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Paddleboarding has been on my radar for quite a few years now! While I had rented one to go with my wife years ago, I haven’t had the chance to get one of my own to test out. Thankfully, earlier this year, ISLE was kind enough to let me borrow their all-new Pioneer 3 to check out (I sadly have to return it). I’m glad they did, as it made quite the impact on my summer, allowing me to have plenty more fun on the lake than I ever had with my big-box kayak.
After using this SUP quite a bit over this summer, it’s time to share everything I do like, I don’t like, and exactly who should be considering this stand-up paddle board. So, let’s get right into it!
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What is the ISLE Pioneer 3?
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- The carbon fiber paddle!
- Easy to deflate, and put back in the included bag
- It's quite large, with lots of area to be on
- Plenty of accessories came with it
- So much better than kayaking
- Pumping up with the hand pump can be a pain
- It's quite expensive
What do I like about the Pioneer 3?
1. The carbon fiber paddle!
Yes, I’m fully aware that I probably shouldn’t have the material of a stand-up paddle board’s paddle handle as the #1 thing that I like about it; however, I’m ridiculous, and that’s okay. I’m a huge fan of carbon fiber (probably because I like cars so much), so seeing carbon fiber being used somewhere that I wasn’t expecting is always a big deal.
Essentially, the entire handle and length of the paddle are built out of a carbon fiber weave on this paddle, which should both lower weight and make it less likely to crack or break over time. While ISLE likely didn’t have to do this to sell their SUP, it’s kind of a big deal and helps justify the price point.
2. Easy to deflate, and put back in the included bag
Have you ever gone kayaking with a solid kayak? It’s a pain and is also what I’m most used to in this water sports arena. Having the ability to deflate this paddle board in around a minute, easily roll it up, and then put it into its own included bag (and it has plenty of room in the bag; it’s not like trying to fit a tent into its bag), is an amazing feature.
The bag it came with not only can be carried like a normal bag, but it also has wheels to be wheeled along like a golf bag, and it has backpack straps, so you can wear it on your back like a massive backpack.
The ease of deflating and storing this stand-up paddle board has made it so incredibly easy to use this board that we finally are doing water sports again without driving ourselves crazy.
3. It’s quite large, with lots of area to be on
This ISLE Pioneer 3 is not the largest paddleboard by any means; however, at 10′ 6″ in length and 34″, it’s still quite large. This not only helps with stability but also gives you plenty of room to move around on the board (some people do Yoga on their paddleboards, and this would be a great candidate for that). The width is fantastic for people who like to sit down while paddling, as you do feel like you are completely on the board, and the length allows you to move forward or backward on the board to wherever you are most comfortable.
As they advertise, I have no doubt it would allow you to have your pet with you in front of you if you so choose, especially considering the whole top of the board is a hardened deck (still rollable though).
4. Plenty of accessories came with it
The Pioneer 3 that we received from the brand came with plenty of accessories! The base version of the Pioneer 3 comes with the stand-up paddle board, pack, carbon paddle, hand pump, fin, and leash. You can upgrade it with other accessories! Our version came with the Gateway Dry Bag, Remix Carbon Extra Paddle Blade, and the Cloud Kayak Seat.
That said, we haven’t found too many uses for the additional accessories (I’d like to use the seat if we are able to get out more this summer), and the accessories that came with the paddle board give you an awesome starting point for just about anyone.
5. So much better than kayaking
We’ve owned kayaks for years now; however, ever since I sold my pickup truck a couple of years ago, we just haven’t found a good solution for making the trip to the lake in our kayaks an easy endeavor (have you ever tried lifting kayaks to the top of a Chevy Tahoe?). However, with the SUP being in a rolling bag, we have found ourselves at the lake with it considerably more than our kayaks.
It’s not only its portability but also its enjoyment while using the stand-up paddle board. It’s easier to get into the water, easier to carry around, and you feel much more stable and in control of the paddle board than the kayak.
Another huge benefit here is that you can choose to stand up, kneel down, or sit down whenever you want, while a kayak requires you to sit only. Having that flexibility means you can enjoy it however you want, whenever you want.
What do I NOT like about this SUP?
1. Pumping up with the hand pump can be a pain
I’ve pumped up plenty of floaties in my life. However, a paddle board like this one is on a whole other level. While the initial pumping of the paddle board can be a bit tedious (because of how much air is needed to fill the large SUP), it’s not too bad overall. However, once you start building up pressure (you want to get up to 13 psi), it starts to be quite difficult. Pushing up and down the manual pump is strenuous, and I have to take a break quite a bit until I finally finish the job.
I would highly recommend getting the electric pump they offer (at the time of this writing, it looks like they threw it in), as you’ll be much happier in the long run. The manual pump is definitely something anyone can do, but you’ll be tired at the end unless I’m just very unfit. I wish I had the electric pump.
2. It’s quite expensive
There’s no way around it; this is an expensive paddleboard! When compared to other boards from big box retailers, this one is double or even triple the price of those other ones. While I haven’t tested out the lower-end ones from the big box retailers, we have friends who have them, and they have said ours is higher quality, and they lacked things like the bag (which is a huge selling point for me) and carbon fiber paddles.
Ultimately, from what I have found, you can get into a stand-up paddle board at a much lower price. However, you do seem to get what you pay for in the end, and you’ll just be spending quite a bit more on this to get there.
Who is it the ISLE Pioneer 3 for?
The ISLE Pioneer 3 is perfect for someone who has paddleboarded before. If you know that you enjoy standup paddleboarding, whether it be a quick rented paddleboard or have owned a lower-end version in the past, and are ready to take it to the next level, then this is an amazing choice. However, if you aren’t sure you like paddleboarding, I think the price point puts you at a bit of a risk in ownership.
This SUP is extremely capable, is built with some awesome materials, and can be easily switched between a seated kayak-like paddle board or a normal one in moments. I fully enjoyed every moment with it (other than pumping it up manually), and I think you would, too. Just don’t overextend yourself if you’ve never paddle-boarded before.
Where should you buy the paddle board?
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