Quantcast
Awards

Starboard Sprint

starboard sprint reviews 2017

--

Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.

Category: N/A

Overview:

Paddle Board Highlights

Who is it for?

If you’re looking for a very fast, non-inflatable, premium race board to paddle in sprint races then the Sprint from Starboard is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Carbon Sandwich technology which is durable and has its ups and downs. Because of the extremely narrow width of 21.5 inches the board is incredibly unstable, however, with 1.86 lbs per foot weighing 26.1 lbs total the board is very lightweight for a 14ft board. Its construction and shape combined best fit the Sprint for sprint racing on flatwater. Retailing at $3,399 the board is among the premium price point but is exactly that: a premium board designed to win.

First Impressions

On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is very thoughtful and the construction strikes as durable and strong. The Sprint has some nice looks, coming with an solid mix of colors and graphics intended to be quite lively. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for competitive SUP racing. And the construction does appear strong, as something that can survive heavy but careful use. This paddle board is easy to carry and the glide is very fast which is expected since lightweight construction and speed-centric design are are at the core of this board model. Once you put it all together, the Sprint is a very unstable yet very fast board that only lightweight and skilled paddlers will likely feel comfortable using.

Benefits

  • Primary Use

    Race Use

    Paddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines

  • Durability

    Very Strong

    Durability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.

  • Carrying

    Easy

    Carrying ease is determined by board weight and handle type, where a board weighing under 20lbs with a Liftsup handle is extremely easy to carry while a 35+lbs board quite difficult.

  • Stability

    Very Stable

    Stability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.

  • Glide

    Fast

    Glide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side

  • IMG 1132
  • IMG 1133
  • IMG 1137
  • IMG 1136
  • IMG 1139
  • IMG 1138
  • IMG 1141
  • IMG 1143
  • IMG 1142
  • IMG 1144
  • IMG 1148
  • IMG 1150
  • IMG 1156
  • IMG 1161
  • IMG 1162

 

Learn more on the Starboard website.

Features

  • Dimensions

    14' x 21.5" x 9.1"

    Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).

  • Weight

    26.1 lbs

    Standup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).

  • Volume

    230L

    Volume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf

  • Capacity

    175 lbs

    Capacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.

  • Add On's

    FCS Compatable Deck Plug

    Add-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.

  • Handle

    2 Handles

    Handles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.

  • Holders

    No

    Fishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.

Sizes Available

LengthWidthThicknessVolume
12 Feet 6 Inches 23 Inches 9.3 Inches 217 L
14 Feet 0 Inches 21.5 Inches 9.1 Inches 230 L
14 Feet 0 Inches 23 Inches 9.3 Inches 274 L

 

Learn more on the Starboard website.

Similar Products

  • starboard allstar reviews

    Starboard All Star

    $3,399

  • naish javelin maliko reviews

    Naish Javelin Maliko 

    $3,199

  • sic fx reviews

    SIC FX Pro

    $2,899

  • nsp ninja reviews

    NSP Ninja

    $2,599

For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.

Last modified onThursday, 10 May 2018 11:20