Summary
The Stubby Air Premium from Fanatic is big performance wrapped in a small package. This beautifully designed compact iSUP board is the perfect traveling companion for the nomadic watersport enthusiast. From beginners to advanced riders, the Stubby Air Premium is an easy to ride inflatable SUP that tracks and performs like a traditional surfboard.
Overall
4.2Pros
- Easy to setup and use.
- Compact for storage and transportation.
- Lightweight and durable construction.
- Handles surf incredibly well.
- Stylish graphics and color scheme.
- Ultra stiff and rigid board.
- Suitable for a wide range of skill levels.
- Includes travel backpack and pump.
- Carrying handle and D-rings for transporting your board.
- Comfortable deck pad.
- Mast foot insert for windsurfing.
- Kick tail on deck pad for surfing.
Cons
- Lack of included accessories.
- Missing bungee storage system.
Table of Contents
Why Fanatic Stubby Air Premium?
Fanatic is owned and operated by a team of riders whose only dream is to create the perfect board and to give everyone the chance to get out on the water. With over three decades of experience, unwavering dedication and incomparable customer service
Fanatic has created some of the best products not only for themselves but for their fellow riders. Fanatic is ‘addicted to ride’ and wants to share that passion with the world by way of their innovative and functional products.
The Board
The overall look of the Stubby Air Premium is quite impressive. The board inflates in a matter of minutes to just 8 feet 6 inches making it one of the shortest iSUPs available. Being vertically challenged not only grants the Stubby its name, but also makes it desirable candidate for paddlers looking to take their passion out on the road. Don’t let the compact size of the Stubby Air fool you, thanks to its high tech construction this board is just as durable as its competitors and has a weight capacity of up to 200 pounds.
While it is not suitable for bigger riders, it is the perfect beginner to intermediate board or for getting the little ones started on paddling early. The board’s parallel rail and double diamond tail provide extra rigidity for testing out new tricks and kicks. A thruster fin is used to give you more power to take on small waves and choppy water. A removable center fin and PVC side fins add no extra weight to this 19 pound inflatable board, making it easy to pack up and put away until your next ride.
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8’6” | 29.5” | 4.5” | 19 lbs | 200 lbs |
Fin configuration: 1 US box fin and 2 PVC side fins
Design, Construction and Features
Fanatic uses a unique double layer light technology that produces some of the lightest and toughest boards available. This inflatable SUP features a volume drop stitch core; a waterproof Tarpaulin layer is then added followed by a lighter waterproof Tarpaulin layer. These three base layers are all welded directly onto each other increasing rigidity while reducing the overall weight of the board. The rail of the Stubby is reinforced with not one, not two, but three layers of PVC for the ultimate stiffness that leaves no room for bending or bowing.
The top deck is covered in a super soft and comfortable diamond grooved traction pad for a confidence inspiring grip under your feet. The deck pad also features a kick tail for more control while surfing. The tail of the board holds the air inflation valve and eyelets for towing your board and attaching a safety leash. For easy transportation there is a soft carrying handle located in the middle of the board. As a bonus there is a Mast foot insert in case you wanted to give windsurfing a try. On the underside we find two fixed PVS side fins and a US fin box for the removable center fin. The whole package is wrapped in an eye-pleasing graphics package featuring the Fanatic logo stamped on the rail, bold stripes across the deck pad and deep red hues reminiscent of wood grain.
Included Accessories
Fanatic provides a basic accessory package to get you out on the water. Included with your purchase of the Stubby Air Premium is a top quality Travel Backpack roomy enough for your board, Fins and any additional accessories like a travel paddle. The backpack itself is just as stylish on the board for maintaining that sleek appearance in and out of the water. Also included is a Fanatic Power Pump HP2 for getting your board to the optimal PSI in a matter of minutes. And for that signature Fanatic streamlined look, the pump, the board and the travel backpack are all color coordinated.
Taking it for a Spin
The Stubby is a snappy compact board that feels like a surfboard on the water. The kick tail gives extra support for handling waves and choppy water. The tri-fin configuration provides smooth tracking for straight line touring but we prefer this board for more active paddling days. Its width and length make the Stubby a good board for quick and sharp movements rather than slow and steady cruising. The board feels rigid and stable as well as comfortable under your feet thanks to its EVA foam traction pad. The carefully chosen and placed colors on this board also keep it from getting too hot under your feet. We like that you can get plenty of use out of this versatile board with or without a paddle.
Likes and Dislikes
As much as we would like to see the perfect board, perfection is subjective. We love almost everything about the Stubby Air Premium except for a few minor details. We would have loved to see a bungee storage area for bringing along gear, but honestly if you’re surfing on the Stubby you don’t really need to bring anything with you. So that leaves us with our second and final complaint, we would have liked to have seen a safety leash included with the board, there would be nothing worse than your new board getting swept away from you because of not wearing a leash.
Get Your Hands on One
Do you love the Stubby Air Premium already? If you are looking into getting your very own Fanatic inflatable SUP there are a few options available, you can order Fanatic boards from a number of places online or find an authorized dealer from the list provided on their website.
Last Words
So, what do we think? Well if looks could kill we would have died already. The gorgeous and stylish graphics are enough to get us to click ‘buy now’ without considering its performance. The Stubby Air is a high-performing compact inflatable that would make the perfect travel companion for paddling enthusiasts.
