The first thing I noticed when taking the Lowrider out of the storage bag (which was better than Bote’s older bags, more below) was the massive rear fin. It’s longer than the detachable fin on the Breeze Aero, and by far the deepest fin I’ve ever seen on a paddleboard. A sailor friend of mine quipped, “That paddleboard has a draft.”
That deep fin makes the Lowrider track straighter, which means you’re not constantly veering and course-correcting as you paddle. Compared to the Breeze Aero and other boards I’ve used, there is less side-to-side movement when paddling. The larger surface area of ​​the fin also makes the board more stable in rough water, especially when combined with the width of this board.
I’ve been wanting to do some multiday paddleboarding trips for a while now, and I’ve gotten around to loading about three-quarters of my gear, only to decide it’s not going to work. The Lowrider, however, is capable of such feats. I didn’t have time to really travel, but I loaded it up and paddled. As you’d expect, it’s heavy, sits low in the water, and turns slowly, but it’s not that bad, especially if you position the seat so you can switch between standing and sitting. It’s probably out of most people’s use cases, but if you’re a weirdo like me, know that this is probably your best bet for paddlepacking.
Photo: Scott Gilbertson
The Lowrider is Slightly Higher
Speaking of the seats, they are quite comfortable and stable. They can be attached in different 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 amount you recline. They don’t stand up as straight as they do in a kayak, but I paddled several miles with no back pain or other ailments.
One thing to remember if you are an experienced kayaker: You are higher in the water than you are in a kayak. You won’t want to paddle anything technical, but it’s a solid, comfortable experience, and the board is plenty maneuverable. Cruising flat water, it is surprisingly fast and agile (for something this size), and the Lowrider did not blink even when I took it in a 15-knot wind with a pretty good chop. In my mind this is one of the best reasons to get a hybrid. On tough days when you can’t stand up, you can still get out on the water.
