Thurso Surf Waterwalker Inflatable Paddle Board In-Depth Review

* Click here to read the updated 2020 Thurso Surf Waterwalker Review.

The 2019 Thurso Surf inflatable stand up paddle boards are now available and they have some really nice upgrades from the previous models.

The Waterwalker is their classic all-around board with a rounded nose and stable width that anyone can feel comfortable riding quickly.

This is the board you’ll want for cruising around on lakes, rivers or playing in light ocean surf.

It is ideal for beginner to novice paddlers and fun for anyone to use.

The Waterwalker has two size options:

Thurso Surf Waterwalker 126

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Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132

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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The difference between the two sizes besides the obvious color difference is that the larger board can hold more weight and offers more stability.

The 10’6” Waterwalker can hold up to 300 lbs. whereas the 11’ Waterwalker can hold up to 330 lbs.

I found both boards to be very stable. For my size I preferred the smaller 10’6″ x 31″ board. It takes less effort to paddle and turn.

However for paddling in wind and chop the larger 11’ board felt extremely stable and comfortable.

With that let’s dive into the details:

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

It’s worth mentioning that the Thurso Surf package is well protected with a heavy duty box and plastic wrappings to protect the board.

Once you take everything out of the box you will find:

• the backpack with wheels
• the board, rolled up and secured with a clip
• 3-piece carbon paddle – light weight feels great to use
• 10′ coiled board leash
• 3 clip in fins
• double action hand pump with pressure gauge
• repair kit that includes 2 PVC patches, glue and a valve tightener
• user guide

WHAT’S NEW

There are several upgraded new features to be aware of from the previous models. Here’s a list of all that’s new with the Waterwalker ISUP’s:

NEW DECK COLORS

The most obvious change is the colors on the board. They both still have the wood grain PVC material but the smaller one has turquoise/green details on the deck, sides and bottom of the board.

The larger Waterwalker has a darker wood grain material, grey accents on the side and white material on the back.

SIDE PADDLE HOLDER

The side paddle holders are one of my favourite upgrades. There are two velcro straps on one side of the board that can be used to secure your paddle.

Why is the paddle holder useful? I found it very useful for a few reasons:

• You can secure your paddle to the board when carrying it making it easier to carry everything at once.
• If you decide to jump off the board to swim or snorkel, you can secure your paddle ensuring it doesn’t fall off.
• If you use the boards for SUP yoga or stretching, securing the paddle on the side keeps it out of your way but safe.

EXTRA BUNGEES

This years models have extra bungee space up front on the nose of the board and also a small bungee area on the back of the board.

So there is lots of cargo area to secure your gear. Whether or not you need this much bungee cord is debatable. However it’s there if you need it.

The extra bungee space is handy if you are into fishing, photography or camping with your paddle board and need to secure a lot of gear.

For myself I normally just have a dry bag, a water bottle and my sandals secured under the bungees and along for the ride.

HEAVIER WEIGHT

The Thurso Surf boards are built strong but the consequence of the double layer PVC coated Tarpaulin construction is the heavier weight.

The 2019 models are a couple pounds heavier than the previous models. I definitely noticed the heavier weight and found them not as easy to carry longer distances, especially with the larger board.

However going from the beach to the water is no problem!

MORE CARRY HANDLES

Besides the center carry handle, there is also a handle at the nose of the board and at the back tail of the board.

These handles can be used to grab from the water, pull into shore or for two people to carry.

MORE D-RINGS

There are two stainless steel D-rings on each side of the board next to the center traction pad. These D-rings are handy for securing a seat or possibly more gear.

There are also 6 D-rings being used by the front bungee cords and 4 D-rings being used by the back bungees as well as the back tail D-ring for securing the leash.

BACKPACK WITH WHEELS, LARGE FRONT POCKET & SIDE PADDLE HOLDERS

The Thurso Surf backpack is a good one. It is large, zips open on three sides, is easy to get the board and accessories in and out of and has integrated wheels so you can easily roll it to your destination.

The only thing I didn’t like about the bag is that the shoulder straps and waist straps couldn’t be tucked out of the away when not in use, such as during airplane travel.

Other than that, the bag is fantastic.  It has lots of durable carry handles, wheels for easy pulling (which you’ll want to use as the package is heavy to carry on your back), side mesh paddle holders and a decent amount of extra storage space.

OPTIONAL ACESSORIES

A couple great optional accessories to consider adding to your package is the Thurso Surf Electric pump and the SUP/Kayak Seat.

ELECTRIC PUMP

The electric pump is one of the few SUP pumps out there that plugs into the cigarette lighter of your vehicle.

In my experience the cigarette lighter pumps are usually very slow however I was pleasantly surprised by how well this one worked.

It took me just over 6 minutes to inflate the 10’6″ Waterwalker with this pump and allowed me to save my energy for the water. 🙂

SEAT

The kayak seat is very comfortable and attaches to the side D-rings on the board.

The seat is great for those who might like to take a break from standing and paddle the board kayak-style.

It is also ideal to use for paddling with a child and easy enough to stand and paddle behind the seat.

PERFORMANCE

With the rounded nose and slightly tapered tail, the Waterwalker boards easily plow through chop, cruise nicely on calm water and feels stable enough on wake.

They are not particularly fast but they are versatile, easy to turn and maneuver and ideal for paddling with kids or dogs.

The three removable fins lets you customize the ride for the type of water you are paddling in. I found the tracking greatly improved with the fins attached.

To go faster with less drag you can secure the center fin but leave off the side fins. For more versatility and easy turning clip in all three fins.

We loaded the boards up with well over 250 lbs. and they still handled well, took a little more effort to paddle but stayed steady and strong.

We took it out on lakes, river and ocean and felt comfortable on all water.

SETUP

The Waterwalker package comes with a high-pressure dual action hand pump with pressure gauge.

It took me 7 minutes to inflate the 10’6” Waterwalker with the hand pump. The pump works well. Your inflation time might be faster or slower depending on your rate of pumping.

Once the board is inflated you can quickly and easily clip in the 3 fins then secure your leash to the back D-ring.

The whole setup process takes about 10 minutes.

After use dry off completely, unclip the fins, deflate then roll it back up into the carry bag.

SUMMARY

Theres no doubt this board is a nice ride. Easy, stable, comfortable and decked out with a ton of great features.

As long as you don’t mind the heavier weight, there is a lot to love about the Waterwalker stand up paddle boards.

They look great, feel great, are made strong and come with a complete water-ready package.

With the two size options you can get the one that suits your height and weight best.

The smaller 10’6″ long x 31″ wide Waterwalker is slightly less stable yet more responsive.  Although it can hold a lot of weight we found it best suited for those who weigh under 200 lbs.

The larger 11′ long x 32″ wide Waterwalker is more stable yet takes more effort to paddle and turn.

It is best suited for a larger person or for those who want the security of more stability.  The added length and width is also ideal for paddling with dogs or kids.

WARRANTY

All Thurso Surf stand up paddle boards come with a full 2-year warranty. If you have any issues within 24 months of the date of purchase you can return your board for a full refund.

WHERE TO BUY

Live in the US? – You can find the best deal in the US for the Waterwalker at ThursoSurf.com.

 

Live in Canada? – You can find the best deal in Canada for the Waterwalker at ThursoSurf.com/ca.

 

FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? READ ON!

Hopefully you found this review helpful. At the end of the day, I’m a paddle boarder just like you looking for the most detail possible on a new purchase – so my review is written from the perspective of how I used the board and accessories.

The reviews are definitely a labor of love and generally take a fair bit of work and a lot of hours to put together.

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Thanks for reading! If you’ve got any questions feel free to drop them below. I’ll be happy to try and answer them as quickly as possible.