If you read our other reviews, you know that we're a big fan of anything iRocker produces. This is because this company takes great pride in the product that they produce as well as maintains a strong relationship with the people that end up using them.
One of the biggest names in the game since the beginning is iRocker which eventually went on to form their Blackfin line of paddleboards. If you’re unfamiliar with Blackfin, you could think of it as the Lexus to a Toyota or the Acura to a Honda. You can count on the same dependability of the manufacturing and design but just about every feature is premium compared to its iRocker or counterparts.
If you’re familiar with the iRocker brand, you may know that the blackfin lineup is their premium version of many of the boards they normally offer— comparable to the relationship between Lexus and Toyota. But when it comes to the iRocker Blackfin V is really in a class of its own.
The most comparable iRocker model to this would be the sport, though it comes in at a full foot and a half shorter than the model V Anna little bit thinner. Still, these are both boards in the same general shape and for the same general purpose: speed. But what we see in the Model V is something that’s much more geared towards a serious paddleboarder that wants serious performance. read more
The iRocker Sport is certainly faster than its peers but still is able to used for as a general purpose board as well. Keep in mind that it’s not the most stable board out there and is not recommended for beginners until they’ve gained their footing on a more standard board. Perhaps the ideal user for this board would be someone who has some experience under their belt and wants to go to the next level or someone who wants to eventually transition into a true racing iSUP.
While not impossible, it can be difficult to find a decent iSUP for under $500. But if we’ve said it once, we said it a thousand times: paddleboarding shouldn’t be a sport just for people with money. We firmly believe that even if you need to save up a little bit, buying a quality iSUP shouldn’t send you to the poor house.
Whenever we review iRocker boards, we have to be careful not to be biased since they are easily one of the best iSUPS on the market, especially when you factor in price. As a touring iSUP, the Cruiser has just about everything we would want to see and more, with the 2020 version being the best yet.
iRocker’s new construction this year combines the best of both worlds by using a stronger drop stitch core while still having 3 layers of military grade PVC on the outside to protect the board. This creates a strong board that can withstand the elements while still finding a way to keep the weight down. This isn’t the lightest 11’ iSUP on the market but probably the strongest, pound for pound.
The fin setup here is one of our favorites in the industry. A 3-fin thruster setup with all 3 fins removeable is a rarity to be sure. Being able to remove all 3 fins makes life a lot easier, especially when it comes to setting up and packing the board away or even stacking multiple boards.
There is a huge number of add-ons that you can purchase to really get the most out of your SUP! We won’t get into too deep into this since we could be here all day, but these include anchors, fishing setups and even electric air pumps. Unique to the Blackfin boards are the option to attach a fishing rack or sand spear, making this an even more versatile board. As with the rest of the iRocker philosophy, they are all the accessories are high-quality yet super affordable.
Ford has Lincoln, Toyota has Lexus — so why shouldn’t iRocker have Blackfin? A step up from the standard iSUPs on the iRocker line, Blackfin boards have traditionally been the choice for the paddleboarder who’s looking for that extra something in their experience.
The Model XL comes equipped with 20 D-rings, which about 3 times more than you’d expect. While you can use these for even more equipment, they have a variety of purposes such as towing and docking or attachment points for the included ankle leash and additional equipment such as the available kayak conversion kit.