Christos Nicolaou
Divemaster & Paddler
Christos is a passionate diver
& amateur SUP racer
The Tower Xplorer 14’ inflatable paddle board was built for speed and stability. It’s length, thickness and lifted nose (rocker) provide the perfect shape for easily picking up speed while reinforcing the board’s stability. The result of these design components is a paddle board created for an impeccable touring experience. The Tower Xplorer inflatable SUP board is an amazing touring paddle board for any level of paddler. Renown for being a fast board that can cover large distances at speed, this board is perfect for exploring coastal regions or lake areas. Thicker than most boards (8’’), the Tower Xplorer offers an unparalleled level of stability with a lot of capacity, allowing for heavier as well as multiple riders to join in on the fun. We recommend the Tower Xplorer for paddle boarders who love touring and want a paddleboard they can use to effortlessly explore and go on adventures around large bodies of water. This is because this board makes it easy and efficient to traverse large distances. We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think: The Tower Xplorer 14’ inflatable paddle board was built for speed and stability. It’s length, thickness, and lifted nose (rocker) provide the perfect shape for easily picking up speed while reinforcing the board’s stability. The result of these design components is a paddleboard created for an impeccable touring experience. This iSUP is perfect for picking up speed and effortlessly traversing large distances comfortably. Additionally, it’s great for transporting passengers, fishing, yoga, and any other activity you can imagine doing on a paddleboard as the board can support a weight of up to 800 pounds. Nevertheless, the Tower package of accessories is somewhat lacking, as they only provide their consumers with a 3 piece adjustable aluminum paddle and a manual hand pump. This package could be improved with the addition of a leash and a travel bag. The Tower Xplorer inflatable paddle board package is quite limited and only includes the bare essentials necessary for functionality. That said, some of these accessories are of good quality and should be considered in the medium range of the market. Specifically, Tower provides a 3 piece adjustable aluminium paddle and a manual high pressure pump. This paddle board was made for going fast and it is clear that the product designers knew that stability and speed are the bread and butter of paddleboarding. The sheer size and innovative design of this board provides stability, and contrary to other paddle boards, the more speed you get the easier it is to balance. By making the board 8” rather than the traditional 6” the guys at Tower were able to increase the board’s volume and in turn the capacity and stability of the board. This board is absolutely perfect for tandem riding, fishing, yoga and anything else you can imagine doing on a paddle board. The Xplorer provides a strong rigid frame for activities and can even protect you to some extent from impact of small waves (not that you should be using this board for catching waves). The Tower Xplorer inflatable iSUP provides a solid level of maneuverability for a touring paddle board of its size. Technical maneuvers like back step turns are very difficult due to the thickness and capacity of the board, however corrections to the board’s direction are effortless and intuitive. This is down to the board’s ergonomic tracking, which ensures almost perfect gliding on the water when a sufficient amount of speed has been developed. At 33lbs, the board is quite heavy and as such might be hard for some people to transport. What makes this even harder is the lack of nose and tail handles on the board, with only the center handle available to be used for lugging the board around. Unlike many other brands the Tower Xplorer packages doesn’t come with a travel bag or backpack making the portability of the board a little challenging, as you will need to source another way to store the iSUP and its accessories. You can buy a Tower bag here though. Nevertheless, once deflated, this board rolls up to 1 foot in diameter and 37” wide making it extremely compact. The Tower Xplorer is constructed using high quality materials and given the fact that this board design is unique, the price is well justified. That said, there are some essential things missing from this package, such as the travel bag and ankle leash that take away from the value of the package. However, the effortless control and stability this board provides is the reason that this is a very popular paddle board for touring and that makes it all worth it. Paddleboarders looking to get a touring board or a fishing SUP to add to their board collection will already have these accessories and will enjoy what the Xplorer can do. Do we recommend it? We recommend the Tower Xplorer for paddle boarders who love touring and want a paddleboard they can use to effortlessly explore and go on adventures around large bodies of water. This is because this board makes it easy and efficient to traverse large distances. But without the bag and weighing 33lbs, the Xplorer is not ideal for traveling distances to the water. On the other hand, this iSUP is definitely recommended for people who want to do different activities using their board, for example, fishing, yoga or tandem riding. It is also recommended for families and heavier paddlers, due to the board’s large volume and capacity. The Tower Xplorer inflatable paddle board is a fantastic touring iSUP that is versatile and durable. See the complete list of the best Paddle Boards here!Tower Xplorer 14’ Inflatable SUP Board Review
Our Overall Review
Reasons to buy
Reasons NOT to buy
Review
Features
Tower Xplorer 14’ Inflatable SUP Board Review: Key Specifications
Where to Buy:
Accessories
Where to Buy:
Stability
Maneuverability
Where to Buy:
Portability
Where to Buy:
Price/Quality Ratio
Optional Accessories from Tower
Where to Buy:
Summary
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Where to Buy:
Where to Buy:
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Tower Xplorer 14’ Inflatable SUP
-
How long does it take to inflate the Tower Xplorer SUP board?
The Tower Xplorer SUP board can be inflated in 3 minutes with an electric pump or 10 minutes with the included high pressure pump.
-
What pressure can the Tower Xplorer SUP board be inflated to?
The Tower Xplorer SUP board needs to be inflated to 11 PSI.
-
What does the Tower Xplorer SUP board come with?
The Tower Xplorer SUP board comes with a paddle, fin and pump.
-
What weight can the Tower Xplorer SUP board hold?
Being 2 inches thicker than most modern paddle boards provides more capacity. The Tower Xplorer SUP board can support a weight of up to 800 pounds.
-
Is the Tower Xplorer SUP board covered by warranty?
The 2 year Tower Xplorer SUP board warranty covers everything apart from wear and tear, however it doesn’t apply to the included paddle or accessories.
0 Comments