@supboardguide Hey Justin, do you know why the new 2023 model XL has a 14-16 PSI rating while my older Blackfin board is rated 16-18 PSI? I feel this makes a massive difference when additional passengers are on the board. On my older 2021 XL board @ 18 PSI with two smaller passengers, the water line is not even close to the top of the board, while the same setup with the 2023 XL board @ 16 PSI causes the water to be near the top of the board and sometimes overflowing. Needless to say, the drag is much higher, requiring much more effort to paddle and move the board.
Are you going to do a video review of the 2024 Blackfin XL Ultra? I am trying to decide between the XL and XL Ultra, but am leaning towards the XL due to its rigidity, maneuverability, and extended deck pad.
I just got a blackfin xl 2023 model to replace my recalled 2022 model. I really like the improvements, and it feels just as stable and nimble as the last. (Im about 300lbs and it holds me and my gear handily).
I bought the XL last month after seeing one of your reviews and have gotten the run around on missing accessories I paid for but never received . Also they need to either package the sand spear with the mount or notate that the mount is required. The mount was not even listed on the website when I order.
Thanks for such an excellent detailed review. I just picked up the XL in the fuschia and it's absolutely such a vibrant, beautiful board - great job Blackfin!👌I also love all the mounts for cameras and various accessories. As a beginner, my first time trying the board felt really super stable and easy to maneuver. I loved it so much I decided to take a SUP lesson to learn strokes and skills.
Great video all around. I'm looking to outfit our rental shop with iRocker boards, now considering a Blackfin Model X for myself. Thanks for the great review!
Love the Blackfin. I wish I got it sooner with the older color style. I also wish the mounts were optional or had soft covers (I don’t fish and moving around the board with a kid they got in the way a bit). I had to get River fins from a third party and they don’t use the strings and they just dangle, so kind of a bummer. The simplicity of the Atoll I have is awesome and split my time between the two, Atoll maybe winning out a bit. I’m still curious about the Reds.
Between the Blackfin XL and the Isle Explorer Pro 14', which board would you learn towards for your own go-to board? They both seems like fantastic boards, so I'm torn trying to decide between the two. I like that the Blackfin XL has a larger load capacity, not that I will need it, and I like all the attachment points of the Explorer Pro (but I don't like that it doesn't come with any straps, and that they're $30 each). I plan to use a board mainly for meandering down the Arkansas River (in Wichita) and on a couple of local lakes, so very easy going for the most part. I appreciate your in depth reviews of both boards.
Hey Justin, can you ask the owner Steve the same question but regarding the Scotty mounts; What percentage of customers are actually using Blackfin boards for fishing? I don't mind extra features if they're not in the way, but Scotty mounts seem to be there just to injure a knee or foot, and I'm not going to buy their board again until they fix this, as you suggested. I live in the Keys, and I know at least 15 people with Blackfin boards, and nobody is using them for fishing. To that point, everybody here is fishing, but it's very rare to see someone fishing on a paddleboard in general.
Looking to get Model X. What are the chances that the board gets too hot in the sun and starts to expand then eventually pop while youre on the water? Is there a max temperature rating? Time duration out in the sun?
We just got the Ultra XL in and are testing it now - but from first take, I'm a huge fan of the Ultra XL. You do lose a bit of deck pad, but that's so it can fold in half.
@@supboardguide thank you! I ended up going with the XL due to the weight capacity. The more I thought about it, the more that made,the most sense. I want to use it for fishing and for hauling a kid and maybe a dog for fun. It will mainly be going in our camper. Your reviews are solid and really helped me in my decision, so thanks again.
Awesome review! I currently have 2 Blackfin X and need a replacement for one of them, I am trying to decide between the Blackfin X, XL and XL Ultra, thoughts? Have you reviewed the Ultra yet?
Since the Blackfin XL has all the accessories as optional, are there any reviews specifically on the BLACKFIN 3-Piece Carbon Matte Paddle 2022? Wondering if it's a good option, or should I be looking at a paddle from a different source?
