Reviews You Can Rely On

Aqua Plus Thick Review

This inflatable's low price tag and bonus accessories make it an enticing beginning board for anyone looking to get into stand up paddle boarding
gearlab tested logo
Aqua Plus Thick Review (A great board for a casual afternoon paddle.)
A great board for a casual afternoon paddle.
Credit: Staci Curtis
Price:  $250 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Aqua Plus
By Katie Young ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 30, 2024
56
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 20
  • Stability - 35% 5.0
  • Glide Performance - 25% 6.0
  • Maneuverability - 15% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 7.5
  • Construction Quality - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

If you are looking to get into stand up paddle boarding but not sure where to start, the Aqua Plus Thick is an affordable option to consider. While we didn't feel this board stood out in any of our categories, we do feel that it is a great package deal for a new paddler looking to find what they like. The SUP comes with all the usual accessories as well as a waterproof, floating phone pouch.
REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Fast
Easy to transport
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks stability
Questionable durability

Compare to Similar Products

 
aqua plus thick
This Product
Aqua Plus Thick
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Inflatable SUP
Best Buy Award
Best Value Inflatable SUP
  
Price $250 List
$169.99 at Amazon
$399.98 at Dick's Sporting Goods
Compare at 2 sellers
$219 List
$180.61 at Amazon
$330 List
$149.90 at Amazon
$240 List
$199.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
56
85
77
69
63
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line The low price and extra accessories that come with this SUP make it an appealing choice for anyone new to stand-up paddle boardingThis board captured our attention with its exceptional stability, smooth maneuverability, and incredible valueIf you're looking for the most stable and affordable stand up paddle board out there, this might be the one for youA lightweight, easy to use, and affordable board with solid all-around performanceThis inflatable's price point is hard to beat but the quality and functionality are on the lower end of what many paddlers are likely looking for
Rating Categories Aqua Plus Thick Bote Wulf Aero Advenor Extra Wide FunWater 11 FB Sport Lightning
Stability (35%)
5.0
9.0
10.0
7.0
7.0
Glide Performance (25%)
6.0
7.5
6.0
7.0
6.0
Maneuverability (15%)
5.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
7.5
8.5
7.0
8.0
6.0
Construction Quality (10%)
5.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.5
Specs Aqua Plus Thick Bote Wulf Aero Advenor Extra Wide FunWater 11 FB Sport Lightning
Measured Weight 18 lb 16.5 lb 18 lb 19 lb 18 lb
Weight Capacity 330 lb 250 lb 330 lb 330 lb 350 lb
Measured Width 33" 34" 33" 33" 33"
Measured Length 11' 10.4' 11' 11' 11'
Measured Thickness 6" 6" 6" 6" 6"
Paddle Included Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fin Configuration 1 center detachable 1 detachable fin 2 small detachable fins, 1 large detachble fin 2+1 plastic fins, with large detachable center fin 1 detachable fin with 2 permanent
Folded Dimensions 33" x 17" x 9" 34" x 19" x 8.5" 34" x 18" x 9" 34" x 16" x 7" 35" x 16" x 10"
Bungee Cargo System Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pump Included Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Backpack Included Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

This board comes as a comprehensive package deal, including all the usual accessories plus a waterproof, floating phone pouch. Weighing just 18 pounds, the Aqua Plus Thick is exceptionally lightweight, making it easy to transport to and from the water. Its design and functionality make it a standout option for beginners looking to explore the sport.

Performance Comparison


aqua plus thick - we tested this board in various conditions and found it did best on...
We tested this board in various conditions and found it did best on calm, flat water days.
Credit: Katie Young


Stability


This stand-up paddle board is average overall when it comes to stability. While it can rock side to side without tipping too easily, it has a lot of flex and bounces noticeably when standing or moving in the middle of the board. It performed well on a calm lake but felt unstable and like a rodeo in the wind. Despite its pointy nose, it bounced over waves more than expected, and it didn't feel stable in choppy conditions.

Stability was a little more difficult with two people on board. When the water was flat, it was fine, although harder to get the board moving. But when there was even slight chop both people felt like they might tip off at any moment.

Even with just a little bit of chop, this board is not the easiest to stay well balanced on as it catches and bounces on every wave.
Credit: Staci Curtis

Glide Performance


This stand-up paddleboard offers an average glide, which most beginner paddlers will be happy with on any calm day. This is no speed demon, and we did have a lot of issues with tracking and gliding on anything but perfectly flat water. This is due to the thinner construction quality and single-fin system of this board.

Under normal conditions with no wind or chop, we were able to get four or five paddles before needing to swap sides and maintained momentum briefly after we stopped paddling. While it performs well when paddling, its glide diminishes quickly when you pause. In windy conditions, the board's performance drops, requiring frequent side swaps every one to two strokes due to significant fishtailing back and forth. Overall, it provides decent glide while paddling on a calm day but struggles to maintain it in less-than-perfect conditions.

aqua plus thick - even with the light wind on this test paddle, we had major issues...
Even with the light wind on this test paddle, we had major issues keeping this board moving.
Credit: Katie Young

Maneuverability


Due to its lightness and thinner material, this board does not have ideal tracking or turning. As you can see in the video below, it takes a number of strokes to get the full 180-degree turn-in. When the water was calm and flat, our testers were able to get about two to three paddle strokes in on one side before needing to swap over to the other side to stay tracking in a forward line. When there was any sort of wind or waves, we had to swap paddle sides every stroke.

Turning ability of the Aqua Plus Thick is fairly average.
Credit: Katie Young

As mentioned above, we also had major issues when there was any wind. When the wind picked up, the board automatically turned 180 degrees on its own. Getting the board to stay on track or to turn back in line was extremely difficult, and we found we were spending more time paddling to stay in a straight-ish direction versus actually moving forward.

Ease of Use


This is where the Aqua Plus Thick scores highly for us. This board is incredibly easy to pump up, pack away and carry. It weighs only 18 pounds so whether it is in the carry pack or inflated and being taken down to the water, it's simple to transport. This SUP is also very simple to inflate, and the pump has a plug that you can take out to make inflating the last few PSI a little easier. Marketed as a beginner board, the ease of inflating and packing away this board is a major highlight when also paired with the low price point.

aqua plus thick - big perk of this board is it is light and easy to carry.
Big perk of this board is it is light and easy to carry.
Credit: Staci Curtis

Construction Quality


The Aqua Plus Thick is made of high-grade military ultra-light PVC with drop stitch fabric. However, it does have that cheaper, thin feel that lower-end inflatables tend to have. While it makes the board lightweight to transport, it does allow quite a bit of flex in the board. The paddle it comes with came loose, so you will need to rotate the part that clips up and down. Apparently, this is part of the design, so you can tighten it, but we felt like the plastic piece might snap off and, therefore, didn't tighten it more than one twist. The stitching around the value thus far has given us no issues, but it does not look very sturdy, and we have some concerns about how it will hold up over time.

One of the notable manufacturer specs for this SUP is its carrying capacity, listed at 350 pounds. This board did just fine with two people on it and would also do well with heavier paddlers in terms of its float. The concern with more weight would be stability in any sort of windy conditions. Especially with two people, trying to stay balanced and move the board was quite difficult and felt shaky.

We were excited to see the addition of the phone pouch with this board. The phone pouch does float and comes with a neck strap. Unfortunately, on our first use of the phone case, both clips that keep it closed popped off. It was still functional; you could put the clips on by hand, but we wouldn't 100% trust this case to keep your phone dry if it took a tumble into the water. But for sitting and hanging out on a calm lake day, it was fine.

aqua plus thick - phone case that comes with the aqua plus thick.
Phone case that comes with the Aqua Plus Thick.
Credit: Katie Young

Should You Buy the Aqua Plus Thick?


If you are just getting into the paddle boarding world, this is an affordable SUP that will be excellent for chill paddle adventures or hangouts. It might not be your forever board, but it is a good starting point. With this board, you definitely get the quality that you pay for. For new paddlers who aren't looking for anything fancy and want to focus on the price point and ease of use, this is where this board shines. Keep in mind that this board is best in calm, flatter conditions and that days on the water with wind or waves might prove a bit frustrating.

aqua plus thick - light enough to lift up and off of things easily. we had no issue...
Light enough to lift up and off of things easily. We had no issue lifting this up onto the dock for a paddle break.
Credit: Katie Young

What Other Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Should You Consider?


If you are looking for a board that performs better all around but can often be found at a similar, if not better, price point depending on sales, check out the ROC Scout. Do you feel like you want a more quality board that is still great for beginners? Read our review on the Bote Wulf Aero, one of our favorite inflatables.

aqua plus thick - all of the inflatable sups we tested in our first round of reviews...
All of the inflatable SUPs we tested in our first round of reviews for summer 2024.
Credit: Katie Young

Katie Young