Initial examination of the Carbon Hala Playa from Hala Gear I have done a lot of backpacking in my time and worn a countless number of packs. Large ones, small ones and everything in between. They each have their use. A specific purpose for a certain activity. It didn’t take long to recognize that Hala Gear’s newly designed bags are a cut above the competition. Why? They are specifically designed to carry an inflatable standup paddleboard. A good board bag for your inflatable

A review of the 14ft Elite MSL from Red Paddle Co In the auto business they are called “halo cars”. These models are low volume, high performance versions of the regular models. Think Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M3 CSL or the Mercedes Benz AMG GTS. The Red Paddle Co 14 Elite is their version of a “halo car”. Like any top of the line sled, the specs are impressive: 14’x25” pintail shape, lightweight MSL construction, RSS system utilizing side battens for stiffness, Red Paddle Co clai

SUP – Kayak – Rowboat: More than just an inflatable paddleboard Stand up paddling is fun, but have you ever wondered what it would be like if your board was able to convert to other paddlecraft? Many of us have jumped in a kayak at one time or another. Rowing too has broad appeal and has been around for centuries. Too many options to chose from? With Sea Eagle’s interchangeable system of accessories you have the option of expanding your horizons by easily converting your infl

A review of the Sea Eagle NeedleNose 14’ inflatable paddleboard Would you like to travel with your SUP, but dread the thought of lugging a hardboard around on your roof? Sure, you could use a set of KanuLocks to secure your board. Depending on where you are traveling, you still may want to consider moving it indoors overnight. Maybe an inflatable paddleboard is the way to go? I recently picked up a Sea Eagle NeedleNose 14’ inflatable paddleboard for use as a travel board and

I left work later than I had planned this past Thursday and decided to head over to Playa del Rey to launch my SUP from Ballona Creek and paddle out into the Santa Monica Bay instead of continuing south to outrigger practice with the Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club in Redondo Beach. Outrigger practice begins promptly at 5:30 and I knew I wouldn’t make it there before the six man canoes were launched. Sure, I could always take out one of the club OC-1’s and join in the workout,

Photo caption: My home launch site along the Hudson River. I’m going to go on a bit of a rant. Bear with me. Has anyone noticed how delicate stand up paddleboards are? For a thing designed to conquer the water, they can barely touch anything. Maybe it’s because most boards are constructed for beaches. Practically every manufacturer’s website shows their boards on pristine beaches with smooth sand stretching as far as the eye can see. I don’t know about you, but that isn’t my

The popularity of inflatables continues to experience widespread growth throughout the paddling community and for good reason. Inflatable SUPs are compact, easy to store and to transport. They are also impervious to the scratches, bumps and dings which have long plagued their hard board siblings. When you are ready to deflate and roll up your board, these five steps will have you off the water and packed up for home in just a few minutes. Deflating Your Inflatable SUP Twist a

Virtually every major manufacturer of stand up paddleboards now makes at least one inflatable SUP (iSUP), if not an entire range. There are also a few companies which exclusively manufacture iSUPs, such as Southern California industry stalwart ULI Boards, the UK’s Red Paddle Co and Los Angeles-based 360 Go Anywhere. Inflatable SUPs are growing in popularity around the world and for good reason. There are a number of advantages to owning an iSUP and in the section below we’ll