Table of Contents
Specification
SereneLife SUP
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10’ | 30" | 6” | 19 Lbs | 275 Lbs |
Accessories: Backpack, 3-piece aluminum paddle, hand pump, repair kit, ankle leash
iRocker Nautical
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10'6" | 32" | 6" | 20 lbs | 240 lbs |
Accessories: Backpack, 3-piece fiberglass paddle, hand pump, ankle leash
Design
Both models are rather bare bones in this category. This is because the more options you have for colors and designs, the more each board will cost to make. And obviously for a budget board, low production costs are the name of the game.
With that being said, you can see some important differences in the two right off the bat. For instance, the Nautical has a deck pad that covers over 2/3 of the deck while the SereneLife only covers about 50% in the center. Also, the Nautical has three handles — a center, front and rear handle — which makes carrying the board in and out of the water a breeze as well as allowing you to drag the board in the beach without damaging the fins. The SereneLife board only has the center handle, which, in their defense, is standard practice in the industry.
Both boards have D-rings along the side as well as bungee areas up toward the nose of the boards. These are used both for storage as well as attachments for gear or kayak seat. It should come as no surprise at this point that the Nautical has more D-rings and a larger storage area.
The Winner: Nautical
If you just take a glance at both boards side by side, you can see a notable difference. In both appearance and features, there really isn’t much of a comparison.
Construction
Again, as budget boards, the manufacturer is obviously going to look for ways to cut corners to save money. The Nautical uses a dual-layer PVC construction that is pretty common for lower and mid-tier boards. It works by essentially reinforcing the center of the board while keeping weight and materials to a minimum, compared to the 3 or 4-layer boards on the higher end.
SereneLife really surprised us here. They come in using a single-layer construction. Honestly, this is the first time we’ve ever reviewed a board with a single layer of PVC. While they make claims about how that single layer is actually just as good as having a dual-layer, it’s not. At that point, you’re in the water on a pool toy.
The Winner: Nautical
Honestly, we were shocked to find out the SereneLife is made with single-layer PVC. We wouldn’t feel very comfortable riding that out on open water or any water that might have any rocks or other hazards.
Accessories
In this category, both boards are somewhat similar. Both of them come with a paddle, air pump, backpack and ankle leash. The reason this is a big plus for both these boards is that a lot of boards under $500 don’t include everything you need to start right out of the box. Even if they only include the most basic of accessories, at least they’re still included.
Beyond the above-mentioned accessories, there are some significant differences in this area, as well. For instance, the SereneLife includes an aluminum paddle while the Nautical includes a fiberglass paddle. While not a huge difference, fiberglass paddles are lighter yet stronger than aluminum. The SereneLife does include a repair kit, but that’s most likely a result of having a weaker construction.
The Winner: Nautical
At this point in the comparison, it’s becoming abundantly clear which company is more concerned about quality. These accessories say a lot about how much care each company put into their overall products.
Performance
So, we’re finally here. Perhaps the most important factor of all is how they handle in the water. With all the abuse we’ve put the SereneLife board through, they actually did a decent job here. Being a little bit lighter weight and being thinner made the board easier to maneuverer than its competition. However, as far as speed, tracking and stability, the Nautical seems to have the edge.
The Winner: Nautical
In all fairness, this one was closer than the other categories. Although the SereneLife didn’t win here, we’ve certainly ridden worse iSUPs in our day.
The Bottom Line
Usually, our comparisons aren’t so one-sided, so why did we choose to put these two head to head? Frankly, because of price — there’s usually only a difference of between $50-100 between the two depending on sales. But here we can see how much a difference of $50 can make when you’re dealing with iSUPs in this price range.
SereneLife is a brand that manufactures low-priced outdoor and fitness equipment for a variety of applications, but if they put the same care into their other products as this board, we would rather stay away. This was some of the cheapest construction we’ve ever seen in all the reviews we’ve done. While it performed fine for a board of its dimensions, we have serious doubts about how long it will last.
Since the Nautical is made by iRocker, it’s no surprise that it came out so well. They’re one of our favorite brands on the market and have never been disappointed with what they put out. The Nautical is new to their 2020 lineup as an option for those who want a quality board at a reasonable price.
Overall, remember that a value is better than a better price. Even though it’s a little bit more expensive, you can’t compare the value of the Nautical over the SereneLife SUP.
