Hitting the spot – Jobe Aero 12.6ft iSUP review
Review by Anne Egan
Lightweight (9.7kg) and stylish, especially for an inflatable, sporting black and white lines, the Jobe 12.6ft Aero Race SUP was a definite hit with me. Only tested on calm river waters of the Great Ouse, the Aero was delightfully easy to transport, to use and to pack away. It comes as a bundle with single chamber high pressure pump, three part paddle, carry bag/backpack, fin and leash.
Inflating was easy but once the board begins to fill, as with all inflatables, the pumping effort required to bring it to the correct pressure increases – suffice to say, do that five times a day and no more bingo wings for us ladies. A little sexist maybe, but if you find a handy man passing, asking him to finish the job is a shrewd idea.
Easy to carry, in part due to the very comfortable padded handle grip. The Jobe Aero is easy to cart to the put in – other female users particularly liked this feature. It’s light and easy to lift onto roof bars ready to head off to the water.
Supplied with one central fin secured with a small screw, it tracks very easily and is very comfortable underfoot due to the paddled footplate. Stability is great especially for beginners or more nervous paddlers. The height of the board at six inches adds to the sense of security. Possessions can be safely tucked away under the very accessible bungee towards the front of the board.
The shaping at the bow and uplift of the nose ensures the board is quite nippy for an inflatable and very enjoyable to paddle. Deflation is a doddle and the board rolls up neatly and fits into the carry bag, designed to be used as a backpack. Most guys and many fit female paddlers would find they could carry the bag a reasonable distance. For me the best aspect of the bag was the storage solution – so simple and neat.
CONCLUSION
Suitable for a wide range of paddlers including heavier SUPers, at 31” wide, the Jobe Aero 12.6ft package is good value for those wanting to develop their skills and maybe have a dabble on the race scene. Tried by two females and one male – a winner with all of us. Sad to give it back!
Further info: www.jobewatersports.com
Price: £839.95 inc. paddle
Leave a Reply