GEAR | Active Era 2-in-1 Inflatable SUP with Kayak Conversion – Review
Collaboration
Having enjoyed paddleboarding on holiday in the past and keen to try kayaking, I was more than happy to test the 2 in 1 inflatable SUP with kayak conversion from Active Era. Read on for my full review.
What is it?
Active Era 2-In-1 Paddle Board with Kayak Conversion Kit £199
Stockists
I’m not an expert paddleboarder, but I do SUP whenever I can – usually first thing in the morning on holiday or on calmer days at the lake where my other half windsurfs. I’ve always fancied trying more kayaking, too, so when the chance came up to try the ActiveEra 2-in-1 inflatable SUP with kayak conversion, I jumped at it.
We headed out on a calm morning to the lake with not a lot of knowledge of the brand or the product. We decided to try it out as a SUP first. The whole set-up was straightforward. It inflated quickly with the included pump, and we were pleasantly surprised to find it had an in-built camera mount at the front of the board, a handy dry bag for keeping valuables safe while on the water.
The whole thing also comes in a large bag with shoulder straps turning it into a rucksack. The paddle felt solid with easy height adjustment, and the fin slotted easily into place under the board.
Once attached to the leash and on the water, my first impression was that the board felt a bit twitchy, but a quick adjustment to my foot position sorted that out. After that, it paddled smoothly and tracked well for a beginner-friendly board. It’s not the fastest SUP I’ve tried, but it felt responsive enough and confidence-building after a few minutes.
After a quick cuppa and a bacon roll, we decided it was time to convert it to kayak mode. The seat clipped securely to the board, and the paddle swapped easily to the double-ended kayak blade. It did take a few minutes to get the seat straps adjusted just right.
They needed a bit of tweaking, but once set up, the seat felt comfortable and stayed firmly in place. The loops to secure the footrest also took a bit of patience to fit, but once in place, everything felt solid and secure.
Sitting down, the board felt instantly more stable, making it a great option for longer sessions or slightly choppier water. Paddling in kayak mode felt efficient and surprisingly enjoyable. It genuinely felt like having two watercrafts in one.
The Active Era 2-in-1 SUP is excellent value for money and makes a versatile, family-friendly option.
Overall impressions
- Pros: Quick and easy set-up, thoughtful extras like the camera mount, dry bag and rucksack design. Versatile 2-in-1 design, stable and comfortable in kayak mode, good value for a multi-use craft.
- Cons: As a SUP, it’s slightly twitchy straight out of the box, and more experienced paddlers might find it slower than a dedicated board. The seat straps need some patience to adjust initially, as does the footrest, but these are a minor niggle until you’ve got them right.
For someone like me who enjoys casual paddling but also wants the option of kayaking without buying a separate craft, the ActiveEra 2-in-1 is a really versatile and fun choice.
Find out more
Expect to pay £199 for the Active Era 2-In-1 Paddle Board with Kayak Conversion Kit and you can buy direct from Active Era or from Decathlon.
DISCLOSURE | Thank you to Active Era for supplying the featured product. We were not paid to write this review.
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