Why this inflatable is not like the others

 

I've already had the pleasure of selling a few BOTE stand up paddleboards, and I own a few myself. I've been stand-up paddling for many years now and I still have an older rigid SUP, an older model inflatable (Jimmy Stykes) and now the Breeze and HD by BOTE.

The biggest question I get while helping customers with our BOTE SUP's is why they would choose to buy these SUPs vs any other inflatable, especially the inexpensive ones you can sometimes find at big box stores.

BOTE's own verbiage on this topic hits the nail on the head, and I agree with it wholeheartedly; "these are not pool toys". Many of the inflatable SUPs you can get for less are not really intended for oceans or lakes. They're made poorly, they're less stable, they're harder to maneuver, and the quality of the materials is questionable. While I am not going to drive my Ram 2500 over mine (like BOTE themselves did), the first time I set one up and tried it out, I immediately noticed how well built and sturdy it is.

When inflated to 13-15 psi my BOTE Breeze and HD both ride 100% like a rigid board, yet each board fits into a backpack. If that doesn't answer the question of inflatable vs rigid, I don't know what does. Rigid boards require a truck or racks, and lots of other gear just to transport. While there are some advantages of rigid SUP, they are few and far between and transport and storage is the killer for most of them.

These are not racing SUPs, and they're not really designed for super rough waters, but they're great for probably 95% of users out there. Honestly, BOTE's founder himself said it best: "I wanted a board that was stable enough to fish from, yet paddled efficiently. A board that could hold a cooler for my beer. A board that was simple, fresh and fit our lifestyle. A board that virtually anybody at any age could paddle with ease. It needed the capabilities of a boat with the simplicity of a board. And, it needed to look good…really good".

So you're on board (hah) with inflatable SUP and with BOTE in particular, but how do you choose a model? One of the main differences between the HD and the Breeze is that the HD has some mounting points for storing the paddle (so you can do other things with your hands, like fish), mounting a cooler easily, or mounting fishing pole racks. Choosing a height is also pretty straightforward: are you carrying a bunch of weight, like coolers or big dogs? If the answer is no, then the 10' 8" Breeze is perfect. My wife can take our dog out on her 10' 8" with no problems though, so even that rule is pretty flexible. If you are someone who wants to load up your SUP with dogs or a cooler and other gear, you might benefit from the 11' 6" version since it's slightly more stable.