Are you a casual paddler who can't quite decide between a portable kayak and an inflatable stand-up paddleboard (SUP)? Well, then the Isle Switch might have hit your radar. This SUP kayak hybrid model is shockingly light and it attempts to marry the key attributes of both crafts so that you can mix up your workout and add a little spice to those laid-back paddle sessions. The Switch gave me a great excuse to get the whole family out for a winding river adventure. My wife, my daughter, and I shared two of these boards, constantly switching up the orientations for the full “paddlekak” experience. Here are my main takeaways.
ABOUT THE ISLE SWITCH SUP KAYAK
PRICE: $995 (USD)
LENGTH: 11′ 6″
WIDTH: 35″
WEIGHT: 19 LBS (8.5 KG)
CAPACITY: 425 LBS (193 KG)
The Switch comes with a two-way, high-capacity hand pump with a gauge. It has a premium travel backpack, an 8-foot ankle/calf coil leash, a repair kit, a dry bag, and a four-piece adjustable kayak/SUP paddle, a removable 9-inch fin, an inflatable seat, and an inflatable foot brace. On the top of the board, there is a full-coverage traction pad and bungee systems on the front and back.
These include tension locks for repositioning or removing the bungees altogether. The Switch features 2 new exclusive Isle innovations. Air-Tech Fusion Lite technology, which allows for a drop-stitch construction that is 25% lighter, and the ISLE-Link connection system, which is a series of webbing loops along the length of the board for almost limitless customization.
Is the Isle Switch paddleboard stable?
Absolutely. This thing is rock solid. At one point all three of us were all on the same board and it still felt sturdy. Stability is one of the main things the Switch was designed for. It's wide (35 inches) and it's flat. That makes for a trustee base. With that said, this is still a stand-up paddleboard at its core, and so you will get a little stabilizing workout while standing.
Is the Isle Switch kayak comfortable?
Ultra-comfortable! This hybrid board has a lot going for it. For starters, since it's so wide, you can sit in any position, lay down, or stand up. You're never stuck in place and so those aches don't develop like they sometimes can over the course of the day. The inflatable seat allowed us to tailor the cushioning how we liked. We started with it fully pumped and then strategically let a bit of air out until it found that perfect butt-hugging contour. The seat also gets your hips above your heels, which is inherently a more comfortable position for paddling. Having so many attachment points also gives a massive range for positioning the seat and the foot brace. This is sometimes a limiting factor for taller folks, but there's no concern about sizing when it comes to the Switch.
How good are Isle paddle boards?
In terms of paddling performance, I was pleasantly surprised by the Isle Switch. Because it has that wide, stable platform, and a flat hull, I wasn't expecting much in terms of speed. Now, the Switch still isn't for winning races, but it had a bit of zip to it, and with the help of that large, removable fin, it tracked quite well. Actually, while moving forward with that fin engaged, the Switch was a little slower to turn. But when I was stationary, I could turn a lot more easily. So this board has a dynamic feel to it.
Does the Isle Switch SUP have good features?
The ISLE-Link connection system is a beauty. You can easily move (or remove) the seat and foot brace, as well as the bungees on the front and back. Throughout our 7-hour family adventure, we had so many different configurations going. Sometimes the seat was in the front, sometimes it was in the back; sometimes it was facing forwards, sometimes my daughter had it facing backwards so that she could taunt me while I paddled. And as I said, there was even a time when all three of us were on the same board. No matter what the moment called for, the Switch was instantly customizable. The only thing to note is that the Switch comes with one seat and one foot brace, but you can buy an extra set on Isle's website if you'd like to turn this thing into a tandem kayak.
I was also happy to see that the Switch package came with a pretty decent paddle. While in kayak-mode, the paddle is a basic 3-piece unit, and then when you want to jump into SUP-mode, there's another shaft that pops in in place of one of the blades. There's even a slick little paddle holder on the side of the board to hold those extra pieces in place while not in use.
Is the Isle Switch SUP worth the price?
At $995 (USD), the Switch is priced a little higher than a typical inflatable SUP. But, you are paying a premium for something that is well-made and has thoughtful features. I had a blast on this thing and got a kick out of seeing how many experiences you can have within a single adventure. I'm used to testing different boats on different days, but this was an opportunity to dip in and out of distinct modes whenever I pleased. This turned out to be a premium SUP/kayak hybrid and in my opinion, it is worth the premium price point.
Who is the Isle Switch for?
The Isle Switch SUP, kayak, hybrid-craft, paddlekak…whatever you want to call it, is great for people (and evidently for families) who don't want to pick just one type of paddling experience. If you've been humming and hawing about whether to buy a recreational kayak or a paddleboard, this will be your sweet spot selection. This is also a great choice for anyone short on space, or who wants something super easy to transport to the water. The Switch is packable and feather-light.
There's nothing like a 7-hour family river run to shine a positive light on a great craft. I'm a huge fan of the Isle Switch and so I hope this review leaves you with some valuable feedback. For more reviews, paddling tips, and Paddle Tales adventures, check out PaddleTV.
