Starboard Sprint Expedition

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.

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.