Starboard Sprint Expedition

Overview

Overview

Paddle Board Highlights

Price

$2,949

Build

Non-Inflatable

Skill

Intermediate / Advanced

Use

Touring

Who is it for?

If a premium expedition / touring stand up paddle board that can also double as a race board is something you’re after, the Sprint Expedition from Starboard is a must-see. This paddleboard was designed for the intermediate / advanced paddler who is looking for a board that can paddle long distances, specifically excelling on expeditions and adventures.

The Sprint expedition is best suited for flatwater conditions and is a board that has speed. Priced at $2949 the Sprint Expedition is among the high-tier price point but comes with the best that the brand and SUP industry has to offer.

First Impressions

If there’s one thing to takeaway from this board it’s this: speedy and stable. Okay, maybe that’s two things. But you get the point. The Starboard Sprint Expedition is perfectly named for its ability. It’s an extremely fast board that is designed specifically for expedition paddling.

This paddle board is one of the best quality boards that you’re going to find on the market for expedition paddling. It’s durable, fairly lightweight and can haul a ton of gear making it suitable for multi-day expeditions. The board features some pretty nifty design elements to it as well that make it perform well.

For one, the larger than normal dugout standing deck area really adds to the overall stability of this board which is obviously something you’re going to want when you have the board packed with essential gear. Now there are a few sizes available on offer for this board in terms of width so the wider option is going to be more stable, narrower will lose some of that stability but shouldn’t be too drastic of a difference.

A big differentiator between the 29.5” and the 27.5” is the bungees. The 27.5” only has the forward bungee tiedowns whereas the 29.5” has both forward and rear. So if you’re needing room for more gear you’re better option will be the 29.5” The nose of the board here is very sharp and defined more than your typical touring or expedition board which serves to help cut through water and give you speed. The standing area of the deck also has nice drainage features to prevent water from accumulating. This is key for both racing and expedition paddling so much needed and well thought out element of design here as well.

Carrying the board was quite easy for the size of the board and the added handles on the rail are a nice added touch to help with transportation to and from the water. On the water, I felt so unbelievably stable. So much so that dare I say I've never felt as stable on a touring board like this. Usually with boards of this size and the volume you think it would drag in the water but it honestly did not and I felt like I was cruising and had a ton of fun.

Overall, the Sprint Expedition is a paddleboard that is a top-notch choice for paddlers looking for a premium expedition board that has stability, durability and speed. A-grade and job well done on this one to team Starboard.

Benefits

• Primary Use

  Touring / Race

  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

  Durable

  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

  Average

  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

  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

  Very 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.

Features

• Dimensions

  14' x 29.5" x 10"

  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

  28 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

  312L

  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

  265 lbs / 120kg

  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

  Bungee Nose Bungee Tail

  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

  Strap

  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.

Other Sizes Available

• Length 14 Feet

• Width 27.5 Inches

• Thickness 10.4 Inches

• Volume 289 Liters

Similar Products

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.

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