Intermediate Performance
Isle Explorer 11’6

A comfortable, robust and steady high quality board, the Isle Explorer is an excellent board for those looking to get into touring. This board is stable, tracking well in water, especially good in waves and on the sea. Built for long distances the Isle Explorer is great for adventuring out onto the sea.

The additional stability and pointed nose of the board ensure a smooth ride in most environments.

Designed for stability and to endure waves the board is slightly less maneuverable than other Isle boards, however, this does ensure a more balanced ride. Like other Isle boards, it comes as a full package, including the travel bag, making it convenient and transportable.

We recommend the Isle Explorer for any paddler who wants a stable touring board built for exploring. The Explorer provides a smooth and enjoyable paddle boarding experience in almost any environment (sea, lake, river).

It’s not as fast as the Starboard Deluxe, nor as good at tracking as the Xplorer, but it’s the lightest touring board on offer here and that makes it most portable and easy to maneuver. Hence, the comfort accolade.

Our Overall Review

We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:

4.7

Things we like:

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    Affordable and fair price
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    Great for waves and sea
  • check-mark
    Very durable and stable
  • check-mark
    Tracks well in the water
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    Convenient paddle holder at the side
Click to see more

Things we don't like:

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    Maneuverability
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    Sidefins aren’t removable
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    The screw for removing the fin is very small and easily lost
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    Paddle can fill up with water and potentially lose buoyancy
Click to see more
Click to see more
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Where to buy:

Isle Explorer 11’6

The Isle Explore is a robust and dynamic board that is built for covering long distances. The additional stability and pointed nose of the board ensure a smooth ride in most aquatic environments. The positive touring qualities of this paddleboard come at the expense of some maneuverability.

The board is slightly less maneuverable than some other Isle boards, however, the Explorer was designed for a smooth and stable paddling experience over long distances.

Furthermore, the board tracks well in the water and with the use of the Isle hybrid paddle, the paddler can conserve energy and as such guarantee a longer and more enjoyable paddle session. Being an inflatable board, the Explorer is very portable and convenient. The board also features a super comfortable traction pad that adds to the board’s appearance and ensures a comfortable paddling experience.

Overall, the Isle Explorer is the perfect choice for paddlers looking to try out touring and that want a board that provides a comfortable and smooth ride out on the water.

Features

  • Grooved EVA traction pad with superior grip, that provides comfort for kneeling or standing.
  • The handles are rounded and comfortable for transporting the board once inflated and can be found at the nose, tail and center of the board. 
  • D-rings in the center of the board allows for more bungees to secure more equipment.
  • Large bungee system on both the front (6 point system) and back (4 point system) of the paddle board for attaching gear. 
  • Velcro strap paddle holder to attach paddle to the rail of the board for easy transportation. 

Specs & Features

  • Best Suited For: Beginners/long distances/yoga
  • Material: Military grade PVC with an airtech fusion drop stitching core
  • Volume: 336 liters
  • Capacity: 300 lbs
  • Dimensions: 11’ 6” x 32” x 6”
  • Weight: 24 pounds
  • Recommended Inflation: 15 PSI
See the complete list of the best Paddle Boards here!
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Accessories

The Isle Explorer package includes all the basic accessories that go together with the paddle board. Included is a Isle hybrid 3 piece adjustable paddle which breaks down into three travel friendly pieces that fit inside the travel bag. Additionally, there is a robust coiled leash and a manual dual action pump that all fit inside the included Isle Travel Bag.

 

  • Paddle: The Isle Hybrid 3 Piece Adjustable SUP is included in the package and is the perfect fit for the travel bag. It is also a very affordable paddle considering the exponential quality. The paddle is designed to make strokes effortless and conserve the paddlers energy by avoiding twists and jerks. The downside of this paddle is that it only floats until it has been inundated with water, at which point it sinks. Additionally, the anti-twist locks need regular maintenance and tightening.
  • Leash: The Isle 8′ Coil Leash has a comfortable strap and is included in the package. Provided is a velcro holder for a small valuable item such as your keys.
  • Pump: Isle have improved their pump from last year and now offer the Isle Manual iSUP Hand Pump. This is a dual action pump that allows you to inflate your board in just under 10 mins.
  • Backpack: The Isle travel bag is perfect and can fit all the Explorer’s accessories and even some of your own valuables. It is easy to carry, comfortable and convenient. This travel bag is of high quality and can also function as a protective casing for storing your paddle board and equipment.
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Related Reviews

Stability

The Isle Explorer is extremely stable on flat water to the point that it can even be used for yoga. Isle’s focus on stability adds to this paddle board’s ability to deliver on providing a board that can be used to traverse long distances. The pointed nose helps the board cut through choppy waves and ensures stability on the water. This allows the board to glide across the water in virtually any environment.

Maneuverability

The Isle Explorer’s achilles heel is its maneuverability. Although it has the same fin setup as other Isle board models (i.e. the Pioneer) the extra length and shape of the Explorer hinders its ability to make quick and tight turns. Instead, it delivers smooth, slow turns making this board better positioned for making changes to your course rather than changes to your direction. Nevertheless, this board was designed to provide a smooth ride over long distances, in which it would not be required to make sharp turns and as such the lack of maneuverability isn’t so bad. 

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Portability

As an iSUP, the Isle Explorer is relatively portable and folds up into the travel bag that is included in the package. The included travel bag is spacious and can fit all the included accessories and any valuables you have on your person. When inflated the Explorer is very easy to transport as it only weighs 24lbs. There are the conveniently placed nose, center and tail handle that make it easy to move the board to the water The non-removable side fins are perhaps the only minus on the subject of portability when packing the deflated board, rolling it together, and stuffing it into the otherwise spacious backpack.

Price/Quality Ratio

Given the high-quality materials and the innovative construction method used to create the  Isle Explorer, the package is available for quite an affordable price. The material used in the production of the Explorer is military-grade, making the board very durable and robust. Furthermore, the materials on the Isle Explorer are guaranteed for up to 2 years after purchase. Being a higher-than-average reputable company, this counts for something.

 

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Optional Accessories from Isle

  • Isle carbon adjustable paddle 
  • Isle iSUP hand pump 
  • Isle 12V electric pump
  • Isle nylon touring center fin
  • Isle iSUP travel bag
  • Isle car rack/straps

 

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Do we recommend it?

We recommend the Isle Explorer for any paddler who wants a stable touring board built for exploring. The Explorer provides a smooth and enjoyable paddleboarding experience in almost any environment (sea, lake, river) and is an invaluable aquatic vehicle for adventuring. Ultimately this is the perfect inflatable paddle board for paddlers looking for a reliable and intuitive board that can allow them to traverse long distances with ease.

Our Overall Review

We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:

4.7

Things we like:

  • check-mark
    Affordable and fair price
  • check-mark
    Great for waves and sea
  • check-mark
    Very durable and stable
  • check-mark
    Tracks well in the water
  • check-mark
    Convenient paddle holder at the side
Click to see more

Things we don't like:

  • check-mark
    Maneuverability
  • check-mark
    Sidefins aren’t removable
  • check-mark
    The screw for removing the fin is very small and easily lost
  • check-mark
    Paddle can fill up with water and potentially lose buoyancy
Click to see more
Click to see more
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to inflate the Isle Explorer SUP board?

The Isle Explorer SUP board can be inflated in 5-7 minutes with an electric pump or 10 minutes with the included high-pressure hand pump.

What pressure can the Isle Explorer SUP board be inflated to?

The Isle Explorer SUP board needs to be inflated to 15 PSI.

What does the Isle Explorer SUP board come with?

The Isle Explorer SUP board comes with a paddle, fin, leash, pump, and backpack.

What weight can the Isle Explorer Vapor SUP board hold?

The Isle Explorer SUP board can support a weight of up to 300 pounds.

Is the Isle Explorer SUP board covered by warranty?

The Isle Explorer SUP board has a 60 day return policy and is further covered by warranty on materials for up to 2 years.

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