Chasing Blue Aqua Spirit All Around Inflatable SUP Review

Update:  This paddle board is no longer available.

The Chasing Blue Aqua Spirit is new this year and  I found myself really enjoying paddling this all-around paddle board.

It’s light weight and very portable so it’s easy to grab and take to the water anytime.

The Aqua Spirit has an all-around shape with a slightly rounded nose.  I found this board to be responsive with good glide, stable enough for beginners yet it has enough kick so that you can keep improving your skills.

At 10’6″ long and 30″ wide this board has some real advantages.

1.  For one the smaller size keeps the weight down.  At 19 lbs. this is one of the lighter weight options out there for a good quality double layer board.
2.  The smaller size also takes less effort to turn and maneuver.
3.  It is versatile and will suit different water conditions.
4.  It’s a perfect board for learning to paddle yet you’ll still love to use it as your paddling skills and stability improve.

I find sometimes especially with beginners they can get caught up in having a very wide super stable board.

However although that might feel ultra comfortable initially it can get boring to paddle real quick as the wider the board typically the more sluggish it will be to paddle.

I found the Aqua Spirit quite comfortable even when paddling with my dogs (note my dogs are quite small) but it was also a lot of fun to ride and I really appreciate the design as well as the nice features it offers.

SPECS

L x W x T	10'6" x 30" x 6"
BOARD WEIGHT	19 LBS.
MAX LOAD	280 LBS.
STABILITY
PERFORMANCE

SEE THE AQUA SPIRIT ON THE WATER

In the short video below you’ll see the Aqua Spirit in action on some of my awesome paddling adventures.

WHO IS THE AQUA SPIRIT BEST SUITED FOR?

I actually think the Aqua Spirit can suit a larger variety of people.

It ‘s easy to paddle and makes for a great starter board and I feel that this is a SUP that you can easily grow into.  As your skills improve you will appreciate how quickly it turns and how versatile it is.

With the 30″ width there isn’t as much reach when paddling as you will find with a wider ISUP, which a smaller person might really appreciate.

However it can also hold up to 280 lbs. so it can easily suit riders of various sizes.

If you are a novice to intermediate paddler you will appreciate how nicely this board glides.  It actually takes very little effort to propel forward and I didn’t notice much drag.

If you love to travel, the Aqua Spirit deflates and folds up really small into a nice compact package that stores easily in the backpack with wheels.  It’s perfect for camping trips at the lake or traveling to new areas.

If you plan to paddle with kids or dogs, I would say that the 30″ width isn’t the most ideal option especially if you are a beginner.  However if you feel confident on a board already then it’s very doable for sure.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

There are some features that I really like on the Aqua Spirit that help make the ride even more comfortable.

FRONT AND BACK BUNGEES WTH GRAB HANDLES

I really like the large bungee sections on both the nose and tail of the Aqua Spirit.  They provide a lot of space to secure your cargo and keep your essentials safe and secure while you paddle.

You can fit several dry bags under these bungees or they can be used to secure a cooler box as well.

Both the front and back bungees include safety handles that I have found to really come in handy.

The side handles work great to help lift the board, to hold onto while sitting on the board, to grab from the water if you fall in and also they can be used for tethering your board to a dock.

NOSE AND TAIL GRAB HANDLES

There is one padded grab handle at the nose of the board and one at the tail.  Both of these handles include 2 stainless steel D-rings.

The back D-rings on the grab handle can be used to secure your leash and they give extra tie down points for securing anything you need to attach to your board.

PADDED CENTER CARRY HANDLE

The padded center carry handle is quite comfortable to use when carrying the board.

In years past SUP companies never used to pad the nylon handles on inflatable SUP’s.  Thank goodness they do now as the padded handles are far more comfortable to use.

I really appreciate a good padded handle, it’s a small thing but makes a huge difference in how far you can comfortably carry the board.

The center handle on this board feels great to use.

22 STAINLESS STEEL D-RINGS

There are tons of D-rings on the Aqua Spirit.  Besides the 6 D-rings included at both the front and back bungees, there are also two D-rings on either side of the grab handles and 3 extra D-rings along each side of the deck pad.

If you would like to paddle your SUP kayak-style it is very easy to secure a seat to these D-rings.

REMOVABLE TOURING FIN PLUS 2 ATTACHED SIDE FINS

The two side fins are attached. Then there is also a larger removable touring fin that easily clips into the fin box.

With the touring fin attached the board tracks quite well.  You can remove it if you are paddling in shallow water but I found the board to handle best when using all three fins.

SOFT COMFORTABLE DECK PAD

The deck pad has soft lined grooves where you stand on the board and diamond groove down the center and at the tail of the board.

Some people prefer one type of deck pad design over another so it can be personal choice however I found this one to be comfortable and soft under my feet and also comfortable when kneeling.

DOUBLE SECURED VALVE

Chasing Blue has included a double secured valve on their stand up paddle boards.

This valve will automatically release a little air if the board is inflated past 15 PSI.

In this way it is impossible to over-inflate the board and there is never needless pressure on the seams.

TOP ACCESSORY PACKAGE

Accessory packages have come such a long way over the years.  You get a lot more included with your board purchase now than you did in years past.

The Chasing Blue accessory package is a good one and you get a lot for your money.  It includes lots of cool stuff to make your SUP adventure more convenient and more fun including:

• Wheeled Backpack
• Dual Action Hand Pump
• Coiled SUP Leash
• 3-Piece Carbon Shaft Paddle
• Action Mount Sets
• Waterproof Phone Case
• Repair Kit

WHEELED BACKPACK

One interesting thing about this backpack is that the interior is constructed with insulated materials to regulate the temperature of the contents inside the bag.

I haven’t seen this before and it’s an interesting idea to keep your board safe and healthy in all temperatures.

The bag zips open on three sides making it easy to get the board and accessories in and out of the bag.

It also has padded adjustable shoulder straps as well as a supportive waist clip.

The integrated wheels make it easy to pull the bag to and from the water or to take it traveling. It is so much easier to get your ISUP literally anywhere when the backpack has wheels.

This is a nice backpack that will protect your board and make it convenient to store and get to the water.

3-PIECE CARBON SHAFT PADDLE

The SUP paddle has a lightweight carbon shaft and a nylon blade and handle.

It is adjustable from 72″-86″ and weighs only 28 oz.

The paddle is durable and strong, doesn’t twist and is easy to put together and take apart.

It feels great to use and with a lighter weight paddle like this you will be able to paddle further with less fatigue or pain in your shoulders and arms.

DOUBLE ACTION HAND PUMP

The hand pump is easy enough to use and allows you to inflate your board quickly.

Once your board takes shape you can switch the mode on the pump so that it becomes easier to inflate the board to the recommended air pressure of 12-15 PSI.

It took me about 7 minutes to inflate the Aqua Spirit with the included hand pump.

However if you’d like to make setup a whole lot easier I would highly recommend the Outdoormaster Shark II Electric Pump.  This pump plugs into the 12V outlet in your vehicle and shuts off automatically once the pump reaches the set PSI level.

This is a good time to order as Outdoormaster has a special right now where you will get a FREE Shark II Electric Pump with the purchase of any of the Chasing Blue paddle boards.  Just use coupon code OMSUP2022 at checkout for your free pump.

COILED SUP LEASH

Included in this package is a strong coiled SUP leash.  The leash is a really important safety item that attaches to your ankle and to the back D-ring on your board.  It keeps your board from getting swept away if you should fall in the water.

WATERPROOF PHONE CASE

Most inflatable SUP packages don’t come with a waterproof case for your phone so this is a nice added bonus.

This little bag is a great way to keep your phone safe from splashes if you plan to bring it out paddling.  You can use the camera on your phone through the bag although the pictures won’t be quite as clear as without it… But your phone will be protected.

ACTION MOUNTS

As another great bonus also included are several action mounts that can be glued anywhere on your paddle board.

These are fantastic to use with an action cam, phone holder, fishing rod holders, or other accessories.

REPAIR KIT

All inflatable paddle boards come with a repair kit. The repair kit includes a couple of PVC patches, glue and a valve wrench that can be used to tighten the valve if needed.

QUALITY OF MATERIALS

The Aqua Spirit is constructed with durable double layer PVC material.  The material is strong and durable and creates a very rigid board when inflated to 12-15 PSI.

I had no issues and no worries when paddling with my three dogs and the board can hold a lot of weight with very little flex.  With a little care it will last a long time.

WARRANTY

All Chasing Blue paddle boards come with a great 2 year warranty.