Honu Byron 10’6” All-Rounder Inflatable Paddle Board Review

Honu is an Australian brand that was established back in 2001.  Their latest inflatable stand up paddle boards are making a big splash and they are now selling in the US as well.

Honu is known for making good quality boards but what I really love about the company is their commitment to environmental protection.  Let’s face it, as paddle boarders we love the water and it is important to protect it.

Honu has really taken that to heart and is not only trying to reduce their environment footprint as a company but is also donating a small portion of each sale to grass roots organizations that focus on protecting the ocean.

That kind of commitment takes integrity, forward focus and passion, all things I really appreciate in a company.

Learn more about Honu and their board range on their website here: HONUBOARDS.COM

THE 10’6″ BYRON ALL-ROUNDER

When I had the opportunity to review the Honu 10’6″ Byron all-rounder paddle board I was psyched.  This board has a classic design yet is very functional and fun to use.

It is equally at home cruising on flat water, tackling some light surf, maneuvering through chop and wake and bringing out the family for a fun day on the water.

This board is ultra light weight at only 17 lbs., which makes it so easy to take out and convenient to use.

If you need a versatile board that is incredibly easy to carry and transport yet also ultra versatile then the Byron is an excellent option.

SPECS

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RATHER WATCH A VIDEO REVIEW?

Check out my video below to see the Honu Byron in action and watch my quick video review.

WHO IS THE BYRON BEST SUITED FOR?

The smaller size and lightweight design make it easy for a smaller person to handle but the 32″ width and rigid construction keep it stable even when loaded up with extra weight.  Therefore the Byron can suit a wide variety of people and needs.

Beginner to novice paddlers will appreciate how easy it is to paddle and those with more experience will love how responsive and quick it is to maneuver.

Therefore it’s a great board for all different types of paddling adventures and it is perfect for travel and exploring new destinations.

WHAT MAKES THE 10’6″ BYRON STAND OUT?

However what really makes this all-around iSUP stand out from other similar boards on the market is the 4.72″ thickness.

Most recreational inflatable SUP’s that I review these days have a 6″ thickness.  A thickness of only 4.72″ does a few things:

1. For one it definitely helps keep the weight down and makes it faster to inflate the board.

2. It also keeps your center of gravity lower and your feet closer to the water. Consequently you will find that you are more connected to the ebb and flow of the water.

This allows you to feel the movement of the water in a different way than if you are paddling a 6″ thick board, which can be really fun.

Being able to connect to the water allows you to quickly maneuver the board and push your paddling skills to the next level.  Therefore the 10’6″ Byron will also appeal to more advanced riders as well.

So the question is does the 4.72″ thickness affect stability?

That answer depends.  As long as the board is constructed well then it should be ultra rigid and stable with a 32″ width and 4.72″ thickness.

The Honu Byron has strong durable construction designed with the latest technology and I found this board to still feel very stable despite the 4.72″” thickness.

However a larger person may feel more comfortable with a 6″ thick paddle board.

COLOR OPTIONS FOR 2021

The Byron comes in two color options for this year.  Bright Coral, which is the one you’ll see in my review pictures and also Perfect Day, which is more of a blue and green combo.

Both look really sharp on and off the water.

HOW DOES THE BYRON FEEL TO PADDLE?

This board provides a really nice combination of fun and comfort.

Although not designed for speed it cruises along nicely and doesn’t take much effort to paddle and glide through the water.

It turns very easily so is quick to maneuver and play around with. It is equally fun on lakes and calm rivers as it is in light ocean surf.

With the smaller size this board does take more focus to paddle and stay stable in waves and chop however I found that even after being out just a couple of times I got much more used to the feel of the Byron and really enjoyed paddling such a responsive board.

QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION

All of the Honu boards are made with the latest in iSUP technology with X-Woven and Fused drop stitch PVC material.

This type of construction produces a very lightweight yet durable board.

The construction is solid and it’s obvious as soon as you inflate the Byron that it is durable and strong.  Once inflated to 15 PSI it is extremely rigid.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

3 GRAB HANDLES

Besides the one center carry handle there is also a durable grab handle at both the nose and the tail.

The center handle has neoprene padding on the backside, which makes it much more comfortable to carry any distance.

9 D-RINGS

There are a total of 9 stainless steel D-rings on this padddleboard that can be used to secure your SUP leash and other gear.

2 are located at the back grab handle, 2 are being used by the back bungee paddle holder, 4 are being used at the front bungee system and there is one more located at the nose grab handle.

FRONT BUNGEE SYSTEM

There is one small bungee area at the nose of the board.  The bungees are easily reachable from the center of the board and perfect for storing a dry bag or your water bottle.

TAIL BUNGEE PADDLE HOLDER

Right at the end of the deck pad there is a tail bungee that can be used to hold your paddle when not in use.

This is a handy feature if just hanging out on the water or for being more hands free when carrying the board.

DIAMOND GROOVE DECK PAD

I always like a diamond groove deck pad.  It provides great grip and is comfortable whether kneeling or standing.

The deck pad is a good size and provides ample room for maneuvering your feet and moving as you need to.

TRIPLE BONDED SIDE RAILS

The reinforced side rails add extra rigidity and durability to this board.  This is one more feature that keeps this smaller sized board stable and strong.

BACK KICK TAIL

I love the back kick tail on the Byron Allrounder.  It’s perfect for foot placement for quick pivot turns.

This SUP is small and light and really fun to maneuver and pivot.  The kick tail is a nice added feature.

SINGLE TOURING FIN

The 9″ center fin attaches easily by sliding the fin in to the fin box and turning the little screw to secure.

Using the center fin greatly helps with tracking so is important to use unless you are paddling in very shallow water.

PORTABILITY

They really don’t get much more portable than this.  Inflatable SUP’s used to be so much heavier in years past.

With the latest iSUP construction and technology being used now the boards are lighter than ever and so easy to transport.

A 17 lbs. paddle board is very light even compared to many others on the market.  Yet it is still well made and quality of design has not been skimped on.

Packed into the rolling travel backpack you can easily carry your board to your destination or roll it like a suitcase to and from the water or even through an airport.

The 10’6″ Byron is ultra portable!

SETUP

I found setup to be particularly fast with the Byron All-Rounder.

In only took me 6 minutes and 23 seconds to inflate the board to 15 PSI with the included GRI double action hand pump.

It takes another few seconds to secure the fin and the leash and then you’re off.  All in all it took me 8 minutes to get on the water from the time I arrived.

If you want to make the process even easier you can use an electric pump.

I used the Shark II Electric Pump with the Honu Byron and it worked great!  Then you can save your energy for the water. 🙂

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

The package includes everything you need to get on the water except for a lifejacket and a paddle.

However if you purchase a Honu paddle with your board you can get 20% off the paddle of your choice.

The paddle I am using is the Honu Element 3-piece carbon shaft SUP paddle, which I quite liked.  It has a lightweight carbon shaft and a large nylon blade and feels nice to use.

Also FYI the Honu paddles come with a really nice padded paddle bag to keep them protected and easy to transport and store.

Included with your SUP package is:

9″ CENTER FIN

The removable center fin easily secures with no tools necessary.

I was surprised that the Byron inflatable SUP only has one fin as opposed to a tri-fin system, which tends to be more common for an all-around type of paddle board.

However the board handles just fine with only the center fin and tracks straight.

10′ COILED SUP LEASH

The 10′ coiled leash included in the package will ensure your board never leaves your side if you fall in the water.

Secure one end to your ankle and the other end to the back D-ring on at the tail of the board.

DELUXE ROLLING BACKPACK

This backpack is really nice.  It’s functional, comfortable to carry and has all of the features you need including:

3-SIDED ZIPPER FOR EASY ACCESS & ZIPPER PULLS

The bag opens on three sides making it very easy to remove the board and put it back after use.

I love that this bag includes zipper pulls.  It’s a small thing but I rarely see them on iSUP backpacks and they make it easier to zip and unzip the bag.

ADJUSTABLE PADDED SHOULDER STRAPS & CHEST STRAP

The shoulder and chest straps can be adjusted to fit your size properly.

However note that there is no waist strap on this bag, which is too bad as it would have made it more comfortable and supportive for carrying the bag any distance.

That being said this package is fairly light so we had trouble carrying it even on a small hike.

CARRY AND GRAB HANDLES

The handles on this bag are really sturdy.  There is one padded handle at the top of the bag and one on one side of the bag, which makes it easy to lift and carry.

SIDE PADDLE HODLER WITH CINCH STRAPS

You can tuck your paddle into the side mesh pocket and cinch it tight with the straps.  This leaves more room inside the bag for other things.

BACK ID POCKET

A very handy feature if you are traveling or need to label your board bag.

2 DURABLE INTEGRATED WHEELS

The wheels are a key feature and I always love when they are included on the backpack.

Even though this is a lightweight package, the integrated wheels still make it easier to pull the bag to and from the water so anyone regardless of size or strength will have no trouble transporting this SUP.

The wheels are also ideal for traveling through an airport if you bring your Honu paddle board on traveling adventures.

DOUBLE ACTION HAND PUMP

The GRI dual action hand pump is a good one.  The ergonomic handles feel good to use and the pump works great.

The integrated pressure gauge allows you to watch your progress so you can stop when you reach the desired air pressure.

The pump fits nicely in the backpack for easy storage.

I also really like that this pump is lightweight and doesn’t add much more weight to the overall package.

REPAIR KIT

All inflatable paddle boards come with a repair kit.  Included in this kit you will find a couple PVC patches as well as a valve wrench.

What is unique about this repair kit is that Honu has used a biodegradable and compostable bag as opposed to the usual plastic container that is normally seen with other iSUP repair kits.

It’s one of the ways that Honu is trying to use more eco friendly materials in their package.  We can definitely get behind that!

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Honu has made a commitment to the environment in a big way.  1% of every sale goes directly towards protecting the ocean.

In Honu’s words:

1% of all sales are donated to grassroots conservation groups that are dedicated to protecting our environment. These groups work to advocate, conserve, steward, educate and activate to create a healthy, vibrant future for our planet.

We think this is pretty awesome!

2 + 2 YEAR WARRANTY

All Honu paddle boards come with a two-year warranty against manufacturer defects.

Plus if you register your board after purchase Honu also offers an extra 2 years of free repairs on top of that warranty, which is an excellent guarantee.

Read more about their 2 + 2 Warranty on the Honu website here: HONUBOARDS.COM – WARRANTY

IN SUMMARY

The Byron is ideal for beginner to intermediate paddlers who want a versatile board that is equally at home cruising on flat water or tackling some light surf.

The light weight design is very appealing and I love how responsive it is in the water.

The 4.72″ thickness can take a little getting used to especially for a larger person but the classic design, functional features, light weight construction and competitive price make it a winner.

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL

Go straight to the Honuboards.com website for the best deal plus their 2+2 warranty on the Honu 10’6″ Byron All-Rounder inflatable paddle board.

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