MOAI 10'6 Test

Welcome to the MOAI 10'6 Test. In this series of several articles we do a paddle board test, this time with the MOAI 10'6. The MOAI 10'6 is one of the newest paddle boards in our collection. So time for an extensive test!

At the end of 2017 we were suddenly surprised by a newcomer in the market: MOAI. As a partner, we had the opportunity to test this board and get to know the brand. We were actually immediately enthusiastic about the design and the story behind the board. The design - from one of NIKE's former top designers - is clean, sporty and elegant.

The story they tell about a more environmentally friendly board that also donates part of its profit to the charity (Waves for Change) with every sale, convinced us. Time to go out on the water with this beautiful paddle board!

In this test we take the MOAI 10'6 with us into the water. 10'6 obviously stands for the length of this paddle board.

Summary

The MOAI board has truly astonished us with its quality, stability and versatility. It's a great paddle board to tour on, but it's so stable in the water that you can easily practice yoga on it. The inflatable paddle board is rock hard and feels incredibly robust.

After trying most of the boards of 2019, we can unanimously state that we like this board the most for the all-rounder.

We recommend the MOAI 10'6 for the recreational beginner. Are you planning to paddleboard long distances, do you already have experience with paddleboarding or would you like to brave a bit wilder waters? Then you will have to look further in our eyes for for example a MOAI 11'.

Have you just started and want to get to know the sport for a little less money? Then the MOAI 10'6 is a wonderful option. But are you willing to spend a little more money? Then choose a MOAI 11' or a Aqua Marina Triton.

Specifications of the board

• Size: 10'6 x 32"
• Thickness: 6"
• Weight board: 26.5 lbs
• Max. load weight: 286 lbs
• Pressure: 15 PSI

The MOAI 10'6 Paddle Board Test

To get an honest picture of a board it is always nice if you can compare. So we spent a day comparing and testing the following paddleboards. Follow the link if you want to read another test:

• MOAI 10'6 (which you are reading now)
• Aqua Marina Fusion
• Aqua Marina Atlas
• Aqua Marina Magma
• Aqua Marina Beast

To be honest: unpacking the MOAI box is a real party. In no other package do we find such high quality accessories as the MOAI. The paddle, the double-action pump, the ankle cord and the included backpack feel very sturdy and high quality. Furthermore you will find 3 fins and a repair kit in the box.

The board is a bit heavier than its counterparts and after some research we know that this is due to the so-called Double Layer Technology. This board consists of a PVC layer, which is then covered with another layer of PVC. This provides more strength. At 26.5 lbs, the paddle board is quite heavy but can be lifted easily by a young adult.

Once on the water you immediately feel that the weight of the paddle board does a lot for the stability. Even beginners will have little trouble standing on this board because of its incredibly sturdy design. The non-slip protection feels great on the feet and ensures a comfortable posture.

Another thing we are very pleased about is the possibility to install a seat. Earlier research has shown that no less than 50% of paddle board owners regularly use the board for kayaking. Because of the possibility to install a seat, MOAI is one of the few in the market of high quality boards that you can kayak with. We also love to sit on the board once in a while and enjoy the sun and nature. This is an absolute plus for MOAI.

What do you get when purchasing the MOAI 10'6?

A big advantage when purchasing the MOAI 10'6 is the package you get. This package is so extensive, that you do not have to buy anything extra to start immediately. The follow accessories are included for free:

• High-pressure pump for quickly inflating your Stand Up Paddle board
• Carrying bag
• Extra fins for more stability
• SUP anklecord
• Paddle
• SUP beginners e-book (worth £19)
• Repair kit

The MOAI 10'6 is an inflatable paddleboard. We have already discussed this on several pages on our website, but here again briefly the advantages compared to a hard board:

• Easy to take on holiday (even on the plane)
• Easy to store in the winter days
• Much cheaper
• Technology has improved greatly over the past 10 years. For this reason, these boards are now almost hard to distinguish from hard boards.

The disadvantages of an inflatable board are that less speed can be achieved and that inflatable boards are more for beginners and less suitable for more advanced SUP boarders.

The fact that this SUP-board is inflatable has only advantages in our opinion:

• Easy to take on holiday (even on the plane)
• Easy to store in the winter days
• Much cheaper
• Technology has improved greatly over the past 10 years. For this reason, these boards are now almost hard to distinguish from hard boards.

The disadvantages of an inflatable board are that less speed can be achieved and that inflatable boards are more for beginners and less suitable for more advanced SUP boarders.

MOAI 10'6 in practice

After having tested the board on the water for a long time, we are very impressed. As new kid on the block (MOAI only exists since 2017) they are no less than the very best boards from Aqua Marina, for example. The quality of the board is truly sublime and the accessories supplied are of a very high quality. The only disadvantage we could discover is the maximum carrying capacity of 286 lbs. We can imagine that this is too little for some, if you want to paddleboard with a child or dog, for example. The board is also quite heavy, which makes it difficult for children to lift.

All in all MOAI is a great board for (young) adults who want to tour with the paddle board. You can also relax on the water, do yoga or go kayaking with this all-rounder. In our eyes a true all-rounder that we can recommend to anyone!