Aqua Marina Monster Review

Aqua Marina announced the return of the infamous Aqua Marina Monster for 2021! What once used to be the most popular model in the Aqua Marina series along with the Aqua Marina Fusion suddenly disappeared from the series and got replaced by the Aqua Marina Atlas.

The Atlas will still remain in the collection though, the Aqua Marina Monster is being added to the All Around series for the 2021 season of Aqua Marina. The All Around series contains the most popular models of the brand, the Fusion, the Monster, the Vapor and the Breeze.

I’m glad this popular model is returning to the series, as it used to be one of my favorites as well. The board has a completely new design, but is still just as suitable for touring and offers extra stability.

The Aqua Marina Monster is most suitable for:

The Monster is best suited for people looking for extra stability when touring the water. The large surface area gives you a lot of carrying surface and can also be used to defy slightly wilder waters with this.

Because of the greater stability and the larger size, the board is ideal for beginners, especially people who have less than 3 years of SUP boarding experience and are not looking for high speeds. This board is really aimed at the recreational, relaxing market.

Primary use
All Round / Yoga / Touring / Relaxing

Speed on the water
The board is quite long and wide, so the speed is low. Therefore, it is all about stability and less about speed with the Aqua Marina Monster.

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 quite stable on the water. With 374 LBS / 170 kg carrying weight, depending on the persons, you can possibly also ride this board with two people.

My own experience

The new Aqua Marina Monster actually feels like old times again, almost nostalgic I felt when I stepped on the board 😉 . The stability is very high and is comparable to the Aqua Marina Atlas, also because the design is now more similar.

I like the new design, the grip deck is now also red where it was previously black. The Aqua Marina Monster is a lot more modern and it even allows a SUP kayak seat (unfortunately not included like with the Bluefin Cruise) to be used on it nowadays, which was not the case with the old version.

The thickness of 6″ / 15 cm is now standard with almost the entire Aqua Marina series (only the Breeze and the Coral still have a 4.7″ / 12 cm thickness), so the boards will not bend easily in combination with the drop-stitch construction.

Aqua Marina made a big mistake in my opinion when they removed this board from the collection in 2018, I’m glad they fixed it. For a relatively low price, you get a complete package with the Aqua Marina Monster, which allows you to start right away without having to buy additional accessories.

Important features

Setup

• Full deck and base quality printing and rail design for superior optics
• Removable slide-in Center Fin
• Integrated cargo D-rings with easy-adjustable bungee cord to attach luggage
• Extra D-rings to install a paddle board kayak seat
• Comfortable neoprene handle in the middle
• Honeycomb grooving footpad for ultimate grip and comfort

Fins
The Aqua Marina Monster has one fin, in the middle of the tail

Material
The board is made of lightweight drop stitch material that is very sturdy and makes the board last.

Inflate / deflate
The board is fully inflated in about 10 minutes if you use the free pump provided.

Warranty
1 year warranty on production errors

Design
Beautiful and striking design adapted to modern times

In the package of the Aqua Marina Monster

Paddle

The Aqua Marina Monster comes with the standard Aqua Marina Sports III Paddle. This is an aluminum paddle that consists of three parts. This way you can easily adjust the height so that it always has the right length.

The paddle has also received a new design that fits well with modern times and looks very sleek. It should be noted, however, that this paddle weighs 1100 grams, which is relatively heavy. As indicated, I recommend a lighter carbon or fiberglass paddle for longer touring.

I sometimes read on the Internet complaints from people who are very tall. They experience the paddle as too short. I am 181 cm tall myself and I have no problems with this. Also people who are at least 10 cm taller should have no problems with this in my opinion.

Check out the Best SUP Paddles for 2021

Pump

The Aqua Marina Double Action pump that is included is simple but does its job well. In 8 to 10 minutes, depending on your pace, you should easily have the board inflated. The pressure gauge clearly indicates how hard the board is inflated, the recommended pressure for the Aqua Marina Monster is 15 PSI.

With a simple click you can switch from single action to double action. When you start you put the pump on double action, so you pump twice as much air. For the last few PSI you use the single action option, which makes it a little lighter to inflate the board further.

Read my full guide on the
Best SUP Pumps for 2021

Leash

You will receive a free Aqua Marina Ankle Cord with every order. This is a very standard ankle cord that does what it is supposed to do. The ankle cord is definitely not the best I’ve ever worn, but it’s fine to start with. For a free product, it’s more than fine!

Do you ever want to buy a better ankle cord? Then look into what is called a “coiled leash”. This is a kind of elastic coil that only expands when you fall into the water, so it never gets in the way while paddling itself.

Backpack

Aqua Marina’s included backpack has also received a makeover and looks a lot better than the previous version. Included with the Aqua Marina Monster is the L size backpack, which measures 94 x 46 x 27 cm.

This backpack has an ergonomic shape, extra padded shoulder straps and an extra pocket on the inside to store fins or other accessories or belongings. The bag can also be picked up at the top or side with the extra handles, but I can say from experience that this is pretty heavy despite all my rock-hard fitness training.

Optional accessories (not included)

Restube classic
Because extra safety measures never hurt anyone!

Buy Restube Classic

Aqua Marina SUP Kayak Seat
Turn your SUP board into a kayak and paddle on sitting down with back support!

Buy SUP Seat

Difference between an Inflatable board and a Hard board

Other reviews of the Aqua Marina Monster online

The Aqua Marina Monster is a sought-after board and the 2021 version is once again finding eager buyers. At the moment there are no reviews online about the 2021 version of the Aqua Marina Monster. I am so innovative, aren’t I? Maybe I will give others the idea to do the same.

Normally in this section I give an overview of reviews from other websites, but since there are only reviews of the old version of the Monster online I will not do that yet.

If I find them later I will add them here. If you have written or found a review about the Aqua Marina Monster 2021, please let me know in the comments! Who knows, you might receive an autographed picture of me on my SUP board. (Or not 🤣)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Aqua Marina Monster

Comparison of the Aqua Marina Monster 2018 and the Aqua Marina Monster 2021

Here you can see the 2021 version of the Aqua Marina Monster. If you remember the old version you will probably recognize the red color, but the design is very different and aligned to the rest of the 2021 collection.

The size has remained almost the same as the last (2018) version, with 12′ x 33″ (the 2018 version was 12′ x 32″) and the same thickness. The board has become lighter because of the improved technology over the last years and the new version can carry 10 kg more, with a total carrying capacity of 170 kg.

The package is very complete including a backpack, double action pump, sports III paddle, the fin and a SUP leash.

Be sure to check for updates, when I can get my hands on this board I will make sure to write an extensive review about it and add pictures as well as soon as possible.

Here you can see some closer details of the new Aqua Marina Monster, like the Fin, the valve, the D-rings (kayak seat not included in the package!), carry handle, the grip deck and the bungee cord.

Conclusion: Should I buy this board?

The Aqua Marina Monster is a fantastically sturdy and stable inflatable SUP board that virtually anyone can stay stable on. Due to the large surface area, beginners are less likely to fall into the water than models like the Aqua Marina Vapor or Aqua Marina Breeze.

Suitable for touring and all-around use, this SUP is aimed at beginners looking for some extra stability in their first Stand Up Paddle Board. The Aqua Marina Monster can easily last several years due to the high quality drop-stitch construction and is sure to give you a lot of fun.

Due to the width of the board, it is not suitable for high speeds or racing, but is really for traveling longer distances or even getting out on the water together. The maximum carrying weight of 374 LBS / 170 kg can often handle two people (depending on the number of gained COVID weight).

For most people who have not been on a SUP board before, this board is even nicer than the popular Aqua Marina Fusion, because it offers even more stability. The package contains everything you need (unless you really want a SUP seat) and you can get on the water right away. (Inflating it first recommended 😏)

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Have you never owned a SUP board before and also want the opportunity to go on the water together? Then the Aqua Marina Monster is a very good choice for you!