Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – A Reliable, Low Cost Paddleboard | 2024

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Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Overview

The Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP is a low cost way to get started paddling with a good quality iSUP. The lightweight construction is easy to transport, but does limit the recommended rider weight to around 180 pounds for best performance. Along with the newly-designed board, Retrospec also includes a great accessory kit and a 2 year warranty – something unheard of at this price.

— Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review Summary and Ratings —

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Construction and Durability

The Weekender 10’6 uses Retrospec’s AerGlide-lite construction for a lightweight and low cost build with reliable performance.

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Inside the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 you’ll find a classic construction method that has been used for decades.

The Weekender starts with two layers of knitted fabric material that is joined together with thousands of 6” long yarns. This drop-stitch core is the building block for all inflatable paddle boards and keeps the board flat and rigid when inflated.

The fabric material is then coated with a thick layer of PVC to make the material waterproof and airtight. The PVC also stiffens the fabric underlayer.

After the board is cut to shape, the outside edges are brought together and joined by gluing a band of reinforced PVC material around the edge. Lastly, a wider band of PVC is glued over top the first to provide more rigidity and durability in the most critical areas of the board.

Once the deck pad and other features are added to the board, the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 weighs just 17.8 pounds and has a maximum inflation pressure of 15 PSI.

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The basic construction of the Weekender 10’6 has been around for a while, and while more modern materials and methods exist for building inflatable paddle boards, this method has an effective track record and allows the Weekender 10’6 to be sold at a very budget-friendly price for new paddlers.

The downside of the low weight and low cost build is in the board’s performance – particularly for rigidity (which impacts other characteristics as well).

In our bend test, the Weekender 10’6 bent just over 3.1” with 170 pounds of weight in the standing area of the board. That is nearly double the amount of bend in our current running average (1.62”), but still outperforms a handful of other iSUPs in our test.

While our test is designed to give us some baseline comparisons between board constructions and sizes, it is only a small part of the larger picture of rigidity.

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On the water, I could feel the Weekender 10’6 flexing lightly while standing and paddling normally, and that flex did increase as I changed positions on the board or increased the amount of energy I was using while paddling. Bouncing on the board created a large amount of flex, and the Weekender 10’6 had a tight and springy feeling rebound as it settled back down.

While the Weekender 10’6 didn’t amaze me with its rigidity, it did perform basically as I expected it to. With ultralight builds and basic construction techniques, inflatable SUPs are generally far less rigid than their more advanced counterparts.

Because of this bend, I do recommend a much lower rider weight than the full 250-pound weight capacity. Paddlers up to about 180 pounds should feel comfortable on the Weekender 10’6, but paddlers over 180 pounds will feel more comfortable and more stable on the Retrospec Weekender Plus or Weekender Tour – both of which use a dual-layer construction for increased rigidity.

Specifications

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Features, Accessories and Versatility

The Weekender 10’6 comes with a core set of on-board features and a quality, entry-level accessory kit to help new paddlers get started on the water.

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The Weekender 10’6 is all about getting people out on the water. It’s classic shape and size offer beginner-friendly stability, and the board has just enough fittings to hold daily necessities like water, sunscreen, and snacks, without cluttering the deck pad with multiple different attachment points for various accessories.

The deck pad itself is comfortable and is even large enough to lay down for a relaxing break or start practicing your SUP yoga.

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Retrospec includes a nice set of accessories with the Weekender 10’6. Along with the board you get everything you need to hit the water except for a life jacket/PFD.

• Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP
• Custom-fit carrying/transportation bag
• Three-piece aluminum paddle
• Single-chamber/dual-action hand pump
• Coiled ankle leash
• Three slide-in fins
• Waterproof phone bag
• Maintenance and repair kit

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Paddle

The Retrospec three-piece aluminum paddle is above and beyond what I would expect from an entry-level kit.

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Most base-level aluminum paddles are off-the-shelf products meant to simply fill the void in an entry-level iSUP kit. However, the Retrospec aluminum paddle is quite different.

The aluminum shaft and handle section are powder-coated. This gives the paddle a very comfortable and secure feeling in your hand, and helps prevent the paddle from becoming too hot to handle (literally) in the sun.

The ABS plastic blade is impact-resistant and has a moderate amount of flex. That flex helps offset the stiff feel of the aluminum shaft, and makes the paddle more comfortable to use throughout the day. The blade has a medium size which makes it a great choice for a large array of paddlers, but also helps balance the weight of the paddle between the blade and shaft.

The blade also has reminders (the words “Front” and “Back”) printed on each side to help new paddlers keep the blade oriented the right way while paddling.

Lastly, Retrospec has greatly improved the handle of the paddle over most entry-level aluminum options. In addition to the plastic handle with just the right amount of texturing to be helpful (rather than potentially painful), the handle has a printed length scale and an indexing groove to keep the handle aligned to the blade. I’ve never seen an indexing groove on a basic aluminum kit paddle before, and it’s a great touch.

The compression collar that holds the handle section in place was loose on all of the paddles I’ve tested from Retrospec. However, rather than requiring you to find a screwdriver to tighten the mechanism, the clamp itself is attached to the bolt, so all you have to do is open the clamp, twist the lever a few times to the right, and then close the clamp again to tighten up the paddle.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Stability

The Weekender’s classic size and shape give it beginner-friendly stability for most paddlers.

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Standing and paddling normally on the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 without comparing it to other boards does provide a good sense of stability. The broad nose and tail give the board a wide outline for maximizing volume and surface area.

I could feel the board flexing lightly under me and this translated into a bit of a twitchy feeling overall. The Weekender responds very quickly to small shifts in weight from foot to foot and the flex allows those shifts to move through the board. I mostly noticed this in lightly choppy conditions. I could feel the board bouncing and flexing with each passing wave, and it does make the board feel less stable.

While paddling hard for a sprint or when moving around on the board, the flex was very noticeable and had a larger impact on how stable the Weekender 10’6 felt.

I didn’t ever feel like I was unstable on the board, though. Again, the size and shape are classic and common for a reason – they work!

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Even with this slightly twitchy and bendy feel on the water, the Weekender 10’6 does still have decent stability. But when you compare it to the Weekender Plus or Weekender Tour, you can instantly feel the stability boost you get from the more rigid construction in these dual-layer AerGlide Fusion boards.

But the Weekender 10’6 still has a place for beginner paddlers. It is stable enough for casual beginner use in calm conditions. I would recommend paddlers over 180 pounds take advantage of the more rigid AerGlide Fusion construction in the Weekender Plus or Tour, though.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Speed

As an entry level all-around paddle board, the Retrospec Weekender is comfortable to paddle at casual speeds, but difficult to move much faster.

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The Weekender 10’6 is built for fun paddling with your friends, not competitive racing. So I wasn’t surprised when our speed test results mirrored that exactly.

Our sprint testing was about what I expected. At 75 strokes per minute for a sustained sprint, the Weekender 10’6 averaged just 4.7 MPH. I was able to reach a peak speed of 5.0 MPH, but it was difficult to both attain and sustain. The board has a significant amount of flex when putting down this much power, which both slows the board down and makes it harder to track straight.

More importantly, though, the Weekender 10’6 paddles easily at a more casual pace. At 25 strokes per minute (a very comfortable, and easy to maintain, pace) the Weekender 10’6 cruises along at 3.3 MPH on average. This is also exactly what I expected for a standard-size all-around iSUP.

At this speed I didn’t notice the board flexing unless I was actively looking for it, and it did glide fairly smoothly. With a single paddle stroke at this speed, the Weekender 10’6 traveled about 16 feet on average, or 1.5 board lengths. Again, the flex in the board changes how it interacts with the water and reduces glide between strokes.

Overall, the Weekender 10’6 has essentially the exact speed performance we expected. It performs well at casual cruising speeds, but doesn’t hold up well for fast-paced paddling.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Maneuverability and Tracking

All-around paddle boards like the Weekender 10’6 are designed to offer a balance in performance for easy turning and manageable straight line paddling when you want it.

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Turning is one of the first paddling skills I teach new SUP users. It’s important to be able to point your board in the direction you want to go – otherwise you’ll never get there!

Board size, shape, and fin setups all change the agility of a SUP. With a classic size, shape, and three-fin setup, the Weekender 10’6 behaves much like other all-around boards on the water.

Turning the Weekender 10’6 is relatively easy. In our maneuverability stress test we use basic turning strokes to complete a full 360° turn. It only took an average of 5.5 forward sweep strokes (paddling in an arc from nose to tail) to turn the Weekender 10’6 in a full circle. That’s just a touch faster than average for all-around iSUPs.

Working our way through more advanced turning strokes makes spinning the Weekender 10’6 much easier. You only need 3.5 reverse sweep strokes (paddling in an arc from tail to nose) to make the same turn. Stepping back to the tail of the board for a pivot turn will spin you around in just two paddle strokes, but the board becomes noticeably less stable when the nose is lifted out of the air. The less-rigid construction has more flex and gives the board a twitchy feeling when sinking the tail.

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Turning is really important, but so is being able to paddle in a straight line. The triple fin system of the Weekender 10’6 does a good job of keeping the board moving straight at cruising speeds.

With 10 paddle strokes on a single side of the board, the Weekender 10’6 only deviated an average of about 17° from its original course. That’s slightly better than average for an all-around iSUP, and I was impressed by its performance.

Steering the board with smaller corrective strokes was easy, but keeping the board moving straight and fast at the same time was hard. The flex in the board when paddling faster shortens the effective length of the board and makes it much easier to spin with each stroke.

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Under the Weekender 10’6 you’ll find three slide-in fin boxes. This style of fin box is very easy to use, but does have some drawbacks. Normally the first issue I’d mention is how it’s been my experience that the vast majority of these fin boxes require excessive force to install and remove the fins (literally needing to use a mallet or hammer). However, Retrospec has been able to avoid this issue with their paddle boards.

I will still say, though, that these slide-in fin boxes are easier to damage than a Universal Standard (US) fin box both from impact and by improperly rolling the board. It’s also harder to find replacement or alternate fins for the slide-in fin box.

But, the 2+1 fin system on the Weekender 10’6 is pretty versatile on its own. You can use all three fins to maximize tracking and stability. You can use just the center fin for easier setup and a bit more speed without losing much tracking or stability. Or you can use just the two shorter fins if you are paddling in shallow water or want more maneuverability.

Overall, the Retrospec Weekender does a great job of balancing agility and paddling straight. You can just as easily turn the board when you want, and travel in a straight line to get from place to place.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Warranty and Customer Support

Retrospec warranties all of their inflatable SUPs for 2 years from the date of purchase. This is a fairly typical warranty length and is actually more than most iSUPs in this price range. Additionally, they offer a 50-day return period, however, all returns are subject to shipping fees. There is no explicit warranty period for the included accessories. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the Retrospec customer service team via telephone, website form, website chat, and social media.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – Final Thoughts

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With a good balance of performance on the water, stability, aesthetics, a great accessory kit, and a fantastic price, the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 is a fantastic option for new paddlers on a tight budget. There are some trade-offs made in the rigidity and overall durability of the board in order to hit this incredibly low price point, but it is a great option to get on the water this summer and give paddle boarding a try. I would recommend paddlers over 180 pounds upgrade to the Weekender Tour or Weekender Plus to take advantage of the more rigid construction at a similarly great value.

Retrospec Weekender 10’6 iSUP Review – FAQ