Surftech Chameleon

Overview

Overview

Paddle Board Highlights

Price

$1,130

Build

Non-Inflatable

Skill

Beginner

Use

All-Around

Who is it for?

If you’re on the market for an affordable, non-inflatable paddle board that works well as both an all around board and a touring board then check out the updated Chameleon from Surftech. The 2023 edition of this board has received some beautiful updates from previous versions and looks great. The Chameleon is an all-around/touring hybrid board that can be used by everyone with recreational paddling in mind.

Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid-range distance paddling, up to 3-5 miles max. The board comes in two sizes (10’4, 11’4) and colors (green, pink) and is quite light making it pretty easy to carry around. Starting at $1,130, the Chameleon is a stunning board that is versatile in use at an affordable price. Definitely check this one out.

First Impressions

Once again, Surftech wows with a beautiful board design. The 2023 Chameleon is offered in two different colorways and sizes. The smaller size, the 10’4, has a beautiful soft pink sort of watercolor graphics that are really unique. Most boards use solid colors so this is a really nice, fresh design. Similarly, the larger size that’s available, the 11’4, uses the same watercolor graphics but this size has more of a seafoam green. Again, really nice design.

The deckpad is very simple in color and plays nicely off the rail color on the board. Speaking of the deckpad, it is made up of Surftech’s Bloom Foam tech which is made up of eco-friendly materials adding another nice touch. The Chameleon doesn’t come with a ton of bells and whistles and takes more of the simplistic approach with a bungee and accessory insert on the nose, the quality of materials and thoughtfulness in the design speak volumes.

The weight of the board was nice and light for both sizes which not only made it easy to carry and handle out of the water, but on the water it was really easy to maneuver and turn. The board did feel quite stable, but beginner paddlers might be more comfortable on something with a touch more width and thickness to it. That being said, intermediate and advanced paddlers will love this board.

The glide is smooth and the displacement nose design really helps it cut through the water and handle chop. And while the board has more of a touring shape/design it can definitely be used in small waves if you’re up for it. Overall, the Surftech Chameleon is an excellent, quality board that is very deserving of our A-grade. The 2023 design for the Chameleon is exclusively available at REI.

Benefits

• Primary Use

  All-Around / Touring

  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

  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

  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

  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

  11'4 x 32" x 4.5"

  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).

• Weight

  25.4 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

  213 L

  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

  225 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

  Bungee Plug/Insert on Nose 3/4 Deck Pad  Bamboo Finish

  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

  Internal Ergo Grip

  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 10 Feet 4 Inches

• Width 31 Inches

• Thickness4.3 Inches

• Volume 182 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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