FB Sport Lightning Review

The Lightning offers beginner paddle boarders an entry-level priced board that would be well suited for calm paddles. While we appreciate having entry-level price-boards available for folks to get into the sport, there are better, higher-quality boards on the market that are in a similar price range. Overall this SUP did ok with our testers but with this board, you're getting what you paid for.

Performance Comparison

Stability

This inflatable offers very average stability for a stand up paddle board. On a glassy paddle, we had no issues staying up on this board. But sadly with anything else than flat water we lost a bit of confidence in the FB Sport. This board also has a decent amount of flex to it, especially if you are moving on it. Where this board struggles is in rough water. The board goes up and over waves in a very bouncy manner, making it hard to stay standing. When we had boat wakes coming our way, we often opted to kneel while we went over them so we didn't get bucked off. The Lightning also does not handle broadside waves very well. We felt that waves coming in from the side sucked the edge of the board down, making it easy to teeter off.

Glide Performance

The Lightning just doesn't keep up with its name here. This board is pretty so-so when it comes to glide. On most of our paddles, even on a calm water day, we felt like we were working pretty hard to keep up with other paddlers. The board doesn't move quickly and fails to sustain momentum for more than a few seconds after you stop paddling. While it may work for casual, leisurely rides, if you're looking for speed or efficiency on the water, this board leaves much to be desired. Its performance might suit beginners, but more experienced paddlers will likely find it lacking.

Maneuverability

Here, this stand up paddle board got an average rating for us in regards to its maneuverability. It's fairly easy to get turned around 180 degrees, usually taking three to four strokes to get it fully turned around. A better paddle would likely make this board turn a bit faster.

It is hard to keep this SUP moving in a straight line in any wind or waves. Our testers had a hard time taking it out in these conditions because it meant you had to constantly be paddling, or you would turn around in the blink of an eye. Even when paddling, it was hard to remain in the direction we wanted, and there was a lot of fishtailing back and forth as we paddled. Many of our testers felt frustrated with this board if there was anything other than calm, flat conditions.

Ease of Use

This board is simple enough to use. We appreciated that it inflated quickly, was easy to roll back up, and fits back into the carry case without a problem. The backpack it comes with is functional and fits the board plus accessories well, but it isn't anything to write home about. It's a very basic fabric bag that doesn't feel super durable. The Lightning has two permanent fins and one removable fin. The removable fin is easy to get in and out of, and we never had any issues with it being difficult to put in or sticky to get out. The board lacks handles on the tip or tail, which isn't a huge missing feature, but it doesn't make using the board a bit easier when it has them.

Construction Quality

The construction quality of this board matches the price. The material it is made with feels a bit thinner than other inflatables, so it may not hold up over multiple seasons of heavy use. The deck padding on this board also didn't do it for us. It has a pretty aggressive deck padding that would hurt our feet if we were on it for more than 45 minutes. Sometimes, the more aggressive grip padding looks great but doesn't feel great to stand on for long periods. The paddle that comes with the board is also very bottom tier. It's small, which likely is part of the reason we didn't feel we could move very quickly and was in constant need of adjustment.

This board does have D-rings along the left side for clipping the carrying handle it comes with. Some inflatables have these, but for some reason, this was our first time experiencing constantly catching our paddle on them. Several times during test paddles, we would catch the paddle on the D-ring and almost knock ourselves off. Maybe it's their position or their size, but three of our testers had this experience more than once and can't remember ever having it happen with other boards.

Should You Buy the FB Sport Lightning?

This board would do perfectly fine for someone looking to get into stand up paddle boarding without spending too much. For its price, the functionality of this board would work well for beginners. More advanced paddlers or folks looking for a board that just offers a bit more may want to look at some other options.

What Other Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a great entry-level board that offers a bit more all around, check out the ROC Scout or the Bote Wulf Aero. If a more advanced board with some great extra features is what you're seeking, read our review on the Isle Pioneer 3.