We’ve been doing iSUP reviews for a while now. We’ve spent a lot of time in the water throughout that time, and we’ve seen a number of brands come across our air pump hoses. But one thing that has remained constant is our admiration for the iRocker brand.
These people know what they’re doing and have always provided excellent customer service.
We don’t envy them, though, because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to improve inflatable paddleboards. You can only add a certain number of features before you approach the limit.
Explore iRocker Cruiser Review
The iRocker Cruiser has always been one of our top picks for anyone looking to maximize their time on the water. It’s solid, powerful, and capable of withstanding even the toughest hardboards.
But what if you want to upgrade from a prior model or get your feet wet in the paddleboard game for the first time? Is it worthwhile to invest your hard-earned cash in the iRocker Cruiser in 2023? That’s exactly what we’re going to find out in this iSUP review for you today! Read our full and In-depth iRocker Sport 11’x 31” Review.
Table of Contents
Performance Of iRocker Cruiser 10’6”
We definitely enjoy paddleboarding and being on the water; otherwise, we’d be in the wrong line of work! As a result, this is the area where we are the most critical, as we care about this category more than any other. Despite this, the Cruiser accomplishes its objectives.
This isn’t a true touring board, but it does help smaller riders bridge the gap between all-around and touring boards. That’s because it’s capable of moving rapidly on the water while maintaining great stability. That stability makes maintaining your balance easier, and you wouldn’t have to worry about falling over if you wanted to sit or do any type of SUP workout like yoga. Every second, I’m falling into the ocean.
If you’ve never been on a paddleboard before or aren’t familiar with the numerous types of paddleboards, even a one-inch change in the deck width can make a big impact on how it feels on the water. As a result, the Cruiser is a little slower than a conventional 10-foot 6 board, which is usually roughly 32 inches wide. This isn’t the fault of the board’s designers; it’s just a fact of life when it comes to drag. We’re not going to deliver a lecture on fluid dynamics, so don’t worry.
Because this board’s profile is a little wider, it makes turning a little easier. The longer we go around the board, the easier it becomes to turn. This is especially true at slower speeds, although it also applies at higher speeds. The ideal turning board would theoretically be a complete circle, but that would clearly be a terrible paddleboard in general!
That added stability will help you stay above water if you take this board out in some rougher waves. We wouldn’t recommend this board for surfing especially, but if you catch a few waves, you should be able to handle yourself effectively if you have any experience.
Features of iROCKER Cruiser
If you’re unfamiliar with iRocker paddleboards, one thing to keep in mind is that they take pleasure in the abundance of features featured throughout the board. This is one of the reasons we like them so much and know they listen: a lot of what they have is not only hard to come by in the industry, but it’s also the kind of thing that someone who uses these products would desire.
Both the front and back, for example, include 6-point bungee storage sections where you may store loose bags and equipment, as well as D-rings where you can attach stuff like dry bags or coolers. People who paddleboard on a daily basis appreciate having additional storage capacity since it allows them to stay out on the water longer and extend their trip.
On this iSUP, there are a total of 20 D-rings.
These rings serve as anchor points for the optional kayak seat as well as any docking system.
The use of a single D-ring behind the board’s nose is a charming touch that we like. You could wonder why it’s so close to the nose. Its purpose is to serve as a tow-line connection point. That D-ring is positioned in such a way that it allows you to be pulled in without fear of going into the ocean and blasting you into space!
As with most of our favorite boards, iRocker made sure to include three grab handles: one in the front, one in the back, and one in the middle. You might even argue that the bungee cords have four more attached to them. To be absolutely honest, we’ve never heard a precise reason why those areas of the bungees have sheathing, so we’ve always assumed they’re merely for more grasp points.
For most people, they were just an extra feature that didn’t really serve a use, but some of the paddling we did in more difficult conditions where we would frequently fall off and had to drag ourselves back on deck saw us utilize those as grab handles whether they were built for it or not. As with most of our favorite boards, iRocker made sure to include three grab handles: one in the front, one in the back, and one in the middle.
You might even argue that the bungee cords have four more attached to them. To be absolutely honest, we’ve never heard a precise reason why those areas of the bungees have sheathing, so we’ve always assumed they’re merely for more grasp points. For most people, they were just an extra feature that didn’t really serve a use, but some of the paddling we did in more difficult conditions where we would frequently fall off and had to drag ourselves back on deck saw us utilize those as grab handles whether they were built for it or not.
iRocker Cruiser inflatable stand-up paddle Board Design:
Because changing colors in the production process costs money, cheaper and lower-volume iSUPs will have fewer color possibilities. Look no further than iRocker’s color options to see if they are as excellent a seller as they claim to be. You can choose from seven different color schemes for the 2022 Cruiser inflatable paddleboard. We should probably conduct more research into this, but we don’t recall seeing another company provide as many hues as this one.
Because changing colors in the production process costs money, cheaper and lower-volume iSUPs will have fewer color possibilities. Look no further than iRocker’s color options to see if they are as excellent a seller as they claim to be. You can choose from seven different color schemes for the 2022 Cruiser inflatable paddleboard. We should probably conduct more research into this, but we don’t recall seeing another company provide as many hues as this one.
The texturing deck pad helps you stay on your paddleboard and out of the water. It’s comfy enough to sit on for long amounts of time or even do yoga routines, but it’s also designed to keep you cool. We like that there’s a designated spot towards the back of the deck pad where you may stand if you want a little more texture and find the correct center of gravity for the board while speeding. The only criticism we have is that you have to execute it while standing on top of the bungees.
Finally, there’s the final setup to consider. All three fins of a three-fin thruster are The most efficient method of assimilating things into our hearts. While we certainly like paddleboarding more than the majority of people, we must acknowledge that the setup and storage of paddleboards is typically the most frustrating aspect of the sport.
These three fins not only improve your riding experience, but the fact that you can remove all three of them makes it a lot easier to store your paddleboard fully inflated or roll it up and stuff it into a backpack. We’ve probably mentioned it a thousand times, but we’re baffled as to why more paddleboard businesses don’t do this!
Construction:
In the past, the number of layers of PVC in an iSUP was used to determine its quality, and iRocker was always on the higher end with four layers. The disadvantage is that you will gain weight. More and more businesses have begun producing boards with a harder interior in recent years, allowing them to utilize fewer layers of PVC and, ideally, a lighter iSUP. While this is accurate in terms of constructing a stronger board, it does not help with external damage such as punctures. A damaged board is the last thing you want on a multi-day ride.
iRocker’s new construction this year combines the best of both worlds by using a stronger drop stitch core while still having three layers of military-grade PVC on the outside to protect the board. This creates a strong board that can withstand the elements while still finding a way to keep the weight down. This isn’t the lightest 10’6” iRocker standup paddleboard on the market but probably the strongest, pound for pound.
Accessories:
While buying the 2021 iRocker Cruiser, this is what you can expect out of the container other than the actual board:
- 3-piece travel paddle carbon matte shaft with nylon sharp edge
- Double chamber, triple activity hand siphon
- 10′ chain with key reserve spot
- Premium travel roller sack
- Removable nylon sup balances (1 focus balance and 2 side blades)
- Fix unit (Patches and valve wrench – Does exclude stick)
iRocker additionally incorporates a wide scope of discretionary embellishments including their kayak seat and fishing connections. To likewise get their electric pneumatic machine, you wouldn’t get any shade from us. Trust us when we say we know precisely how troublesome these inflatable paddleboards can be to get up to pressure. To invest the energy in doing that with the included siphon or (like us) need to swell numerous paddleboards at a time, the optional electric pneumatic machine can do a lot of good.
Conclusion:
To hear anything negative about iRocker paddleboards in general, you’d have to catch us on a particularly bad day. These are currently the world’s best-selling inflatable paddleboards, and there’s little doubt why. There are paddleboards on the market that may have a few extra features or tiny adjustments that we like, but we know we won’t be disappointed when we take an iRocker paddleboard out of the box.
The Cruiser is an excellent choice for someone who is new to paddleboarding or who is more concerned with stability than with speed. With a weight capacity of over 400 pounds, you can easily accommodate heavier riders as well as additional riders and pets. Is there a significant change between the 2020 and 2021 models? Yes, in terms of aesthetics, but not in terms of the board’s structure or features. The 2021 iRocker Cruiser 10 foot 6 inch is one of the best bets on the market if you want to present a gift that will be appreciated and used, or if you want to get into paddleboarding yourself!
