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Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP Review – A Dazzling Companion In Water

Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP Review

The Aqua Marina Vapor is a pretty popular inflatable paddleboard for anyone who wants to jump right into stand-up paddleboarding. It’s an all-around paddleboard that doesn’t disappoint especially if you’re just looking into trying SUP. it’s perfect for newbies, teenagers, and women. 

As a beginner-friendly iSUP, the Aqua Marina Vapor is a complete package. You can try all sorts of SUP styles here. However, if you’re already an intermediate paddler, then you might not find this iSUP an ideal model for you. Nonetheless, it’s worth trying if you are paddleboarding on a budget. 

2019 Upgraded 9'10" Vapor iSUP Inflatable Paddleboard with Leash Pump Paddle and Bag - Adults and Youth Sup Deck Stand Up Paddle Boards Blow Up - 4.72" Thick / 30" Wide
  • 🌊 EXCELLENT BALANCE - This iSUP board is for beginner friendly balance. A grooved footbed keeps adult or kid's feet standing on the board in freshwater and saltwater environments. Set the 3 piece adjustable aluminum paddle to your ideal height preference.
  • 🌊 LEISURE MODEL - Honeycomb grooving footpad for ultimate grip and comfort. Lightweight drop stitch technology. Removable slide-in Center Fin. Integrated cargo D-ring with bungee cord to attach luggage. Durable rubber handle.
  • 🌊 FAST INFLATION - We've included a state of the art iSUP double action pump. Quickly inflate to your optimal psi or deflate your board for storage and transport into the magic carry bag. Stop spending precious paddle time tirelessly pumping and blowing up inefficient inflatable SUPs.

Aqua Marina Paddle Boards

Aqua Marina has been in the water sports industry for three decades now. It’s widely known for its affordable and durable inflatable SUPs and kayaks. They also have other product lines for windsurfing and fishing, but their most known models are iSUPs. 

Aqua Marina’s mission is to have “Ultimate Fun, Maximum Safety!” as stated on their website. They believe in the joy and perspective water sports give, hence, their focus on water sports equipment. As for safety, you’ll notice that most, if not all, Aqua Marina boards and boats are equipped with safety features. 

In spite of its drive for quality design and material, the company makes sure that its products are priced at a reasonable price point. This means that their equipment can be bought by beginners who aren’t sure if they should be making such a huge investment in their chosen water sport. 

A Quick Overview of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

A Quick Overview of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

The Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is an inflatable paddleboard that was built for beginners. It’s a lightweight iSUP that is reasonably priced. This way, beginners won’t feel guilty about breaking the bank for a paddleboard that they might not use in the future. 

Of course, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is much more than just a trial SUP. It’s known to be an all-around paddleboard that lets you try different styles. For example, if you want to try SUP yoga, SUP fishing, and SUP racing, you can do so with this paddleboard. However, you have to be warned that long-distance sessions and races aren’t this iSUP’s expertise. 

Nonetheless, there’s a lot of praise for the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP because of its price and quality ratio. For a very reasonable price, you get an inflatable paddleboard that can last you a few years. It also has a moderate thickness which is ideal if you want your board to be more sensitive to waves and bumps. 

Features of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

Features of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

Wondering what the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP offers? Here are some of its notable features. 

Heat-embossed, Anti-Slip EVA Deck Pad

The Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP’s deck is an impressive anti-slip pad that works well even when you’re on bigger waves. This is ideal for beginners or for anyone who is struggling with their balance. The anti-slip feature prevents you from falling off the board when water goes on top of it. 

What’s even better is that the anti-slip, heat-embossed EVA deck pad is designed in such a way that the anti-slip features are right where they are needed. You can say that the subtle design has become handy. 

Double-Wall Dropstitching

To prove that Aqua Marina takes their design and quality seriously, the Vapor has a double-wall dropstitch PVC construction. Now, what does that mean?

A double-wall dropstitch is like two layers of threads that hold the PVC materials in place. This provides extra durability and strength in the overall construction of the paddleboard. This double-wall dropstitching is also responsible for the longevity of the Vapor. 

 3 Removable Fins

The three-fin system that works on the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is the main reason why you can use this inflatable paddleboard for various SUP styles. Want to try SUP yoga? You can. What about SUP fishing? You can also do that with the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP. 

Thanks to this triple fin system, this paddleboard can be used by paddlers of different preferences and styles. This system also enables an agile capability. In turn, you get to use this for trying out different moves and SUP activities. 

Tie-Down System for Cargo

Wondering what the circle on the nose is for? It’s where the 4 rings are placed. These rings are attached to an elastic bungee cord that can be used as a cargo net. If you’re wondering where you can attach a seat to this paddleboard, here is your answer. 

To add to that, there is also another ring at the tail of the paddleboard where you can tie your leash. This leash is useful for safety purposes. 

Full Package Tools and Accessories

Do you know what makes the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP an economical choice for beginners? It’s the whole package that comes with the paddleboard.

You read that right. You’re not only getting an inflatable paddleboard. The whole iSUP package includes an adjustable aluminum two-piece paddle, a backpack with an adjustable strap, a removable center fin, and a high-pressure pump with a gauge. 

You’re getting the full package here. As a beginner, this is the fullest package you can get. It also allows you to paddleboard right after you buy the Vapor. 

Pros and Cons of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

Pros and Cons of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP

There’s a lot of praise for the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP but that doesn’t mean that it’s perfect. As you probably know by now, it’s not for everyone. Take a look at this pros and cons list to help you assess if the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is for you. 

Pros

  • Affordable

Probably the best advantage of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP over its competitors is its price. For your first SUP, this board’s price is good enough considering that it’s a complete package. And even if it’s affordable, it’s not made of cheap materials. 

What Aqua Marina did best for this iSUP is the efficiency in design. Because of this, you’re not paying for more than you can afford. Plus, the construction is durable enough to last your beginner years. 

  • Great design

Speaking of design, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP has a great design. Its paddleboard gives off an exciting and fun vibe. It doesn’t come with colors other than light blue but that’s not a big deal. 

Even if it’s light blue, the design doesn’t look shabby. If anything, the black-and-blue balance makes the paddleboard look cool and professional. 

  • Beginner-friendly

Intimidated by stand-up paddleboarding? Don’t be. With the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP, you won’t feel that you are completely lost in SUP. Everything you need is in the package. This means you don’t have to scramble about for the best paddle, fin, or pump that will complement your paddleboard. 

  • Lightweight

Most newbies will realize that carrying a paddleboard is one of the most annoying parts of stand-up paddleboarding. Not only is it tiring for your arms; it also takes a lot of energy to bring your paddleboard from one place to another. 

Fortunately, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is only 17.6 lbs. With this weight, even teenagers can bring the iSUP along comfortably. 

  • Easy to carry

As an inflatable paddleboard, it’s almost a given that it’s easier to carry especially when the SUP is deflated. Even if you bring a pump, it’s not as inconvenient as carrying a whole SUP while you travel from your home to the beach. 

To add to that, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is very portable because it is light. Even when it’s inflated, it’s still light enough to be carried by teenagers. So if you’re not used to carrying paddleboards, then consider the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP as a good started board that will get you used to carry heavyweights. 

  • You can mount a seat

As if the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP needed any more pros, this iSUP is capable of having a seat mounted on it. If you’re thinking of bring your dog or your kid, then this is a great feature to have. Of course, you have to buy it separately, but the fact that you don’t need to buy a new paddleboard is an advantage in itself.

  • Has all the needed accessories

This is one of the best advantages of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP – it’s complete with a bag, a paddle, a pump, and an extra fin. You don’t need anything else to get started! 

  • Perfect for touring

One of the perks of an all-around iSUP is that you can use it for touring. The Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is an ideal board if you want to relax and enjoy the small waves of the sea. It’s also ideal for casual paddling sessions. 

Cons

  • Not for intermediate paddlers

There’s a reason why the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is known to be a beginner iSUP – it’s not ideal for advanced SUP styles. This means that if you’re an advanced paddler, you’ll end up being disappointed by the limited capabilities of the Vapor. 

Because the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is only for beginners, you might find yourself needing to buy a new paddleboard in the future. For most people, this is another huge cost down the line. Hence, some people just opt for an inflatable paddleboard that can cater to both beginners and advanced paddlers. 

  • Relatively slow

Even if the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is marketed as an all-around paddleboard, it’s still incomparable to other paddleboards that are specifically made for SUP races. If you’re planning on racing sometime in the future, you’ll realize that this iSUP won’t be able to keep up. In turn, it’s just going to be frustrating on your part. 

  • Thin for an inflatable paddleboard

The Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is only less than 5 inches thick. While this isn’t exactly thin, it’s not as thick as you want it to be. 

When it comes to SUPs, you want a board that is thick enough to manage the waves. A thin paddleboard is very sensitive to waves, so it’s going to be difficult for beginners to handle. Plus, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is not known for its stability either. 

  • Maximum capacity is low

The maximum capacity allowed by the Aqua Marina Vapo iSUP is 220 lbs (100 kgs). This is a little limiting since this capacity will only allow one light person. Of course, if that person weighs a little above 50 kgs, then that person can also bring their kid or pet along. Unfortunately, this isn’t advisable. 

How Does the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP Compare with Other Inflatable Paddle Boards?

How Does the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP Compare with Other Inflatable Paddle Boards

If you’re going to compare the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP to other beginner-friendly paddleboards, you’re getting the best quality and package from this particular paddleboard. Here are some reasons why.

First, it’s affordable. This alone sets it apart from a lot of beginner-friendly SUPs. Couple that with the fact that Aqua Marina did a really good job in making a high-quality SUP for its price. This means that you can rely on this paddleboard to be durable. It can last at least three years. 

Second, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is lightweight. It’s easy to carry even when it’s inflated. Some paddleboards don’t have this feature because their design and construction weren’t maximized to be light. 

And to cap it all off, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is an all-around inflatable paddleboard. It’s a lot like a one-size-fits-all SUP where it’s perfect for those who want to try SUP yoga, SUP fishing, and SUP racing. However, speed is not the best suit of the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP, so there is definitely another paddleboard model out there that is faster. 

Verdict - Final Thoughts!

Verdict - Final Thoughts!

Overall, the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP is the best inflatable paddleboard for its price and quality. It’s perfect for beginners or price-sensitive paddlers who don’t want to invest so much in equipment. And that’s not all – with the Aqua Marina Vapor iSUP, you get a guarantee that it’s made by a company that puts quality and customer service their priority. So if you’re planning to buy yourself this paddleboard, it’s a great choice. 

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Lisa Hayden-Matthews

An avid Skier, bike rider, triathlon enthusiast, amateurish beach volleyball player and nature lover who has never lost a dare! I manage the overall Editorial section for the magazine here and occasionally chip in with my own nature photographs, when required.
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