Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board Review

Hello and welcome to my Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board Review! On one of the warmer days these summer I took this board out on the water and made as many pictures of it as I could. This colorful board gave me a day full of fun and I will write all about this in my extensive review.

I will tell you all about my experience with the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board, for which purposes it can be used, what the complete package consists of in terms of extra accessories and of course my personal pictures and tips when it comes to this board. Check out my complete review and pictures to get a good impression of this board and see if this is a suitable board for you.

Overall I had a lot of fun on the water with this colorful board and for certain audiences this is absolutely a very good board.

So let’s get started with a short summary of the Glide O2 Retro paddle board, the pros and cons and what it can primarily be used for.

Most suitable for:

The Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board is perfectly suited for all beginners in Stand Up Paddle boarding that want extra stability on the water and have some fun while enjoying their surroundings. Of course you have to be someone who is into retro and loves this specific look, personally I surely do like this look a lot.

The board is not focused on catching waves and going through wild rivers, but small waves and flat water will make this board excel in its purpose. This board is mainly focused on starters and people who have less than 5 years of SUP experience. The most important aspects of this boards are sportiness and fun, because of the extra width it also offers a good and stable platform for Yoga exercises and possibly taking along a child or pet.

Length

10'6"

Width

33"

Thickness

6"

Weight

23LBS

Max Rider Weight

400LBS

Max Air Pressure

15PSI

Board type

Inflatable/Beginner

Skill

Beginner

Primary use
All Round / Yoga / Relaxing

Speed on the water
The board is short and has some extra width, so it is less meant for speed and more for extra stability.

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. The weight of only 23 lbs / 10.4 kg is very easy to carry along.

Stability
The board is very stable because of the mentioned 33.5″ width of the board, so you have extra stability for Yoga exercises or other purposes where stability goes over speed.

My own experience

I managed to find one more sunny day in the wettest summer ever in the Netherlands – such exciting times! Happy to get out of the house and office and finally enjoy again what I love doing most. This bright board cheered me up as soon as I unpacked it. I am really into retro designs and I loved this shiny board when I saw it and was happy to try it out on the water.

After testing out the Goosehill Sailor, I would choose that board over the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board.

Click to read the Goosehill Sailor review

To be fair I hadn’t heard a lot of the Glide SUP brand before trying out this board, but now I have discovered it I am surely a fan of the brand and its design. Not only the design of the board is great, but the quality of the board is also very good.

This board does include a very complete package with all the necessary accessories (including a SUP kayak seat) so you can get started with Stand Up Paddling quickly after your purchase.

The board offers a lot of extra stability compared to other paddle boards of this length, the size of 10’6 x 33.5″ x 6″ ensures it is very stable and its suitable for Yoga exercises for example. The board was very stiff after inflation, without it wobbling or bending through while paddling over the water.

According to the Glide website, this board has a weight limit of 400 lbs, I haven’t been able to max this out myself, but it seems like a reasonable limit for this board.

So possibly you could try to carry along a second person, depending on your total weight. I didn’t go out with my girlfriend on this day, but I imagine we could paddle around on this board together.

The weight of the board is only 23 LBS / 10.4 kg, so compared to that the carrying capacity is very high. The board is easy to carry and inflate, even though the included pump honestly isn’t my favorite one. The pump is small and it is pretty heavy to inflate the board, but the connection to the SUP board is good and stays in place, unlike with many other pumps.

Just like some other paddle boards that I have tested before the raised nose makes a big difference in regards to the speed and the performance of this inflatable paddle board. As it reduces water resistance it becomes easier to get through the water and reach higher speeds with less effort.

As said this board feels very stable and it feels like I am standing on high quality and I don’t believe this board would break any time soon. What you will notice first (besides the bright colors) are the big and comfortable deck, with D-rings for a kayak paddle board seat to be attached to the board. The seat and footrest are included, a second blade for the paddle is not though!

There are 4 D-rings for the smaller bungee cord at the front of the board, 4 D-rings for the attachment of a paddle board kayak seat, 2 D-rings for the footrest and one D-ring on the tail for ankle leash attachment.

The board is very easy to carry and inflate at any location. The included backpack is very comfortable and is big enough to carry all of your stuff. The backpack has wheels and a big front pocket for easy transport. The board is suitable for all (semi) quiet types of water, where it will perform very well. As the board has a raised nose it is easier to ride small waves and choppy waters, as they will not slow you down as much as they would on a plain flat paddle board.

For longer trips or cruises, this board is perfect, and you can stash away enough stuff in the big bungee cord to stay out for the day. Personally, I wouldn’t go out camping with my paddle board, but I can imagine that people who like it would pick this board to do this.

The quality of the complete package of the Glide O2 Retro paddle board was very impressive, and it offers a lot to get started right away. So you have everything you need to get started and go out on the water without too much effort and without having to buy extra accessories.

Especially the lightweight paddle with reinforced blade construction and fiberglass shaft was a very great accessory. Easy to paddle through the water because of the low weight – 822 grams / 29 oz. The paddle has a nice shape. The clicking system is unique and ensures that the handle of the paddle can’t turn, which works great!

Admittedly, the high-capacity SUP pump could have worked better, as it is kinda small and it is pretty heavy to inflate the paddle board with it.

Overall the accessories that are included in the Glide O2 Retro paddle board package are very suitable for every beginner in Stand Up Paddleboarding.

The central fin on the board can easily be removed with the US fin system. Honestly, I would prefer a 3-fin system, but this is the next best option for a steady course on your stand-up paddle board.

Important features

Setup

• Full-Length EVA Deck Pad that covers the whole length of the board, which ensures you will always keep your stability, even with wet feet.
• 11 D-rings. 4 D-rings on the nose attached with a bungee cord. 4 More D-ring for kayak seat attachment. 2 extra D-rings for the attachment of the kayak footrest. 1 D-ring on the tail for ankle leash attachment.
• Comfortable neoprene handle in the middle, front and back of the board
• Bungeed cargo carrying space

Fins
The Glide O2 Retro paddle board comes with a removable slide-in center fin, that connects through a USA style fin box.

Material
The Glide O2 Retro paddle board is made with the Glide fusion inflatable technology makes the Glide boards ultra-durable.

Inflate / deflate
The Glide O2 Retro paddle board is inflated to 15 PSI in 4,5 minutes with the included high pressure pump. The website indicates 5-10 minutes for this process.

Warranty
All Glide inflatable boards have a 2 year warranty

Design
Very colorful retro design that will attract attention from everyone on the water. Beautiful use of colors and shapes, one of the most beautiful boards I have reviewed.

Included in the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board package

Paddle

The Glide O2 Retro paddle board has a reinforced blade construction and fiberglass shaft paddle included in the package. The total weight of 822 grams / 29 oz is very light so your arms won’t get tired quick. As it is height adjustable from 70″-86″ it will be suitable for almost anyone.

The ergonomic grip that the paddle has on top makes it easy to paddle over the water quickly and efficiently. The handle locks in place well, so it will not turn while you are out paddling, as can be annoying with other paddles.

Check out the Best SUP Paddles for 2023

Pump

The Glide O2 Retro High capacity SUP pump that comes with the package is rather small, but can easily be used to inflate your board. In 4,5 minutes, I inflated this board up to the recommended 15 PSI. The pressure gauge clearly indicates how hard the board has been inflated, but it starts at around 5 PSI, before that, you will not see the pressure.

The pump has handy handgrips and footpads to inflate the board quickly. The connection to the board works very well, so the hose will not disconnect while pumping. The pressure gauge is clear and shows you which pressure should be used. This board is so sturdy that it can be inflated up to 25 PSI, but that will take a lot more pumping!

Just like the paddle this easily fits into the backpack for transporting it outside and on the water, so you will never have to worry about where to leave it.

Read my full guide on the Best SUP Pumps for 2023

Leash

The Glide O2 Retro paddle board comes with a great and comfortable coiled SUP leash, as I always recommend in my reviews. Everyone should have this type of leash with them when going out on the water. The comfortable padding on the inside of the ankle strap ensures that you will not hurt your legs or ankle, you will forget your are wearing it along the way.

The leash extends up to 10′ when you happen to land in the water. The Glide 10 foot Coil Leash with keep you safe by keeping your board closer. Whether it’s whitewater or cold water this inexpensive swivel leash is built with functionality and safety in mind.

Backpack

The Glide O2 Retro backpack feels very comfortable on my back and is very easy to carry around – or roll around with the handy wheels on the bottom of the bag. It’s a lightweight board, so I only used the wheels when the surface was very easy to roll over.

The backpack has a great retro design that goes with the board and a very handy big front pocket, where you can keep a lot of stuff in to carry along.

Fin

The center fin that is included with the Glide O2 Retro paddle board can be installed with very little effort through the US fin box, no screwdriver needed! The middle fun improves the straight line of the board and keeps you on a good course.

As the fin box is universal, it is also possible to use fins of different manufacturers or fins for different purposes in this setup.

Repair kit

The repair kit that’s included with the Glide O2 Retro paddle board comes in a handy red floating tube, that is easy to carry along and that floats on the water. The kit includes some PVC patches (although you need to mess up quite badly to damage this sturdy board) and a valve wrench.

Kayak Seat and Carry Strap

It’s very nice that Glide includes a kayak seat and a carry strap for their SUP package. If you ever get tired of paddling on your feet or you simply want to explore more, you can always install the seat and enjoy the horizon.

Optional accessories (not included)

OutdoorMaster Shark Electric Pump
In case you don’t feel like a workout before getting on your paddle board. See my review here.

Buy OutdoorMaster Shark

OutdoorMaster Whale Electric Pump is a fantastic battery pump that can inflate up to 5 (FIVE!) boards on a single charge. See my review here.

Buy OutdoorMaster Whale

Difference between an Inflatable board and a Hard board

Other reviews of the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board online

The Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board is a very popular Stand Up Paddle Board and has gathered quite a lot of reviews on the internet.

A short overview of these reviews below:

Rating 8.5/10. “We came away fairly impressed with Glide’s Retro 10’6 iSUP. We really like the full length deckpad, the solid build quality and focus on making a durable inflatable paddle board. The color/design really makes the board stand out in a crowd, and we really like the ‘retro’ look and cruiser feel of this SUP. We feel confident that beginner paddlers will have a great experience with this board. They could also confidently slide into a SUP YOGA or SUPFIT class. Should they want to use it as a kayak, that is included as well.”

Supboardguide.com

“The 02 range of inflatable SUPs uses only the most advanced manufacturing processes and materials available. The Glide 02 Retro 10’6” iSUP is a great example of a classic all-round paddle board that offers versatile paddling in all waters which is ideally suited for recreational paddlers of all levels.”

Standupandpaddleboards.com

Conclusion: Should I buy the Glide O2 Retro paddle board?

The Glide O2 Retro paddle board is the best looking inflatable paddle board that I have tested so far and it comes in a very complete package. This inflatable paddle board is suitable for all-around use and mostly aimed at beginners that want to start with paddle boarding on a hip and high quality board.

As the design of the board includes a raised nose it will be easier for you to glide through the water with less resistance, so you are able to reach higher speeds than on a regular flat paddle board. This board can be used on different types of water, but for wilder waves and rivers it is not recommended to take this board due to the lower agility.

The weight limit is high with 400 lbs, so it should in many cases be possible to take along a second person on this inflatable paddle board. The width of 33.5″ offers extra stability, which also makes it great for slower practices like fishing or Yoga exercises.

If you don’t have a board yet and you want a board with an amazing retro design, this board is surely what you should go for.

Overall the Glide O2 Retro paddle board is a very high quality board, that performs well but it slightly high priced compared to other boards in this segment. If you have a larger budget and you are really into retro design this will absolutely be worth it though.

After testing out the Goosehill Sailor, I would choose that board over the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board.

Click to read the Goosehill Sailor review

Frequently Asked Questions about the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board

What is your opinion on the Glide O2 Retro Paddle Board and my above review about it? Do you happen to have this board or would you like to try it out once? Let me know in the comments what you think about this board.

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