GILI 11′ Adventure Inflatable Paddle Board Review

Since we have already reviewed a board by Gili, we can easily give you a clear perspective on what to expect from this brand. However, it must be said that the Gili 11′ Adventure is a special board to say the least.

Now, if you have already checked out the Gili 10’6″ Air iSUP then you’d know what a great entry level board looks like. However, now, it is time for an upgraded version, an iSUP that is both user friendly and aggressive.

Indeed, the Gili 11’ Adventure is one of the brand’s greatest contributions to the market of inflatable stand up paddle boards and that calls for a serious break-down.

So, without further ado, let us take a closer look at this board and hopefully help you make up your mind.

GILI 11′ Adventure Review – Features & Specs

Measurements

When it comes down to buying an iSUP, you must base your decision on size primarily. Why, you might wonder? Well, as you might have guessed, inflatable SUPs like all SUPs are not a one size fits all & that calls for some serious measurement.

First, the length of a board is often an indicator of performance and compatibility. Hence, Gili decided to go with 11 feet for this board because it is long enough to cut through the water swiftly without reducing stability.

Also, at this length, the board is guaranteed to match the profile of most young adult and adult paddlers out there easily.

Moreover, length is important but without a solid width ratio, it is at a great risk of going upside down.

Literally, the board at hand would not handle well if not for its width of 32 inches. Looking at this Gili, you can tell that it was designed cleverly to give it an aggressive attire while still keeping some of that much needed balance in the center area. That way, you won’t have to struggle much in order to maintain your balance on the go.

The third dimension you must keep in mind is the thickness of the board because it entails a lot of its strength and endurance.

In fact, the Gili 11′ Adventure iSUP is granted a 6 inches thick hull just so it can cancel out any concern you have about bending under pressure. A completely logical concern for people with thinner boards is that of literally snapping at the center under excessive weight. However, that couldn’t be further from happening to this Gili thanks to its thickness, which allows the board to handle up to 290 pounds.

Quality

As far as quality is concerned, you might as well just go and read about the previous Gili 10’6″ Air iSUP we reviewed because there isn’t a single change.

Accordingly, the board at hand is built to outlast its environment and that becomes evident once you realize that it is built from the same stuff found in zodiac boats. Indeed, the Gili at hand is made of military strong PVC layers that completely shelter it for casual and even extreme friction.

If you thought that was all you needed to have a strong paddle board then you’d be wrong because Gili isn’t satisfied with a strong suit. In fact, the brand at hand takes the next step and stitches all their boards with an industrial drop stitching technique that perfectly seals every seem on the hull, annihilating most puncture scenarios.

Finally, to make sure everything works as intended, Gili takes its boards on a little torture journey where their inflatable paddle boards go under the toughest tests to measure their exact durability and to give you a little idea about what kind of strength to expect here: keep in mind that these boards can take the weight of an SUV.

Features

As far as features are concerned, It doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Gili Sports is actually here to make a solid first impression. Thus, since this is one of their first boards, it makes sense to see all these features lined up:

• First thing that must be acknowledged is the nicely designed gripping pad, covering almost the entire platform. If there is anything you will notice the most on a board it is the gripping pad because it will help you a great deal maintain balance and even manoeuver when it comes down to it.

• An interesting touch to the Gili at hand are the separate cargo nets on the nose and tail. Indeed, this is one of the few boards ever to feature 2 nets. However, you can’t really complain because it can only mean more room to store your clothes, paddles, fishing rods or whatever you find while cruising.

• More importantly, the Gili 11′ Adventure also features a triple fin navigation system similar to that on the entry level board. Now, this doesn’t mean it is a beginner board but it can definitely slide under that category as well, given the fact that it’s going to be both easy to track and navigate.

• If you fear to struggle with on land transportation then worry not because the Gili 11′ Adventure iSUP at hand comes with a nifty central handle to help you carry it around individually. However, you can always use the handles on the nose and tail when you have someone who can help.

Performance

Performance wise, you can already tell where we’re going with this article since we could hardly find anything negative to point out on this board. Nonetheless, it should be noted that while this board can be adopted by a beginner, it is far more fitting to someone who knows his way around a paddle board.

Indeed, the Gili Sports 11′ Adventure is a little bit of a feisty board and that means it is both swift and responsive. Thus, you can definitely imagine some struggling beginners and ecstatic amateurs riding this thing around.

Packaging

It is undeniable the effect accessories have on your paddling experience. For that matter, GILI 11′ iSUP is featured with everything you’ll need to maintain and enjoy it right out of the box.

• Hybrid carbon fiber paddle
• Inflatable backpack
• High-pressure hand pump
• Coiled leash
• Snap-in center fin
• 2 years warranty iSUP