer service at Atoll. They may be a smaller company but they're quick to respond with helpful answers and their product support has been off the charts. I have nothing bad to say. Great board at a great price, and from a great company. 5 stars all the way.