A couple of years ago, we took a look at the Sipa Board - a stand up paddle board that you
can fold up and carry on your back, self inflate using the built in electric pump,
get more speed and explore much further with the built-in electric motor.
We’ll be taking a look at this year's 2021 Sipa Board Tourer - what’s new and
what’s improved - including a faster and more comfortable ride and an
even higher quality build while reducing weight.
Taking a look inside the box, the Sipa rolls up and is packed nice and snug within its
backpack case. You also get an ankle safety leash, a small repair kit, the drive engine,
the tube for inflation, the remote controller and a battery with charger. Keep in mind that
a paddle is not included with your order, so we also picked up Sipa’s carbon fiber paddle
which is super light weight and we also got a spare battery for longer rides.
Setting up the board is quick and easy. First, you connect the battery
inside the SipaDrive unit which has the built-in pump and motor.
You then lay the board flat and connect the drive unit with the tube. To start inflating,
you can either use the SipaBoard app for iOS and Android and connect it to the board so it
controls the pump while providing you status and instructions. Or, you can also use the
wireless remote to start the pump by pressing and holding the power button for 3 seconds.
Even though the pump is somewhat loud, the inflation goes quick-
getting the board fully inflated in just 3-4 minutes. To reduce the noise,
you can also safely cover the pump with the Sipa backpack to muffle the noise.
You can even use the pump to share the air and inflate a second SUP, or any other inflatable raft
with an H3 valve. The inflation cycle eats up only 10% of the battery, so you could fill up 2 boards
and still have half a battery. Just keep in mind that the pump gets hot after an inflation cycle,
so you’d need to give it some time to cool down before inflating a second SUP or inflatable.
This year's version of the board now includes a lighter and stronger MSL drop stitch,
making it 40% lighter than last year’s model, coming in at 19 lbs / 8.7 kg. You can feel the
difference carrying it, and Sipa also added some carrying handles to the top and bottom,
in case you have a friend to help bring it into the water. Of course, you can still
carry it alone, holding it in the middle and using the bottom of the drive unit as a grip.
Once out on the water, we found that the board feels comfortable to ride.
The mesh grip under your feet is softer than the previous model and Sipa also improved the casing
for the motor to reduce the noise when you’re using it. The motor isn’t totally silent and
you can definitely hear it humming. Here’s what it sounds like from the rider’s perspective.
Using the wireless remote controller that fits on the top of your paddle, you can adjust the three
assist modes, with the top speed hitting up to 4.3 mph (7 km/h) on mode 3. This is faster than
the previous versions of the SipaBoard, due to the tourer board being a foot longer and the waterline
adds to the speed. The jet-propulsion system is hidden inside the drive unit, under a plastic
housing protected under the board, which means there is no extra drag when the engine is off
and you want to paddle yourself. This is a unique differentiator and patented design for SipaBoard,
compared to other products on the market that add a motor on the outside of the board.
And because the motor is located in the center of the board, compared to other products, you
get a much more balanced and steadier ride . When paddling hard while also using the motor,
you can really get the board going and achieve some fast speed.
And If you’re wondering why even put a motor on a SUP, that’s where the SipaBoard can really
come in handy-- to go further and faster while also making sure you can get home
safely-- Especially when the winds pick up, or you get caught in strong currents in one direction.
And sometimes, it’s nice to just take a break and still be able to coast around.
You can even bring a small chair and take a seat while cruising.
It’s also fun for the entire family, even for our 4 legged friends, and it's safe for kids,
while being emission-free, so you can even take it on protected waters and explore the wilderness.
The SipaBoard motor unit also has built in LED lights,
which is a nice bonus and looks cool at night especially in places with crystal clear waters.
For the price, the SipaBoard Tourer in this video is priced at 2,390 euros or $2,590 US dollars.
While that’s a high price tag for a stand up paddle board, there’s a lot of
high quality components and design behind it. SipaBoard also sells different model boards,
including versions with the Self Inflation and without propulsion that start at $1,600 US.
Sipa also has promotions going on this summer,
and for the month of July will be offering a limited offer with free shipping and your
choice of either a free carbon fiber paddle worth $300, or a spare battery worth $350.
Overall, we really like the way it all packs together nicely in the included backpack,
so you can easily carry the entire board-- hike to further places,
self-inflate, and never have to worry about large hand pumps or having to inflate next to your car.
Alright, that’s it for now. Next, be sure to check out some of our
other videos for awesome electric powered water toys for your lake, pond or ocean.