Gili Meno Inflatable Paddle Board Review

Need extra stability and a board that can handle anything you throw at it?

The Gili Meno offers the ultimate in width, stability, comfort and durability.

With this board you can pile on the weight, load up the kids, take out your best furry pal and feel stable regardless of your skill level.

The Gili Meno inflatable SUP can hold a ton of weight (up to 485 lbs!) with no flex and be your own little island on the water.

I found this board to be a very comfortable ride and equally as comfy when just chilling out on the lake talking with friends.  I joked that this board is so stable I could easily take a nap on it. 🙂

 

SPECS

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BEST SUITED FOR

The Meno is definitely best suited for those who want a very stable board that can hold a lot of weight.

Beginners will love how stable and comfortable the Meno is to ride right off the bat and a larger person will really appreciate the rigid design and extra width.

Yet the Meno is still highly portable and easy to carry and transport.

This board is also ideal for yoga and fishing with the wider center width and extra stable base. It is very versatile in that sense and great for many different adventures.

It’s a multi-use board that would suit families and those looking for an ISUP that can do a little of everything comfortably and hold a TON of weight.

PERFORMANCE

Although extremely stable it is still fun to ride and perfect for cruising and plowing through chop. It works well for easy paddling.

The tracking is straight but this board is by no means fast. It takes a little more effort and power to propel forward and turn but that’s to be expected from a big wide paddle board.

I found it glided smoother on calm water but feels oh so stable in waves and chop. It just takes a little more effort to maneuver and I found that my arms were more tired than usual after paddling the Meno.

That being said, this board certainly has its purpose and I have been asked many times by visitors to my blog which board can hold a ton of weight and still be a comfortable ride.

Now I think I have a good answer for that… The Meno is an excellent choice.

SIZE & WEIGHT

The Meno comes in two size options:

• 10’6″x35″x6″
  11’6″x35″x6″

I have the smaller 10’6″ Meno and for my size I’m not sure I would personally want to go larger with a board this wide.  However if you are a larger person or need the board to hold an extra big load the longer 11’6″ Meno is great.

You would think that a 35″ wide board like the Meno is going to be quite heavy but I was pleasantly surprised with how light it actually is.

The smaller 10’6″ model only weighs 23 lbs and even the longer 11’6″ Meno only weighs one pound more at 24 lbs.

Therefore it is still extremely portable and easy to carry.

You’ll likely find that the longer Meno has slightly better glide but also takes a little more effort to turn and maneuver.

The shorter Meno is a little easier to handle for a small to average size person.

With the 35″ width there is more reach when paddling so if you have shorter arms you may notice this.

However you get used to it quickly and it didn’t bother me at all, it’s just not quite as efficient as a leaner board and takes a little more power to paddle longer distances.

CHECK FOR THE BEST DEAL ON THE GILI MENO INFLATABLE STAND UP PADDLE BOARD AT GILISPORTS.COM.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

The Gili Meno Series of inflatable paddle boards are loaded with great features and very well thought out.

Everything has been added for a fun and convenient day on the water.

TWO SETS OF BUNGEES

Think you won’t use two sets of bungees? You might be surprised. You can store a dry bag under one set and a water bottle and other gear under the other set.

I find it really handy to have bungee cargo systems at both the nose and tail of the board and I use them just about every time I go out.

The six point bungees at the nose of the Meno can hold quite a bit of stuff and the 4 point bungees at the rear are great for storing little extras.

The back bungees are removable so you can remove them completely if you want to leave the deck free and clear of any obstacles that can get in the way of your feet.

CARBON FIBER RAIL

The Gili Meno boards have an added carbon fiber rail along the side of the board.

This carbon strip allows the Meno to hold even more weight with no flex as it keeps the board really rigid when fully inflated to 15 PSI.

It’s a nice added bonus on this super stable ISUP that should help it to perform better glide smoother with less drag.

SMOOTH LINED DECK PAD

The EVA foam on the deck pad has wide lined grooves where you stand, which feels smooth and comfortable.

The back end of the deck pad transitions from smooth to a diamond groove pattern which provides more grip for maneuvering your feet if stepping back.

I think the texture of this pad suits this board well and it feels soft and comfortable whether paddling, kneeling, stretching or just hanging on the water.

MULTIPLE GRAB HANDLES

You’ll find lots of grab handle options on the Meno. There is one at both the nose and the tail, as well as grab handles on either side of both sets of bungees.

All of these handles provide lots of options for grabbing onto the board from the water, pulling it to shore or securing it to a dock.

SIDE PADDLE HOLDER

The side paddle holder secures around the shaft of your paddle with velcro and keeps the paddle out of the way if you need to be hands free or keep the deck pad clear.

The paddle holder is particularly useful if you will be fishing or doing yoga on your board as it keeps the paddle out of your way yet safe so it doesn’t fall in the water. (Note: However if your paddle does fall in the water, not to worry as it floats.)

18 D-RING INCLUDING KAYAK SEAT HOLDER

You will find 18 stainless steel D-rings on this board.

• There is one attached to the action mount at the nose of the board.
• 6 D-rings are being used by the front bungees.
• 4 D-rings are being used by the back bungees.
• There are three on either side of the deck pad including 2 on each side that are for securing a kayak seat or carry strap.
• Plus there is one at the tail of the board that can be used for securing your board leash.

With all of these D-rings there are a ton of tie down points for securing gear and keeping your essentials safe.

PADDED CENTER CARRY HANDLE

The center carry handle is made of durable nylon and has added neoprene padding stitched in. The extra padding really helps make it more comfortable to carry the board when it is inflated.

I remember 10 years ago paddle board companies never added any padding to the carry handle. The nylon webbing would cut into your hand and make it so uncomfortable to carry the board any distance.

I’m so glad ISUP manufacturers started added a little padding to these handles, it makes a big difference in comfort and definitely makes it easier to carry the board.

5 ACTION MOUNTS

There are a whopping 5 action mounts added to the Meno. These can be used for securing an action cam, a cup holder, fishing rod holders, or any other little accessories you’d like to customize your board with.

You can go to the Gili Sports Accessories page to see what options they have available for the action mounts.

There is one action mount located at the nose of the board, two attached to the bungees in front of the deck pad as well as 2 more situated about three quarters of the way back on the deck pad.

With all of these options you can deck out your board to suit your needs and have even more fun on the water.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK! GO TO GILISPORTS.COM FOR THE BEST DEAL ON THE GILI MENO PADDLE BOARD.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

This board comes with a complete high end package that includes:

• Rolling Backpack With Wheels
• High Flow Dual Chamber Hand Pump
• 3-Piece SUP Paddle
• 8′ Coiled Leash
• 3 Fins
• Repair Kit

BACKPACK WITH WHEELS

The backpack that comes in this package is awesome.  It has so many good features and truly makes it easy to transport this ISUP anywhere.

The backpack has two integrated wheels so you can pull it like a suitcase.  It zips open on three sides so it is quite easy to take the board in and out.

The bag is large enough to store the board and all of the accessories but not too big to carry on your back if you want to.

There is great padding on the backside and the shoulder straps and waist strap.  The chest clip is adjustable so you can have a secure fit with good support.

Plus there are multiple other pockets that can be used to organize the accessories or store other small gear.

The bag is durable and strong and I would say it’s one of the better ones out there in an ISUP package.

3-PIECE SUP PADDLE

This is a top of the line board that comes with a high end paddle.

In fact you have the choice of choosing between the carbon shaft/nylon blade paddle, which is what I have and what you’ll see in these pictures.  Or for slightly more money you can upgrade to a full carbon paddle that is even lighter in weight.

Both paddles break apart into three pieces so it stores easily in the backpack and is perfect for traveling.

The height can be adjusted from 67″ to 86″ and it breaks down to 38″.  The full carbon paddle weighs only 27 oz. whereas the carbon shaft/nylon blade paddle weighs 29 oz.

These are really nice paddles that have an ergonomic handle and feel great to use. It’s a total bonus to have such a nice paddle included in the package and it floats so if you drop it in the water it will not sink.

3-STAGE HIGH-FLOW PUMP

The Dual Chamber Triple Action Hand Pump is a heavy duty pump that works great.  This pump makes inflating the board even easier and faster with the three stages of inflation.

With this pump you can definitely shave a bit of time off the inflation process.  The only downside to the pump is that it is a little heavy and it adds weight to the package.

However the handles and base are removable, which helps to make it a little more convenient for storing in the backpack.

3 REMOVABLE FINS

There are three fins included in the package.  There are two smaller side fins and one large center racing fin.

All three fins easily snap into the fin boxes with little effort.

For faster cadence straight line paddling you can simply use the center racing fin or for more back end stability and maneuverability you can use all three fins.

I found that I used all three fins most often and enjoyed the versatility and stability this offered.

8′ COILED SUP LEASH

The leash secures to the back D-ring on your board and to your ankle.  This leash is a good one, durable and strong and will keep your board close if you should fall in the water.

It is recommended that you wear the leash at all times.

REPAIR KIT

All inflatable SUP’s come with a repair kit.  You may never need it but if you do it includes a couple PVC repair patches and a valve wrench so you can easily tighten the valve on your board if it ever becomes loose.

WARRANTY

All Gili inflatable stand up paddle boards come with a 2 year warranty and 60 day ride it guarantee.  Their boards are built strong so I wouldn’t expect any issues but it’s nice to know they back up their product with great customer service.

IN SUMMARY

If stability is what you are after the Meno has got you covered. Still lightweight and durable in design the Meno can be loaded right up to the max and handle just about anything.

This is a multi-use adventure board that will keep you comfortable and out of the water. It comes with an awesome package to make this a fantastic deal for what you are getting.

Although I personally prefer a slightly more efficient board for my everyday use there is no doubt that the Meno will suit a wide variety of people looking for a lightweight yet stable option for easy cruising on the water.

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL

Go to GiliSports.com for the best deal on the Gili Sports Meno Touring paddle board.  They have a special sale on right now that works out to a really great deal plus free shipping in the US.

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