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Let us just start off this review by saying, we didn’t even know there were inflatable paddle boards with seats before finding our board! Finding a paddle board with a seat wasn’t even on our radar, but we’re so glad we stumbled across the Hydro-Force Oceana. I actually can’t imagine having an inflatable SUP without the seat now!
We’d been talking about wanting to buy a paddle board for quite a long time. Years in fact! Our entire time in Scotland we talked about having a paddle board, however, didn’t really know how it would fit in our van. Moving back to the states and owning a Dodge Neon, we thought no way could we have a paddle board.. then we found out about the inflatable boards, and knew that was our ticket!
The Oceana Hydro-Force paddle board with seat is amazing!!!
Honestly, we got lucky with this board. We really didn’t do much research, and it kind of just fell in our laps. We were doing some grocery shopping and happened to pass by a local sporting goods store and thought, hey, what the heck, we’ll go check-out boards in there. And low and behold, the first thing in the shop, the Hydro-Force inflatable paddle boards.
After some debating on which one would best suit us, talking with the salesperson (making sure we could return it if we didn’t like it), and following up with a quick google search of the paddle board company, we left the store with two new inflatable paddle boards with seats!
Turns out, these paddle boards are the best thing since sliced bread. And while they’re pricey and hard to come by in the beginning of the season, they’re currently at a steeply discounted rate on Amazon — no better time to buy than now!
Why An Inflatable Paddle Board vs Solid SUP?
PROS of the inflatable stand up paddle board vs solid SUP
SIZE //
Obviously, space and size come into play when deciding what kind of paddle board is right for you. We liked the fact that the Hydro-Force Oceana is inflatable because it can fit into our small car. We reckon that’s probably one of the reasons you’re looking at this review too.
To give you an idea of how much space the boards take up, two paddle boards in their bags can fit in the trunk of our Dodge Neon with a little extra space all around.
WEIGHT //
Holy smokes… you wouldn’t believe how light the inflatable paddle board is compared to the solid boards we’ve used. The board itself is right around 33 pounds and is so easy to carry to and from the water. Yes, it’s large and awkward, but at least it’s light!
STORAGE //
While the bag for the board isn’t the most durable, (we already have a small tear in ours after one season), it does hold the board easily. The paddles, life vests, pump, and extras fit in the bag too. Having everything in one grab and go bag makes it so much easier to ensure you have everything you need!
**During the off season, it’s recommended to store the board at half PSI. Meaning the board itself will have to be inflated and kept out of the bag.
CONS of the inflatable paddle board vs solid SUP
TIME //
While the box boasts an inflate time of 5 minutes, it’s truly more like 15-20 minutes of a hard work out pumping up the board! Obviously, that time makes it a bit harder to just jump out of the car and get paddling.
PUNCTURE POSSIBILITY //
As with anything inflatable, there’s a possibility of puncturing the iSUP that’s not there with a solid board. Although, we’ve got to say, we’ve taken it down the river and even got pinned up against a fallen tree, and still didn’t have any issues with punctures.
Hydro-Force Oceana iSUP with Seat | Specs
Length | 10 ft X 33 in X 6 in
Maximum Weight Capacity | 287 pounds
Kayak Seat | yes, detachable
Material | drop stitch material with cushioned grippy pad for standing
Includes | detachable kayak seat & footrest, carrying bag, pump, interchangeable paddle board and kayak paddle, leash, patch kit
Warranty | not through the company
Price Point | $280 – $600 depending on the time of year
Inflate Time | claims 5 minutes, more like 15 minutes
Inflatable Paddle Board with Seat | Things to Note
Permit Required in Oregon //
We’re not sure about in other states and places around the globe, but in Oregon, you any watercraft 10 feet or longer must carry an invasive species permit to legally be on Oregon’s lakes, rivers, and streams. This permit is $30 for two calendar years, though there are cheaper ones for shorter periods of time as well.
Again, not sure if there are similar permits outside of Oregon, but this certainly is something to consider when purchasing this size of paddle board.
Life Jackets Required on the Paddle Board //
Since the Hydro-Force Oceana is ten feet in length, life jackets are required for anyone on the paddle board. Again, this law is for Oregon, and not certain it’s true in other places, but it’s probably a good idea to have a life jacket with you anyways!
Comes with Elastic Cord //
We didn’t think it necessary before using the board, but the elastic cord this paddle board comes with is clutch for being out on the water. The elastic cord can cinch down life jackets and even a cooler for long days. Carabiners are huge too.. they help hook things like Hydroflasks and shoes to the elastic as well.
About the Paddle Board Kayak Seat //
The kayak seat that comes with the Hydro-Force Oceana is a removable seat. We always paddle with the seat on because it lays flat and can be pushed up out of the way of where we stand. The seat has a zipper pocket on the back that’s the perfect place to hold the water permit!
With easily adjustable settings, the seat can be maneuvered in a matter of seconds to fit adults of all sizes and even kids paddling around too!
About the Paddle //
Since this paddle board has kayaking capabilities, it comes with two different attachments for the paddle. One of the attachments allows for proper paddle boarding, with a “T” handle at the end. While the other attachment turns the paddle into a two-blade paddle, perfect for cutting through the water quickly.
Why Do You Need An Inflatable Paddle Board With A Kayak Seat?
Inflatable paddle boards with seats are a game-changer in the paddling world.
We’ve floated down the river with rapids a number of times this summer and we were so thankful for the seat, as it added extra protection from flipping off the board in the middle of the rapids! And even on rivers that don’t have rapids, the seat adds more control for maneuvering through currents than standing up does.
It’s also super nice when you get tired or when a perfect paddling day turns windy! The seat offers a completely different way around the water and even a totally different work out too!
Is The iSUP Difficult to Inflate?
With this particular board, inflation isn’t difficult in the sense of knowing what to do. However, it’s certainly a workout to get the board to the recommended 15psi. It says it only takes around 5 minutes, but it truly takes closer to 15, even 20 minutes!
The tricky part with inflating this board is actually making sure the pump nozzle is in the inflate position when starting to inflate. There’s nothing worse than reaching 15 PSI to then deflate down to 10 because the nozzle was in the wrong position! (Check out the video review for what we mean coming soon). In the meantime, there’s a nozzle on the board, it needs to be up, not down when inflating.
Where Can You Paddle Board?
You can paddle board with a kayak seat anywhere! We’ve taken our boards through rapids, across lakes, and up and down rivers! The paddle board kayak seat makes it much easier to take the board in any body of water. We’ve yet to take it in the ocean, but many other people do! The versatility of having the kayak seat and kayak paddle offers par to none in accessibility to different bodies of water!
How Hard Is It To Repack The Carrying Bag?
Though we’ve read in reviews that others have had problems repacking the bag this paddle board comes with, we’ve yet to experience that problem. In fact, when we pack up the board, the bag is big enough to even hold our life jackets with extra space for even more things if need be! It’s just a matter of properly deflating the board and then taking the two extra minutes to fold up the board nicely to put back in the bag!
What Extra Gear Do I Need For This Inflatable Paddle Board?
The Hydro-Force paddle board with kayak seat includes all the gear you really need for being on the water. You don’t have to buy anything extra to get you out paddling, though we do recommend a few extras.
We suggest bringing a dry bag to keep in the zipper section of the seat to make sure your belongings stay dry. And also suggest bringing a couple of carabiners to hook things like shoes and a water bottle to the elastic straps or D-rings.
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