Review
25/11/2021
(5.00)
We are experienced SUPers who bought a pair of Agenda Island Hoppers two years ago to travel with. This is a genuine letter of appreciation for a product that has given me so much pleasure.
After a couple of outings on the Waitemata, our first trip with our Island Hoppers was to Niue Island where we used them to access snorkelling spots unreachable by land and even had a memorable close encounter with a Right Whale (of course, just when our camera was on the blink). An upthrust coral atoll, Niue is rocky and sharp. Our SUPs got supervficial marks but the tough fabric handled this most unforgiving environment.
Our most recent trip was on Lake Wakatipu last week in the middle of a mid-winter cold snap. The inflatables were great insulation (though we did wear booties). After two years, even the elastic on the front tie downs is still good and handled the freezing temperatures (we left the boards outside overnight).
On their website Agenda has a video where they chuck a board of a cliff. Well, the boards really are as tough as promised and have stood up to everything we can throw at them. We have toured with them all over the Hauraki Gulf and various other harbours, lakes and rivers in Aotearoa.
We now live at Waihi Beach and, even though we have other fibreglass boards we could use for our flat water paddling, our Agenda boards have become our go-to. You can even surf them in very small waves, though they are NOT good at that and you need to be comfortable moving your weight around fast if you want to stay upright. For the last year we have left them permanently inflated hung from the garage roof (contrary to manufacturer’s instructions) and they are even handling that.
If you are in the market for a touring board and are considering an inflatable, you can buy one of these with confidence. Two years ago they were among the cheapest of the boards of quality construction and I think that is still the case (as in you can buy cheaper boards but they are not going to be rigid or durable enough to really be fun in the long run). It is wonderful there is a local company producing such a high quality product so reasonably. Congratulations Agenda, you’re a winner.
Noho ora mai (Stay well)
Nic Beets (he, him)
- Nic Beets
