In these Tower Paddle Board reviews we go through the originator of the 6” thick inflatable paddle board trend that became famous on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Since then Tower has added a few different boards to their line-up. Today we will be reviewing them, informing you of their differences and what boards are good for what paddlers in this up-to-date guide.
I have also tried out a few of these boards so I will let you know about all the nuances, the good and bad as well as what to expect.
Lets get into the lineups!
Best Tower Paddle Board Reviews Line-Up
Below is a list of the boards that Tower sells in 2023. There are a few newer additions to the lineup that are worth mentioning.
The newest additions include the lighter fusion infused S-Class, as well as the Xtreme which is am 8″ thick recreational board that is 35″ wide for extra stability.
| Board | Dimensions | Weight | Max Capacity | Activity | Price |
| S- Class | 10’4″ X 32″ X 6″ | 20 Lbs | 275 Lbs | Recreational | $$ |
| Yachtsman | 10’4” X 32” X 6” | 26 Lbs | 400 Lbs | Recreational | $$ |
| Adventurer 2 | 10’4” X 32” X 6” | 25 Lbs | 400 Lbs | Recreational | $$ |
| Mermaid | 10’4” X 32” X 6” | 25 Lbs | 350 Lbs | Recreational | $$ |
| iRace | 12’6” X 30” X 6” | 27 Lbs | 400 Lbs | Recreation/ Light Touring | $$ |
| Xtreme | 10’4″ X 35″ X 8″ | 29 Lbs | 550 Lbs | Recreational | $$$$ |
| Xplorer 14 | 14 X 32” X 8” | 33 Lbs | 700 Lbs | Touring/Multi-Person | $$$ |
Tower S-Class Series (Light Weight Pick)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10’4” x 32” x 6”
- Materials: Fusion 6” Construction
- Weight: 20 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 275 lbs
Who It’s For
The Tower S-Class is for folks who want a lighter-weight, more transportable board compared to anything else in the Tower lineup. The manufacturing process of this board is different in that it uses less glue and does not have a dual-layer PVC outline, unlike the rest of their boards.
The S-Class is Tower’s version of having a more portable, lighter-weight SUP for recreational purposes. It is ideal for most paddlers 6’0 and under although it will definitely be easier to navigate for smaller framed paddlers.
On-Water Performance
As mentioned above the S- Class will be a more recreational style board that has a similar shape to the Adventure 2/ Yachtsman/ Mermaid series. This will be one of the faster-accelerating Tower boards due to its lighter-weight design.
The S-Class will also be easier to maneuver thanks to its slightly shorter width and more stocky build. Tracking will be a bit more compromised due to there being no detachable side fins. Instead, the S-Class has the 2” built-in side fins that in my opinion don’t help with much.
Board Features and Design
The S-Class is relatively bare bones and uses a fusion construction which has lately been mass adopted by the industry. Interestingly though Tower plays it down and even admits that this quality of the board is not at the highest. Another thing to note is that this board features a 1-year warranty instead of the standard 2-year warranty which they feature on all of their premium SUPs.
In terms of the design, it’s a basic package that includes a pump, fiberglass shaft with nylon blade, and the 5 hour work day book that Tower has promoted the last few years with their boards. The board itself has 2 rows of bungee deck webbing in the front that can hold smaller items that you need on the go like a backpack or cooler.
Pros
- The lightest weight board Tower has
- The most portable SUP
- Easy to carry to the shoreline
Cons
- Only features 1-year warranty
- Would prefer if it used a US fin box
- No bag comes with the package
Tower Adventure 2 (Most Popular Line)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10’4” x 32” x 6”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 25 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 400 lbs
Who It’s For
The Adventurer 2 is one of the original Tower paddle boards that has featured the same design for the last 5 years. This board is meant for medium paddlers due to its more labor-intensive construction and its higher weight capacity. It is considered the Premier lineup in the Tower Catelog.
In my opinion, it’s best for paddlers below 6’0 and 180 lbs weight. But I will go a bit further into that in the Tower Yachtsman overview. It should be noted that the design of this SUP, the Yachtsman, and the Mermaid are practically identical. They just have different color schemes.
On-Water Performance
The Adventurer 2 will feel a bit stiffer and more stable than the S-Class series due to its thicker construction. Although with my experience of the Yachtsman (same board as Adventure 2 minus bungees), the board felt Okay stability-wise. I’m 6’1 and around 185 lbs when I tested it and it felt like the board was better suited to smaller paddlers.
The glide and tracking were fairly decent thanks to the board’s slightly tapered profile. The stability of the board when maneuvering was a bit tricky as there were a few times I had to correct and almost fell into the water!
Board Features and Design
The Adventurer 2, features a dual-layer construction that consists of a PVC base layer (.7mm) a layer of glue, and a PVC Tarpaulin sandwich (1.4 mm). I do appreciate Tower mentioning the construction and including measurements. Most SUP manufacturers do not and just briefly mention the construction.
The oldest product line in Towers lineup the Adventurer 2 is relatively unchanged compared to some other company lines that go through an evolution of changes. This can be seen as a good or bad thing.
On one hand, they have one of the better-selling inflatable paddle boards out there so why change the concept? On the other hand, other brands are adding new innovations to their construction, adding more bungees, and action mounts which makes life a bit easier for the paddler.
You be the judge
Pros
- Original line up
- 2-year warranty on this board
- Has a thick construction
- Has clear and concise diagrams about SUP construction
Cons
- No new additions added to this line over the years
- The SUPs design seems fairly basic
- I was not overly impressed with the stability of this board
Tower Yachtsman (Boat Companion)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10’4” x 32” x 6”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 400 lbs
Who It’s For
During the height of the pandemic, I recommended this board to my friend when there were inflatable SUP shortages during the summer. While the board did everything it was needed to do or was supposed to do I felt that in the end, it was not what it could be. I’ll go into more details below.
I was in contact with Tower founder Stephan Aarstol about this board and he mentioned that this was supposed to be a family board. They removed the bungees so that you can have kids, dogs, etc ride on the nose and have room to move around while you paddle. So the purpose of this board is not so much for excursions but rather, family-friendly fun or a board to bring with you on the family boat for a day.
On-Water Performance
In my testing of the Tower Yachtsman, I found the board to be a bit underwhelming from a stability perspective. Specifically when you are maneuvering the board. My friend also had similar sentiments regarding the stability of the board compared to others we were testing that day.
In terms of tracking the board was able to do about 4 paddle strokes per side before I had to switch. After testing this board in both ocean and lake conditions the sentients about the stability of the board when doing sweep strokes was the area that was the greatest weakness of this board in my opinion.
Keep in mind I’m 6’1 and about 185 lbs and my friend is of a similar height but heavier build. An individual with a smaller frame will probably feel differently as opposed to us.
Board Features and Design
Out of the Tower Lineup, I definitely liked the design of this board the most. The deck pad has a classic wood-like feel to it which does live up to its name. The board also has a sleek and simple look which is nice.
I personally was not as impressed with the practicality of the board as there are no deck bungees. So we have to clip a dry bag to the front D ring. I personally also found it a bit less enjoyable always having to check your sandals to make sure they don’t fall off and float away every few seconds.
The no bungee design also limits the board in terms of what you can use it for. I’d personally use this as a board that you can bring the kids on to have fun at the cabin or lake but I would not use it for longer excursions due to the lack of storage area.
Pros
- Glides fairly well
- Great design on the board
- Feels sturdy in the water
- Most paddlers should be able to paddle casually on it
Cons
- Did not feel particularly stable when maneuvering the board
- The lack of storage room limits the use of this board
- No carry bag included
Tower Mermaid (Yoga Pick)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10’4” x 32” x 6”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 400 lbs
Who It’s For:
The Tower Mermaid is positioned to be the stylish SUP yoga board from the Tower lineup. It is definitely one of the better-looking Tower boards with its aqua tinge but outside of that, there are no differences except for the extra pound of weight on this board compared to the Adventure 2.
If you were wanting to use this board for SUP yoga I’d recommend the paddler be 5’10 and under 170 lbs weight due to the SUP’s dimensions. In my opinion, its width should be a bit wider for it to be considered a yoga board. But on the flip side of that, wider SUP Yoga boards will be a bit more sluggish in the water.
In my mind, this should be marketed more as a recreational board much like the Yachtsman and Adventure 2.
On-Water Performance
The On-water performance will be very similar to the Yachstman and Adventure 2 paddle boards. The Mermaid will track fairly well and go at a decent clip if you have a good SUP stroke technique down. However, I do feel that the board’s tracking would be further aided by longer attachable side fins.
In terms of pure stability. For those looking for a true yoga board, I would personally look elsewhere as this is more of an all-around style board marketed as a yoga board. However, that’s not to say that you can’t do yoga on this board at all! The smaller frame you are as a paddler the more you will like the Mermaid’s dimensions as smaller paddlers will be more comfortable doing yoga on boards with shorter dimensions like the Mermaid SUP.
Board Features and Design
The Mermaid features the exact same features as the Adventure 2 but just features a different color scheme.
I personally would have made the deck pad bigger for this to be classified as a SUP yoga board and have it take up almost the entire length of the board. The nose is unused real estate which could be better used for feet instead of having the PVC surface.
The good news though, is that the Mermaid like the Adventure 2 has bungee deck webbing to store/ stash smaller items on the go like small backpacks, dry bags, or even a water bottle to two.
Pros
- Stable enough for smaller framed paddlers
- Makes for a good recreational board
- The color scheme looks good
- Has deck bungees
Cons
- Could have a larger deck pad for SUP Yogis
- Practically the same board as Adventure 2
- Could be lighter weight
Tower iRace (Touring Board Pick)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 12’6” x 30” x 6”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 27 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 400 lbs
Who It’s For
The Tower iRace is for paddlers who want a bit of extra on-water performance for their boards and is recommended for paddlers who have an intermediate experience level. This is not to say that this is the only type of paddler it supports but it will have a steeper learning curve if you are newer to the sport. So keep this in mind if you are looking at this SUP.
Unlike what its name details I would not consider this board a race board but more of a touring paddle board. The boards 12’6” length will give the board the best tracking out of all the Premier or starter Tower paddle boards but will also be one of the less stable boards due to the 30” measured width.
On-Water Performance
The Tower iRace will be the speed and tracking star of the Tower line-up outside of the Xplorer SUP. With a narrower width, these boards will be best for getting the most glide per stroke. The more pointed nose can also cut through waves and chop better than any of the other Tower SUPs.
In terms of maneuverability and stability, this board will take more of a hit in those categories. But that’s usually how it goes with touring paddle boards. In my experience with touring boards, you feel less primary stability (board sitting in water) compared to all-around boards. But on the flip side, the board will have more play when moving the board side to side due to its shape.
Shorter/ smaller paddlers should be wary that it will take more effort to turn/ maneuver this board. Especially when doing sweep strokes. Longer boards take more effort to turn in a more timely manner compared to shorter all-around boards like the 10’4 Tower models.
Board Features and Design
If I had one qualm about this board it would be its fin setup. The board comes with a snap-in plastic fin which really limits what you can do with the fin. The iRace is essentially a touring board and in our humble opinion, there should be a US fin box attachment that allows you to use any fin from any manufacturer that has that designation.
The iRace is 6” thick and has the dual-layer PVC build that is featured in the Yachtsman, Mermaid, and Adventure 2 series. The extra thickness of the PVC tarpaulin sandwich along with the 2 layers of tape on the side rails allows this board to have more durability.
Pros
- High maximum Capacity for a race board
- One of the better tower boards for touring
- Best for long-distance paddling
Cons
- No US Fin box to try out different fin setups
- No bungee deck storage
- No front or rear handles
Tower Xtreme (High Capacity Recreational Pick)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10’4” x 35” x 8”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 29 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 550 lbs
Who It’s For
The Tower Xtreme is a recreational version of the Xplorer. It features the same length dimensions as the Tower recreational boards but incorporates the 8” thickness of the Xplorer along with the 35” width that makes this board extra steady.
In Fact, the Xtreme is wide enough to even be used as a tandem board where one person stands and the other sits. For those bigger/ taller folks who are new to paddling and want a stable recreational board, the Xtreme is a good stable pick to consider.
On-Water Performance
The Xtreme will have some of the best stability of any of the Tower boards and can even be used for fishing or yoga purposes due to its platform-like feel on the water. The extra thickness also helps the board feel more stable when it’s in chop and waves.
In terms of speed and tracking this board will not be a bullet by any means. A 10’4” coupled with a 35” width is not exactly a recipe for great tracking or speed. So if that is your aim you will want the 14’ Xplorer or iRace Tower SUPs.
The Xtreme will have some maneuverability thanks to the wider dimensions as well as its 2 +1 plastic fin configuration which will make the back of the board fishtail a bit more compared to other recreational SUPs.
Board Features and Design
The most noteworthy feature of the Xtreme Paddleboard is the fact that it spans 8” which is pretty unusual in the inflatable paddleboard industry. Tower states on its website that the Xtreme is about 240% more rigid than a regular 6” inflatable paddle board. I can’t say I know how accurate this statement is as they don’t disclose the paddle board they measured the Xtreme against.
The Xtreme uses the same manufacturing process as their 6” boards where you have a .7 mm PVC base later followed by .1mm of glue and a thicker outer PVC Tarpaulin sandwich which measures 1.4 mm. Both inner and outer rail tapes have a .77 mm thickness as well.
Pros
- One of the more stable boards in the Tower lineup
- Great board for those bigger/ taller paddlers
- Has a 3-year warranty
Cons
- Won’t be the fastest board in the lineup
- Tracking will be limited due to the boards shape and fit setup
- This bigger SUP should come with a bag
Tower Xplorer (Stable Touring Pick)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 14’ x 32” x 8”
- Materials: Double Layer, hand glued Construction
- Weight: 33 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 800 lbs
Who It’s For
The Tower Xplorer is a 14’ touring board that can hold a lot of weight. Meaning it’s a pretty good pick for tandem paddling. The 14’ length also makes the board extra rigid which will give you a more stable feeling.
The way the Explorer is set up is for family touring excursions. I wish this board added a few rows of bungee deck webbing though. I feel the board is limiting itself a bit not having this as I feel the Explorer 14’s 800 lb maximum capacity would be a great pick for overnight paddlers and campers.
On-Water Performance
The Xplorer 14 is meant to be used for speed and tracking thanks to its elongated shape and 14’ length. It will be one of the more stable touring paddle boards in the Tower Lineup due to a mix of the board’s length, width, and 8” thickness which can absorb some of the chop that boats provide.
One thing to be extra wary of is maneuverability. This board weighs 33 lbs which is pretty heavy even for 14’ inflatable paddle board standards. Which means it takes a bit of extra effort to turn the board. If you are a smaller paddler you definitely should keep this in mind, especially when paddling in tighter areas like winding rivers or mangroves.
Board Features and Design
The Xtreme has an 8” thickness to make the board feel extra sturdy and rigid so you can add a couple of people and maybe even rover to boot.
One thing that should be noted is the 33 lb weight of the board. In my opinion, the Xplorer would be much better suited to have handles on the front and rear of the board. Especially if you are going out in a tandem formation. One person can lift from the front, one in the back. As opposed to one person trying to carry the board from the middle.
As I mentioned above I get that Tower made this board to be tandem friendly but I still feel even adding removable bungees would open this board up to a wider audience. Especially those who want to travel with a lot of heavy gear. I personally think removable bungees in the front and rear would do the trick nicely.
Pros
- The board will track the best out of anything in the Tower lineup
- 800 lb maximum capacity allows you to have a few passengers on this SUP
- The board will have little flex thanks to the 8” thickness
Cons
- This SUP needs to come with a bag, especially at 33 lbs weight
- We would like to see carry handles at the front and rear
- Some removable bungee deck webbing would be ideal to have, or at least some D rings
Towers Manufacturing Process
If you don’t know much about Tower’s history they are the originators of the 6” thick inflatable paddle boards. Tower got popular through the popular show Shark’s Tank where Mark Cuban ended up investing. In his words, Tower is one of the best investments he’s done as quoted on the Howard Stern Show. Below is how the Tower Shark Tank Pitch went.
Now talking about the technology I had to admit that Tower gives more specifics about their manufacturing process than many other manufacturers and they even give measurement specifications. There are 3 types of boards
The Starter Series: This is the new S- Class paddle board just recently launched by Tower to combat the lightweight fusion craze that has exploded in the past few years. They use .4 mm PVC base layer followed by a layer of glue (.1 mm) and an outer layer of PVC Tarpaulin that is .8 mm. This is Tower’s starter series and is estimated to last 2-3 years. They have a 1-year warranty on this series
Tower Classic/ Premium series: This series is home to the original Adventure 2, Mermaid, Yachtsman, and iRace line. This lineup is made of a dual-layer PVC that has .7 PVC base layer, .1 glue layer, and 1.4 mm outer PVC layer that is thicker compared to the fusion series. The warranty on these boards is 2 years.
Tower X Class/ Elite series: This series comes with 2 boards, the Xplorer and the Xtreme boards. While their construction is the same compared to the Classic/ Premium series, these boards are 8” thick instead of the standard 6” thickness. This gives these boards more rigidify as well as stability which gives them a higher weight capacity to boot.
Tower Accessories
Tower is not the most accessory-rich brand we’ve come across but they do have some items that will make your life easier. We won’t list everything but the more useful SUP accessories below.
Electric Pump: This is a must for ISUPs in my opinion. Especially if you have a bad back or other injury. This pump is 6 lbs and has a max PSI rating of 20. Most Tower boards recommend you inflate their boards from 10 – 12 PSI. It comes with a 12 V cigarette lighter outlet or 12V crocodile clips.
Tower Backpack: To be honest we feel that Tower should include these in their packages. I personally am not a fan of the mesh siding as in my experience with other mesh bags it’s a recipe for the bag to break from the pressure of the side fins. I personally feel that these bags are also not the most comfortable either.
3-Piece SUP Carbon Kevlar Paddle: The 3-piece paddle packs down to be just under 35”, is adjustable from 65” to 85”, and weighs 28 ounces. The blade is dihedral and has an angle of 10 degrees
D Rings: Although Towers boards do not have a lot in the way of D rings you can purchase them and add them onto your board.
River fin: If you are paddling in shallower waters you can buy an ISUP river fin that measures 6”. Keep in mind this will affect the tracking behavior of the board.
Tower Customer Service
Because of Tower’s direct-to-consumer business model, Tower is able to directly answer customer questions without the customer having to go through different retailers. This is becoming a more common business model these days but Tower was one of the first to create it in this industry.
One thing I do appreciate with Tower is the fact that their customer reviews seem to be accurate on their website. Many times manufacturers will only allow 5 to the odd constructive 3-star reviews. But having looked through Tower’s site I do see some 1-star reviews from customers. Which makes me think they don’t filter them out.
Overall though Tower seems to have a happy customer base. Currently, the 10’4” lineup of Tower boards that includes the Adventure 2, Yachtsman, and Mermaid has a 4.1 out of 5 star review with 319 ratings as of the time of this article.
Having looked at some recent Amazon reviews, I am seeing more negative reviews about either the seams failing on the board or the board being unstable. The problem with looking at these reviews is it’s hard to tell exactly what the full story is and how the board was stored. So take everything you read with a grain of salt.
On Facebook they have a 4.3 rating out of 15 reviews. Although there is little detail in them.
Tower Warranty and Returns Information
Tower has a 30 day return policy on all of their inflatable boards. The good news about their return policies is the fact that there is no restocking fees. Which is something I often see from other bigger SUP manufacturers. If your product arrives damaged, Tower recommends you contact them within 24 hours of it being received.
For their inflatable paddle boards Tower has a tiered warranty based on their SUPs.
- 1 Year Limited Manufacturing Warranty: Goes to the S-Class/ Starter series boards because of its thinner PVC material
- 2 Year Limited Manufacturing Warranty: for Tower Premium Series for boards such as the Mermaid, Yachtsman, Adventure 2, and iRace boards
- 3 Year Limited Manufacturing Warranty: For Tower’s X Class/ Elite Series boards such as the Xtreme and Xplorer boards.
To fill a warranty claim you need your full name, order number, and description of the issue as well as a picture or video as photographic evidence.
As quoted by Tower:
“Our iSUP warranties cover any abnormal defect in workmanship or materials that occurs within the warranty period. This does not include normal wear and tear or any issues that arise due to negligence. Negligence may include but is not limited to, damage due to prolonged sun exposure, damage due to serious impact with your paddling environment, damage or breakage due to occurrences outside of our control, damage due to improper inflation (say you use a high-pressure air compressor to rapidly inflate your inflatable paddle board, which can cause damage), or damage due to salt water corrosion.”
– Tower Warranty
Which is pretty standard with all ISUP manufacturers.
Where to Buy Tower Paddle Boards
You can purchase Tower Paddle Boards directly from the Tower website or on Amazon.com. Tower was one of the first SUP manufacturers that did the direct-to-consumer business model.
Similar Manufacturers
Below are some similar manufacturers to look at in relation to Tower and their boards.
iRocker
iRocker has a similar business model to Tower although I feel their boards have better stability and there is more innovation here. iRocker is a brand that has gone almost as far back as Tower as well. If you want boards that can house a lot of different accessories such as Go- pros, fishing rods, and cell phones then iRocker is a great brand to take a look at.
Gili
Gili is an environmentally conscious paddle board company whose portion of proceeds of every board goes to different ocean charities. Gili offers a similar variety of SUPs as Tower as it too has a racing board, several different quality all-around boards, and a multi-person SUP that can take a good amount of weight.