Body Glove Glide 11 Inflatable Kayak Review

Is it a kayak or a paddle board? Well it’s called an inflatable kayak but truth is that it’s both!

Many inflatable SUP’s come with a seat so that you can paddle it sitting down kayak style.

However Body Glove has taken it a couple steps further with the Glide 11 and have designed an inflatable board that comes complete with a comfortable seat, foot rests and a kayak paddle.

It is a kayak first and foremost and a very comfortable ride but if you feel like standing up the paddle can be transformed into a SUP paddle.

The Glide is ultra portable, quick to set up and easy for anyone of any age to paddle.

Glide 11 Specs

This kayak/board is the perfect size for one person to handle solo. It is easy enough to carry to and from the water and long enough to be comfortable and still have space to store gear or bring along your pup.

• Length: 11’ long
• Width: 32” wide
• Weight: 31 lbs
• Max Weight: 350 lbs.

Material: Triple layer construction, double layer side rails.

Pros: Easy setup, stable, quick to turn and maneuver, cargo bungee tie-downs at front and back, versatile, portable, 2 sets of foot braces.

Cons: Tracking could be better, paddle feels a bit heavy

More Detailed Info

What’s the best thing about the Glide 11?… We think it’s the fact that it’s so portable. This is a kayak that fits inside a large backpack, can be transported in the trunk of your vehicle (no need for roof racks) and taken anywhere anytime.

I would also say that the other thing that makes the Glide so appealing is how comfortable it is. It feels stable and solid to paddle when sitting in the attached seat.

The seat is rigid and provides good back support and the foot rests allow you to brace your feet to get more power in your paddling stroke.

I was pleasantly surprised with how easy and comfortable it was to paddle kayak-style.

When standing and paddling as a SUP, it felt a little more wobbly however I got used to it quickly and I think even beginners will get comfortable fast.

The Glide is very family-friendly. You can easily bring a child out with you and I think many kids will have a lot of fun paddling it as well.

Important Features

Rigid Seat: The seat that comes with this kayak is surprisingly comfortable.

It doesn’t look like it would provide great back support when you take it out of the package.

However once you secure the straps to the D-rings on the side of the board and cinch them tight, the seat back feels really rigid and I found it to be very comfortable even after a couple hours of paddling.

When not in use the seat just flops down but once you sit in it and push your back against the seat it becomes very rigid.

There are multiple D-ring attachments on both sides of the board so you can adjust the placement of the seat to wherever is most comfortable for you.

Foot Braces: There are two sets of foot braces that are totally unique to this board.

The foot braces are what make this inflatable SUP more of a kayak.

There are other SUP’s that come with a seat but this one provides attached foot braces so you can brace your feet and paddle the Glide more effectively, more comfortably and with more power as a kayak.

4-Piece Kayak Paddle: The four-piece paddle can be used as a kayak paddle or as a SUP paddle.

We found the paddle to be a bit on the heavy side.  However there’s nothing to complain about because it comes free with the package and I think most would be quite happy with it.

Plus this is the only inflatable kayak/inflatable SUP we know of that comes with a paddle that can actually be used for kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.

Multi-Purpose Handle: The patented multi-purpose centre handle can be used for carrying the board as well as for securing your water bottle.

I had no trouble carrying this kayak to and from the water.

Grab Handles: There are also front and back grab handles that can be used to grab your board if you end up in the water or if you need to pull it into shore.

2 Dura-Fins: There are two attached unbreakable fins on the bottom of the Glide.

These fins do help with tracking and it’s nice not to have to worry about extra parts and securing the fins yourself. It makes setup that much easier.

Front and Rear Cargo Bungees: The front and rear bungees are ideal for storing gear. You can easily fit a couple of 10L dry bags and any important accessories you need to bring.

Reinforced Nose Bumper: Don’t worry about bumping into docks or rocks with the nose of this kayak. It is reinforced with extra PVC layers for added durability.

Package Includes:

• Board
• Seat
• Backpack
• Dual-Action Hand Pump
• 11′ Coiled Ankle Leash
• Waterproof Phone Pouch
• Repair Kit

Performance

The Glide was designed for inflatable kayaking first and foremost so we will take a look at kayak performance first.

Although the tracking is not perfect I really enjoyed paddling the Glide kayak-style. It doesn’t take much effort to move and it feels stable and secure considering you are sitting on a paddle board and there are no sides.

It doesn’t offer the same type of protection as a regular kayak but I never felt like I would tip even in choppy water.

That being said I would say it is best suited for flat water paddling.  I think that most beginner to novice paddlers would have a lot of fun paddling the Glide as a kayak.

When standing and paddling the Glide as a SUP it felt a bit more wobbly but very doable. The performance and design are very similar to the Body Glove Performer 11 inflatable SUP.

Without a large centre fin I found that the back end of this board feels wobbly and less secure when paddling as a SUP.

The two side fins do help and are better than nothing but we really feel that a tri-fin configuration would really help improve the tracking.

It’s not a big deal if you are just paddling around on lakes and rivers having fun. However if performance is important to you, you may get frustrated with the yaw movement.

All that being said I had a lot of fun paddling this inflatable kayak.  For someone who wants to mainly paddle a kayak but have the versatility to be able to stand up and paddle once and a while, it’s a great choice.

Dogs and Kids

If you have a canine friend or a child you’d like to bring along for the ride that will not be a problem.

I paddled the Glide quite extensively with my two little dogs onboard and felt comfortable.

The foot braces do take up quite a bit of space but you could have a child at the back of the board if you are sitting.  My two dogs like to be up front so they were balancing up near the tip of the nose.

The PVC material and EVA traction pad are durable and able to withstand a decent amount of abuse from kids and dogs.

I wouldn’t hesitate to bring your best furry friend or you kid out paddling with you. In fact I’d highly recommend it. Paddling is a fantastic family activity and the Body Glove boards are known to be very family friendly.

Complaints

All in all this is a great package and there are only a couple complaints worth mentioning.

The tracking issue is one that I have already discussed above. Not a big deal for most, I just wouldn’t describe the Glide as a high performance kayak/board.

The paddle although very innovative is also a little on the heavy side. However if you’re not used to using a lighter paddle like I am then you may not even notice the difference.

Lastly the foot rests could be an issue if you should fall when you are stand up paddle boarding. I imagine it would hurt a bit if you fell on them.

For that reason I think it is important for those who purchase the Glide to really understand that it functions best as a kayak.  This is a very portable and versatile inflatable kayak that can also be used as a SUP.

Final Thoughts

The Glide 11 inflatable kayak is ideal for lake days hanging with friends and family. It can also be used on calm rivers or for paddling around calm ocean bays.

Its versatility and portability make it pretty awesome and a lot of fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Click here for more info on the Body Glove Glide inflatable kayak.