Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120 Inflatable SUP In-Depth Review

I’m loving reviewing these smaller boards lately. The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120 is very responsive, takes very little effort to paddle and is an all around super fun board.

With the shorter length and leaner width it is best suited for a smaller person. However it is capable of holding up to 260 lbs. so if you have the skill it will support you.

I found the Waterwalker 120 to be particularly fun to play around with on calm water. When dealing with wake from boats and waves I definitely noticed less stability, which is to be expected from a board this size.

A smaller person will appreciate the 30” width, which requires less reach when paddling and the fact that it takes less effort to move the board through the water and turn.

Although the WW120 is a very portable ISUP, it is not that light. Weighing 24 lbs. it is similar in weight to much larger paddle boards.

However with the rolling backpack you can pull it to your destination easily and pump it up at the water.

SPECS

Wordpress Table Plugin

5 KEY STRONG POINTS

• Takes little effort to paddle.
• Has some great noteworthy extra features.
• Responsive and quick to turn.
• Comes with great package that includes all accessories.
• Durable construction.

VIDEO

MOST IDEAL FOR

So who is this board best suited for?

In my opinion the Waterwalker 120 is best suited for beginner to intermediate paddlers who weigh less than 150 lbs.

Based on my size – height 5’8” & weight approx. 130 lbs., I found it easy enough to paddle on calm water but felt less stable in waves and chop.

My boyfriend had no trouble paddling around on the lake – his size 5’10” tall & weight 195 lbs. However he felt it definitely wouldn’t be his board of choice and much prefers a larger model.

It is perfect for sharing with the kids and ideal for teens. If you have the skill it is a lot of fun to play around with in waves because it is responsive and agile.

If you are a beginner you will want to stick to calm water with a board this size.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

DELUXE ROLLING BACKPACK

The backpack is a good one. It has two wheels that make it easy to roll the board to your destination and it work great for travel.

The bag is large enough to fit the board and all accessories and made very durable.

It zips open on three sides making it easy to take the board out of the bag and put it back in after use.

The large front zippered pocket is ideal for storing the leash and fins.

There are grab handles on both sides as well as on top of the bag making it easy to lift in different situations.

The mesh side pocket and cinch clips can be used to store the paddle or the 3-piece paddle also fits inside the bag.

The padded shoulder straps can be adjusted for your size and the waist and chest clips help with added support.

I don’t find it that comfortable to carry too long of a distance and much prefer pulling the bag with the wheels. However it is fully decked out for any type of transport.

All in all it’s a great backpack storage bag!

3 QUICK LOCK REMOVABLE FINS

There is one large centre touring fin and two removable side fins.

All three fins are removable and easily clip into the fin boxes for quick assembly.

I prefer the performance of this paddle board with all three fins attached. The tri-fin design helps to keep the back end stable and the board easy to turn.

3-PIECE CARBON FIBER SHAFT PADDLE

Thurso Surf is one of the few companies to include a carbon fibre shaft paddle in their package.

It comes apart into 3-pieces and can be adjusted in length from 71” to 87”. The paddle has a double lock system making it rigid and strong in most conditions.

DUAL ACTION HAND PUMP

The hand pump works well and has both a deflate and inflate function.

Use the OUT port for inflation and the IN port for deflation.

The gauge on the pump can read up to 29 PSI but you will only ever need to inflate your board up to 15 PSI.

It took me 6 minutes and 24 seconds to inflate the Waterwalker 120 up to 15 PSI with this hand pump.

10′ COILED LEASH

The 10′ coiled SUP leash secures to the back D-ring on your board and to your ankle.

Use the leash to keep your board from being swept away if you fall in the water.

REPAIR KIT

All inflatable stand up paddle boards come with a repair kit.

The Thurso Surf repair kit includes glue, a couple PVC patches, a valve tightener, a brush for the glue and a couple extra clips for the paddle.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

FRONT & BACK DECK BUNGEES

The front bungee section is quite large and basically takes up the whole nose of the board.

You can fit quite a bit under that bungee section. Be aware however that gear stored right at the nose of the board is likely to get wet so keep your important stuff secure in a dry bag.

In the picture below I have my lifejacket, the Thurso Surf cooler bag and my flip flops safely secured under the bungees.

The back bungee section is much smaller but great for securing a water bottle or another dry bag.

CENTER CARRY HANLDE + FRONT & BACK GRAB HANDLES

The centre carry handle is made of durable nylon and it has a little padding on the back to make it more comfortable to carry the board.

The front and back grab handles can be used to grab the board when in the water or when pulling the board into shore.

15 D-RINGS

The are multiple stainless steel D-rings on the Waterwalker.

6 are being used up front by the large bungee section. 4 are used at the back for the smaller bungee section.

There are two on either side of the board near the centre that can be used to attach a seat if you’d like to paddle your SUP kayak-style.

Plus there is one at the back tail for securing your board leash.

SIDE PADDLE HOLDER

Unique to the Thurso Surf boards is the side paddle holder. The two velcro straps will secure your paddle when not in use.

These can be handy if you are hanging out on the water, doing some yoga or any activity where you would like the paddle to be out of your way yet secure so you don’t lose it.

I didn’t find that I used the side paddle holder much on this particular board but it is an awesome feature that is nice to have all the same.

SMOOTH LINED TRACION PAD

The smooth lines on the traction pad are comfortable for standing or kneeling and provide decent grip when paddling.

PERFORMANCE

This is an all-around ISUP meant for cruising around on lakes, rivers and ocean bays. It isn’t a fast board but I found that because it takes so little effort to propel forward it does feel kind of ‘zippy’ all the same.

It is really easy to turn and consequently quick to respond in different situations.

A larger person will definitely feel less stable on the Waterwalker 120 whereas a person with a smaller frame will appreciate the shorter length and leaner width.

The 6” thickness definitely helps with some stability as well.

Overall it is a lot of fun to paddle. It’s not a super performer but easy and quick to maneuver, great for tackling some light waves and having a fun day on the water.

PADDLING WITH DOGS

This would’t be my first choice of boards for paddling with dogs but if you have a little experience it is certainly doable.

I took my two little pups out with me on the WW120 and we all enjoyed the ride. I found I had to focus just a little more than usual with two dogs (even small ones) on this SUP but got used to the feeling quickly.

The front bungee section is quite large and definitely gets in the way of a dog sitting up front. Mine don’t really care about that, they’ll sit on anything but there isn’t a lot of ‘free’ space up front.

I wouldn’t recommend this board for paddling with a larger dog though unless you’re really up for the challenge. 🙂

The larger 10’6″ or 11′ Waterwalker will support the weight better provide more stability.

CONSTRUCTION

All Thurso Surf inflatable paddle boards are constructed with double layer PVC construction with triple/quad military grade PVC coatings on the deck and side.

The downside to this type of construction is that their boards tend to be heavier than many others on the market.

However the upside is that they are very durable and strong and I have never had any issues with any of the Thurso Surf paddle boards.

SETUP

Setup took me under 10 minutes every time I took this board out.

It takes just a minute to take everything out of the bag.

It took me 6 minutes and 24 seconds to fully inflate the board to 15 PSI using the hand pump.

It takes only a minute to attach the fins and secure the leash to the back D-ring.

Then clip the paddle together, adjust it to the right height for your size and pack away the bag and pump.

It’s a very quick process!

WARRANTY

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120 comes with a 2-year warranty that includes everything outside of normal wear and tear.

SUMMARY

The Waterwalker 120 is a fun little board, well made and durable. It is most ideal for a smaller framed person but is capable of holding up to 260 lbs.

This is a nicely designed inflatable SUP that comes with a great package. All in all a super deal!

WHERE TO BUY

Live in the US? Click Here For The Best Deal On The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120 At ThursoSurf.com.

Live in Canada? Click Here For The Best Deal On The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120 At ThursoSurf.com/ca.

Did You Know?
By clicking on any of the above seller links you can help keep ISUPworld.com growing. When you make a purchase after clicking on our links, the retailer will contribute a portion of the sale to help support this site. It won’t cost you anything extra and it’s a simple way to help us fund our paddle board reviews. Thanks!