Tired of using SUPs that are flimsy and weak? You’re not the only one. With paddleboarding slowly getting popular, there are brands that make low-quality iSUPs to cater to price-sensitive paddlers. Unfortunately, these things won’t do since the performance will give the quality away.
The Tower Adventurer 2 is one of the top heavy-duty iSUPs in the market. It’s perfect for people who are looking for an affordable iSUP. But unlike the other affordable iSUPs, this paddleboard is guaranteed to maintain stability even when the load is heavy. Read on to know more about Tower Adventurer 2.
Tower Paddle Boards
Tower Paddle Boards may have started only a decade ago but it already has a lot of awards under its belt. So far, there is no other company that has accomplished this, especially in just 10 years after they were founded.
Tower Paddle Boards was founded in 2010. It appeared in Shark Tank to pitch the idea for investments and it was considered to be one of the best investments Mark Cuban has ever made in the show. The investment given by the “Sharks” in the show definitely paid off as Tower Paddle Boards are continuously increasing their consumer base.
The company is known for being a brand that is committed to giving reasonably-priced iSUPs that have high-quality materials. Tower Paddle Boards was able to do this by cutting down the costs made from having a retailer in between them and the consumer. If you will notice, Tower only sells direct to consumers.
When it comes to quality, Tower Paddle Boards will not be named one of the top 5 SUP brands in the world in 2016 for nothing. They pioneered the 6-inch thickness of inflatable stand-up paddleboards as well. And if these aren’t enough, they were named by People Magazine as one of the biggest Shark Tank success stories.
A Quick Overview of the Tower Adventurer 2 Inflatable Paddle Board
The Tower Adventurer 2 is the newer and larger version of the Tower Adventurer. Unlike its predecessor, this Adventurer 2 is made for people who plan on bringing their dogs or their kids on board. With a maximum capacity of 350 lbs, you are able to bring a lot of your cargo, too!
While known for its capacity, the Tower Adventurer 2 has many new features that make it easy to use – three fins, two handles, and a large deck pad. A beginner will find this iSUP an excellent starter iSUP especially when they are still trying to perfect their balance on the board.
Since it was built by Tower Paddle Boards, you will expect the Adventurer 2 to be very durable. Fortunately, Tower made sure that this iSUP is indestructible. Its promotional video even shows that this iSUP will remain intact even if a car ran over it.
Tower Paddle Boards didn’t stop here. If you buy this iSUP, you will have a paddle and a pump included in the package. For anyone who doesn’t want to go through the hassle of buying each important accessory in different stores, Tower has got your back. When you buy this iSUP on their site, you get to order everything all at once.
Features of the Tower Adventurer 2 Inflatable Paddle Board
When compared to the Tower Adventurer, the Adventurer 2 definitely seems like there are so many new features. Here are those features that help in the overall performance and usage of this iSUP.
Military-Grade PVC
How can the Tower Adventurer 2 be indestructible? It’s simple – Tower uses military-grade PVC material as the main component of this iSUP. Military-grade PVC is often seen in rafts and boats used in extreme water activities.
Because of this PVC material and the dropstitching design supporting it, the Tower Adventurer 2 maintains its shape and rigidity even when you are cruising through large waves. To add to that, the high-quality construction prevents any damage from happening to this iSUP.
Spacious Diamond-Grooved Deck Pad
The black grooved deck pad is the most noticeable feature of the Tower Adventurer 2. This is primarily because it makes up most of the paddleboard.
The diamond grooves improve the grip and the stability of the paddler. Even when the deck is already wet, this texture enables the paddler to be relatively steady while standing. However, the deck pad doesn’t extend to the nose.
4 D-Rings for the Bungee System
The Tower Adventurer didn’t have any D-rings which was the main concern for a lot of paddlers. Where will they put their things? With the Tower Adventurer 2, the company has added 4 D-rings that will create a large bungee system.
This bungee system can hold all your cargo. Due to its size, you can bring your SUP fishing equipment already. With this storage space, you can have your belongings safe and secure.
Top and Bottom Handles
Another feature that wasn’t in the Adventurer 2’s predecessor is the handle. With this new model, there are two additional handles that will make it a lot easier for paddlers to carry their iSUP.
You’ll find a vertical handle at the nose of the iSUP and a horizontal handle at the tail. Why are they in different directions? This is to make the handles more ergonomic when being used to carry the whole Tower Adventurer 2.
Tri-Fin System
The Tower Adventurer 2’s tri-fin system allows for maximum maneuverability in various waters. The center fin is removable making it ideal when you plan on just cruising on calmer waters.
Fiberglass Paddle
As mentioned earlier, the Tower Adventurer 2 comes with a fiberglass paddle. This fiberglass model allows the paddle to be light and durable. Beginners who aren’t keen on carrying a heavy paddle will find this material to be the right fit and weight for them.
The paddle has the same material used in the fins. Hence, you can expect it to last very long. The shape of the paddle also allows for easier “slicing” through the water.
Pros and Cons of the Tower Adventurer 2 Inflatable Paddle Board
Wondering if the Tower Adventurer 2 is the right iSUP for you? Here are the pros and cons of owning this paddleboard.
Pros
- Affordable
Most Tower Paddle Boards iSUPs are affordable. When it comes to the price-quality ratio, you’ll appreciate that this iSUP uses high-quality materials. This makes it an ideal iSUP choice for people who don’t want to spend a lot on their iSUPs.
- Can bring two adults
One of the best things about the Tower Adventurer 2 is its maximum capacity. If you couldn’t bring your friend on the Tower Adventurer, you can do so now with the Adventurer 2. Even when you bring another adult, the paddleboard remains rigid. No dents, no sinking parts.
- Large bungee system
Who would have thought that with having just 4 D-rings, you can already bring your things for SUP fishing? You read that right. There’s a lot of storage space on the Tower Adventurer 2 even if it only has one bungee system.
The D-rings are placed strategically to provide the most storage and hold for a lot of your things.
- Ergonomic handles
Because of the weight of this iSUP, you will need a handle for easier carrying. Fortunately, Tower Paddle Boards added 2 new handles. To make it even better, the handles are ergonomic. No need to twist your wrist in a weird way just to carry the iSUP with one hand.
- Large deck pad
Having a large deck pad is so underrated. Not a lot of people appreciate how Tower Paddle Boards almost filled the Tower Adventurer 2’s top with a diamond-grooved grip. With this grip, you can find your balance without a lot of effort.
- Can be used for a lot of SUP styles
Some of the styles that the Tower Adventurer 2 is capable to do are fishing, yoga, and casual. Because this iSUP is in standard size, you can use it for different SUP styles. For beginners, this board is excellent for casual SUP. For intermediate paddlers, you can try other styles. The Tower Adventurer 2 is truly an all-around iSUP.
- Has a 2-year warranty
A perk you get to enjoy when you buy this iSUP is the 2-year warranty. If you ever have a defective part on your paddleboard, you can get it fixed or replaced without cost for the first two years. This is longer than most other companies will give.
Cons
- Board is flimsy
Ironic isn’t it? For an iSUP that is marketed to be durable and rigid, the Tower Adventurer 2 fails in this area especially when the one on the paddleboard is lightweight.
Do you remember that the Tower Adventurer 2’s max weight is 350 lbs? If your weight is just half of that, the board feels too heavy. Instead of enjoying the rigidity, you will only feel the weight of the iSUP. This leaves you struggling to keep the board steady.
- Difficult to maneuver
One of the disadvantages of buying the Tower Adventurer 2 is you’ll have a hard time controlling it on water. This is the downside of a board whose main feature is to be rigid.
The Tower Adventurer 2 has a 6-inch thickness. This is the reason this iSUP feels that it just cuts through the water but doesn’t necessarily glide on it. More advanced paddlers also note that it is too thick for you to be able to follow the flow of the water.
- Too heavy
Aside from being difficult to maneuver on water, the Tower Adventurer 2 is also very hard to carry on land. The board is too heavy even for an adult to comfortably drag across the sand. You would think that a high load capacity is ideal but after carrying the Tower Adventurer 2 around the shore for a few minutes, you’ll realize that it’s not.
- The pump is low quality
Even when the pump is not necessarily a part of the iSUP, it’s still included in the whole paddleboard experience. Unfortunately, the pump that’s included in Tower Adventurer 2 is not a good-quality pump. For one thing, it’s not sturdy. Secondly, it takes a long time for you to be able to inflate the iSUP completely.
How Does the Tower Adventurer 2 Compare with Other Paddle Boards?
So is the Tower Adventurer 2 better than other paddleboards? Since this iSUP has a predecessor, it makes sense to compare it to the latter just to see if there were improvements.
When it comes to features, the Adventurer 2 has more features. For one thing, it already has a bungee system for you to store your belongings. It also has two new handles that make it easy for anyone to drag this iSUP alone. These features weren’t present in the first version of this model.
When it comes to performance, the Tower Adventurer 2 falls short. Some would argue that even if this newer model has more features, these features don’t translate to increased performance. Some would go as far as to say that the features were just nice add-ons to a minimalist iSUP.
Compared to the other iSUPs in its price range (less than $700), there are other models that have better design and maneuverability. While the Tower Adventurer 2 has the upper hand in terms of rigidity, competitor iSUPs are definitely smoother in their ride.
Verdict - Final Thoughts!
In reality, the Tower Adventurer 2 falls short of anyone’s expectations. Sure, it may be durable and it can last for more than 5 years but there’s nothing much to note about this iSUP. The only edge it has is more features and a weight capacity of up to 350 lbs. Other than that, you can’t say that the Tower Adventurer 2 is the best affordable iSUP in the market.
Nonetheless, it’s not all bad. Beginners who are on the heavier end will find this board perfect for them. The Tower Adventurer 2 seems to be more stable the more weight you put on it, so it’s the right match.
