Hydrus Board Tech
Hydrus Board Tech has been shaping “Performance First” surf and SUP boards for fifteen years. Hydrus has developed new materials and methods for making both hard boards and inflatable SUPs. The results are among the best inflatable paddleboards we’ve used (over 200 different models and counting!).
When I grab an iSUP on my free time, or for a race, it’s a Hydrus. They are built to last (and carry a lifetime warranty), and shaped to perform. As a small company Hydrus makes their iSUPs in small batches to ensure quality and allow them to play with their shaping and methodology. We’re going to get into a few details about why we’re so stoked about Hydrus Board Tech.
Disclaimer:We freakin’ love paddling our Hydrus boards. Seriously. So Hydrus was the first brand that we spoke with about supporting SUP-Ology. Their response was an enthusiastic “Hell Yeah.” To help support our mission, Hydrus hooked us up with an affiliate partnership and a discount. If you think a Hydrus board is right for you, you can save 12% with code SUPOLOGY at checkout. It helps us out, costs you nothing, and seriously, we don’t work with just anybody. Read our full Ethics Statement here.
Table of Contents
Hydrus Board Tech SUP Rundown
The Elysium Air is incredibly fast!
Hydrus Board Tech has a great lineup of iSUPs with 9 different models that span basically the entire spectrum of the sport from cruising, to racing, to whitewater. This is a quick breakdown of their lineup, with more details below.
— Hydrus’s Joyride (11’ x 32”) and Joyride XL (11’6 × 34”) make for fantastic all-around paddleboards for both flat water and river stand up paddleboarding up to Class III.
— The Axis 98 (9’8 x 35”) and Axis 88 (8’8 x 34”) are the rowdy paddlers’ choice for whitewater-specific SUPs for Class III-IV rivers.
— The Paradise 12’6 × 30” touring SUP offers great versatility and the ability to handle all conditions for intermediate and advanced paddlers, and the Paradise X 13’3 x 28.5” is ideal for covering large distances fast thanks to its longer, narrower plan shape.
— If you really want to go fast, the Elysium Air Race Board is one of the fastest inflatable SUPs on the market. At 14’ x 26” this board flies across the water, and we’ve clocked it at up to 7MPH/11KMH in the sprints, and regularly hitting 5MPH/8KMH for distance racing and fitness paddling.
— Hydrus also makes a 5’8 x 24” iSurf river surfboard and a 14’ x 50” Party SUP!
Hydrus SUP Build Quality:
The secret sauce to Hydrus’s high performance paddleboards lies in the expert shaping (and actually taking feedback from their customers for improvements!) and a special blend of materials to create extreme rigidity and durability without weighing a ton. Hydrus has been on the hunt for the best materials for their SUPs since day 1, and that includes custom materials for their iSUPs.
Hydrus iSUPs are built with:
Cross-Woven drop stitch interiors
Dual-layer fusion PVC
Aramid fiber scrims - totally unique to Hydrus!
Heat-welded seams + Reinforcing pin lines
Carbon fiber textile + wide PVC stringers on the deck and hull
20 PSI maximum inflation pressure
That’s a lot of tech talk, and if you want to get into those details check out our blog post on the ultimate guide to what inflatable paddleboards are made of. But the gist of it is this — ridiculously good build quality designed to last a decade or more. Hydrus even backs this up with a lifetime warranty and has the best customer service in the industry.
Hydrus Features and Kit:
Hydrus iSUP features depend on the board, but all Hydrus Boards have/include:
Lay-flat padded handles
Comfortable, high traction deck pad with ultra-traction tail pad
raised tail indexing pad + raised kick pad
Multiple rigging points + deck rigging
US fin box
Multiple fin choices
Double-action hand pump
Coiled Leash
Hydrus Mothership SUP backpack
Most Hydrus iSUPs also include extra handles near the front of the board for passengers, racing with a beach start, or holding on during big rapids; a small bungee for holding a water bottle close to your standing area, and a threaded action mount.
A few boards, like the Axis 98/88 come with multiple fin boxes and setups.
What’s Not Included:
The elephant in the picture — Hydrus does not automatically include a paddle with their iSUP Kits. Hydrus, rightly-so, believes that choosing a paddle to fit the paddler is just as important and personal as choosing a board to fit a paddler. They don’t want to saddle you with a paddle you don’t want (and the cost of it), But Hydrus does offer many excellent paddles, and you can bundles their 3-piece Carbon Fiber + Armalight Toughblade paddle at a discount with your board. Did we mention that Armalight is a proprietary coating that Hydrus first developed for making solid whitewater SUPs and takes serious abuse without weighing you down? We didn’t? Okay…
Color Choice. Hydrus iSUPs come in one base color - gray. But, it’s not actually gray. The gray color is an optical illusion between the first layer of PVC, the Aramid fiber scrim, and the outer, clear layer of PVC. It’s really quite stunning in person!
Hydrus SUP Performance:
Besides durability and customer service, the Hydrus iSUP construction quality also means top notch performance. Over the years we’ve found that one of the biggest indicators of overall iSUP performance is total rigidity. That’s a combination of both tested rigidity and felt rigidity while paddling. Hydrus crushes it in both categories. Their unique blend of materials makes the boards among the most rigid in the world. Better rigidity means better stability and better performance for speed, tracking, and steering.
Hydrus iSUPs are highlighted in yellow. All of Hydrus’ boards are in the top 10 overall results!
why does iSUP rigidity matter?
Stability. When a paddleboard has low rigidity, the entire structure flexes constantly and severely. This happens when you stand on it, move on it, paddle on it, and even just from the water moving under the board. Standing on a soft, constantly fluctuating surface is much, much harder than standing on a firm surface that doesn’t bend under your feet.
Tracking. Paddling straight on a SUP is actually a difficult skill. It’s one that new paddlers often get frustrated with — and often because they are on a low-rigidity SUP. That same bending and flexing causes the board to shorten on the water, and sometimes even hinge directly under your feet. This makes it excessively easy to spin the board with every paddle stroke.
Steering. But wouldn’t that excessive spin make it easy to steer? No, not really. Steering is about maintaining control of your board. When you get on a board with a bad case of the floppies, it’s very difficult to control where you are pointed.
Speed and Efficiency. Besides the whole “the fastest way to get anywhere is a straight line” issue (see above), low rigidity also directly impacts your board’s speed and efficiency on the water. When the board flexes and shortens, it also presents a wider cross section in front where the board first interacts with the water. This wider cross section means you are pushing far more water forward before the board begins to displace it to the sides. It also creates a lurching effect where the board moves forward then slams to a stop causing you to pitch forward and back on the board. This is extremely bad when paddling in any waves, wake, or swell where the water is actively impacting your board with force.
on to the good stuff — Hydrus SUP Performance!
I’ve personally used, tested, and continue to use all of Hydrus’ inflatable paddle boards. Of all of the boards I’ve used and tested (more than on the list above!) Hydrus SUPs are the ones I keep coming back to because of their reliability and performance on the water.
Joyride/Joyride XL — It’s actually hard to talk about all-around iSUP performance because by definition these boards are meant to be good at everything, but excel at nothing. However, I really like the way these boards paddle. Their shapes are confidence inspiring for new paddlers with parallel sides and wider noses and tails for top-tier stability. They paddle efficiently - easily gliding over the water, and they can paddle quick when you want them to. Would I race them? No, but would I race you on them? Yes! Both of these boards do well on flatwater and rivers thanks to their progressive rocker profiles, but the Joyride XL is a really good choice for any whitewater-curious paddlers out there who aren’t ready to fully commit to a whitewater SUP. I’ve personally taken the Joyride XL down a Class III river while loaded for an overnight trip and it performed incredibly well on both the flats and in the rapids.
Paradise / Paradise X - This is where the Hydrus difference really starts to shine. The Paradise is basically a Swiss Army knife. At 12’6 x 30” this board can track straight, paddle fast and efficient, handle rough conditions, get loaded (with gear), and still be maneuverable enough for newer paddlers. There’s a shitty trend in the industry right now for brands to move toward extra wide designs to make their board as “easy” to use as possible. Yes, it can add stability, but it also decimates your ability to actually paddle the damn things! The Venn Diagram of people that have said the Paradise “looks too narrow for me” and people that tried it and loved it is a freaking circle. So where does that leave the Paradise X? At 13’3 x 28.5” the Paradise X is a crossover touring/racing board for intermediate to advanced paddlers. It’s not as stable as the Paradise (though it’s still extremely stable for it’s width), but it’s very fast, very efficient, and still capable of carrying you to your campsite for the next three days.
Elysium Air - Speed. Lots of speed. Like “They’ve gone plaid!” levels of speed. At 14’ x 26”, the Elysium Air is a racing paddleboard that toes the line between intermediate and advanced racing. The rocker profile keeps it moving in all conditions, the rigidity, square tail, and parallel plan shape through the mid section keep you steady, and the overall build, shape, and size let you fly. So how fast is fast? I’ve taken the Elysium Air up to 7MPH/11KMH in a sprint, and 5MPH/8KMH average speed for distance paddling. I say those are my numbers because I don’t get to properly train nearly as much as I’d like. I used to have a 14’ x 25” carbon fiber race SUP. Used to. I am just as fast on the Elysium Air, and it’s easier to travel with, easier to maintain, and I love the feeling of taking home hardware after beating other people on carbon boards. Per width I feel very comfortable saying it’s the fastest inflatable on the market… until I finally convince them to make a 24.5” version! Until then, though, you can (try to) catch me racing on my 26” Elysium Air all over the mountain states, southwest, and at the USA SUP National Championships!
Axis 98/88 - A thrill-seeker’s SUP that actually works on rivers, not just on rapids. Whitewater paddlers love to show highlight reels, but what they don’t show is the miles of flatwater between those rapids. That’s where many high-end whitewater SUPs fail — being able to paddle them for any real period of time without just hating your life choices. The Axis 98 is, like the Paradise, a Swiss Army Knife for rivers. It’s 9’8” x 35.5” frame is stable, nimble and rockered enough for Class IV paddling, but tracks straight and paddles efficiently on the flats and “class fun” that make up 80% of most rivers. It’s also fully capable of overnight river trips. The Axis 88 is the little sibling of the 98 at a foot shorter and an inch narrower (8’8” x 34.5” for those of us bad at math). It’s more nimble and playful on the water - great for petite paddlers, lil’ shredders, or anyone wanting a smaller park’n’play SUP. The Axis 98 and 88 both come with a Quad Fin Box setup (2x US fin, 2x FCS) and a grand total of 8 fins to dial in your preferred whitewater performance.
Hydrus Paddles & Accessories
Hydrus has taken their same design principles from paddleboard development and applied them to their accessories. Performance first, and make it accessible.
There is no automatic “kit” paddle that comes with your Hydrus paddleboard. Instead Hydrus has three different paddle options with multiple configurations to fit your needs best.
Hydrus Armalight Tough Blade — This is Hydrus’ bread-and-butter paddle. It’s available as a 3-piece adjustable paddle or as a single-piece, cut-to-length paddle that’s lighter and has a nicer overall flex in the paddle shaft. Both paddles have a medium-large paddle blade (around 90-92sq in / 580-590 sq cm), a 10° rake angle, and a single dihedral on the power face. The blade and shaft are both made of carbon fiber with a sanded and painted finish. The blade is coated in Hydrus’ proprietary Armalight material. It’s incredibly tough but is reasonably light weight. The 3-piece has been my go-to whitewater paddle for 3 years now and it’s barely scratched. The large blade size holds well in the water and gives you a ton of power when you want it.
Hydrus Ruckus Flyweight — Hydrus’ newest performance paddle, the Ruckus Flyweight, is a race- and touring-specific design that’s meant for going fast and paddling long distances with less fatigue. The 30T pre-preg carbon fiber construction is extremely lightweight, and the double-dihedral blade shape has near-perfect hold in the water. That means no slipping, fluttering, or wobbling during your paddle stroke for maximum efficiency and confidence. Hydrus still wanted to build a paddle that lasts more than a season, so it’s not the absolute lightest on the market, but the difference in one-two ounces in weight can really be felt in your heavier wallet! The Ruckus is only about 60% the price of other high-end paddles of the same caliber. Once again I have found myself replacing significantly more expensive gear with something from Hydrus at a fraction of the cost without any loss in performance!
The Ruckus Flyweight is available in a few configurations. There are two blade sizes: Small (about 84 sq in/542 sq cm) and Large (about 90 sq in/580 sq cm). You can match that to your size and paddling style (I like the Large for sprint, tech, and medium distance up to 5k, but prefer the small for long distance). Hydrus was previously selling the Ruckus as a 2-piece (non-adjustable) travel option as well, but from my conversations with them, they are pulling that option and working on a more compact 3-piece option that will more easily fly in checked bags. All Ruckus Flyweight paddles are single-length, though.
Hydrus Everyday Paddle — This new offering is a highly affordable, but still good quality, option as a paddle that can take some abuse (especially for those with kids). While much heavier than the Tough Blade paddle, the flexible fiber-reinforced nylon and fiberglass/carbon fiber mixed shaft still keep the weight reasonable and durability high. Personally, I think that if you are buying a premium board you should opt for a nicer paddle, like the Tough Blade, but if you just need something to get you on the water for cheap or don’t mind bashing around as much, this is a good option.
Hydrus has a variety of fins available, but I’m just going to focus on three of them as their unique design and performance make them my standard choices for different conditions.
Hydrus Katana 2.0 — This is a racing fin built for speed and agility on the technical courses without sacrificing too much straight-line tracking. The 30T carbon fiber construction is wrapped around a hollow “AirCore” mold for a lightweight and stiff build. The swept back design helps improve tracking, while the cutout near the fin tip allows for easier turning - especially when standing on the tail of the board. The lower surface area also helps reduce drag to improve overall speed.
Hydrus Riptide — With the same top-tier construction as the Katana, the Riptide is my go-to long distance fin. The higher surface area and more aggressive sweep really help the board lock in and reduce the amount of steering effort needed to move straight. It also helps stabilize the board a bit more in choppier conditions. It is noticeably harder to turn, though, so keep that in mind depending on your particular needs.
Hydrus “Click In” Keel fin — This fin comes standard with all Hydrus iSUPs (along with a typical 9” touring fin and a 4.5” gummy fin). But what really sets this fin apart is it’s carbon fiber construction and unique attachment system. There are all kinds of “click in” and friction fit systems out there, but Hydrus really went above and beyond by listening to customer feedback and improving on the design to essentially eliminate accidental fin loss. By adding a second brass pin to the center of the fin base, the Hydrus keel fin is almost impossible to accidentally knock out of the fin box, even during impact on the water. Which is low-risk thanks to the low profile, but high surface area shape.
Cons
Pobody’s Nerfect. There are a few downsides that we should talk about. I do warn you though, these are the “technically a downside, but it’s really not” sort of issues.
Color — as mentioned above, there are no color choices with Hydrus’ boards. This is largely a byproduct of both their material selection process (with a focus on reliability over variability), and Hydrus’s desire to have a classic look that stands the test of time rather than chasing the color of the summer.
Cost — Quality doesn’t come cheap, unfortunately. There are major differences in the quality and reliability of iSUPs across the industry and, shocking nobody, you do get what you pay for. Hydrus’ iSUPs aren’t cheap, but they are a “buy once, cry once” purchase. And they do mean that and back it with a lifetime warranty (for the reasonable life of the board - or around 10 years). While recognizing that they are a premium brand, Hydrus has also focused on keeping premium equipment affordable with their race series gear. The Elysium Air, Ruckus paddle, and Katana/Rip Tide fins, are all priced well below what you would pay for similar quality (or worse quality!) products from big name brands. This was a conscious decision to help people advance in the sport without having to take out a title loan!
Weight? — Now, this used to be a bigger issue for Hydrus, but their latest generation iSUPs have brought their average board weight down to around 24 pounds - which is extremely reasonable. Why this is listed as a “con” is because Hydrus prioritizes durability and performance, you won’t see an “ultralight”, sub 21-pound board from them any time soon.
No Wheels — Ok, now I’m grasping at straws here, but the Mothership backpack doesn’t have wheels. It’s like the only pet peeve of mine about the kit, but by eliminating wheels, you also eliminate the heavy plastic base, which lets Hydrus make their bag with a more durable nylon weave and still keep it lightweight.
Hydrus Board Tech — Wrap Up
As you can probably guess, we like Hydrus inflatable paddleboards. Maybe even like-like them. The brand’s combination of stellar designs, unique construction, and high-end performance are all wrapped up in a warm, cozy blanket of the best customer service I’ve ever seen from any company. It’s no wonder that Hydrus iSUPs are a bit of a “cult classic” amongst SUP fanatics.
I want to keep writing, since that’s a rather short wrap up, but it really does get down to the core of it. Hydrus is a fantastic company that makes fantastic boards.
One more thing I really appreciate about Hydrus is their dedication to helping people and advancing the sport of stand up paddleboarding. Have a question about Hydrus boards? Call them up and talk to the owners — just be prepared for a 30+ minute conversation as they get to know you and help you find the right gear (even if it’s not theirs). Their dedication to advancing SUP as a sport is fantastic. Their race gear is all priced reasonably (and even “cheap” compared to some brands) and Hydrus helps promote SUP racing events in their own backyard (Boise, ID) and nationally as a Gold-level sponsor for USA SUP - the nation’s only dedicated SUP racing and community development organization.
