I had heard a lot of good things about the Astro Blend inflatable SUP and was super psyched to try it out.
I had several emails from people who had tested different boards and ended up buying the Blend and absolutely loved it.
They gave it rave reviews and I couldn’t wait to try one.
Although our test trial with this board was brief I felt we got a really good feel for it.
The consensus was that this board basically rocks and I totally agree. It feels great to paddle, is rigid and stable and performs quite well on flat water and on ocean chop.
Specs For The Starboard Astro Blend
- 11’2” long
- 32” wide
- 6” thick
- weighs 26 lbs.
- can hold up to 220 lbs.
- air pressure: 18 PSI
- includes 1 removable 9″ FCS touring fin
Check prices at PumpedUpSup.com.
Check prices at GreenWaterSports.com.
Material: Fused multiple layers of PVC
Best Suited For: Cruising on flat water, riding ocean waves and wake
Pros: Easy to paddle, responsive, glides nicely, versatile, tracks well, performs at a decent level for a crossover board, padded handles, bungee system is close to deck pad and easy to access, back paddle holder
Cons: It’s not super fast although speed is decent, price is a little higher than other boards of similar size
More In-Depth Info On The Blend
What I like best about the Blend is a little hard to explain because it is more of a feel.
Sometimes a board might feel a little heavy, or have a little drag or take more effort to paddle, be too wide or too tippy or just not feel ‘quite right’.
Everything about the Blend feels right. It is an awesome board to paddle and it would suit a very wide range of people.
Riders of all different ages could paddle this board and probably feel quite good riding it.
The shape makes it quite versatile. I found it equally enjoyable cruising on flat water as well as riding choppy ocean waves.
It moves easily, is quite responsive and tracks in a fairly straight line.
It is not the fastest board but unless you are really looking for speed, I don’t think you would be disappointed… It cuts through the water nicely.
Plus as I have said many times before Starboard never leaves any details out. They think of everything from functionality to performance to design.
Blend Deluxe Performance
I paddled this board mostly on the ocean. The Blend Deluxe is 6” thick and it felt really stable for both my boyfriend and myself.
Paddling over waves and taking on chop from speedboats was not a problem.
The 32” width provides a good base without making it too bulky. A leaner board would be even more responsive however for ocean paddling, the 32” width is nice to have.
As mentioned, it is not super fast but it does glide nicely and overall does not take a lot of effort to get moving.
It felt quite responsive and we kept looking at the design trying to figure out what makes it stand out from other boards of similar size that we have tested.
It is hard to pinpoint the difference. It seems to be shaped nicely to provide optimum stability in the right places yet still cut through the water in an efficient way.
I would say it is very functional and easy to paddle.
Blend Versatility
Crossover boards are typically like a jack-of-all-trades but master at none and I would say that does apply to the Blend.
It is not the fastest on flat water and it is not the most responsive surf board.
However it can still paddle on most types of water quite well and the majority of paddlers will be quite happy with it.
It provides stability for a beginner but performs well enough to keep you challenged and happy as you improve your skills.
I personally think it excels most on ocean bays and riding on ocean chop and waves.
Construction
I rarely hear of issues with the Starboard ISUP’s. They tend to be solid and strong.
The Blend Deluxe is made of:
- 6” linear drop stitch core material providing extreme stiffness
- 4” dot precision drop stitch core material for shape optimization and better performance on waves
- high tensile UD center stringer for stiffness
- top and bottom high tensile rail bands along the outline, which creates a stiffening Parabolic Anti-Torsion System
It is super rigid when inflated to maximum air pressure between 15 – 18 PSI.
Blend Setup
Setup is easy. The pump that comes with this board is decent. It takes a bit of effort to inflate as it does with all hand pumps but nothing too major. Overall it works well.
The pump has a pressure gauge so you can check your progress and has a double action and single action mode for easier inflation up to 18 PSI.
It also has an ergonomically designed foot pad that helps create a stable platform while pumping.
I prefer using an electric pump, which makes the job much easier but it isn’t critical.
Once inflated you can slide in and secure the center back fin. It clips in easily, no tools required.
After you are finished paddling, dry the board off with a towel, deflate and remove the fin. It rolls up and easily fits into the included backpack.
If you are paddling in salty ocean water remember to rinse the board after use with fresh water to keep the material clean and strong.
Starboard Magic Bag
I didn’t have the backpack for this board so I couldn’t take any pictures however I have included Starboard’s stock photos below. You can click the photo to make it bigger.
The backpack has nice padded shoulder straps, a top padded carry handle, a large front zippered pocket and best of all a full front zipper allowing you to load the board into the front of the bag as opposed to loading it from the top… makes it much easier!
It also has twin roller wheels on the front of the bag, which is a real bonus and makes it really easy and convenient for transport.
My favorite feature of this bag however is the belt strap.
One of my pet peeves is the fact that with most ISUP backpacks you can’t actually hike too far with them because they have no waist strap for added support.
I love that Starboard has thought of this detail. Between the belt strap, the front loading non corrosive zipper and the roller wheels, this bag is awesome!
Important Features
A few important features to be aware of are:
- US fin box for large center removable fin
- 2 easy slide in fin boxes for smaller side removable fins
- 3 removable fins
- very strong PVC drop-stitch material
- can inflate to 18 PSI making it very rigid
- soft padded center handle for comfortable carrying
- grab handle at the tail
- 3/4 deck EVA deckpad has a 4mm thick square groove in the standing area and a 2mm thick aft section
- 4 plastic D-rings at the nose of the board that attach the bungee cords for securing gear
- One metal D-ring at tail of board for attaching board leash
- One metal D-ring underneath nose of board for towing
More Pictures of the Astro Blend (my pics are of the older 2015 model)
Final Thoughts
I am rarely disappointed with Starboard. They think of every little detail and although the price might be slightly higher than some other ISUP’s of similar size, I feel they are worth it.
The Blend Deluxe is an all around great board and with a little care it will last a very long time.
It is just as ideal for paddling at home or for traveling with the convenient Magic Bag.
Where To Buy
Click Here For The Starboard Blend At PumpedUpSup.com.
Click Here For The Starboard Blend At GreenWaterSports.com.
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Starboard Inflatable SUP Comparison Chart
Starboard Whopper ISUP Review
Starboard Yoga Inflatable SUP Review
I just got the 2022 zen 11.2. which seems to be the evolution of the blend. They come in regular and premium construction but I got the less expensive regular. Linear dropstich like the blend, but now 5..4 inches thick.
A single box fin. More parallel rail shape.
This one is a winner. Tracks well and I got a real sense of glide on smooth water. Glide like that makes you want to paddle harder! The board is light as can be for it’s size. Easier than my body glove performer to carry, inflate and pack away. Very nice. Everything works right. Feels stiff enough.
The lower end hand pump they package with this model is the hardest pump I’ve used. Maybe it’s mine but the valving drags and adds effort compared to similar HP pumps. The bag it is packaged with is nice in many ways but totally missed for this board. It is a foot longer than the body glove performer bag and the board with pump and paddle only half fill the bag. Airlines treated it as oversized when checking, unlike my other isups. It has wheels but is too floppy to wheel around and too big to carry on your back through airports. I hope to never repeat the torture of flying with this starboard bag.
So, I fully recommend the starboard zen 11.2. Avoid the bundle though and fine an aftermarket bag and pump for it. Starboards pump and bag are not worth owning even if only a few dollars extra. Buy the board alone. It’s a winner!
I had a 10’6″ Red and loved it, Had to sell it, needed the money.
Looking at getting one of the Astro Blend Now and really appreciated the review.
Thanks
Hi Allison,
Many thanks for your thorough and authentic reviews. These are highly helpful.
I am based in Singapore and am looking to get an inflatable board for the ocean on usually calm waters. The idea being to go out for me or my husband with 1-2 kids (I am about 50kgs; he is 75kgs. And each kid is about 20-25kgs). I am hesitating between the Starboard blend deluxe but it is expensive, the Isle explorer or the Atoll (I don’t think you have reviewed it. Do you know about this one?). I have not considered the NN 126 as it seems too narrow for our use. My preference for now given dimensions / reviews / price would be the Atoll. Keen to get your views! Thanks.
Hi Johanne, The Starboard Blend is definitely the better board (quality and performance) but of course it comes with the higher price tag. I have been quite happy with the Isle Explorer and although it’s a little on the slow side, it is stable and feels solid. It is a good option for paddling with kids for sure. The Atoll is high on my list of boards to review this year. The shape and dimensions are very similar to the Isle Explorer and I would guess it will paddle very much the same. I like the look of the Atoll SUP and the price is decent for what you get. I’d say it’s a good option for your needs. If you end up trying it I’d love to hear your thoughts. With the Singapore humidity be sure to fully dry your board after use and you might want to store it out of the bag – especially that Atoll bag doesn’t look like it breathes that well. Good luck!
Hi Allison,
First thanks for such an amazing website which has been really helpful with all the reviews. I was debating between a Red Paddle 10’6 and the Astro Whopper Zen and leaning more to the Red Paddle when I saw a deal for the Whopper Zen for $800 including paddle (apparently because they are re-designing them for next year), which is too good to pass up. In an online chat with the store, the guy mentioned I’d probably prefer the Astro Blend which I was glad to see you favorably reviewed as well. My only concern was its longer length might make it less maneuverable in the ocean, though i guess it’s thinner width would be better. Any thoughts on which would be your preference? (I’m 5’8, 155 and would use it mostly for flatwater here in CO but also 2-3x / year in the ocean on trips to FL). also, since i’m not that far from 160, should i be considering the 6″ deluxe instead of the 4.75″? thanks so much for any thoughts you might have.
Hey Michele, It’s a great deal for sure. All three you mentioned are really good ISUP’s so you can’t go too wrong either way. The Red 10’6″ has a great reputation. I know of several people who own it and love it, I don’t think you would be unhappy with it. However I personally favor the Starboards. I always love paddling them… They feel good, they perform well and I think they look great. The Whopper is good for cruising around on flat water but I think better suited for ocean surf or rivers in my opinion. It is super responsive making it really fun to paddle but it wouldn’t be my choice for flat water touring. The Astro Blend is definitely one of our favorites. The longer length does make it slightly less responsive but I found the size really nice as it is a little more stable but still really fun to ride. In fact I would say it is one of our favorites for sure for ocean paddling. As far as whether to go for the 4.75″ or 6″ deluxe it is a really tough call. If you have some SUP experience you might really like the 4.75″ thickness as the board will turn faster and easier and take little effort to really move. The 6″ thickness of course adds more stability and rigidity under more weight but takes more effort to turn quickly and will be slightly slower (although the difference is small). I find that most people seem to prefer the added stability of the 6″ thickness especially in ocean waves. However if you feel comfortable enough you could definitely go for the 4.75″. Hope that doesn’t confuse you more, it’s a tough choice between the two. ColoradoKayak has the Blend Zen on for $800 including paddle, which is a wicked deal. Also worth noting is that the Blend Zen would be slightly more stable than the Red 10’6″ that you were considering. Good luck!!
Thanks for your thoughts, Allison. Colorado Kayak is exactly where I was looking and they were who suggested the Blend Zen which is what I’ve decided to go with after reading your comments as well. Much appreciated!
Nice Post. I have a 12’6″ x 26″ x 4″ thick ULI with a Wiki rail. But I would love to try Astro Blend ISUP board.