Retrospec Weekender Inflatable SUP Review

Think you can’t get a good all-around inflatable paddle board for a really good price? Think again.

The Retrospect Weekender is the perfect beginner board for cruising on lakes, paddling down calm rivers and exploring coast lines. The best part? It is super affordable.

Although it can be used by riders of all skill levels it is truly a great starter board that will get you on the water in style without breaking the bank.

If you are new to paddle boarding you’ll appreciate the stable all-around shape with the round nose and square tail.

Even a seasoned paddler will enjoy the comfort and simplicity of the Weekender. I personally really appreciated the 32″ width as it provided a stable platform for paddling with my three little dogs on board.

WEEKENDER SIZE & WEIGHT

KEY POINTS

Here’s the important stuff to know about the Retrospec Weekender. Need more details? No problem, keep reading the full review below.

BEST DEAL FOR THE WEEKENDER

At the moment Retrospec has a fantastic sale on the Weekender inflatable paddle board.

Click here to check for the BEST deal + FREE shipping for the Weekender iSUP.

COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT

Weighing only 17.5 lbs. the Weekender is an ultra lightweight board, which makes it really easy to carry and transport.

Regardless of your size or fitness level you’ll find this inflatable SUP very easy to cart around and paddle. It doesn’t take much effort to propel through the water and with the 10’6″ length it is very easy to turn as well.

When deflated it rolls up into an extremely compact size of only 34″x12.4″x6″.

In fact it is more compact than many other iSUP’s I have tried and when stored in the included backpack it measures only 35″x17″x8″.

If you plan to travel with your board by airplane, boat or even by bus it fits in smaller spaces quite well.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO PADDLE?

This isn’t a large board but even so it feels quite stable and overall is really easy to paddle.

With it being so light it doesn’t take much effort to propel forward or turn. It may take a little more focus when paddling in choppy water until you get comfortable however cruising on calm water feels peaceful and relaxing.

It can hold up to 275 lbs. so it will suit a large variety of people and could even work great as a second board for friends and family to use.

With the light weight and smaller size the Weekender is also a good option for teens as well.

SMOOTH TEXTURED DECK PAD

The deck pad is a decent length and feels smooth and comfortable when standing or kneeling on the board.

I have learned to love the smooth deck pads as more iSUP companies are using them for their recreational boards.

The smooth deck pad doesn’t provide as much grip as other types of deck pads such as the diamond groove pads.

However for most basic recreational paddling the smooth textured deck pads are ideal and really provide some extra comfort.

This type of deck pad is also ideal for doing stretches or yoga on a paddleboard as well.

ATTACHMENT POINTS

It is worth noting that this is a basic board that covers all the main bases well but doesn’t provide extras. This is noticeable with the attachment points.

The Weekender has one stainless steel d-ring at the tail-end of the board that should be used to attach the leash. Then it has 6 d-rings used by the front nose bungees.

There are no extra D-rings on the side of the board for a seat attachment or other gear and no nose D-ring for towing.

However you could always use the handle as another attachment point if you really needed to.

Tip: If a seat attachment is really important to you there is always the option of gluing on extra side D-rings as well, which is quite simple to do.

OTHER SEAT ATTACHMENT OPTIONS

Although this base Weekender model does not have side attachment points for a seat, Retrospec does have other great iSUP options that do have seat attachment points.

Examples are the Weekender Plus, which is a slightly larger board that is more stable and can hold extra weight or the Weekender Tour, which is a little longer with a more tapered nose that is more efficient for longer outings.

Photo above from Retrospec.com – Weekender Plus Inflatable SUP Kayak Hybrid.

STORAGE BUNGEES

There is a large 6-point bungee section at the nose of the board. This can be used to safely hold a dry bag, water bottle or anything else you need to keep secure while paddleboarding.

There are no bungees at the tail end of this board.

WHAT’S IN THE PACKAGE?

I was not only satisfied with the Retrospec iSUP package but actually quite impressed with the quality accessories that are included.

The package includes everything you need except your life jacket.

Included in the Weekender Paddleboard package are:

3-REMOVABLE FINS

There is one large plastic touring fin as well as two smaller plastic side fins that can all be removed when the board is not in use.

Being able to remove the fins allows for a more compact package when the board is deflated and rolled up and keeps the fins from getting bent.

This board feels the most stable and handles best with all three fins attached.

However if you are paddling in really shallow water you can leave the large center fin off and use the two smaller side fins.

The fins slide into the fin boxes and clip into place. My fins were a little hard to get in the fin boxes the first couple times I used them but became easier with use.

3-PIECE PADDLE

The aluminum shaft paddle with fiberglass blade that comes in the package is a little heavier than I am used to but one thing I like about an aluminum paddle is it’s nearly indestructible.

The paddle weighs 1.87 lbs and is height adjustable from 63″-84″. The collapsed size is 32″ and when collapsed it fits nicely in the backpack.

BACKPACK

I was impressed with the smaller size of the backpack and noticed that with everything stored in the pack it is still a very compact size that is easy to carry.

The backpack has one main zipper and almost everything goes in this main compartment. There is also a smaller zippered compartment on the front of the bag that can be used to store the smaller accessories.

There are also two straps that allow you to tighten the package once everything is zipped in as well as two padded carry handles, one on the side and one on the top of the bag.

At the back you’ll find two adjustable padded shoulder straps as well as a chest strap and a waist belt for added support.

The nylon shell seems durable and the bottom venting outlet is a nice touch as it allows your board to breathe while stored in the bag.

There are no wheels on this backpack, which is to be expected for the price of the package however all in all it’s a great bag.

DUAL-ACTION HAND PUMP

The hand pump works great and I really like that it has both an inflate and deflate option. As with most inflatable SUP hand pumps it has two different modes, double action mode and single action mode.

Start with the little red plug inserted for double action mode, which allows for high-capacity inflation.

Once it gets too hard to keep pumping then take out the red plug for single action mode. This will make pumping easier and allow you to finish inflating your board.

The pump is able to inflate up to 25 PSI but you only need to inflate your board to 12-15 PSI for optimal rigidity.

You can watch the inflation progress as you pump on the easy-to-read pressure gauge so there is never any fear of over inflating your board.

You’ll be able to hand pump this paddleboard in less than 10 minutes easy. It took me 7.5 minutes to inflate with the dual action pump.

With my electric pump it took 7 minutes and 45 seconds to inflate. It wasn’t any faster but of course much easier as I didn’t have to put in the work.

The pump has an ergonomic handle and comes with a 50-inch hose and an H3 valve attachment.

10′ SUP Leash

The leash is 10′ long when stretched out and coils so that it doesn’t drag off the board.

The neoprene ankle cuff feels comfortable when attached and the coiled leash comes in fun colors that match the board you choose.

Wearing the leash is important as it keeps the board from being swept away if you fall in the water.

REPAIR KIT

The repair kit includes a valve wrench, which can be used to tighten the valve on the board if ever needed and a couple of PVC patches for repairs.

FAQ

WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEAL

If you live in the US the best deal plus FREE shipping can be found at Retrospec.com – Check out their best deal.

If you live in Canada you will need to go to Amazon.ca for the best price plus Prime free 2-day shipping.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you have experience with the Retrospec Weekender inflatable paddle board let us know what you think in the comments below, we’d love to hear your thoughts!