The very first thing I seen when taking the Lowrider out of the storage bag (which is far nicer than Bote’s older luggage, extra on that under) was the huge rear fin. It is for much longer than the removable fin on the Breeze Aero, and by far the deepest fin I’ve seen on a paddleboard. A sailor good friend of mine quipped, “That paddleboard has a draft.”
That deep fin makes the Lowrider monitor straighter, which implies you are not continuously veering and correcting course as you paddle. Relative to the Breeze Aero and different boards I’ve used, there may be far much less side-to-side motion when paddling. The bigger floor space of the fin additionally makes the board a bit extra secure in tough water, particularly when mixed with the width of this board.
I’ve lengthy wished to do some multiday paddleboarding journeys, and I’ve gone as far as to load up about three-quarters of my gear, solely to determine it simply wasn’t going to work. The Lowrider, nevertheless, is able to such feats. I didn’t have time to really do a visit, however I did load it up and paddle round. As you would possibly anticipate, it was heavy, sat decrease within the water, and was sluggish to show, however it wasn’t that unhealthy, particularly in the event you put the seat on so you may change backwards and forwards between standing and sitting. It is in all probability outdoors most individuals’s use circumstances, however in the event you’re a weirdo like me, know that that is in all probability your greatest wager for paddlepacking.
{Photograph}: Scott Gilbertson
The Lowrider Is a Little Larger
Talking of the seats, they’re fairly comfy and secure. They are often connected in a wide range of methods. There are three tie-down factors on all sides of the board, and the seats themselves have a strap that permits you to modify the quantity you are mendacity again. They by no means get fairly as upright as you would be in a kayak, however I paddled a number of miles and had no again pressure or different ache.
One factor to remember in the event you’re a seasoned kayaker: You are a lot increased on the water than you’ll be in a kayak. You are not going to wish to paddle something technical, however it’s nonetheless a secure, comfy expertise, and the board is a lot maneuverable. Cruising flat water, it was surprisingly quick and agile (for one thing this dimension), and the Lowrider did not blink even after I took it out in a 15-knot wind with fairly good chop. To my thoughts this is without doubt one of the greatest causes to get a hybrid. On these tough days once you aren’t going to be standing up, you may nonetheless get out on the water.
