Blackfin V 12’6” - Review 2023

Review

• DIVEIN.com Score: 4.6/5
• Construction: 4.7/5
• Stability: 4.7/5
• Maneuverability: 4.3/5
• Portability: 4.7/5
• Price/Quality: 4.7/5

The Blackfin V 12’6” inflatable paddle board is a fantastic and intuitive touring board. The new model of this board is designed and constructed for providing riders with a consistently comfortable and controlled paddling experience across different water conditions.

The board does this by being very stable, especially for a touring board (even beginners can get a feel for touring using this paddle board). The Blackfin V is great for covering large distances quickly as it excels in picking up speed and offers great tracking and easy maneuverability for making corrections to the direction of the board.

The Blackfin V 12’6” inflatable paddle board is a fantastic and intuitive touring board. The new 2020 model of this board is designed and constructed for providing riders with a consistently comfortable and controlled paddling experience across different water conditions.

The board does this by being very stable, especially for a touring board (even beginners can get a feel for touring using this paddle board). The Blackfin V is great for covering large distances quickly as it excels in picking up speed and offers great tracking and easy maneuverability for making corrections to the direction of the board.

Another great thing about the Blackfin V is the included package that offers a lightweight, high quality, carbon fiber paddle and number of other great accessories that round up the package nicely.

Also, the travel backpack makes this package very portable and is perfect for travellers or smaller riders who want to wheel their paddle equipment rather than carry them around.

The Blackfin V provides an exceptional touring board experience for any level of paddle boarder and is a great board for riders who are new to touring.

Features

• Grooved EVA traction pad on the deck of the board that extends all the way to the tail. Makes riding this board extremely comfortable while providing grip to enhance maneuverability.
• Tri-fin setup using 3 flip lock fins provides intuitive traction in various water conditions, while also improving stability and control.
• Large 6 point bungee system at the front and back of the paddle board for attaching equipment and gear.
• Convenient and comfortable carry handles at the nose, tail and center of the board for easy transportation and portability.
• 20 action mounts for use with cameras, speakers and any other accessories you want to bring along on the water.
• Fishing rack attachment points for mounting fishing rack to the paddle board.
• 19 D-rings allow for you to bring equipment on the water and gives you the option of converting your SUP into a kayak.

Accessories

The Blackfin V inflatable SUP board package includes a number of awesome, high quality, accessories. An iRocker 3 piece adjustable carbon fiber paddle with a nylon blade and a iRocker leash are provided to give you the best paddle experience on the water. The Blackfin V package also includes an iRocker twin chamber hand pump and a versatile travel backpack.

• Paddle: The iRocker paddle provided for the Blackfin V model, is a 3 piece adjustable carbon shaft paddle with a nylon blade. As well as providing the rider with strong, powerful strokes in the water it is also ultra lightweight and weighs only 28 oz. It also floats indefinitely if dropped in the water.
• Leash: The included Blackfin leash is comfortable and sturdy, stretching up to 10’ when fully extended. It also provides a small pocket to place keys.
• Pump: The twin chamber hand pump has been upgraded for since the previous 2019 model of the board and iRocker claims that this model provides 100% faster inflation of the board (to be taken with a grain salt).
• Backpack: The Blackfin travel bag is a versatile and comfortable backpack. The backpack also features wheels, cushioned shoulder straps, waist support and back support. It is also spacious and fits all the accessories provided with a little room left over to stash valuables.

Stability

The Blackfin V inflatable paddle board’s shape and design make it very stable in the water. With a width of 32” the Blackfin V is slightly wider than the conventional touring paddle board, however this adds to the stability and control that the board provides the rider. For this reason, the board is great for paddlers who want to get into touring before mastering their balance.

The board also sports a high capacity, allowing for multiple riders and plenty of D-rings and mounts for bringing along some paddle board accessories. The traction pad spans most of the board’s surface and is perfectly positioned to ensure the rider is comfortable and has enough grip to maintain their balance on the board.

Maneuverability

As the fastest board in the Blackfin range, the Blackfin V model iSUP suffers slightly from reduced maneuverability as compared to the Blackfin XL. That said, the Blackfin V offers a fast and controlled touring board that has a very good level of traction.

As a touring board, making sharp turns and aggressive maneuvers is difficult for this board, however the board provides a smooth and intuitive paddle boarding experience allowing you to effortlessly glide along the water. Additionally, the added stability allows for more control when making maneuvers and as such increases the score of the board on overall maneuverability.

Portability

The Blackfin V inflatable paddle board is 30 pounds, making it relatively lightweight considering its size. Conveniently placed handles are present at the nose, center and tail of the board, making the transportation of the board very efficient. However, this board is quite big and for that reason younger paddlers may find it difficult to handle when lifting and moving the board in and out of the water.

The Blackfin travel bag that is included in the package is made of high quality, durable materials and looks great. It is extremely convenient as it has wheels attached to the bottom for easy transportation of your board and all the included accessories.

Price/Quality Ratio

The Blackfin V inflatable paddle board is part of the iRocker brand’s premium paddle board collection and is therefore valued at a premium price. Nevertheless, the high-level touring board and large range of great accessories that are provided in this package makes the price of the package offering very competitive. The Blackfin V will provide you with a great touring paddle board experience and is considered one of the best touring packages available on the market.

Optional Accessories from iRocker

• iRocker paddle
• iRocker leash
• iRocker 12v electric pump
• iRocker SUP to kayak conversion kit
• iRocker kayak blade
• iRocker 25L roto-molded cooler
• iRocker SUP anchor
• iRocker backpack

We recommend the Blackfin V inflatable paddle board for paddle boarders who want a great all-round recreational touring paddle board. It is especially perfect for paddlers who want to buy their first touring paddle board as the extra stability that this board provides helps beginners balance and creates an overall more enjoyable experience for them.

The board also offers great capacity and for this reason, it is awesome for families or couples and allows riders to bring accessories and equipment along with them for the experience. The board is also great for adventurers looking to explore large coastal or lake environments.

Finally, the Blackfin V paddle board package is a great option if you want to get a high quality touring paddle board experience with all the perfect accessories to complement your paddle board.

If you want to know how the Blackfin V stacks up against other Blackfin boards, here’s our roundup of the best Blackfin SUP boards.