The paddle boarding sport has risen to become vastly popular over the last couple of years. It is an excellent means of getting out onto the water with family members, friends, or your significant other. More common presently is SUP (stand up paddling). SUP is popular with beginners surfers as the boards are generally larger, thicker, and made to be used over calm water and for gliding over waves. But of course SUP is equally great for advanced surfers who want to surf some nice waves. However, as the name suggests, it is done while standing and paddling on a board using a long hand paddle to drive yourself over the water.
To get the full experience of SUP, you need a reliable board that offers stability, is resistant to degradation by water, and has a solid construction. So if you are looking for a board that offers the perfect blend of balance, weight, and size, the GILI All-Around Inflatable SUP Board is a great choice.
GILI has an array of stand-up paddle boards available in varying designs and styles, such as the GILI All Around Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Package. However, the extensive selection of paddle boards on the market can give even the most experienced paddle boarder a challenge when choosing one. Below, we will highlight why you should consider getting the GILI All Around Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Package.
GILI All Around Inflatable SUP BOARD Review
Specifications
The basic information on the GILI All Around Inflatable SUP are:
Size: 10’6 x 31″ x 6
Weight Capacity: up to 275lbs
Board Weight: 19 lbs
Material: Military grade PVC
Price: Set between $445 – $480
Color: Orange; Yellow, Blue, Green, Teal
Core Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
Amazon Rating: 4.7/5.0 (280 ratings)
Features
A perfect blend of balance, weight & size
The board has great stability, is portable, and is exceptionally durable.
It comes with an extra-long and wide traction pad for the 10’6 AIR SUP. Its six-point Bungee System facilitates fast access to the gear.
Complete ISUP – GILI 10’6 Air SUP, GILI Inflatable Backpack, GILI Travel Paddle, GILI 10’ Coiled Leash, GILI Snap-In Center Fin, and GILI 2-stage Hand Pump
Three fin system with a removable snap-in center fin
Removable bungee system and action mounts including a nose camera action mount
Designed out of the most superior quality material, this GILI All-Around Inflatable SUP will not disappoint. It utilizes the toughest PVC material on offer with top-notch drop stitching. The board will give you an incredibly rigid feel at 15 PSI and is ding, damaged, and drop-resistant.
You will love the paddle board’s stability once you step on it. And when you are done with your paddling, you will appreciate its lightweight, and the complete package can easily fit in the trunk of a car.
GILI came up with an extra-long and wide traction pad for the 10’6 AIR SUP. Its six-point Bungee System facilitates fast access to the gear, and the front and middle grab handles let you easily maneuver the board.
Who Is This Product For?
If you are a paddler who appreciates portable paddle boards, then the GILI Inflatable SUP is for you. It is long-lasting, lightweight, and efficient in every condition. Moreover, the inflatable SUP manages to balance all aspects excellently. It thus ranks among the best iSUP option.
This product appears to be the apex SUP for intermediate and beginner paddlers. However, GILI 10’6 is ideal for all skill level paddlers and various adventures. You can utilize it in SUP yoga, SUP fishing, cruising, snorkeling, and other recreational paddling applications.
What’s Included?
- Three-piece variable travel paddle
- Hand pump (dual-stage)
- Backpack
- Snap-in center fin
- 10’ coiled leash
Overview of Features
GILI is the ultimate, comprehensive paddle board with dimensions of 10’6 x 31” x 6” – a perfect mix of weight, balance, and size. It weighs 19 pounds, is an ultimate go-anywhere SUP board, and is efficient in various conditions. It has a hardboard feel when completely inflated, though at just half the expected weight.
The board has great stability, is portable, and is exceptionally durable, thanks to its cross-stitched, reinforced PVC construction. Things like dents, dings, and damage will not worry you anymore. The 6” thickness enhances the stability of the board. The iSUP package is easily portable, with everything fitting in the featured backpack.
This comprehensive iSUP package has the GILI 10’6 Air SUP, GILI Inflatable Backpack, GILI Travel Paddle, GILI 10’ Coiled Leash, GILI Snap-In Center Fin, and GILI 2-stage Hand Pump – all you require to begin paddling.
It has an aesthetic, feature-packed design with a large diamond traction pad: tag along with a pet or use during SUP Yoga. Quick access to your gear is guaranteed with the six-point Front Bungee. The center and nose grab handle facilitate easy maneuverability and transport. The 9-inch Snap-In fin fixes easily and quickly with the ultra-secure fin box without necessitating any tools.
Inflation is easy and fast, thanks to the two-stage pump. However, it will take a significant amount of effort to get the board fully inflated. Additionally, you can break down this adjustable travel paddle into three pieces and tailor it to your height. It’s important to note that the paddle is made of aluminum, which isn’t the best material, so you may want to reconsider getting a better paddle (an overview of great paddles can be found here).
Finally, your accessories and the board are carried comfortably inside the provided backpack. The bag is of high quality and made of durable materials to ensure it serves you a long time.
Last but not least: You will be pleased to know that GILI spends a portion of profits to save the oceans by contributing to charities and initiatives that do ocean clean-ups. Therefore, when you buy one of their boards, you are also partaking in efforts to protect our marine life.
How To Use It
If you are among most people, it will take you a maximum of 10 minutes to inflate your iSUP. You might prefer to inflate the paddle board after getting to the end of your journey – since the inflatables are thus easier to ship in the carry backpack. You have the option of throwing it in a truck or on a rack, though we recommend transporting the board in the featured GILI bags.
Begin by ejecting the accessories and iSUP from your bag. Next, completely unroll the board over a smooth surface, then unscrew the valve cap.
Insert and twist (counter-clockwise) the pump hose into the valve. Then, fix the opposite end of your hose to the pump’s “out” port.
Upon reaching between 9 – 10 PSI, you should remove the red cap from the hand pump to facilitate easier inflating of the 2 – 5 PSI that remains.
Continue to pump till the board attains 12 – 15 PSI. Ensure that you get to a minimum of 12 PSI for optimum performance.
Cautiously unscrew the pump’s hose and replace the valve cap on your board. You should then insert the rear snap-in fin and fix it with the little thumb lever.
Pros
+ Long-lasting design made of high quality materials
+ A comprehensive package with upgraded accessories
+ Lightweight hence easily portable
+ D-rings for accessory and gear attachment
+ Stability and versatility – the board can be used in surfing small waves and casual paddling excursions with minimal effort
Cons
– The paddle is made of aluminum, though it still floats. For better paddles see this link
– It has a 275-pound weight capacity which advanced riders may exceed
– The pump’s and paddle’s GILI logo fades off
Alternatives
If the above model is not quite what you had in mind, take a look at our below alternative.
The Gili Meno Stand Up Paddle Board is a superior, do-everything inflatable SUP that excellently glides and packs amazing features. With a length of 10’6”, it is an all-around board with a more aggressive shape than the GILI All Around iSUP. It delivers great improvements in maneuverability, however, thanks to its width it provides super stability.
If you want to ride from time to time some smaller waves, the Gili Meno is a great choice. Furthermore, for a prize of about 700$ you’ll get a package which comprises the most important SUP accessories, so that you do not have to immediately buy additional stuff.
Conclusion
The GILI All Around Inflatable SUP Board Package performs excellently in various conditions. It is expert and beginner-friendly and will serve you for a long time if you take good care of it. Overall, it would be best to consider getting this board since it is among the top-ranked in stability and is lightweight. In addition, it is a comprehensive board with all the necessary accessories for your paddle adventure.
More helpful Information about SUP
We truly love Stand Up Paddling. And we want to help all Paddlers and share our experiences. So if you have further questions about SUP, like the right paddle technique or SUP accessories, just look around!
