Isle Cruiser 2 Review

The Isle Cruiser 2 was a high scorer in our rankings this year. This rigid round-nose SUP comes in at 27.5 pounds and has a pop-out side handle, making it simple and lightweight to load on and off a vehicle and carry down to the water. The single center fin is easy to put on and take off and requires no tools, and we love that the board comes with its own leash. It has a full wrap grip deck pad, allowing traction anywhere on the board, an ideal feature for yogis, transporting multiple people, or bringing canines along.

Performance Comparison

Glide Performance

This is one of the most important tests for our boards: seeing how well they glide and keep speed in a variety of conditions. We really tested the glide on these boards, taking them out in some intense wind and chop to see how they handled.

The Cruiser 2 is pretty average in this category; its round nose does not cut through the water like some of the more pointed-nose SUPs. It accelerates decently, going from stopped to moving with just a few strokes. During paddle sessions where we encounter wind waves or boat wakes, the Cruiser 2 cuts through the waves rather than going up and over them, making it easier to maintain speed. The stability of the lower side rails also meant that when waves came broadside, it was fairly easy to keep paddling and not slow down or get knocked off. It tracks well, allowing you to paddle on one side for a while before having to switch; we could usually get 5-7 strokes on average before swapping to the other side.

Stability

One of the first things paddlers may notice with this board is that the side rails sit much lower (basically in the water) than any other hardshell we have seen. After taking the Cruiser 2 out for multiple tests, it is clear that this is what gives this board such excellent stability. Whether the water is calm and flat, or choppy and unpredictable, we felt rock solid on this SUP.

As mentioned above, in paddle sessions where we encountered waves, the Cruiser 2 cut through the waves rather than going up and over them, making it easy to stay balanced while standing even when there was some aggressive rocking. During testing, we could rock back and forth aggressively and without losing balance. It is also easy to shift your feet around while standing without feeling like you will topple over into the water. For the yoga folks, this board is an ideal choice, thanks to its stable, 32 inch wide deck that's covered entirely in grip pad material.

The downside to these low-sitting side rails is that the deck gets more water on it than some other hardshell stand up paddle boards do. On a hot afternoon, this does not matter much, but if you are taking your board out in cooler seasons or early mornings and trying to stay as dry as possible, it's something you may want to consider. The Cruiser 2 has a round nose to help handle waves and chop, so while you don't have a ton of water flooding over the front towards your feet, the lower side rails allow water to slosh onto the deck rather easily.

Maneuverability

Here we assessed how quickly each board can be turned to avoid an obstacle and the amount of time/space required to execute a full U-turn.

The Cruiser 2 scored pretty average in this category. Turning completely around isn't hard to do, but it usually took us 4-5 paddle strokes, and it's a bit of a wider turn. If you take this board out in a narrow stream or river and try to turn around, you might have some difficulty.

However, leaning to one side or the other to assist with turning is pretty easy on this board. We certainly noticed a difference when we shifted our weight during turns; the board did turn much faster, although still fairly wide.

Ease of Transport

All the in-water testing is essential when we score these boards, but we also want to know how easy it is to transport each board. From loading them onto a vehicle to carrying them down to the water, we compared each SUP to see how they scored in terms of transportation.

The simplicity of transporting the Cruiser 2 cannot be highlighted enough. It weighs just 27.5 pounds, and the pop-out carry handle makes this board super simple to carry around (important to note the website lists it at 24 pounds and their YouTube video mentions it is 28.5 pounds; we measured 27.5 on our scale). If you've got a walk from the car to the water, this board is light enough to carry the distance and lift up over obstacles that might be along the way.

The board's very flat design also makes it super easy to stack and transport with other boards. The removable fin is simple to take in and out but sturdy and does not shift during use.

Construction Quality

The Cruiser 2 is crafted with EPS base with a double stringer for additional strength. It's laminated with fiberglass, which is intended to increase durability, and a grippy EVA foam pad covers the entire deck and rails. This construction makes for a lightweight board that doesn't sacrifice stability and control.

The full wrap grip deck pad is different from most stand up paddle boards. One con we noticed is that the deck padding easily gets marks in it. After just two paddle sessions, we noticed that the back of the board has some permanent scuffs (photo below). However, it does not seem to affect the integrity of the board.

So far, we have not had any functional damage to the board, but compared to some of the hard plastic boards, the Cruiser 2 is a little more susceptible to dents and dings. After several uses, there are some scuff marks on various parts of the board. We were also more cautious when strapping it down for transport to not wrench too hard on the tightening straps out of concern of causing damage to the board.

The integrated bungee system provides plenty of storage space for essential gear, making it easy to pack for a longer paddle or bring all the extra stuff you like to have along. There is a single center fin in the rear, held in place with a screw that is very simple to put on and remove.

Should You Buy the Isle Cruiser 2?

However, if you're seeking a board that can take a beating or go on rocky river outings, this might not be the board for you.

What Other Stand Up Paddle Boards Should You Consider?

If you're looking for something with a bit more speed, you should check out the Surftech Catalyst Tuflite V-Tech. Maybe you want something that will hold up better against dents and dings? We would recommend the SIC Maui TAO Fit AT. And if you're looking to save your money and get a board that will hold up, check out the Pelican Flow 106. If you drive a small car, you might want to take a look at our recommendations for more portable inflatable SUPs that can fold down small and fit in a trunk.