Bay Sports Explore
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly, lightweight SUP that doesn’t break the bank check out the Explore Signature Series from Bay Sports. The Explore is best suited for all around paddling and short distances. It is very versatile and can be used for family fun, catching small waves, even a bit of yoga. As with all of Bay Sports’ boards, the package comes with everything you need. Paddle, leash, pump and fin are all included in the package making it nice and easy to get on the water. Priced at $549, this board sits in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.
First Impressions
Aesthetically, the Explore has a very simple color-way. There are a handful of different color-ways available for this model so there’s likely something you’ll find that suits your style. One small touch that we noticed here as well was the color coordination for the logo on the nose and the colors on the deck pad. Each color-way offered here has a unique color combo that coordinates with the logo which was a nice subtle touch. This board is VERY lightweight and was really easy to carry down to the water. A big factor likely contributing to this is due to the thickness being 5 inches. The industry standard is a 6 inch thickness so that’s likely where a lot of the weight was eliminated. Do note though, this slight adjustment might be an issue for larger paddlers. As with the other models in the Bay Sports lineup, the Explore comes with bungees on the nose and tail that have grab handles in the design that are great for kids to get some extra stability when along for the ride. The removable and tool-less center fin is also a nice and convenient feature. When paddling this board it felt more stable than the 9’6 Cruise from Bay Sports, since it’s just a little bit bigger. The board maneuvered easily and the glide through the water wasn’t too shabby either. Overall, the Explore is great for all around, maybe down the river, maybe some yoga; you could probably take it into the surf if you like, give it a try.
Benefits
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Primary Use
All AroundPaddle 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
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Durability
DurableDurability 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.
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Stability
StableStability 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.
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Glide
AverageGlide 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.
Learn more on the Bay Sports website.
Features
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Dimensions
10'6" x 32" x 5"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).
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Weight
17.52 lbsStandup 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).
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Volume
250 LVolume 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.
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Capacity
330 lbsCapacity 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.
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Add On's
Action mount, 4 removable grab handles, 18 stainless steel D rings, 9" click in "tool-less" fin, Bungee Nose, Bungee Tail, Paddle Included, Leash Included, Handle on nose, Handle on tailAdd-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.
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Handle
StrapHandles 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.
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Holders
YesFishing 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
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
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Bay Sports Seek
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