Bote Lowrider Aero Stand Up Paddle Board Review: This Stand Up Paddleboard Knows What’s Going On

The first thing I noticed when I took the Lowrider out of its bag (which is much better than Bote’s old bags, more on that below) was the large rear fin. It’s much longer than the removable fin on the Breeze Aero and is the deepest fin I’ve ever seen on a paddle board. A sailor friend of mine joked, “That paddle board has draft“

That deep fin makes the Lowrider’s track straighter, meaning you don’t have to constantly change direction and adjust your direction as you paddle. Compared to the Breeze Aero and other boards I’ve used, there’s much less side-to-side movement when paddling. The larger surface area of ​​the fin also makes the board a little more stable in rough water, especially when combined with the width of this board.

I’ve been wanting to do some long-distance paddleboarding trips for a while now, and I’ve gone as far as loading about three-quarters of my gear, only to decide that it wouldn’t work. The Lowrider, however, is capable of such feats. I didn’t have time to actually do a trip, but I loaded it up and paddled around. As you might expect, it’s heavy, sits low in the water, and is slow to turn, but not too bad, especially if you put the seat on so you can switch back and forth between standing and sitting. It’s probably beyond most people’s use cases, but if you’re a geek like me, know that this is probably your best option for backpacking.

Photo: Scott Gilbertson

Lowrider is a little taller

As for the seats, they are quite comfortable and stable. They can be attached in a variety of ways. There are three tie-down points on each side of the board, and the seats themselves have straps that allow you to adjust the level of recline. They are never as upright as you would get in a kayak, but I paddled many miles without any back strain or other aches.

One thing to note if you’re an experienced kayaker: You’re much higher up on the water than you are in a kayak. You won’t want to paddle anything technical, but it’s still a stable, comfortable experience, and the board is very maneuverable. On flat water, it’s surprisingly fast and nimble (for something this size), and the Lowrider didn’t blink even when I took it out in 15-knot winds and big waves. In my opinion, this is one of the best reasons to buy a hybrid. On those tough days when you can’t stand up, you can still get out on the water.