Review: Atoll 11’ ISUPs
Throughout the summer we are going to be testing and reviewing a slew of products. Since Dogpatch Paddle provides lessons, rentals, camps, and classes, we spend a lot of time on the water and use a range of different equipment. You can trust our reviews to be unbiased, thorough, and considerate of various levels of experience.
Today we start with a board you probably see any time you’re at Crane Cove Park, the Atoll 11’ iSUP (the i is for inflatable). We started riding and selling these boards last year and so many people fell in love with their practical designs, lightweight build, industrial strength, solid accessories, and awesome logo. Many of our club members purchased Atolls over the fall and winter and are loving them on the Bay.
Summary
We’ll get into the details and break down each aspect of this board as you read on. In summary, we’d say that this is an awesome all-around entry-to-mid-level board that suits the needs of most riders. It will last a lifetime and offers a spectacularly fun, stable, and speedy ride. It’s also very light, so this makes a great travel board. If you’re looking for a general-purpose board that’s definitely a step above most cheap, entry-level boards (but still priced within the realm) there is no question you should consider Atoll. With that, let’s get into it.
The Company
Atoll is a California company, based in Huntington Beach and founded in 2014. Atoll is a small company, focused exclusively on their 11’ all-around model. They do not offer any other shapes or sizes. Because of this focus, we feel that Atoll has been able to carve a niche and evolve this category. Their customer service is second to none, with fast replies, solutions, and turnaround. Because they are in SoCal, shipping is fast when the boards are in stock (they tend to sell out quickly). They probably have one of the best logos in the business, which makes for swoon-worthy displays at the beach.
The Product
All of the Atoll 11’ iSUPs come as a package with a paddle, pump, leash, tri-fin (one is detachable with a universal fin-box configuration), and backpack. We’ll discuss all of the accessories below. The cost of the board start at $799, but there are often specials and sales available.
The board is made from machine laminated, dual-layer PVC with reinforced seams. The dimensions are 11’ long by 32” wide by 6” thick, 21 lbs weight and supports rider up to 400lbs (they claim to have tested with 700lbs). There are 15 D-rings across the board, with a bungee installed on the front end. The rocker (or nose) is nicely pointed to cut through chop and the body shape is streamlined for efficiency and speed. Generally speaking we find all of these features represent a no-frills, tough performer.
We’ve certainly put the Atoll boards through the ringer. As one of our fleet models, we use them daily for lessons, tours, camps, etc. We also have traveled and hiked with them up to a few miles. There has never been an issue with defects or missing parts, so their QC is on-point.
The Atoll rides smooth on the Bay. It feels speedy, though the paddle included last year was a little too forgiving. We understand they’ve upgraded the paddle this year. We’re big fans of a more rigid paddle to transfer your hard-working energy from your core to the water. We’ve also added some after-market action mounts to the board so we can capture GoPro footage.
Taking this board on hikes was a pleasure. You can notice the difference in how lightweight it is. You’d expect that to achieve this Atoll would have to skimp on some features and reduce durability (triple PVC, glue methods, carbon-fiber rails are all features of higher-end boards that can add weight). Yet, the board seems indestructible. Check out the video of driving an SUV over an Atoll iSUP.
Accessories
Pump: The included pump is dual-action and gets the job done with a little bit of elbow grease. We almost exclusively use electric pumps these days so don’t mind much that it’s not a three-stage powerhouse. Speaking with Atoll, they made the decision to keep the cost down and, more importantly, keep the weight down. It was appreciated when hiking to have the lighter weight pump.
Backpack: Speaking of hiking, Atoll has leveled-up their backpack. It’s very comfortable and well-padded to protect your shoulders. They clearly are thinking about hikers and this pack is a step up from even higher-end brands.
Fin: The tri-fin configuration includes an 8” detachable fin that fits their universal fin box. This is a nice feature that would allow you to attach other fins if you wanted to go longer or shorter for various purposes. The included fin has a detachable screw, which can easily get lost, so be careful.
Leash: 10 foot coiled leash is included. Standard fare.
Paddle: This year’s model includes a Black Carbon Fiberglass Paddle with Nylon Blade. We haven’t tried it yet and are hopeful it’s an improvement over last year’s model. That’s our biggest criticism of the 2020 Atoll. We were recommending upgrading to a carbon paddle because there was too much flex in their stock paddle for our preferences.
Pros
Excellent Size, Shape,
Solid Construction, Strong
Lightweight
Great Backpack, Fin Configuration, Leash
Best Design in the Business
Smooth Stable, Fast Glide
Cons
No Paddle Straps or Action Mounts
We Recommend Upgrading to their Carbon Paddle
The Pump is Just Ok, Light For Carrying, but Not Advanced Tech
Final Word
We have no hesitation recommending the Atoll 11’ iSUP for most all-around paddle circumstances. If you’re a weekend warrior that wants to have a board they can take to Tahoe or Thailand, look no further. That said, if you are going deeper into the SUP world and want a more specialized tool to fit a niche, there are performance boards for speed, touring boards for carrying gear, yoga boards for more stability, and compact boards for hiking and traveling. But when it comes to an all-around, high performance, good looking iSUP, the Atoll is the perfect choice.