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The highest quality paddle board for children
The Bluefin Cruise Junior is the children’s version of the board I chose as best Stand Up Paddle Board of this year, the Bluefin Cruise. Just like its big brother the board is of very high quality and it includes an overly complete and high quality package with all necessary accessories.
Because the board includes a 2-in-1 kayak paddle and a kayak seat it is also easy for the child to sit down and paddle when he or she is getting tired. This option offers a whole new dimension of paddling and makes this children’s paddle board far more complete than any other on the market.
Also included in the package are a coiled leash, double action pump, backpack, waterproof phone case and a repair kit. So there is absolutely everything you need included, you will not need anything else to get out on the water.
The board is amazing as far as a children’s paddle board goes and is absolutely worth the purchase. At the moment the price is very much fluctuating and Bluefin often offers discounts, so it is worth watching the current coupons to see if discounts are available.
Pro’s
- Great price for a complete package with the best accessories
- Very stable and reliable board
- Great for children and can be used long because of the 120 kg max. weight
- Convertible paddle and kayak seat included
- Very big grip deck with kick pad
Cons
- Not suitable for people over 65-70 kg / 143-154 lbs
- Only 13 cm / 5.1″ thick
- No length indicator on the paddle
The Bluefin Cruise Junior is most suitable for:
The Bluefin Cruise Junior is the smaller version of the extremely popular Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ Paddle Board that I have reviewed before. The board is smaller and thinner so it is easy to carry along and use for children, but the technology and all the included accessories of this board are the same. So this board also included a 2-in-1 fiberglass paddle and a kayak seat.
I tried out this board once and to be honest I’m too heavy for this board, so I am not the target audience for this board. My girlfriend tried it out, as you can see on pictures below, but even she seems near the weight limit.
To be honest I don’t understand how Bluefin can indicate a maximum carrying weight of 120 kg / 265 lbs for this board (only 10 kg / 22 lbs below the bigger and thicker Bluefin Cruise). This board should only be used by people up to 65-70 kg /143-154 lbs, after that you should surely switch to the Bluefin Cruise.
It is a nice and complete package, but I thought it could take more when I read the high maximum carrying capacity. Make no mistake, this board is only suitable for children.
For children this is a stable and pretty fast board. The total weight of the board is 10 kg / 22 lbs, which makes it doable for children to carry along in the supplied backpack. The quality of the board is good and it is not wobbly when inflated well (about 18 PSI). With all the gear that is supplied you can be sure you have everything to go out with your child.
I just want to emphasize again that you should never let your child out of sight on the water and you should never let them go out without supervision. Also make sure to take enough precautions for safety and have them wear a life vest or a Restube in case they fall off.
This is a very high quality board for children and so far I have not seen a better and more complete package for children. Bluefin offers an amazing 5 year warranty on all of their boards! (only matched by Red Paddle). They also offer 1 year manufacturing warranty on the included accessories.
So no matter what happens you can be sure that you have a very high quality board for your child that will not break soon. With the complete package they can even sit down and paddle, which further reduces the chance that they will fall into the water.
For an all-around paddle board for children this is your most complete high quality option, but the price of the board is pretty high (unless you find a discount).
Length | Width | Thickness | Max weight load | Weight board |
8’0″ | 29.1″ | 5.1″ | 265 LBS / 120 kg | 22 LBS / 10 kg |
Primary use
All Round / Children
Speed on the water
The board is designed for children, and with a low weight on it it has a decent speed. Put an adult on this to weigh it down and it will be rather slow.
Transport
The board has a weight of 22 LBS / 10 kg and is not that hard to carry for a child with the easy backpack. They might need some help with this though, depending on their age and size.
Stability
The 8’0″ length, 29″ width and the 5.1″ thickness would make this a wobbly board for adults, but for children this is very stable. Just don’t put too much weight on it.
My own experience
As said before the board was not able to handle all my muscles and the board was bending through. That is why my girlfriend tried this board out instead of me. She still experienced it as rather uncomfortable compared to the Bluefin Cruise, that is the reason why we would not recommend it for children over 14 years old.
You can guess that the unpacking of the board was exactly the same as the Bluefin Cruise. Loads of gear, but this time I actually expected to find all of this. Great quality items and a load of packaging materials to find in this box.
The inflating of the Bluefin Cruise Junior is of course the same as it goes with the normal Bluefin Cruise. It took me just over 3 minutes to inflate this Stand Up Paddle Board, which is one of the fastest to do because of the small size. Below you can see the quick version of me inflating the board.
As you can imagine with this small board it was easy to carry it to the water and my girlfriend was ready quickly for paddling. Compared to the Bluefin Cruise and the Bluefin Cruise Carbon this is a completely different and more unstable board for adults like us (we’re only childish, not children).
The fiberglass paddle is also included here so you can paddle along the water easily, even though it took a bit of balancing not to tip over. Once again, we are not the target audience but still wanted to try out this paddle board, this board is a lot more stable when you are shorter and less heavy.
The Bluefin Cruise Junior has two extra D-rings on the back compared to the Bluefin Cruise? And to be really honest, I have no clue what these are for! Is anyone reading this can tell me what the purpose of these 2 extra D-rings on the back is ;-)?
The croco-diamond grip deck offers a lot of grip and makes sure you can stay on the board correctly without slipping. The kick pad makes turns easier because you can lift up the board a bit.
Although I must say this board did not feel stable enough with our weight to go try this out. As it wasn’t a really hot day (we do not have many of those in the Netherlands) we weren’t making it too risky as we did not want to fall in the water today π
The Bluefin Cruise Junior is not as pointy in the front as the Bluefin Cruise because of the width, but it still allows a decent speed with lower weights.
The advantage of the 2-in-1 paddle and the kayak seat is greater here for adults, as the weight is closer to the board now, which made the board feel a lot more stable for us compared to standing up. This is also recommended for children that are too tired from standing up all the time but still want to paddle around and relax.
I am convinced this is the best Stand Up Paddle board for children available on the market with the most complete package. When you have a small child and you want it to start paddle boarding this is the best and safest way to start trying out the sport.
On a later age you can still upgrade the board to a Bluefin Cruise or a Bluefin Cruise Carbon when the child has grown up and still enjoys getting out on the water frequently, but this board will offer great pleasure for quite some years to come.
Important features
Setup
- 1000 Denier Exo Surface Laminate PVC & Pro Weave Drop Stitch
- Non-slip croco-diamond deck pad is comfortable underfoot, offering extra grip & traction
- 11 D-rings. Bungee cord on the front, one for attaching your leash, 4 for the included kayak-seat, 2 at the back
- 3 Comfortable grip handles for carrying, in the middle of the board, the front and back
- Fixed Action Camera Mount on the front of the board
Fins
The Bluefin Cruise Junior board has 2 small fins and one big fin, of which the big fin is removable. The fins are high quality and very strong. The big fin is easily attachable and removable without tools due to the US Box Fin System.
Material
The board is made out of 1000 Denier Exo Surface Laminate PVC & Pro Weave Drop Stitch. 11200 stitches of 500 denier space yarn per square metre make for one rigid board.
Inflate / deflate
The Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board is inflated in just over 3 minutes (or at least I can!) with the supplied Double Action Hand Pump. The board can be inflated up to 28 PSI, but the recommended pressure is 15-18 PSI.
Warranty
Bluefin offers an amazing 5-year warranty on the board and a 1-year warranty on the accessories (manufacturing warranty for accessories)
Design
This board has a nice blue an white design with a big black Croco-Diamond Deck pad + Kick Pad
In the package
Paddle
The paddle that is included with the Bluefin Cruise Junior is a Bluefin 4-Piece adjustable and convertible paddle, which is lightweight and very strong and durable because it is made out of fiberglass. It can not only be used as a SUP paddle, but also as a kayak paddle. Which is perfect together with the supplied kayak seat.
Pump
The Bluefin Cruise Junior includes a comfortable and easy hand pump with double action function. As you have seen me inflate the board in just over 3 minutes this cannot possible get much better. Did you know if you go the lazy way with an electric pump it will take you over 10 minutes? You’re less tired, but you miss the pre-workout!
Leash
The leash that is included with Bluefin Cruise Junior paddle board leash is a coiled leash, which is great because it only extends if you actually fall in the water. So it is never in your way when you are paddling. The leash can be attached to the D-ring on the back of the board, so you will never lose your board and you can pull yourself up when you end up in an underwater current.
Backpack
The Bluefin paddle board backpack is very comfortable because of the extra back and strap padding on the extra wide straps. It has some handy outside pockets and the zippers are webbing reinforced. This can easily hold your Bluefin Cruise Junior paddle board and all the supplied accessories. As there are no wheels on this you will have to carry it, but with the light weight of the Bluefin Cruise Junior this is very easy to do.
Kayak seat
The Kayak seat is a great addition to the Bluefin Cruise Junior as you can sit down and paddle, which makes the stability a lot higher for people who are near the weight limit. Your child will surely want to try this out as it is a nice and comfortable way to enjoy nature and you only have to work out your upper body instead of a full body workout.
Optional accessories (not included)
Restube classic
Because extra safety measures never hurt anyone!
Bluefin Electric SUP pump
For those who donβt want the exercise before getting on the board.
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 Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board online
The Bluefin Cruise Junior is an excellent Stand Up Paddle Board for children and it has some reviews online already.
A short overview of some of the reviews of the Bluefin Cruise Junior below:
Welovewatersports.com: “The Bluefin Cruise Junior is definitely not a cheap board, but considering the high-quality construction, the extensive and high-quality accessories and the incredibly long warranty of five years, the price is definitely justified. While other manufacturers sometimes save massively on the quality of the board and especially on the accessories, you notice the Bluefin Cruise its class.”
Inflatableboarder.com: “An ideal board for the kiddos, the 8β² Bluefin Cruise Junior is loaded with the same great features and accessories as the company’s popular full-sized boards. This versatile youth SUP provides outstanding durability and provides a stable, confidence-inspiring platform for younger paddlers.”
Amazon: Rating 4.6/5. “I’m totally satisfied. It is easy to handle, lies stable in the water and rides great. I have been on the water with it 6 times now and I don’t want to miss it anymore. I was always sceptical if such inflatable SUPs are good for something – this one definitely is! π Have fun⦔ – Based on 773 customer reviews as on 11th of May 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board
What is the size of the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
Length: 8’0″ Width: 29″, Thickness: 6’0″
What is the maximum carrying capacity of the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
265 lbs / 120 kg
What is included when purchasing the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
Bluefin backpack, Convertible and height adjustable fiberglass paddle, Bluefin coiled leash, Double Action Hand Pump, Kayak seat, Waterproof Phone Cover
What is the weight of the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
22 lbs / 10 kg
How many fins does the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board have?
3 fins, 2 small fins and one big removable fin
How many D-rings does the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board have?
11 D-rings. Bungee cords on front, one for attaching your leash, 4 for optional kayak-seat.
How long is the warranty on the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
The warranty on this board is 5 years
Does the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board have an action-camera mount?
Yes
How many handles does the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board have?
It has 3 handles, on the front, middle and back of the board
What pressure can the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board be inflated to?
It can be inflated up to 28 PSI, but the recommended pressure is 15-18 PSI
How long does it take to inflate the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board?
About 3.5 minutes with the supplied double action pump
Conclusion – Should I buy the Bluefin Cruise Junior?
This board is the best Stand Up Paddle Board for children that is available on the market and will surely last for a long time. The high quality of the Bluefin Cruise board has been kept and the same goes for the accessories. Only the size of the board is different, the rest is basically all the same high quality you can expect from a Bluefin SUP Board.
That said, I expected a bit higher carrying capacity from this board, as it claims 120 kg / 265 lbs as maximum carrying weight. I think this is incorrect, because even my girlfriend saw the board bending through a bit (or maybe I should have inflated it harder?). So I would not recommend this board to anyone over 65-70 kg / 143-154 lbs.
If your child is 14 years or older I would recommend you to purchase the Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ paddle board instead, as this will last longer and the board is a lot more sturdy for higher weights. Also you will be able to enjoy the board yourself instead of only the child, or you could even go out on it together.
As with the other Bluefins boards you will get a 5 year warranty, so you can be sure that the board will be of high quality and nearly unbreakable. Because they also have a notoriously great customer service in this family oriented company you can be sure you will be helped out the best way you can. For small leaks there is a repair kit supplied with the package, so you can keep on going.
As said the package comes with the same advantages as the Bluefin Cruise and the same accessories. The board is very strong and stiff (up to 70 kg/154 lbs), convertible fiberglass paddle included, kayak seat included, a good quality double action hand pump, nice backpack and coiled leash, 11 D-rings, a big grip deck with kick pad, an action camera mount, 3 grip handles, 3 fins (of which the big one is removable), incredible customer service and 5 year warranty. So nothing else to wish for when it comes to a children’s paddle board!
For a children’s board this is one of the very few, or maybe the only package I have seen that included a kayak seat and a 2-in-1 (fiberglass) paddle for free that allows the child to also sit down and paddle if it prefers to do so. This makes this Stand Up Paddle board the most complete package available for children.
The price is very unstable at the moment, it seems to cost a fortune in the US at the moment, in Europe it is a lot more affordable. I want to recommend everyone that wants to purchase this board to check out the Bluefin Coupon Codes. Currently a coupon is offered for 40% off of the purchase price of the Bluefin Cruise Junior, which is a huge bargain.
As these are “daily deals” (I have seen them on there for a bit longer though) you might want to snatch them up quick before they disappear. But this is interesting for anyone that wants to purchase a Bluefin SUP Board.
All in all: The package is complete and the 5-year warranty will not be topped by anyone else. Check out the current price and discounts on this board before buying to save some money and only purchase this board for smaller children (under +- 14 years).
What are your thoughts about the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board? Do you have a special Stand Up Paddle board for your child, or do they just use an adult board? What age/size are your children?
Do you think there are better children’s boards on the market that I should have a look at? I’m wondering what other people do on the topic of children’s boards, no kidding!
Thanks for this neat review of the bluefin 8β iSUP! Iβm petite, 1m50 for 50kg, and I am debating between the junior 8β and the 10β8β bluefin boards.
You mentioned that the 8β turned out to be too small for your girlfriend β may I ask how tall she is?