REASONS TO BUY
Very rigid
Lightweight
Maneuverable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Smaller size makes it less stable than others
Hala Carbon Straight Up Review
A fantastic lightweight board with enhanced rigidity thanks to its carbon fiber stringers
With its high price tag, the Carbon Stright Up won't provide the best value for most paddlers but could be the right choice for users looking for a light and rigid board.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
RELATED: Best Inflatable SUP Boards of 2024
Our Verdict
The Hala Carbon Straight Up provides respectable all-around performance and is one of the most rigid inflatable boards we've tested, thanks to its carbon-reinforced construction. The balance of glide, stability, and maneuverability make it a solid choice for all levels of paddlers in most conditions. Design updates have narrowed some of the board's dimensions and increased the length of the carbon stringers over past versions. While this makes the board a bit faster and more rigid, it reduces stability, especially in rough and choppy water. However, the smaller size makes the Straight Up ideal for smaller paddlers or anyone looking for a versatile setup that's easy to transport and inflate.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Hala Carbon Straight Up is 10 feet 6 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 6 inches thick, with a carbon stringer running along the board's top and bottom. This unique construction provides excellent rigidity and feels surprisingly similar to a traditional rigid SUP. As a previous Editors' Choice Award winner, this is an excellent all-around performer. It got beat out after some recent design updates slightly shrunk its dimensions, making it less stable in rougher water than other models in our lineup.
Performance Comparison
The Hala is one of the most maneuverable boards that we tested with its carbon-enhanced rigidity and smaller overall size.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Stability
While the Carbon Straight Up is certainly stable in most conditions with its carbon-reinforced construction, squared-off tail, and three rear fins, it struggles in rough and choppy water. Recent design changes have slightly narrowed some of its sidecut dimensions, and as one of the smallest and lightest boards in our lineup, it tends to get tossed around quite a bit when the wind picks up and the water gets choppy. While the board's enhanced rigidity allows for impressive glide and maneuverability in calmer conditions, it also reduces its ability to absorb the choppy bumps and waves many paddlers encounter. Other boards that are larger and a bit more flexible seem to absorb these impacts better. The smaller overall size and streamlined dimensions make this board better suited for smaller and lighter folks or more advanced paddlers who can keep control of the board in less than ideal conditions.
The board's rigidity keeps it stable in calmer, flatter water, but it tends to get tossed around when the wind picks up because of its smaller lightweight design.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Glide Performance
This metric is all about the distance the board can cover per stroke of the paddle, and the Straight Up indeed excels in most conditions. The carbon-fiber stringers on the board's top and bottom give this model incredible rigidity and glide efficiency, meaning that very little paddling energy is lost to the board flexing or vibrating. The pointed and slightly rockered front end glides through the water nicely in all but the roughest conditions. As the wind picks up and the water gets choppier, the Straight Up can get tossed around a bit, reducing paddling efficiency and making it difficult to keep tracking in a straight line.
The carbon fiber stringers on both the top and bottom of the Hala Carbon board enhance its rigidity and help provide a smooth glide in calmer water.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Maneuverability
Hala does a remarkable job of leveraging key design concepts to create a highly agile board. The lightweight design with narrow shoulder angles and carbon fiber stringers add to this rigidity. This board outperforms its competitors in its ability to turn with both forward or backward strokes. Each of the three fins is removable for versatility and customization, and there is a built-in stomp pad for extra leverage and maneuverability.
While this is one of the most rigid inflatable boards we've tested, remember that it is designed as an all-around board and is not specifically meant for ocean or river surfing. Although most of the products in our lineup could be used for surfing, they won't perform as well as a traditional surfboard.
The rear stomp pad helps provide leverage and increased maneuverability on this nimble and light Hala board.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Ease of Use
The ease of transporting the Straight Up is remarkable for a board that performs in the water like a hardboard. When rolled up, this board measures 32 x 18 x 12 inches and fits snuggly into its pack, which has similar dimensions. The backpack has padded waist and chest straps that come in handy when moving across rugged terrain. If you take this board as luggage on an airplane, the straps and waist belt can be tucked away, and there are additional grab handles and wheels for easy transport through an airport or parking lot.
All three fins on the Straight Up detach and slip neatly into a pocket in the backpack. The two smaller side fins require a small included tool to tighten and loosen them, which is a bit inconvenient and adds an extra trinket that can easily get lost. Many other boards we tested have either permanently affixed side fins or quick-release tabs that click into place.
The additional tool that is required to secure the two smaller fins adds an extra step to the paddling process and could easily get lost.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
The included hand pump is nearly the exact same model as several other pumps in our lineup. Uniquely, the inflation valve is all the way at the front of the board, while most other boards place it in the rear. This makes it easy to push all the air out of the board when deflating and stowing it away.
The Hala's inflation valve is all the way at the front end of the board.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Construction Quality
The Carbon Straight Up is constructed with high-quality materials, including carbon-fiber stringers. The paddle that comes with your purchase it also carbon, sweetening the deal. While this board is an investment, we think it's worth it for the right user.
Should You Buy the Hala Carbon Straight Up?
With one of the higher prices in our test lineup, the Straight Up might not be the best value for most paddlers, though it is unarguably high quality. The latest iteration includes a carbon fiber paddle, whereas past versions didn't, so this helps increase the overall value, especially for more advanced paddlers who will appreciate the board's nimbleness and rigidity.
What Other Inflatable SUPs Should You Consider?
As one of the most rigid inflatable SUP boards we've tested, we are impressed with the glide performance and maneuverability of the Hala Carbon Straight Up. It's best suited for smaller and lighter users or more advanced paddlers, as this board's rigid and lightweight design allows it to get bounced around in choppy water more than bigger and heavier models. If that's not what you're looking for, check out the Bluefin Cruise Carbon or Bote Breeze Aero, both of which are more stable — especially the Bluefin. If all of this feels stressful cost-wise, the FunWater 11 is a bargain-basement board that performs surprisingly well.
—
Nick Bruckbauer
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