Badfish Flyweight Review

Adventure awaits experienced paddlers with the Badfish Flyweight. The board's seams are bound with AirLite drop stitch technology, which is intended to increase rigidity and durability while still allowing for pliability while deflated. This is also a good option for paddlers who like to bring their board along just in case there might be a chance to get out for some exploration, as it's lightweight. It performs best on flat, calm water, gliding smoothly with good speed.

Performance Comparison

Stability

The Flyweight is fairly stable and rigid while paddling on calm, flat water. Experienced paddlers can find their balance and cruise along gracefully with a steady paddle stroke. The three-quarter deck pad provides grip when standing in the center or at the back of the board. Paddlers smaller in stature and lighter in weight will experience more stability.

However, at just 30 inches wide, the Flyweight is one of the narrower boards we've tested. Less experienced paddlers had a harder time maintaining balance than on a wider board. Also, the maximum listed weight capacity for the Flyweight is 230 pounds. When we added gear or watched larger paddlers climb aboard, the board sank deeper into the water, decreasing the stability.

Overall, this board felt less stable than others in all conditions, particularly in boat chop and wind. In 10 to 15 mph winds, with mixed waves, testers were concerned that the board might capsize. The ride also became less steady when we invited dogs on board. Beginner paddlers preferred to remain kneeling in choppy conditions.

Glide Performance

This narrow and lightweight board can fly across calm water. Touring ponds, tranquil lakes, estuaries, or other flat waters are what the Flyweight is designed for. Bring your camera and take photos as you adventure across the water. We took this board out on Lake Tahoe during the calm of the morning and a peaceful evening. Using buoys and comparing paddling speeds among beginners as well as experienced paddlers, we raced the Flyweight against other boards. With a steady paddle stroke, we traveled about 100 feet in 30 to 40 seconds.

On the flip side, boat chop and winds will challenge paddlers on the Flyweight. The front of the board curves upward, and we experienced it lifting over waves rather than pushing through them. In windy chop, this board became even more difficult to manage. It tended to bounce between the waves rather than through them. We found that the shorter height (5 inches) combined with the weight of a paddler sank the board into the water, decreasing the glide.

Maneuverability

The Flyweight comes with three 4.5-inch removable fins. These shorter fins provide steady tracking and are useful when traveling in shallow water. Maneuverability can be adjusted by removing or adding fins, a useful adjustment for traveling paddlers who may find themselves in variable conditions. Those seeking a better pivot point for more aggressive turning could replace the center fin with a longer one, which is available separately on the Badfish website.

We practiced turning around buoys while standing on the center of the board with a traditional stance and paddle stroke, as well as from the back of the board and with a crossbow stroke. Experienced and beginner paddlers alike could make quick turns and easily redirect the board. The carbon fiber paddle with aluminum shaft is another lightweight addition to the package that makes maneuvering easy. This board allows paddlers to explore what lies beneath the water with little disturbance and to maneuver or change directions easily.

Ease of Use

The Flyweight was designed with travel in mind. The AirLight drop stitch technology is a new system intended to reduce excess PVC material and overall weight. The streamlined shape of this board makes it easy to carry once inflated and with the fins attached. The board weighs 18 pounds and features handles on the front, back, and center. Bungees on the front of the board provide cargo space for gear on your adventures.

Everything in this package is lightweight and fits in its bag easily, with extra room for additional gear. Features include a full zipper that allows the front to be opened all the way, top and side handles, padded straps, and a chest strap. There is also a front pocket for additional items. This bag adjusts to be relatively comfortable for most paddlers while carrying it on the back. Some sacrifices were made to decrease the weight, namely the quality of the pump, address below.

The relatively smaller size of this board results in easier and quicker inflation compared to larger boards. We timed how long it took to fill the board using the included pump. It took our testers about 8 minutes to reach 15 PSI. Like all manual, dual-action pumps, you can adjust when getting closer to full inflation to increase the power of your pump. We did experience a sound like the air was leaking out of the hose when we began inflation. Holding the hose in place on the board stopped this, and it did not continue as we reached capacity. This pump does not have an option to switch the hose to the opposite side for deflation.

Construction Quality

Upon first unpacking the Flyweight, it was noticeably different from other boards. The box was smaller and everything inside was wrapped in paper, rather than plastic. The sleek and lightweight design are obvious, and it features AirLight drop stitch technology to increase durability and rigidity without sacrificing weight and pliability. Overall, this is a well-constructed board.

Should You Buy the Badfish Flyweight?

This is a nice SUP with excellenet glide. It's pricey, but included in the package is a lightweight paddle, GoPro mount, fins, and a pump. This “adventure board” is a good pick for anyone looking for a solid, lightweight set-up and streamlined inflatable that can travel to just about anywhere. That said, beginners will struggle to get on and off this board and we don't recommend it for windy or choppy conditions.

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