Hero SUP Spark Paddle Board In-Depth Review

The Hero SUP Spark is a really cool board for a few reasons:

1. It is fun to paddle, extremely portable and quite versatile.

2. It comes with a high-end accessory package all included in the price.

3. The length to width ratio (10’5″ x 31″) makes it very responsive, you will find it takes very little effort to paddle and turn.

It is a crossover board and the rounded nose and narrower tail make it very versatile for flat water cruising or small surf.

The 6” thickness provides enough rigidity and stability to handle wind, wake and chop and allows it to hold quite a bit of weight.

The Spark is not as stable as the larger Hero SUP Crusader however I find even beginners get used to it quickly.

It is a lot of fun to play around with, share with friends and family (the size is quite versatile, great for kids/teens too) and practice pivot turns with the back kick tail.

Video below.. Taking the Spark out for a nice easy cruise with my two dogs on one of my favourite mountain lakes:

SPECS

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PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• 10’5” ISUP
• 3-Piece Carbon Fiber Hybrid Paddle
• 1 Removable 9” Touring Fin + 2 Removable 5” Side Fins
• 10’ Coiled SUP Leash
• 10L Dry Bag with Shoulder Strap
• Dual Action Hand Pump
• Rolling Backpack With Wheels
• Repair Kit

MATERIAL: Military grade PVC laminated double layer with reinforced side rails.

BEST SUITED FOR: Cruising on lakes, rivers or ocean bays, small surf, riders up to 220 LB.

PROS: Easy to turn and maneuver, decent glide and stability for a smaller board, versatile, kick tail at back helps with foot placement for pivot turns, front bungees for securing gear, front and back D-rings, 3 removable fins so you can customize it for your needs, neoprene handle covers, light weight and very portable – great for traveling.

CONS: Less stable for a larger person.

NEW FOR 2021

New for the 2021 Spark is a really nice colour change as well as a few great upgrades including:

• Upgraded tool-less Quick Lock fin system.
• Dual bungee system at nose and tail of the board.
• Added D-rings on both sides of the traction pad so you can secure a seat.
• 3-Piece light weight carbon fiber SUP paddle

MORE DETAILS

I have to say that I really like the length of the Spark. Even though this is a smaller board the 10’5” length (as opposed to only 10’ like with many other smaller ISUP’s) really keeps it gliding and tracking efficiently.

Consequently it feels really nice to paddle. That length coupled with the 30” width makes the Spark easy and fast to turn.

It is very responsive and takes little effort to move. The crossover design makes it versatile and ideal for beginners to advanced riders.

A smaller person will really appreciate the narrower outline as the paddler can hold the paddle closer to the board so there is less reach.

This ISUP is solid and very well made but still lightweight and easy to carry.

We didn’t have any trouble paddling this SUP in wind and although it takes a little more focus to keep balanced in waves, we found it still moved efficiently and is really a lot of fun.

The round upturned nose is excellent for plowing through chop and there is ample room to bring your dog along for the ride if you want to although we feel the Spark is much easier to paddle with a smaller dog as opposed to a large dog.

Video below.. Cruising around the ocean bay just outside of Vancouver, BC. Can you spot the seal?

IMPORTANT FEATURES

FRONT BUNGEES

The front bungees are in a good location as they are not in the way of your feet but still easy to reach from the middle of the board.

The bungee area is fairly large and can easily hold your PFD, dry bag, shoes, etc.

I always use the bungees on paddle boards and find them very useful.  They also keep your gear secure even in choppy water.

The bungees are attached to 4 stainless steel D-rings which can also be used to tie down a cooler or other supplies.

KICK TAIL

I love that the Spark includes a kick tail, it is a perfect feature for a board this size.

Being so responsive the Spark is really fun to play around with and practice pivot turns.

The kick tail, which is the raised back-end of the traction pad provides a little extra support and traction for your feet when pivoting the board.

I love that it was thought of and included.  If you want to have some fun and don’t mind the odd tumble in the water put it to good use!

CENTER & BACK HANDLES

The center handle is ideal for carrying the board. Being so light weight the Spark is easy for just about anyone to carry to and from the water.

The nylon center carry is strong and durable.

There is also a back grab handle. If you should fall in the water, the back handle allows you to grab the board quickly.

You can also use the back handle to hold on to while kicking your feet and swimming/pushing the board.

NEOPRENE HANDLE COVERS

There are removable padded neoprene covers on both the back and center handle.

These add a LOT of extra comfort when carrying the Spark. They are secured with Velcro and can also be used to secure your paddle when not in use.

3 REMOVABLE FINS

The Spark has three fins that are all removable.

The center 9” touring fin attaches to a universal US fin box and keeps the board tracking straight. It really helps with performance when paddling in open water and keeps the board steady in wind.

The two smaller side fins slide in and click into place. If you are paddling in shallow water you can use just these two fins.

For the best performance attach all three fins. They really help to stabilize the back end and keep the nose tracking straight.

FRONT & BACK D-RINGS

There is a stainless steel D-ring at the back of the board, which can be used to secure your leash.

The front D-ring is located underneath he tip of the nose and can be used for towing if needed.

REINFORCED SIDE RAILS

The reinforced side rails add a little extra durability that is especially useful when bumping up against docks, rocks or debris.

DURABILITY

The durability factor can vary with inflatable paddleboards depending on how they are constructed.

Hero SUP uses the latest ISUP technology with their boards making them very durable and strong.

Each board is made with double layer PVC laminated construction. This type of technology eliminates the use of toxic glue as well as eliminates hand-gluing errors that tend to be quite common with inflatable paddle boards.

Their Air Fusion construction creates a very rigid yet lightweight board.

We are finding that more and more ISUP companies are using this type of construction as it creates a stronger and more aesthetic looking inflatable SUP.

I have used the Spark often when paddling with my two little dogs and although this isn’t a large board there is plenty of room and the board is plenty durable.

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

We kind of love when a package comes fully loaded like this one. It provides everything you need to get on the water right away except your PFD (this is the one I use for SUP).

ROLLING BACKPACK

ISUP carry bags can differ dramatically and we love this one.

• It also has a little extra padding to protect your board.
• It has a heavy duty zipper that opens on three sides making it very easy to get your board in and out of the bag.
• It has two inner straps for securing the board when traveling.
• It has adjustable padded shoulder straps as well as a waist strap for added support when carrying on your back.
• There is a velcro’d back pocket where you can store all straps so they don’t get caught on anything while traveling (especially useful for checking on an airplane).
• It has three handles, one on top and one on each side as well as a bottom small plastic grab handle making it easy to lift in any situation.
• It has two durable wheels allowing you to pull it like a suitcase when traveling or even when just walking to and from the water.
• It has a clear plastic ID tag pocket at the top back of the bag so if lost it will hopefully find it’s way back to you.

Great bag, we couldn’t have been happier with it and it can hold the board and all accessories so everything gets neatly tucked away for easy storage.

3-PIECE FIBERGLASS PADLE

The 3-piece paddle easily stores in the backpack and is great for traveling.

This is a fiberglass paddle, which is a step up from the regular aluminum paddles offered with many packages.

It is a little bit lighter allowing you to paddle further with less strain and fatigue on your shoulder, arm and back muscles.

The paddle is adjustable from 67″ – 84″.

10’ COILED LEASH

A SUP leash is a must for safety so it’s nice that it is included. Attach the leash to your ankle or calf and the other end to the back D-ring on the board.

If you should fall in the water the leash makes sure that your board doesn’t get swept away from you.

10L DRY BAG

This is one of the only packages I know of that includes a dry bag.

The 10L dry bag is super handy, I use one all the time to store my important non-waterproof stuff when paddling.

This one has a shoulder strap for easy carrying so you can easily bring the dry bag along with you.

DUAL-ACTION HAND PUMP

With the dual action pump there are two settings that can be used for inflating your board.

Use the first double action setting to pump until the board takes shape. Then once it gets tough to pump push in the switch to to the single action setting, which will make it much easier to reach the 15 PSI mark.  You don’t need to go any higher than that.  At 15 PSI the board is very rigid.

PERFORMANCE

This is not a fast touring board, it is an all-around SUP that is particularly zippy for its size.

It glides nicely and is very responsive, I think in large part due to the 30″ width, narrower tail and 3 fin design.

In the video below I am paddling the Spark on calm water, you can get a feel for how nicely it glides.

A smaller person will appreciate the ease of use, it takes less effort to move and turn and less reach to paddle.

It’s great for sharing amongst family members as it’s easy for any person of any age to paddle.

The 6” thickness provides good stability and allows the board to hold quite a bit of weight.

The smaller size of this board will feel less stable in waves and chop, beginners will want to start on calm water.  However once you get used to it, it’s a lot of fun to ride!

SETUP

For setup take the board out of the bag, unroll and take the valve cap off.

Push the valve tip in and twist until it is in the ‘popped up’ position. Then attach the pump hose and inflate until it reaches 15 PSI.

All Hero SUP boards are able to hold up to 25 PSI but it really is not necessary to add that much air pressure.

At 15 PSI the board is rock solid and ready to go.

The double action pump works well and takes roughly 5- 8 minutes to inflate the Spark.  If you want to make things easier on yourself grab one of these electric pumps.  They aren’t necessarily that much faster than hand pumping but they save you a lot of work.

After inflating the board you can attach the three fins, secure your board leash and hit the water.

Tip: Keep all of the accessories in the included dry bag (so awesome) so you don’t lose anything.

It takes us roughly ten minutes to get fully setup and on the water from the time we arrive.

BOTTOM LINE

This is an awesome package that includes a very portable high-end board with fantastic accessories without having to pay the high-end price tag.

Love the look of the Spark and love how fun it is.  We feel you really can’t go wrong, especially with the great 2-year warranty.

MILITARY & FIRST RESPONDER DISCOUNT

Hero SUP offers one of the best Military and First Responder discounts in the industry. If you are a military member, police officer, firefighter, paramedic or EMT Click Here.

WHERE TO BUY

Live in the USA? – Find The Best Deal On The Hero SUP Spark At HeroSUP.com.

Live in Canada? – Find The Best Deal On The Hero SUP Spark At HeroSUP.ca.

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