Product of the week: SIC Air-Glide-X Pro-Lite 12'6'' x 24 3/4''

An inflatable under 25 inches - that sounds exciting. Can you paddle it in everyday life? The features and workmanship appear impeccable. The board looks robust and is reinforced with additional "stringers", i.e. additional laminate layers. This means it doesn't roll quite as smoothly, but is very stable. The high-quality FCS fin can be installed quickly, even without tools. It simply clicks into place in the box with a clever push-button system, no screws are required.

Filled with 15 psi, the board is already nice and stiff, but you can already tell that this Speed Needle is not made for heavyweights anyway. The board really goes through the water as fast as an arrow, subjectively conveys a very fast gliding feeling and, with its slim nose, encourages the rider to always add a jag. However, it rolls around the axis like a needle-thin 24 raceboard, so for a leisurely tour on not quite smooth water you should plan a few dry clothes to change into at the beginning. The "Pro-Lite" therefore requires an experienced paddler, ideally under 80kg body weight. Not because of the board's rigidity, but because tipping stability becomes increasingly important with increasing weight and height. We would therefore recommend our test board to experienced paddlers for racing in the inflatable class, but only to a very limited extent as a touring board. But even when racing, you have to weigh up safety and maximum paddling power against as little resistance as possible. If you can't paddle this board safely and only go for a swim once, you're on the safe side with the wider board - and probably even faster in the end. As a training tool, however, it was a lot of fun. Not for winter training, where the main aim is to stay safely on top, but in calm water the narrow balance beam looks more sporty than most other inflatables. For youngsters, the board is certainly also a good choice for racing in the inflatable classification, at least as soon as you have outgrown the thinner boards in the 10'6'' length. Or as a youth tourer to keep up with the parents on a trip. When the board is planing, you can stab the paddle in vertically, the narrow nose cuts through the water - which is ideally split as smooth as glass. When carried ashore, the board - apart from its weight - looks like you have a rolled-up newspaper under your arm.

Ideally, however, you will already feel really comfortable on very narrow hard raceboards if you fancy a brisk ride on the slim SIC.

For very light and experienced people (under 60 kilos), the 12'6'' could also be an option as a very sporty touring board.

Pro:Works very fast, glides fast, gives a very sporty paddling feeling for an inflatable; best training for balance. For sporty, very light people.

Contra: Particularly tippy, both straight ahead and when turning. Definitely not for SUP beginners. Only for paddlers who have an idea of what to expect on a 24 mm board.

Info: SIC