Product of the week - The PADDLE BOARD

With the brand "Das Paddelbrett" we are dealing with a very special concept. Designer and company owner Christoph Krahe has used his many years of experience in training and hire to develop a single set for the brand that is designed to work in as many conditions as possible. So you get a complete package (including paddle, leash and waterproof rucksack), not from the usual discounter, but from an expert who has been closely involved in stand-up paddling for years. The whole thing at a set price including paddle from939 Euro. www.paddelbrett.de

The size of 11 feet 8 inchesmakes you sit up and take notice, it is an otherwise rather unusual board length. But it is a sign that the aim here is to cover as large a field as possible between the otherwise frequently purchased lengths of 11'6'' and 12'6'' (Remember: the length of boards is given in feet and inches, the width in inches. A foot is about 30 centimetres, an inch is 2.5 centimetres). The width of 32 inches is also a dimension that is usually chosen when stability and fast progress are to be combined as well as possible.

With a thickness of 6 inches(15.2 cm), the board offers the maximum of what is used today for good rigidity. The workmanship of the board is impeccable, the gluing is very clean and bubble-free, all glued-on parts (towing eyelet, luggage net holder) meet the standard of other brand products.

The equipmentThe main feature is a sufficiently large pad on the deck that you can walk far back on, which is designed in one piece throughout. On the one hand, to avoid unnecessary seams where the bonding could come loose, and on the other to support the deliberately minimalist design. A luggage net at the front, which can also accommodate larger items of luggage, a towing eyelet and a handle at the back, to which the paddle can also be attached during breaks, round off the good features. The carrying handle in the centre is well padded.

On the waterthe board confirms what it promises on land. It is neither a real sports tourer nor a sluggish heavy-duty transporter, but simply a well-balanced board that the whole family can have fun on if there are no particular performance demands in any direction. The board carries the slightly pointed but still sufficiently wide nose just above the water, overcomes smaller waves and runs well in windy conditions from the front or with the wind down the waves without spilling over.

The tilt stability corresponds to that of a standard 32-inch wide board, as the tail is not excessively wide either. This means that it offers beginners up to 85 kg absolutely sufficient tipping stability and yet also a fairly fast ride. But heavier paddlers will also feel comfortable on the board after a short familiarisation period.

When turning,Whether you stay in the centre and ride the so-called crossbow turn, or whether you take a big step to the tail and try the pivot turn, the board turns very well and with few paddle strokes in the new direction.

The complete package also includes a paddlewhich is usually around the 120-euro class. The paddle blade is also known from other brands, the shaft has an additional division in the centre so that the paddle can be divided into three handy parts. The lower section is cut at an angle and secured with a press stud to ensure a solid connection. The upper clamp holds well and the Vario tube is labelled for length adjustment. The grip is shaped as a so-called T-grip, which fits many hand sizes, but looks almost dainty in comparison with the slightly thicker shaft at the bottom. However, thanks to the solidly dimensioned shaft at the bottom, the paddle achieves at least a decent stiffness even without the use of expensive carbon, which it would not achieve with thinner tube diameters. This means you can also "pull on the tube" with more force. Conclusion:The "paddle board" is a board set on offer that should be suitable for probably 85% of all paddlers; only very light people with sporting aspirations, who might prefer a narrower board, and very heavy paddlers over 90 kg with less previous experience, who might also need a wide 34-inch board, are excluded from the possible target group. As the set price also includes a paddle, a waterproof bag and the all-important leash, you get a Good, inexpensive complete set, which is ideally suited as a starter package, but should also provide lasting pleasure on many tours with or without luggage and in both shallow and somewhat choppy water.