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Can you tame the wild Aqua Marina Beast?
The Aqua Marina Beast is one of the better advanced all-around Aqua Marina Stand Up Paddle Boards. A sturdy all-round board to take on many adventures!
Aqua Marina Beast 2021 Update
The new Aqua Marina Beast 2021 has been released and its design has completely changed, in line with the whole 2021 looks of the new Aqua Marina collection. The board has the same length and width as the 2020 version.
The board has become quite lighter, with 19.2lbs / 8.7kg instead of of the previous 20.5 LBS / 9.3 kg. The maximum carrying capacity has remained the same, so it is just easier to carry this board now!
Pro’s
- Allround-board for beginners and more advanced SUP boarders
- Upon purchase you get a complete package so you do not have to incur extra costs to start
- Higher kicktail for easier turning
- Lightweight product that is easy to carry and inflate
- Is wonderful for touring
Cons
- Not so agile due to its width and length
- The board is not fast enough for the advanced SUP boarder (5+ years experience)
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The Aqua Marina Beast inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board is a stable allround board with a size of 10.6′ x 32″ and a thickness of 6″ that feels very comfortable on the water.
With a weight of 19.2 lbs and a maximum carrying capacity of 308 lbs this colorful board is a great choice for many activities and it has a number of nice features.
This board is great for a combination of touring and a bit wilder adventures. Smaller than the Aqua Marina Atlas so better for curves and edges, but not for the longest touring trips.
I liked this board for trips that lasted a couple of hours. I did go out on the ocean with this board, but from coast to coast, not into the deep sea.
Length | Width | Thickness | Max weight load | Weight board |
10’6″ | 32″ | 6″ | 308 LBS / 140 kg | 19.2 LBS / 8.7 kg |
Primary use
All Round / Yoga / Touring / Relaxing
Speed on the water
The board is pretty long, but also wide. Perfect for small tours and catching waves but not suited for racing.
Transport
It is very easy to transport this SUP because it is inflatable and light. Even on your back if you go with a bicycle.
Stability
The board is stable on the water and the weight capacity of 308 lbs is even enough to take a pet or a child along.
My own experience
When I got on this paddle board it really felt better and more stable than the all-round Aqua Marina boards. It has a bigger surface than a Breeze/Vapor/Fusion and is very good for touring.
To be fair this is my second favorite board after the Aqua Marina Atlas, which I prefer a bit more than the Aqua Marina Beast as it is bigger and it enables me to take along a friend for the trip.
However, for catching waves and sharp turns this board is way better. So if you want action this board is the way to go!
The style of the Beast is newer and adapted to modern times, in comparison to the older version of the board. I really like the new design, the blue and yellow will surely attract attention and is also great for safety reasons!
The Aqua Marina Beast is a versatile all-round inflatable SUP Board, which is a nice addition to the existing collection. As for the Aqua Marina collection, this is a bit similar to the Magma / Thrive, the more premium all-round boards.
However, of these boards the Aqua Marina is best suited for touring.
Where the Aqua Marina Fusion and Vapor models are sold very often and have many fans, more and more people are looking for a slightly wider and more stable board with a length of 10’6″.
The thickness of 6″ and the width of 32″ of the Aqua Marina Beast make it an extremely stable paddle board and the board feels very stiff, if it is inflated to the recommended pressure of 15 PSI.
Especially suitable for touring and to take along some extra gear, a child or a pet on your trip.
The board feels very solid and stable, which is of course necessary for longer trips. I like the big EVA-deck so I have grip everywhere.
The addition of the kicktail (just like the Aqua Marina Magma, Triton and Atlas) is great and makes it a lot easier to make turns on the water.
Important features
Setup
β’ Lightweight drop stitch technology
β’ Full deck and base quality printing and rail design for superior optics
β’ Removable slide-in Center Fin
β’ Integrated cargo D-ring with easy-adjustable bungee cord to attach luggage
β’ Comfortable neoprene handle
β’ Tail kick pad for critical bottom turns and cutbacks
β’ Diamond grooving footpad for ultimate grip and comfort
β’ 3-piece adjustable aluminum paddle
β’ Aqua Marina double action pump for fast & easy inflation
Fins
SUP comes with one center fin
Material
The Aqua Marina Beast is made out of lightweight drop stitch material and very sturdy but easy to carry
Inflate / deflate
SUP is inflated in nearly 10 mins with the supplied pump
Warranty
1 year warranty on production errors
Design
Very stylish and modern design
In the package
Paddle
The Aqua Marina Beast stand up paddle board is delivered including an Aqua Marina Sports III Paddle. The Sports III Paddle is an aluminum paddle in 3 parts, that can be height adjusted so it is always on the right length.
To be fair, if you are planning to take long touring trips on the Aqua Marina Beast, you should look at a Carbon Paddle or a Glassfiber one that has more quality than this one.
Check out the best SUP paddles!
Pump
The Aqua Marina Double Action Pump makes sure the job gets done as soon as possible, as it inflates both when the pump is pulled up and when it is pressed down.
Read my full guide on the Best SUP Pumps for 2020
Leash
The board includes a simple Aqua Marina paddle board leash. A straightforward leash without a coil, that is always extended. This version is not as good as the coiled version that is sold separately, but for a free included leash it is good enough.
Backpack
Finally, the supplied backpack. In this respect it is very similar to the ankle cord: it is not made of the best material, but is fine in use and does what you expect from it. Don’t fill the backpack with other heavy stuff, because then it might tear out. Furthermore, it’s big enough to store your board in.
Optional accessories (not included)
Restube classic
Because extra safety measures never hurt anyone!
Aqua Marina Bluedrive Power fin
For those who are too lazy to paddle themselves π
Difference between an Inflatable board and a Hard board
Advantages Inflatable board
- Easy to take on holiday (even on the plane)
- Easy to store in the winter days
- Much cheaper
- Technology has improved greatly over the past 10 years. For this reason, these boards are now almost hard to distinguish from hard boards
Advantages Hardboard
- More speed, which is important if you are a professional
- Easier to make sharp turns on the water because the board is thinner
- No inflation needed, you can get on the water right away
Other reviews of the Aqua Marina Beast online
The Aqua Marina Beast is a very popular Stand Up Paddle Board and has thus been reviewed by many different websites online.
A short overview of these reviews below:
Ebay: Rating 4.8/5. ” Good sturdy material, easy to transport and tons of fun! I suggest buying a better paddle. After adjusting height a couple of times it broke completely. ” (Based on 5 reviews)
Amazon.de: Rating 4.7/5. “Awesome board. Great board at entry level price.
If you’re looking at entry level boards this is the one to go for.”
[amazon fields=” B07HKLZ73B” value=”star_rating”] [amazon fields=”B07HKLZ73B” value=”reviews”]
Frequently Asked Questions about the Aqua Marina Beast
What is the maximum carrying capacity of the Aqua Marina Beast?
308 lbs / 140 kg
What is the weight of the Aqua Marina Beast?
19.2 lbs / 8.7 kg
What is the air pressure of the Aqua Marina Beast?
15 PSI
What is the size of the Aqua Marina Beast?
The Aqua Marina Beast is 10.6′ x 32″ and a thickness of 6″
What is the volume of the Aqua Marina Beast?
300 L
Which paddle does the Aqua Marina Beast include?
The Aqua Marina Sports III Paddle
What kind of pump comes with the Aqua Marina Beast?
The Aqua Marina Double Action Pump Liquid Air V2
How many D-rings does the Aqua Marina Beast have?
9Β D–rings.Β 4Β D–ringsΒ on the nose attached with a bungee cord. 4 MoreΒ D–ringΒ for kayak seat attachment. 1Β D–ringΒ on the tail for ankle leash attachment.
What is the warranty on the Aqua Marina Beast?
1 year warranty
How many carry handles does the Aqua Marina Beast have?
1 comfortable neoprene handle in the center of the board
How many fins does the Aqua Marina Beast have?
1 Large detachable central fin
What material is the Aqua Marina Beast made of?
Lightweight drop stitch technology
Conclusion – Should I buy this board?
In general, the Aqua Marina Beast is an inflatable SUP Board, that is super sturdy, is affordable and has some cool features. This is an ideal Allround-board for beginners and more advanced SUP boarders, and the versatile design makes it possible to paddle in many different circumstances.
The Beast offers a great stiffness thanks to the 6″ thickness and with one fin the board sails surprisingly well.
I love the striking design of this model and the additional SUP leash is a very useful addition. Also the heightened Kick-Tail, that the Aqua Marina Beast has is very practical to make Pivot-Turns and perform other maneuvers.
As said the board is a bit of a combination between a touring board and a board that is more suitable for wilder waters. Do you only want to take long tours? Then I would recommend you to take the Aqua Marina Atlas board instead.
The included accessories are fairly standard, but do what they are made for. In the future I would like to see a handle added to the MAGIC backpack.
All in all I am very impressed by the Aqua Marina Beast iSUP and I can surely recommend this for price-conscious SUP boarders looking for a beautiful Allround iSUP.
What do you think about the Aqua Marina Beast and the design of the board? Do you like the combination of a touring paddle board and a paddle board for wilder water or would you rather have a model dedicated to one purpose?
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and your opinion about this popular board. Where are you from and have you tried this board before? Let me know, I’m looking forward to hear from you!
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Hello Tom.
I was wondering if you could tell me if there is a difference on the amount of D-Rings on the 2020 model compared to earlier models from 2018, 2019?
Best regards
Stefan Nielsen
Hi Stefan,
I do not think anything has changed in this. Aqua Marina is pretty straightforward, the cheaper all-around boards (Fusion / Vapor Breeze) have 7 D-rings so you can attach a seat. The advanced all-around boards (Beast / Triton / Atlas / Magma) have 5 D-rings as they are not meant to attach a kayak seat.
Hope this helps you out with your choice!
Greetings,
Tom
Well, I can see the additional 2 D-rings on the photos of the 2020 Beast, among other subtle improvements.
I read your review and it was very informative – one of the more comprehensive ones Iβve come across. I am wondering about this new model of the AM Beast – I think a lot of reviews out there are for the older model which has a rounder shape and straight edge on the tail. Also, the older model had the camera mount which they have sadly removed. So, in your opinion, is the newer one still of good quality and performs as well? Surely the shape has to change the way it performs and handles different conditions? I am mostly interested in lake paddling and the option to catch some small waves and surf them when at the ocean. I am also wondering if you think this could work as a regular surfboard?!
Hi Lena,
Thank you for your compliment, I am happy you enjoyed my review! The board indeed has a changed shape since 2019, which I think looks better and is more streamlined for a bit more speed. If you do not need the action camera mount there is not that much difference and it will still perform well for touring around on your paddle board. You can float around on the ocean and the waves with this, but the board is too big to work as a regular surfboard. There are inflatable SUP boards especially for this purpose, but I find these are a bit harder to find on the market. These are boards like the MOAI 9’5″, the Aqua Marina Wave and the Red Paddle 8β10β WHIP MSL.
It will be hard to move along with the waves on such a big board as the Aqua Marina Beast, since it lacks the flexibility for these kind of activities.
Greetings,
Tom
Hi Tom!
I’m trying to choose between the Beast and the Coral models, a bit confused at the moment and would be very grateful for an advice.
Any idea, would the Beast be suitable for a female who is a bit on a skinny side? I’ve been reading that the board’s volume and thickness matter a lot. I’m weighting about ~57 kg and a bit concerned if this board might be too big for me. E.g. some sources were suggesting the right volume to be up to 57 x 3 = 171 litres and the thickness of 5 inches (if the board is of good enough quality). And from this point of view Aqua Marina Coral model starts to look like a better match… But I’m a complete beginner and afraid if the Coral turns out not stable enough.
Hi Sabina,
These are two very different boards you are looking at! With your weight both boards will do of course. If you want more versatility you could opt for the Coral, if you want stability for longer touring the Beast would be better.
I would recommend a board in between these two, like the Aqua Marina Vapor. Would that be suitable to you?
Hope you find the right board for you!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for your reply!
Hmm, haven’t considered the Vapor actually. I was so fascinated about the kicktail those more advanced models have (and perhaps a bit better quality in general). The Coral’s problem is that there are literally no reviews available demonstrating its stability level, it feels risky trusting that 12cm thickness, for a very beginner especially π For touring, I don’t plan going for overnight camping, so no high loads expected.
I will continue the search!
Hi Tom,
I was wondering which model will suit the Mediterranean Sea, which has waves. (not like fot river or lake)
Looking for a beginners model with a lot of volume, stable, but also fast.
for men 180cm 70-80KG