tldr; Well-built all-around iSUP praised for stability and versatility, excellent for yoga and cruising.
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Best praise vs top criticism for Glide Retro
“Best bang for your buck in that price range is the [Glide Retro Elite](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/glide-o2-retro-106-isup-review/) if you want a hybrid iSUP/kayak kit or the Glide Retro Core if you don't want the hybrid option. I just finished writing my review of the Core the other day, and it's nearly identical on the water to the Elite. 10'6 x 34", and both are more rigid than the [Isle Pioneer 3](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/isle-pioneer-3-hybrid-isup-review/) and have better paddling performance than the [Paddle North Portager](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/paddle-north-portager-review/). And their construction is fantastic. You also get a US fin box (unlike paddle north, which also doesn't come with a leash) and a That would be my recommendation in that price range for you. However any of those four boards will work.”
“Lots of options for him. The Cruise has a pretty stable shape to begin with, so if there are stability issues, then we'll need to go a bit wider. But I would avoid going too large as well. Lots of choices within an $800 budget for a kit The [iRocker Cruiser Ultra](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/irocker-cruiser-ultra-review/) is 10'6 x 33" x 6" with a nice stable shape. The [Glide Retro Elite](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/glide-o2-retro-106-isup-review/) is 10'6 x 33.5" x 6" with a similar shape to the NSP Cruise, but a bit more width. The [Retro Core](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/glide-retro-core-106-isup-review/) is nearly identical, but without the kayak conversion kit and full-length deck pad if those aren't of interest to you. The [Nixy Venice](https://www.inflatableboarder.com/nixy-venice-g5-isup-review/) is 10'6 x 34" x 6" with a stable shape and full-length deck pad (designed a bit more for yoga, but not exclusively for it). If the plan is to go back to the NSP in the future, then I would recommend the Glide Retro as the shape is very, very similar.”
156 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 2/24/2026