REASONS TO BUY
Glides well
Stable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Expensive
Not easy to transport or inflate
Tower Adventurer 2 Review
A heavy model with a big price tag, the Adventurer is outperformed by our award winners
Tower Adventurer 2 10'4"
Credit: www.towerpaddleboards.com
By Shey Kiester ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 11, 2017
Our Verdict
The Adventurer 2 is a slightly smaller version of its predecessor, the Adventure, which our testers have previously reviewed. However, despite its decreased dimensions, this board is still one of the heaviest in the testing lineup, making it unwieldy and difficult to get from Point A to Point B. If you're not worried about transport (and maybe looking to get an upper-body workout while moving your SUP to the lake), then this board has middle-of-the-road stability and glide for beginners. Plus, it has one of the higher weight ratings in our test at 400 pounds, making it ideal for paddling with children or pooches aboard.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Tower Adventurer 2 is a heavy board and is more difficult to haul around than most other boards that we tested. Plus, it is one of the only models in the review that does not come with its own convenient carrying pack. Although it had mediocre glide and stability, some testers loved it for its sharp nose that cuts through choppy water.
With an aggressive nose, the Tower was comparable to the design silhouette of the Airis HardTop, pictured here on the left.
Credit: Sam Piper
Stability
The Adventurer 2 is relatively stable, but the thin nose and board profile made most beginner paddlers feel uncomfortable on this board. Also, when we had a furry friend along as a passenger, this model was especially wobbly. Plus, with such a heavyweight, it's difficult to maneuver, which can lead to instability. However, this board is rated to 400 pounds, which is one of the higher ratings in our test. Most of the testers that we recruited are well under 200 pounds, and it is possible that a heavier user may feel more comfortable on this board.
Glide Performance
Although the pointy shape of this model's nose led us to believe that it would do well in the glide category, the profile of the board ended up making it a bit more difficult to turn and slower to respond to paddle strokes. A larger, stronger, heavier paddler would have better luck controlling this board, but most beginner or intermediate paddlers may be frustrated with the glide performance, especially when compared to most other models in our lineup.
Maneuverability
Although it has decreased overall dimensions, the Adventurer 2 still struggles a bit in our maneuverability rating metric. The heavier overall weight and the pointy nose make it less responsive to aggressive paddle strokes and a little slower to turn. Similar to the board's glide performance, a stronger and heavier paddler will have better control over the board than a smaller, lighter paddler.
Ease of Transport
The Adventurer 2 is one of the lowest-scoring models in this category for two reasons. One, it is one of the heaviest boards we've reviewed, which means that when reviewers picked it up, there was a noticeable difference between it and lighter boards. Plus, this is one of the only inflatable boards that does not come with an included carrying pack. This is definitely disappointing considering that most inflatable models these days include custom carrying bags that fit everything including the board, pump, paddle, fins, and other accessories.
The Tower is a high-volume board, so its pump time was more than most boards.
Ease of Inflation
This model loses points in this category because its pump is so flimsy and light when compared to the other high-end or even middle-of-the-road pumps that we tested. For the price of this board, most testers think that the included pump should be a little bit nicer.
Value
This is a more expensive board that doesn't keep up with the performance of higher-end models, and also lacks some of the components and extra features or accessories found on other more affordable boards. Because of this, we think most users will find better performance and value with other options.
Conclusion
This board is among the heaviest boards in our review. However, with a weight rating of 400 pounds, it might be a good choice for heavier users who can whip the board into shape and make it perform. Most beginner or intermediate paddlers will likely be better suited with a lighter board that is more easily transportable off the water and maneuverable on the water, and will find better value with other more affordable options.
—Shey Kiester
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