The Gili Komodo 11 is one of Gili’s newest boards that has gone the popular direction of the “paddle board kayak hybrid” status which is becoming more popular these days.
Having tested the board out on a chilly February at Heritage Park in southern coastal British Columbia. I can now tell you that I lived to tell the tale!
Jokes aside, I thought this board was a general improvement over the Gili Komodo for taller/ larger paddlers. Including those who love SUP yoga or have a larger SUP Pup who’s just itching to join their owner for a paddle.
Speaking of dogs and pups, Gili donates $650 worth of dog gear to shelter rescue centers for every paddle board sold. So if you are a dog lover like me this purchase will help wag some tails.
What Did We Think of the Gili Komodo 11 Paddle Board?
Overall I was impressed with the level of stability that the Komodo 11 provided, especially when standing up for the first time.
I found the Komodo to tackle the moving tides quite well. When paddling against the tides the board was able to track and keep speed reasonably well in these slightly tricky conditions.
I appreciated the paddleboard kayak hybrid kit that also came with the board. The Komodo 11 comes with a seat, booster seat, footrest and paddle attachment. Which is more than what most “kayak kit” ISUP packages come with. Most kayak kits come with just the conversion paddle and kayak seat attachments.
One of the few qualms I had about the kayak kit was the nylon loops. While they are a fantastic idea, I did find clipping the footrest to them rather challenging. Especially when you are on the water. The footrest clips are easy to clip onto the D rings but with the Nylon loops, you have to weave it over the clip which can be challenging and time-consuming.
Gili Komodo 11 Review Ratings
Below is how I rated the Gili Komodo 11 based on our rating guidelines. Click on the links below to jump to each section.
Total Score 8.3/10 (Average of Below Numbers)
(Click the links below to Jump to each section)
- On-Water Performance – 8.5
- Stability: 9
- Tracking: 8.5
- Speed: 8
- Maneuverability: 8.5
- SUP Construction – 8
- Board Features – 8.4
- Deck Pad: 9
- D Rings: 9
- Deck Bungees: 8
- Action Mounts: 7.5
- Handles: 8.5
- Accessories – 8.6
- Kayak Conversion Kit: 9
- Backpack: 9
- Paddle: 8
- Pump: 7
- Fins: 8
- Set-Up/ Take Down – 8.5
Pros
- You get a lot with this package: including a kayak seat, booster seat, footrest, and conversion paddle among the other standard Gili Accessories
- The Komodo 11 is a stable SUP: I found the Gili Komodo 11 had better stability compared to the original 10’6” Komodo
- Board has decent speed for an All Around SUP: Paddling against the tide was not too big of a chore
- Comes with well-thought-out accessories: The backpack is well-made and is one of the better-designed ones in the SUP industry
- Gili is a Conscious Company: For every Komodo 11’ board bought Gili donates $650 worth of gear to dog rescues. They also have big involvements in ocean charities
- Full Deck Pad is favorable to Yogis and SUP Pups: The deck pad spans the entire length of the board making it a great pick for those who need grip onboard
- Thoughtful Onboard Features: On-deck features such as paddle holders, 6 rows of bungee deck webbing, 3 action mounts, and multiple grab handles make this a handy board to have on the water.
Cons
- The Komodo 11 is heavier than described: We weighed the board at 25.8 lbs compared to the 21 lbs listed. The bag will also be heavier due to all the gear included in this package
- I was not a fan of the Nylon Loops: On paper, this seems like a great idea that adds a new level of customization to your SUP. But I found them challenging to clip onto, especially with the footrest.
- Could Have Included Double Chamber Pump: I like having a pump that puts out a greater volume of air so that the arduous pumping task gets done quicker!
Who Should Be Using the Gili Komodo 11’ SUP?
First and foremost I must say that the group of paddlers that would benefit most from this package would be beginners. Especially those switching from a kayaking background.
Paddling a SUP while sitting down can be a pain in the butt for long periods figuratively and literally. First off you only have one paddle blade available so your paddle strokes are not maximized. And second off hunching over and paddling for a significant period is just not a good look for Mr back, so you need to have some much-needed support.
The Komodo 11 package can solve a few of these with its kayak conversion kit that comes with the package. The booster seat and footrest take the pressure off of your legs and back. It’s not the perfect solution to this but it is more pleasant to paddle in kayak formation.
Let us expand further into what activities you can be doing on this board.
What SUP Activities can the Komodo 11 be used for?
Thanks to the Komodo 11’s added stability and wide expansive deckpad. It opens the door to being a more favorable pick for those who want to do activities that require extra balance and weight capacity.
Paddleboard Kayak Hybrid
The Komodo is currently rated as our 2nd Best Paddle Board Kayak Hybrid for 2024 thanks to its mix of quality accessories and onboard features.
Thanks to the included accessories like the Kayak seat, booster seat, inflatable footrest, and kayak conversion blade. The Komodo 11 makes the switch to kayak mode fairly straightforward with the setup only taking me a few minutes to figure out on my own.
I do very much appreciate the fact that the Komodo 11 included the booster seat as this takes the pressure off of your back and legs as opposed to just sitting on the kayak seat flat on the deck like I’ve done with the Nixy Monterey and Bluefin Cruise boards.
Recreational Paddling
Of course, you can use the Komodo 11 as an actual paddleboard! And in this respect, I thought this particular model did pretty well.
As mentioned above the dimensions make it a great board for most beginner paddlers of different sizes and builds. This is thanks to the board’s 410 maximum capacity which gives the board more tolerance for heavier weight onboard. Most All-around SUPs have a 280-350 lb maximum capacity which can have some limitations for taller/ bigger folks.
When you take the kayak kit off you get a nice clear deck. You can go a step further and easily remove the bungees from the board to give you even more space for Sup activities like…
SUP Yoga
When I first reviewed the Komodo 10’6” One of my first comments was that it may be small for bigger SUP Yogis. Little did I know that Gili listened and created this board! (I don’t actually know this but I’ll just take credit for my ego 😉 ).
The Komodo 11 is the answer to this as it features a higher weight capacity and a longer width which makes it a suitable pick for bigger/ taller yoga enthusiasts.
The Komodo 11’ has the same expansive deck pad which allows you to have ease of mind as you slide your hands/ feet from one spot on the board to the other. This means you won’t be getting any slippery surprises touching wet PVC.
Tandem Paddle Boarding
Would this be my absolute #1 pick for a 2 person paddle board? Probably not but it’s a good pick for if 2 people wanted to sit and paddle. And the fact that there are nylon loops surrounding the edges of the board means you can have 2 adult paddlers in kayak formation. You just need to purchase another kayak kit from Gili.
This package would also be a more ideal fit for paddlers who have a smaller passenger onboard. Whether that be a child or a dog. The deck pad that expands the entire length of the board will help smaller passenger have more grip throughout their exploration of the board from nose to tail.
Komodo 11 On-Water Performance
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Total On-Water Score | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Stability Score | 9 /10 | 8.3 |
| Tracking Score | 8.5 /10 | 7.8 |
| Speed Score | 8 /10 | 7.7 |
| Manueverability Score | 8.5 /10 | 8.1 |
The Gili Komodo 11 is not vastly different from an on-water perspective compared to the original. But there are a few small differences that I could feel being a taller paddler.
Stability
“We tested the stability of the Komodo in rather higher stakes conditions. Paddleboarding in Canada in February no doubt! However, having chanced it the board felt more than stable both in kayak formation and in paddle board spec.”
– Editors Notes
The initial process of standing up was quite straightforward and didn’t present me with any initial surprises. The board felt steady and there were no “jerk movements” from the board where I had to correct. A lot of this is down to the board’s wider tail which helps keep the board steady throughout these motions.
Upon paddling the board I felt pretty secure on it, going through the motions of cruising and paddling with more vigor.
I also did a few initial stability tests to test the side-to-side motion of the board and jumped on it to see how bouncy it was while in the water.
When going side to side, the board felt completely controlled and there were no quick snaps where I felt unbalanced, which should be music the the ears of a beginner. We talk a bit more about the bounce of the board in the construction part of the article.
Tracking
Although the on-water testing results were a tad bit flawed due to the tide, I did find the board did about 6 strokes per side before you had to correct course, which is also in line with what the original Gili Komodo did.
| Tracking Factor | Paddle Strokes | Average Paddle Strokes (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Paddle Strokes To Keep Straight Course | 6 | 5.8 |
“It should be noted that the original Komodo was tested on Alouette Lake while the Komodo 11 was tested on Nicomekl River which is a tidal river running into the ocean. So the results of tidal testing may have skewed the Komodo 11’s reading a bit. “
– Editors Notes
In kayak formation, the board yielded similar results with about 5 to 6 paddle strokes a side before correction.
Similar to the low drag nose of the original Komodo, I found this board’s nose shape to cruise on the water quite well with minimal water disturbance. Especially when compared to other rounder-nosed paddle boards where the nose plows the water instead of neatly parting it.
Speed
I was super excited to test the speed rating on my Garmin Instinct 2 watch (one of the reasons I bought the darn thing!) Only to realize that the speed reading would be utterly useless because of the tide coming in. Despite what the tide table told me the other day (grrrr!).
So the reading on this board as of now is on a “feel” basis. And overall I could feel a bit more of a difference between the Komodo 11 and the original Komodo. The Komodo 11 kept its speed up better due to the longer length and felt like it could glide a bit longer than the original.
In kayak formation, I went a bit quicker and the strokes felt good. I felt like this board tracks better than many recreational-style kayaks due to the board’s 3-fin setup.
Maneuverability
Once again testing in tidal conditions you need to take the test scores with a grain of salt. BUT The reverse sweep strokes had an impressive rating. I was able to do a complete 360 in 3 strokes! What’s even more crazy is that it did better than the original Komodo’s 4.5 reverse sweep strokes.
| Manueverability Factor | Paddle Strokes | Average Paddle Strokes (All Around SUP’s) |
|---|---|---|
| Paddle Strokes for Reverse Sweep Stroke | 3 | 4.2 |
| Paddle Strokes for Reverse Side Paddles | 12 | 13.3 |
I will be testing these boards back to back on the lake to get complete ratings but 3 sweep strokes is one of the better readings we’ve got on an all-around board.
We also did a reverse side paddle test where with smaller paddle strokes we paddle to one side of the board to see how many strokes we could do to get a 360. Once again the Komodo 11 delivered with 12 side paddles. And once again it did one less stroke to complete a 360 than the original Komodo paddle board.
Overall the Komodo 11 had a good level of responsiveness especially when compared to other 11’ inflatable paddle boards.
Komodo 11’ Specifications Deconstructed
- Type of Board: Recreational
- Length:11’
- Width: 32.5″
- Thickness: 6″
- Volume: 235 L
- Weight: 21 pounds /9.5kgs (but we weighed it at 25.8 Lbs)
- Maximum Capacity: 410 pounds /185.9 kgs
The Gili Komodo 11’ is made of a dual-layer fusion layer. This means 2 layers of PVC are heat molded together to provide extra protection for that layer of PVC. This is one of our preferred construction methods as it greatly eliminates glue which is one of the main failure points over time. Especially on the side rails where there is the most pressure.
| Rating Factor | Score | Average Score (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Score | 8 /10 | 8.3 |
In the middle is a drop stitch core which is knitted together with thousands of strands that allow the board to keep shape.
When I bounced on the Komodo 11, the board did not bend as something that had a lower quality of construction like the Gili Air 11’6” which was a heck of a lot more bouncy. Although in comparison to Gili’s premier paddle boards like the Gili Meno 11’6” the Komodo 11 did feature a bit more bounce to it.
While the Komodo 11’ is a relative newcomer to the Gili line-up we can assume that many of the construction processes are similar to the original Komodo SUP which has had a lot of praise from previous customers.
Gili Komodo 11 SUP Profile
As you can see from the above comparisons between the original Komodo and the Komodo 11’ there’s not a heck of a lot of differences. Just the loops!
The Komodo 11’ features a very similar shape to the original Komodo board but it is a bit longer with an extra 6 inches length. In the attempts to balance this board out to be stable all the while still maintaining usefulness as a yoga/ passenger board. The Komodo 11 has cut off half an inch of width at 32.5 inches compared to the 33” of the original Komodo.
The wider tail makes sure that the Komodo 11’ still maintains a good level of stability while the nose tapers more aggressively which in turn helps part water more easily.
Board Features (What’s On Deck)
One of the things I appreciate about Gili Sports is their clever On-board accessories. Gili has well-thought-out onboard accessories that are placed in handy areas. Especially when you are padding in the middle of the lake.
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Board Features Score | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| Deck Pad Score | 9 /10 | 8.3 |
| D-Rings Score | 9 /10 | 8 |
| Deck Webbing Score | 8 /10 | 8.1 |
| Action Mounts Score | 7.5 /10 | 7.8 |
| Handle Score | 8.5 /10 | 8.2 |
The Gili Komodo 11 offers a variety of useful features which we will talk about below.
Komodo 11 Deck Pad
One of the best features that stands out with this board is the deck pad that goes the full length of the board. Why is this beneficial?
A deckpad that spans the entire board’s length offers more grip throughout the board. This makes it a good choice for SUP yogis or tandem paddling with another child, person, or dog. This allows you to keep the grip on unstable areas as opposed to slipping on wet PVC near the front of the board.
The Komodo 11 offers 3 different types of deck bad textures.
- Smooth deck padding: that comes with small grooved Gili stamps on it.
- Stripped Deck padding: This adds more grip for your feet thanks to the grooves.
- Diamond Grooved deck padding: This offers the most grip between the 3 types of deck padding. It is located towards the back to help increase grip on your feet when you are trying more tricky maneuvers like pivot turns.
While I have not gone barefoot on the board just yet I did find that striped deck padding sufficient for my feet to grip my surf booties which was one of the reasons I didn’t fall into the cold water :).
Komodo 11 D Rings
The Komodo offers 18 D rings for the front/ rear bungees, the bottom of the nose for towing, one on the rear for the ankle strap, and has 4 free D rings for the kayak seat or shoulder strap attachment.
One of the unique things, which I believe Gili took inspiration from, is the Isle Switch. The Komodo 11 has 16 free Nylon loops throughout the length of the board. This allows you to place the kayak seat and footrest where if most comfortable for you. Which in theory is a great idea.
I do feel though that the nylon loops are more difficult to attach compared to the D rings due to the style of latch that the footrests have on the straps. Especially when you are trying to do this on the go in the water! More on the clips in the accessories bit.
Komodo 11 Deck Bungees
One of the aesthetic differences between the Komodo original and the Komodo 11 is the fact that the 11 has an extra row of deck bungees in the back. It may not sound like a lot but it is very useful for those who are planning to go paddling for more than a few hours.
On my maiden paddle, I didn’t pack too much because it was February and I was staying close to the dock to mostly do some on-water testing.
The good news is that similar to the Atoll paddle board this SUP is filled with options for deck rigging thanks to the nylon loops. You just need to provide your bungee deck webbing.
Komodo 11 Action Mounts
The Komodo offers 3 action mounts that are located on the nose of the board and below the front bungees. Which in my mind are some of the best spots to have an action mount. Perhaps one on the rear of the board where the tail D ring is could be a good spot too to get a video shot of you paddling into the distance with your SUP.
Some things that you can use with the action mounts are:
- Bluetooth speakers
- Go pro/ Action camera mounts
- Fishing Rod Holders
- Cup Holders
It should also be noted that they are compatible with other mounts as I was able to take a picture of myself on this board with my Nixy Cell Phone holder mount! Cheese!
Komodo 11 Handles
The Komodo 11 features 7 handles including:
- 2 on the nose and tail
- 1 middle handle
- 2 on the front bungees
- 2 on the rear bungees
Thankfully the middle handle and the 4 handles located on the front and rear burgess have a neoprene cover which saves your hands. Although we would have liked to have seen those neoprene covers on the front and rear handles as well.
Nylon can do a number on your hands when carrying the board over time. And if you have the kayak gear clipped on this puts even more pressure on the front and rear handles. Hence why we would prefer to see neoprene covers on them.
But overall the Komodo 11 got it right with the placement of the handles.
Komodo 11 Paddle Holder
In my opinion, Gili has the best placements for a paddle holder, right to the side of the board out of the way of the deck. It’s also an ideal placement for SUP Yogis to secure the paddle instead of stashing it in the deck bungees and praying that they don’t step on it!
I also like the fact that it’s right in the middle of the board which means it’s minimal effort to bend over and stash it. As opposed to ones like Nixy has that are on the board’s front side.
Gili Komodo 11 Accessories
The Komodo 11 features a good amount of accessories that come with the SUP. The most obvious is the kayak hybrid kit. Below we will go through them one by one.
| Rating Factor | Score | Average SUP Score (All Around Boards) |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories Score | 8.6 /10 | 7.9 |
| Kayak Conversion Kit Score | 9 | 9 |
| Backpack Score | 9 /10 | 8.1 |
| Paddle Score | 8 /10 | 7.8 |
| Pump Score | 7 /10 | 7.6 |
| Fin Score | 8 /10 | 8.1 |
Gili Komodo Kayak Conversion Kit
This is the only package from Gili that offers a kayak conversion kit with the actual package. The package comes with the following:
- Kayak Seat: Standard Spec “kayak seat” that many manufacturers sell separately or with their kayak packages
- Kayak Booster Seat: The booster seat allows you to sit higher which reduces the strain on your back and legs if you were to just sit on the kayak seat.
- Conversion Paddle Blade: Made of the same material as the carbon hybrid paddle. It replaces the handle of the paddle to be transformed into a kayak paddle
- Inflatable Footrest: An inflatable footrest that you blow up to about 5 PSI. This helps keep your feet in place so that you can use more of your core while paddling.
Overall having tested the Kayak hybrid package on the board I felt that it was an overall positive experience. It was an improvement to other kayak hybrid packages like the Bluefin Cruise where you just have the kayak seat and kayak blade attachment.
The booster seat does make a big difference in terms of feeling less cramped up. The extra elevation alleviates pressure from your legs and back allowing you to paddle for longer.
Having said that there were some downsides I found when testing this set-up. For one my legs never felt completely comfortable after having made a few adjustments to the footrest. I felt most comfortable crossed-legged as we noted in the on-water video.
While the footrest was easy to clip onto the D-Rings it was a completely different story with getting it attached with the nylon loops. I found myself having to paddle back to the dock to make the adjustments. The clip for the footrest could be made better as you almost have to force the loops in with clever maneuvering. I found the metal clip part was too big and hard to clip onto those nylon loops.
I also found that you initially needed to place some force on the kayak blade to allow it to go in place of the paddle. It initially made me question if I was even putting it in right. But after some work, it finally fit.
The kayak blade itself felt sturdy and there was no play. So I suppose that is one of the benefits of having a tight-fitting blade!
Gili Komodo 11 Backpack
The Komodo 11 backpack is more “box-shaped” to fit the extra contents like the kayak seat, booster seat, paddle attachment, and footrest. Thankfully this bag has wheels to accompany it, unlike the original Komodo SUP backpack.
The bag’s dimensions are 41 inches (104 cm) x 16 inches (41 cm) x 12 inches (31 cm) which is bigger than normal but the bag still fits in the trunk of my Elantra just fine.
The big main compartment where you place the majority of the contents is wide and spacious. However, I would recommend using a pump that has a deflate option to take out all the air out of the board. This makes it so much easier to fold the board away. I can’t even tell you!
Unfortunately, the pump that comes with the Komodo 11 is pretty basic but we will go into that further in the pump section.
The straps are one of the bag’s big plus points as they are very well padded both on the shoulders and the portion that goes on your back.
I’ve always been a fan of Gili bags because they are clearly labeled and have plenty of places to store items on the bag. The front of the bag offers you 3 different pockets with a smartly placed “Fin Pocket” near the top of the bag. This is a great way to organize your fins while having Gili tell you from a subconscious level that the fins are designated to that spot.
The outside pocket below the fins gives you space to place some larger items. I like to put the leash, repair kit, and my Nixy phone holder here.
Komodo 11 Carbon Hybrid Paddle
The Komodo 11 paddle is a carbon hybrid paddle that is on a bit of the heavier end of the spectrum when it comes to carbon hybrid paddles. Usually the norm is about 2 lbs.
The paddle features a carbon fiber shaft paired with a nylon blade which gives the paddle the “Carbon hybrid” name.
The paddle feels nice to paddle and I do appreciate the fact that the handle is carbon fiber which gives a nice smooth feel on the hands as opposed to a more rugged feeling of plastic.
I did find though that you had to use some force to put the handle into the kayak paddle, (as well as the kayak blade for that matter). This could have just been a one-off thing but it did all work out in the end after some good old-fashioned force.
When paddling medium-hard paddle strokes I did like the stability of the paddle. It wasn’t bendy and I didn’t feel any loose connection points which was good.
So while this paddle was good I still would say that I prefer the lighter-weight Nixy Carbon Hybrid paddle.
Gili Komodo 11 Pump
Alright, guys its time for confession time. In this particular instance, I did NOT use the single chamber pump on the Gili Komodo. Instead, I used Gili’s electric pump.
However, I have used the single-chamber pump in the past. I found that the single-chamber pumps do the job they are supposed to do but that’s all. If you were to put a gun to my head and tell me I could only use a manual pump, I’d opt for a double-chamber pump because:
- Double chamber pumps have an inflate and deflate option.
- You get more volume of air coming out in the beginning
- You have 3 settings to choose from to help with the difficulty of pumping.
I do feel Gili could have included their more premium double chamber pump in this package, which helps speed things up. Or better yet even included an electric pump to the package.
But I also understand their reasoning as they wanted to keep some space in the package for the kayak hybrid kit.
Gili Komodo 11’ Fins
This SUP comes with a 9” touring/ race fin and 2 smaller 4.5-inch side fins that help the tracking of the board. Overall I liked the fin package that came with the Komodo 11’ as the detachable side fins help you keep a straight course. Especially handy when paddling with or against tides.
The only thing I did wish Gili would do was add a US fin box to give you more center fin possibilities. Currently, you would be stuck with what Gili can provide which are:
- Race/ Touring fins
- Speed Fins
- River fins
If you had a US fin box you would have a lot more possibilities and fin shapes that you could add to your paddling repertoire including even being able to use surf fins!
Komodo 11’ Leash
The leash is a pretty standard 8’ coiled leash that has neoprene covering for the ankle. I tried wearing the leash both on my leg and the PFD and didn’t notice it. I have started to favor securing the leash on my PFD these days as it feels less in the way as it’s elevated from where your feet are.
Komodo 11 Set-Up / Take Down
I first opened/ set the package up outside by the docks. Of course, you have to take off all the plastic/ styrofoam etc. But a little hack you can do is keep the large piece of plastic that is wrapped around the board and use it as a Mat so the board does not get dirty from the get-go.
| Rating Factor | Score | Average Score (All Around) |
|---|---|---|
| Set-Up/ Take Down Score | 8.5 /10 | 8.2 |
Setting up the Komodo 11 into full kayak formation can be a bit more time-intensive. But that’s part of the reason why I love electric pumps! The electric pump does the work for you which gives you time to figure out and set the package up.
Once fully inflated the kayak set-up was simple enough to figure out. Especially with the clearly labeled kayak conversion rubber labels on the sides of the board. When it came to setting up the booster seat I tried 2 different things. I tried putting the booster under the kayak seat and over it. In my experience putting it over is the better choice as it feels more snug being surrounded by the straps and seat.
For the take-down, I had to go through a bit more of an unusual route. I didn’t put the board back in the bag, instead, I dried it off and folded it in ⅓ increments so that it could fit back into the car. I did this because the hose at the boat launch was shut off due to the colder temperatures.
I ended up cleaning the board and accessories with the hose and taking pictures of the accessories in my complex parking garage (apologies for the ugly background for the accessories).
I was a bit tired from the testing and I wanted the board to fold as smoothly as possible back into the bag. So I used my Nixy double chamber handpump’s deflate valve to suck all the air out of the board to allow me to fold it easier. (Note: You can also do this with some electric pumps like Gili, iRocker, etc).
As soon as I did this I found that the board as well as all of the accessories like paddle, kayak conversion kit, etc. was able to fit back into the bag with no problem.
I believe you will have more trouble fitting everything in the bag if the board is not completely deflated. More air = more difficult folds = more space taken up in the bag.
About Gili Sports
Gili is a very environmentally friendly company that regularly donates to ocean charities such as the Coral Reef Alliance and Save the Turtles. On top of this Gili will donate $650 with of gear to dog rescues for each Komodo sold!
Gili Warranty and Return Policy
Gili offers a 60-day return policy on their boards and a 2-year limited warranty on all of their inflatable paddle boards. It should be noted that each return will be subject to a 20% restocking fee.
A 2 year warranty is usually pretty standard with inflatable paddle boards but Gili goes above the average with their 60-day return policy. However, I’m not a big fan of the 20% restocking fee. Some paddle board brands have them and some don’t.
What Customers Think
There is not a lot of chatter out just yet about the Komodo 11 as the board has just been released in the fall. We will update this as more folks put in reviews for this paddle board.
Where to Buy the Gili Komodo 11
You can purchase the Komodo 11 at the Gili website where Gili will donate $650 worth of dog gear for each board purchased.
If you are living in the US the shipment will usually go out within 1-5 days depending on the picture below.
While Gili is an American company you can buy the board internationally. It can take anywhere from 5- 12 days to ship internationally. Just be aware that taxes and duties will be your responsibility to pay. Living in Canada I get these every so often from boards I receive.
Comparable Boards
Below is our list of comparable paddle boards that reminded me of the Komodo 11.
Atoll 11
While the Atoll may not have the same quality of accessories and onboard features it does have a very similar shape to it. It also features a high maximum weight capacity. Like the Komodo, it also features a good amount of do-it-yourself rigging options. But the Atoll 11 opted for D rings around the board instead of nylon loops.
It should be noted that the Atoll 11 is significantly cheaper compared to the Komodo 11 although it does not feature a kayak conversion kit and aforementioned on-board features and accessories.
Check out our Review of the Atoll 11 Paddle Board Here.
Isle Switch
Another kayak hybrid it was a close call between this board and the Komodo 11 as to what got the top spot for best kayak paddle board hybrid. But ultimately the Switch got the nod due to its lighter weight package and the better quality kayak hybrid accessories like the seat and footrest. The Switch is also wider and longer which makes a a more stable platform to stand on.
Should You Get The Komodo 11 SUP?
I believe this is a great board for the following purposes.
- A great yoga board for taller/ Bigger SUP Yogis
- A good kayak hybrid package
- Beginner paddlers who crave a stable board
- Folks who want a board with good quality accessories and plenty of onboard features
Overall this is a unique take on the original Komodo and we found the board had above-average on-water performance in many areas. We did find some smaller qualms such as attaching the footrest to the nylon loops to be a bit time-consuming and challenging but if you do this before going out and paddling it will be easier to get the footrest to your height.
Have you tried the Komodo 11? Let us know how it went on our Facebook page!
