The first thing I noticed when I pulled the Low Rider out of its storage bag (much better than Bote’s old bag, more on that later) was the enormous rear fin. It’s much longer than the Breeze Aero’s removable fin, and the deepest fin I’ve ever seen on a paddle board. A sailor friend of mine said, “This paddle board has draft“
This deeper fin helps the Lowrider keep its trajectory straighter and doesn’t require constant turning and course corrections while paddling. There’s much less side-to-side movement while paddling compared to the Breeze Aero and other boards I’ve used. The larger surface area of the fin also makes the board a bit more stable in rough water, especially when combined with the width of this board.
I had wanted to do a multi-day paddleboard trip for a long time, and then loaded up with about three-quarters of my gear before deciding it wasn’t going to work. But the Lowrider is capable of such a feat. I didn’t have time to actually do the trip, but I loaded it up and gave it a go. As expected, it’s heavy, sinks low to the water, and is slow to turn, but it wasn’t too bad, especially once you attach the seat so you can switch between standing and sitting. It’s probably not the use case for most people, but if you’re an oddball like me, just know that this is probably the best option for paddlepacking.
Photo: Scott Gilbertson
Lowriders are a bit expensive
Speaking of the seat, it’s comfortable and stable. It can be attached in a variety of ways. There are three attachment points on either side of the board, and the seat itself has a strap that allows you to adjust how far back it leans. It doesn’t go upright like a kayak, but I found that it didn’t strain or hurt my back even after paddling a few miles.
If you’re a seasoned kayaker, keep in mind that you’ll be much higher out of the water than you would in a kayak. You won’t want to get too technical, but it’s still a stable, comfortable experience, and the board is plenty maneuverable. Cruising on flat water is surprisingly fast and agile (for a board this size). The Lowrider didn’t budge at all, even when riding in 15 knots of wind and some pretty choppy water. To me, this is one of the best reasons to buy a hybrid – you get out on the water on rough days when you can’t stand up.
