The very first thing I observed 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 buddy of mine quipped, “That paddleboard has a draft.”
That deep fin makes the Lowrider observe straighter, which suggests 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, nonetheless, is able to such feats. I didn’t have time to truly do a visit, however I did load it up and paddle round. As you would possibly count on, it was heavy, sat decrease within the water, and was gradual to show, but it surely wasn’t that dangerous, particularly in case you put the seat on so you may change backwards and forwards between standing and sitting. It is in all probability exterior most individuals’s use instances, however in case 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 Greater
Talking of the seats, they’re fairly snug and secure. They are often hooked up 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 means that you can regulate 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 case you’re a seasoned kayaker: You are a lot larger on the water than you’ll be in a kayak. You are not going to wish to paddle something technical, but it surely’s nonetheless a secure, snug expertise, and the board is lots maneuverable. Cruising flat water, it was surprisingly quick and agile (for one thing this dimension), and the Lowrider did not blink even once 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 whenever you aren’t going to be standing up, you may nonetheless get out on the water.
