Aqua Marina Echo Inflatable SUP Review

Aqua Marina had a real good year with its outstanding iSUPs line. This brand keeps on putting amazing efforts and dedication towards their name; it’s a responsibility they respect and carry out to build the best iSUPs possible for all the people who chose an inflatable over a hard one.

The wide iSUPs’ range produced by Aqua Marina made it possible for everyone to find their most suitable board and hit the water for their favorite water sport.

The Echo is one of Aqua Marina’s most popular iSUPs, and we’re taking a closer look at it so that you can see what kind of a board is it and get to see everything that’s featured on it.

Aqua Marina Echo Review – Features & Specs

Measurements

To begin with, the Aqua Marina Echo is 10.6 feet long which is a really good number that works perfectly fine for riders of different sizes. This board is something between medium and large, and that makes it quite a versatile iSUP.

Moving on, this board is 32 inches wide; it’s as wide as most quality iSUPs can get. You might find a board that’s one or two inches wider which is definitely a plus, however, you can’t go wrong with a 32″ wide iSUP.

Now in terms of thickness, the Echo got 4 inches. It’s not bad at all for a board of its size especially that it’s meant to be light and fast.

Quality

The Aqua Marina Echo, just like its ancestors and fellow iSUPs by Aqua Marina, is build using military-grade PVC material which is enough to make any inflatable product a hard and stiff piece of art. If you happen to see this board laid on the ground without being told that’s an inflatable, you’d probably have a hard time figuring it out.

Premium drop stitch is also used to make this board’s inner core; this technology is known to making any iSUP very stiff, yet, lightweight. It also makes sure the board is in its best final shape once fully inflated. The Echo looks like one single piece thanks to how perfectly and precisely the parts were glued together.

I wouldn’t say that you can go completely wild on the Echo because simply, an inflatable product needs a little more maintenance than its hard rivals. Thus, it would cost nothing to be a friendly user.

Features

• When I was first introduced to the Echo, the first thing I noticed was the graphic design on the traction pad. It’s quite bold making the iSUP standout anywhere it is. This traction pad is diamond grooved and it’s very soft for the feet to stand on it for long periods of time. Also, riding the board and moving around your feet will feel very sturdy for how grippy the pad is.

• Getting closer, the next thing that might attract your attention is the kick rail. This feature right here is a great addition to most of Aqua Marina’s iSUPs; it’ll allow you to perform some quick maneuvers, as it’ll support your body very well when changing directions or following some waves.

• Moreover, Aqua Marina featured almost all of their iSUPs with an action camera mount since many; if not all water enthusiasts and adventure seekers like to document their trips and activity.

• Now, spending a couple of hours or more in the water is guaranteed to get you hungry which will make you think about taking a snack with you to enjoy once in the water. To do that, you can easily secure a meal-box to the iSUP using the bungee system on the deck. It’s a nice storage area for long paddling times.

• The Echo is featured with one large removable fin for tracking. It’s rigid, very sturdy and it does a great job in both flat and shallow waters.

• Finally, you’ll find a D-ring on the board’s tail to attach a safety leash to it if needed.

Packaging

The thing about most of Aqua Marina’s 2019 iSUPs is that they come in packages without a featured paddle. It’s kind of a bummer, but let’s not let it get to us because these boards are worth it eventually.

The Aqua Marina Echo comes with a nice package that includes:

• A Magic travel backpack where you can fit the whole thing
• A dual-action hand pump (15 psi)
• An action camera mount kit
• And a removable fin

Performance

The fact that the Aqua Marina Echo is only 4 inches thick may result in the board submerging underwater a little under heavy load, but once a smaller rider got on it there was no such a thing. Thus; with a weight capacity of 254 lbs; it is better not to hit the weight limit in order for it to deliver its best performance.

Regardless, this board is a very sturdy one that would do a great job helping entry-level riders to come through stand up paddling easily secured and balanced even if it’s their first attempt.

Gliding and tracking are really nice on the Echo; however, it’s by no means a fast board. That’s why it is best used for recreational paddling, touring and fitness if necessary.

Being in the water; controlling the Aqua Marina Echo comes to you almost effortlessly thanks to its slim and responsive body, and that makes it a great board to be used in flat water or to catch some small waves.