Ready, aim, fire! – Hypr Hawaii Gun 10’6 x 27” x 135L review
Review & pics by Tez Plavenieks
Hypr Hawaii’s Gun range is arguably the stand up paddle board brands most versatile. Names mean nothing as these SUPs are perfectly happy on flat water, cruising, covering distance in touring mode, surfing small waves and (if you have the cojones and conditions) charging monster swells.
Aside from Hypr’s usual distinctive good looks and unique hullside chines the most striking feature of the 10’6 is it’s tail. I mean, just look at it! A back end that pointed will take someone’s eye out!
Jokes aside the pulled in extreme pintail rear does mean the further back riders stand (on the flat) means less stability. As such the paddling sweet spot is quite defined up front. The 10’6’s 27” width isn’t super narrow but bigger boned riders (or lesser skilled paddlers) may take a little while dialling into the board’s paddling capabilities. Tail shapes do affect the overall feel of boards as much as any other design trait. I’m 90kg, however, and have no trouble navigating flat to choppy water states. As long as skills are there other bigger boned paddlers will find the same.
Hypr’s 10’6 Gun isn’t just about back end sections though. It’s nose does an admirable job of piercing flotsam and driving forwards pretty efficiently. Whilst this isn’t a touring SUP as already mentioned paddlers could certainly use it as such. If there’re bumps along way you’d also be able to hitch a ride downwind SUP style, utilising the Gun’s wave sliding capabilities.
Unfortunately during testing I didn’t manage to throw Hypr’s 10’6 Gun at any kind of wave. Yet you can feel how it wants to react. Nimble rail to rail manouevreability and a ready to go impression leaves you salivating for some swell. And I’ve no doubt that if I was ever confronted by a wave of significance aboard the 10’6 Gun then it’d step up to the plate – whether I would or not is more the question!
CONCLUSION
Another fine example of beautiful aesthetics Hypr Hawaii’s Gun 10’6 is a pleasure to gaze on as well as paddle. Being versatile and fit for a wide range of SUP applications any paddler looking for a hard shell stand up paddle board for a wide range of scenarios would do well to check the Gun range out.
Price: £1599
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