iROCKER is one of the top-rated paddle board brands on the market. In this article, we’ll walk you through all of the best iROCKER SUPs on offer.
ISLE has quickly become one of my all-time favorite brands of SUPs, and for good reason!
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As you saw in my review of the ISLE Switch, paddle boards made by ISLE are highly versatile, reliable, and performance-oriented. ISLE offers both inflatable and hard-shell options.
In this post, I’ll take a closer look at the best paddleboards from ISLE. I’ll share a bit more about the company, too, so you know who’s behind those products.
Read all the way to the end of this post and I promise you’ll walk away with a better understanding of why ISLE is a great brand to consider and what you can expect from ISLE’s SUPs.
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At a Glance: Best ISLE SUPs
- Best Recreational: ISLE Pioneer Pro 10’6”
- Best for Big Families: ISLE Megalodon 2.0 15’
- Best for SUP Surfing: Versa 2.0 10’5”
- Best for Fishing: Sportsman
- Fastest: Explorer 2.0
- Best Kayak SUP Hybrid: Switch
- Best for Yoga: Scout
- Best Budget: Pioneer 2.0
Comparison Table: Best ISLE SUPs
| Model | Specs | Where To Buy |
 ISLE Pioneer Pro 10’6” | Size: 10’6” x 34” Weight: 23 lbs. Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. | ISLE |
 ISLE Megalodon 2.0 15’ | Size: 15’ x 56” Weight: 24 lbs. Weight Capacity: 1050 lbs. | Amazon |
 Versa 2.0 10’5” | Size: 10’5” x 32” Weight: 29 lbs. Weight Capacity: 215 lbs. | Amazon |
 Sportsman | Size: 11’6” x 36” Weight: 27.6 lbs. Weight Capacity: 350 lbs. | Amazon |
 Explorer 2.0 | Size: 11’6” x 32” Weight: 24 lbs. Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. | Amazon |
 Switch | Size: 11’6” x 35.5” Weight: 19 lbs. Weight Capacity: 425 lbs. | Amazon |
 Scout | Size: 11” x 33” Weight: 21 lbs. Weight Capacity: 315 lbs. | Amazon |
 Pioneer 2.0 | Size: 10’6” x 34” Weight: 24 lbs. Weight Capacity: 285 lbs. | Amazon |
WHY TRUST US: Here at Paddlingspace.com, we spend more time on the water than we do in the office. We paddle, kayak fish, and camp as often as we can, so we know exactly what kayakers and kayak anglers need. Each year, we independently research, review, and rate the best kayaks, canoes, and paddling gear. Our experts analyze hundreds of products to find out key differences, pros, and cons of each product. We only make money from ads or if you purchase through our links. No sponsored posts or biased reviews here, period.
The 8 Best ISLE Paddle Boards
Best Recreational: Pioneer Pro 10’6”
Length: 10’6” (320 cm)
Width: 34” (86.4 cm)
Weight: 23 lbs. (10.43 kg)
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
The Pioneer is ISLE’s most popular recreational paddleboard. The Pioneer Pro, however, is a big step up from the base budget model.
ISLE Pioneer Pro is faster, sleeker, and more stable than the Pioneer. It is also a whole lot tougher.
The Pioneer Pro is built using ISLE’s patented Airtech Prolite construction, which combines:
- PowerFuse, a welded rail technology that all but eliminates leakage at the union between the top and bottom layers of fabric while also improving rigidity.
- InfinityFiber, a patented material that, when inflated, becomes incredibly rigid without losing its flexibility when deflated.
Put together, these two features do wonders to produce a truly hardcore board. Inflating it to the proper PSI produces a board that feels and performs like a hard-shell board. And when deflated, it’s still as easy to roll up and pack as any inflatable paddle board.
Plus, the board is tougher, longer-lasting, and far less likely to sustain damage with repeated use (even hard use). No wonder ISLE is confident enough to back it up with a 4-year warranty.
The Pro also has a few other handy features, like the full-coverage deck pad great for Yoga or a comfortable day of paddling and the patent-pending ISLE-LINK system that lets you add accessories (kayak seat, cooler, footrest, etc.) or even connect multiple boards together.
Best of all, it’s available in two other sizes—9’6” and 11’6”—so you can choose the length and weight capacity that suits your needs best.
Best for Big Families: Megalodon 2.0 15’
Length: 15’ (457.2 cm)
Width: 56” (142.24 cm)
Weight: 24 lbs. (10.89 kg)
Weight Capacity: 1050 lbs. (476.3 kg)
If you want to turn every lake day into a party for your whole family (or a group of friends), the Megalodon is the SUP of choice for you.
At 15 feet long and 56 inches wide, it’s got a weight capacity of a whopping 1050 pounds. That’s enough for up to 8 people (depending on their size/weight). The spacious deck (70 square feet) will more than accommodate your entire family, plus gear (stored in the front and rear bungee cord rigging), food, and drinks.
Make no mistake: this is not the speediest board. It handles sluggishly and requires a lot of effort to paddle. But despite its size, it’s still impressively lightweight: just 24 pounds. The addition of four skegs and a central fin improve its tracking somewhat.
For newbies, you won’t find a more stable paddleboard anywhere. It’s the perfect SUP to teach first-timers how to stand up, maintain their balance, and paddle without worrying about tipping or wobbling.
Thanks to its dual-layer, military-grade PVC construction, high rigidity, comfortable EVA traction pad, and twin paddles, it’s the ideal “party SUP” that you can trust to last for a long time.
It’s also available in a “mini” 12’ size that fits 2-3 paddlers.
Best for SUP Surfing: Versa 2.0 10’5”
Length: 10’5” (317.5 cm)
Width: 32” (81.28 cm)
Weight: 29 lbs. (13.15 kg)
Weight Capacity: 215 lbs. (97.52 kg)
You can tell just by looking at this paddle board that ISLE got its start with surfing. The Versa is built like a surf board, complete with the maneuverability and secondary stability you need to catch and ride those waves.
The raised stomp tail pad and center arch support grip give you more control over the board for fast, sharp maneuvers. The board’s width (32”) makes it sleek and zippy, so you’ll slice through the waves while still having decent stability on flat water.
The Versa is built for surfing but the touring shape ensures that it’s responsive and easy to paddle on calm lakes and choppy oceans.
The epoxy construction also makes it beautifully tough and capable of withstanding even the worst wipeouts.
Best for Fishing: Sportsman
Length: 11’6” (350.52 cm)
Width: 36” (91.44 cm)
Weight: 27.6 lbs. (12.5 kg)
Weight Capacity: 350 lbs. (158.76 kg)
Anglers, this one’s for you!
ISLE designed its Sportsman model to be the ideal fishing SUP board: extra-wide for added stability, extra front and rear bungee cord storage for all your gear (coolers, tackle boxes, dry bag, etc.), a paddle holder to free up your hands to hold your rod, and mounts specifically for rod holders and a trolling motor.
The rigid design ensures that it handles well even in shallow waters and near the shores of a lake, river, or ocean. It’s mobile and responsive enough you’ll be confident taking it up narrow creeks or inlets.
It’s not the best board for choppy or rough waters (not great secondary stability), but it handles like a dream and stays rock-steady on calm rivers or lakes.
Best of all, it’s a very affordable board, but doesn’t skimp on quality or durability in the name of keeping costs low.
Fastest: Explorer 2.0
Length: 11’6” (350.52 cm)
Width: 32” (81.3 cm)
Weight: 24 lbs. (10.9 kg)
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
For racing, touring, or long-distance paddling, ISLE’s best SUP is the Explorer 2.0.
Though it’s built to perform best on flat-water (high primary stability), it can handle choppy waters and fast-flowing rivers like a boss. The pointed nose is particularly effective at slicing through waves and surf to get you where you want to go at top speed.
The touring shape, extra length (11’6”), and sleek width (32”) combine to make it the fastest of ISLE’s SUPs. The addition of two skegs to the nylon center fin maximizes handling and improves tracking significantly.
The dual-layer, drop-stitch construction makes it wonderfully tough and also creates a rigid platform that is stable as well as sturdy. It’s durable enough that you can take it along coastal waters without worrying about it being damaged by rocks and underwater obstacles.
Features like center D-rings (to add a seat), a paddle holder, front and rear bungee storage, and a tail-mounted D-ring (for towing/hitching to a boat) make it a truly user-friendly SUP wherever you plan to use it.
Best Kayak SUP Hybrid: Switch
Length: 11’6” (350.5 cm)
Width: 35.5” (90.17 cm)
Weight: 19 lbs. (8.6 kg)
Weight Capacity: 425 lbs. (192.8 kg)
If you’ve read my review on the ISLE Switch, you’ll know I fell in love hard with its versatility. As a kayak-turned-paddleboarder, it was an absolute delight for me to be able to switch between sit-down and stand-up paddling.
The Switch is incredibly stable, with a wide deck and extra length that offers both great weight capacity and extra storage space.
The addition of the ISLE-LINK system also makes it easy to adjust the SUP to the right seat and footrest placement for my extra-tall height. Plus, it’s compatible with all of ISLE’s accessories (like my personal favorite, the Harbor Fishing Kit).
It’s also wonderfully lightweight (just 19 pounds) but the dual-layered, drop-stitch construction means it’s tough as nails. The full-deck pad makes it great for Yoga as well as lounging in the summer sun.
It might not be quite as responsive as the Pioneer Pro or as speedy as the Explorer, but it handles well and tracks nicely. Really, my personal favorite of all the ISLE SUPs.
Best for Yoga: Scout
Length: 11” (335.3 cm)
Width: 33” (83.8 cm)
Weight: 21 lbs. (9.53 kg)
Weight Capacity: 315 lbs. (142.9 kg)
For SUP Yogis, the Scout is ISLE’s offering crafted just for you. The full-length deck pad gives you all the space you need to stretch out and lean into those Yoga poses, and the 33-inch width improves stability without making it too sluggish or difficult to handle.
The board’s 11-foot length slices through the water nicely so you can get where you’re going at decent speeds. Though it’s not quite as fast as the Explorer or as responsive as the Versa, it’s still newbie-friendly and very easy to paddle.
Thanks to the military-grade PVC used in its construction, you can trust that the board is though enough to take a beating and rigid enough for even standing poses. The paddle keeper built into the side also keeps your paddle out of the way when you’re doing Yoga, but still close at hand and within easy reach.
Though there isn’t quite as much storage space as you might like, you should have enough for a dry bag, a bottle, and your Yoga gear. Plus, the spacious deck and 315-pound weight capacity can accommodate a pet or child so you can paddle as a duo.
Best Budget: Pioneer 2.0
Length: 10’6” (320 cm)
Width: 34” (86.4 cm)
Weight: 24 lbs. (10.9 kg)
Weight Capacity: 285 lbs. (129.3 kg)
If you want to keep costs low, the Pioneer 2.0 (base model to the Pro we chose as “Best Overall”) is the pick I recommend.
Like the Pioneer Pro, it’s built in the “recreational” style, so it’s of average length (10’6”) but just a bit wider than average (34”) so it’s more stable. Great for newbies and first-time paddlers who are still trying to find their balance.
The board is best used on flat water and calm rivers, and won’t handle choppy surf or very strong currents quite as well. It’s also a bit heavier than most of the other ISLE SUPs, so it can take a bit more paddling to keep it tracking straight and will steer just a bit more slowly.
But you’ll be glad to know it’s built tough enough to last for years to come. The dual-layered drop-stitch construction and military-grade PVC combine to make a wonderfully durable board.
And, for the price, you won’t find many better options among ISLE’s models.
Everything You Need to Know About ISLE SUP
The History of ISLE
ISLE began its operations as a surf board-focused company. Founded in 2004 by San Diego residents and die-hard surfers, Doug Pate and Marc Miller, it operated entirely online, selling quality surf boards at affordable prices and pioneering direct-to-consumer surfboard sales.
But in 2008, they pivoted from the highly competitive surfboard market to the almost brand-new market of stand up paddle boards. Their approach, as they explain on their website, was “concentrated on developing high-quality, value-driven products”.
As their brand mission states, “We are dedicated to designing quality stand up paddle boards to bring you the joy of paddling, to let you experience the water in all of its forms, and to help you channel nature’s energy beneath your feet. Come ride with us and share our passion for exploring the oceans and waterways of the world… because life truly is better in balance.”
Why You Should Consider ISLE SUPs
Excellent Quality
Having tested the ISLE Switch along with the Pioneer Pro and the Sportsman, I can say with full confidence that these are some of the best-quality inflatable SUPs that I’ve used.
When they first started out selling inflatable SUPs in 2008, ISLE set a pretty high bar for how reliable and sturdy inflatables should be. And with every year they’ve just kept getting better.
Their latest-model boards include technology like drop-stitching, the brand’s patented Airtech Prolite technology, and dual-layer construction. Every new improvement added to the boards just makes them tougher and longer-lasting.
Performance-Oriented SUPs
The SUPs on offer by ISLE are constructed not just to last, but also to perform well every time you take them out on the water.
I found this first-hand when I tested out the ISLE Switch. Between its high weight capacity, amazing stability, and good handling, it has proven to be one of my all-time favorite inflatable SUPs.
Many of their other boards—including the Versa, Sportsman, and Explorer—are built to give you better-than-average performance when fishing, racing, or touring.
Above-Average Warranty
Having done a lot of research into competing SUP brands, I can say with certainty that ISLE offers one of the best warranties of any brand on the market.
- iROCKER, for example, offers a 1-year warranty on their NAUTICAL line of boards, and 2 years on their BLACKFIN and iROCKER lines.
- Body Glove (which sells through Costco) offers a 1-year warranty on their boards.
- BIC Sport offers a 2-year warranty on all their boards.
- Surftech offers a 1 year warranty on their boards.
ISLE only offers a 2-year warranty on most of their products, but some (like their Pioneer Pro model, our top pick) are backed by a 4-year warranty.
Wide Range of Options
Whatever type of paddle board you need, you are almost certain to find on offer by ISLE.
If you’re looking to get into SUP Yoga, for example, the ISLE Scout is built specifically with a full deck pad and ultra-stable design to meet your needs.
SUP fishermen will find the Sportsman is crafted with the stability and high weight capacity you need for casting and reeling in, and families will love paddling with the Megalodon (12 or 15” length) that can accommodate up to 6 riders.
Racers will zip across the water on the Explorer, while those who want to alternate between kayaking and stand-up paddling will find the Switch suits their needs to perfection.
With such a wide catalogue and so many options to choose from, ISLE has an SUP that’ll suit pretty much anyone’s—and everyone’s—needs.
Sustainable Efforts
ISLE isn’t just focused on selling quality gear. They’re also all about protecting and giving back to the ocean.
To that end, they’ve partnered with Sea Trees, an organization founded upon the goal of “reforesting the ocean” by planting, protecting, and restoring blue carbon coastal ecosystems around the globe. Their coastal restoration projects are intended to not only improve marine life, but also reverse climate change.
From every ISLE SUP that is purchased, a portion of the proceeds go to fund two restoration efforts:
- Planting mangrove trees on the Indonesian island of Padaido. The planting of mangrove trees proven incredibly beneficial to the environment: providing nursery grounds for fish and shellfish, improving marine productivity, eliminating carbon dioxide, protecting local villages from sea-level rises and storm surges, and creating local jobs and providing resources for local education.
- Restoring the kelp population off the Californian Palos Verde Peninsula. Thanks to their efforts, more than 50,000 square feet of kelp has been restored.
With ISLE, you can know that every board you purchase helps to fund projects that make our world a little cleaner and greener.
Conclusion
I’m a big proponent of ISLE’s boards—not just because of their high quality and performance-driven designs, but also their efforts to improve the environment.
As you’ve read from my reviews, there is a model for just about every paddling adventure and paddler type. Plus, they’re reliable and long-lasting, an investment that will pay off for years to come.
If you’re looking for a top-notch inflatable or hard-shell board, you’d do well to consider ISLE SUP.
Isle SUP FAQs
Why are Isle boards so expensive?
ISLE boards are priced a bit higher than competitors because of the advanced materials and technology used in their construction—for example, carbon fiber for the paddles or dual-layered military-grade PVC and drop-stitching for the SUPs themselves.
The addition of extra bells and whistles—like the ISLE Link system that lets you easily connect accessories—drives the price up a bit higher, but makes them well worth the investment.
What PSI should an Isle paddle board be?
ISLE SUPs are crafted to be inflated to around 15 PSI (for the “optimal ride”, according to the brand) but are still serviceable in the 13 to 17 PSI range. The pumps provided in the bag will only inflate the boards up to 18 PSI, so there’s no worry that you will over-fill them.
