Blue Heron Stand Up Paddle Board, Blue/Gray, Large

Great board, very stable, nice package of accessories.This is a long large board, a little heavy to carry or manipulate over head for car top in wind.Excellent beginner board.First trip out my wife paddle a mile across the bay and had a wonderful time.

I’ve been paddling the Blue Heron for a little over a month now – I wanted to wait until I had substantial “paddle time” before I submitted a review. With that being said, this SUP has exceeded my expectations. While this is the first SUP I’ve owned, I am an avid kayak fisherman and have a lot of time logged on the water. I mostly fish freshwater and some inshore on the coast and this board has handled everything I’ve thrown at it.I needed something that I could “grab and go” with a more minimalistic fishing approach than my rigged fishing kayaks. This SUP allows me to get on the water fast and performs. My wife also likes to use it for paddling around the lake or just laying out on the water.The Cliffs Notes summary: it’s super stable, efficient and well thought out.BUILD QUALITY:I looked at a variety of different SUP manufacturers/boards in the $500-$1500 range that have similar specs before I chose the Blue Heron. The first thing that stood out to me was how well this SUP is constructed. Fit and finish is top notch.Some SUPs on the lower end of the spectrum felt more like a “toy” and weren’t well thought out. Conversely, for the price of the Blue Heron, I couldn’t see spending the extra $ for a SUP with comparable specs at the high end of the spectrum. Most of those options where also “board only” and adding a paddle, case, etc. boosted costs quickly.The board material is dense and has held up very well to the normal bumps and dings that come along with loading/unloading and fishing. While I baby this board, I don’t feel like I have to worry about messing it up while actually using it as intended! Some of the other options I looked at felt too fragile in comparison.This board sits high in the water even when fully loaded and doesn’t bog down. I also like the abundance of EVA foam on the deck. It is high quality that not only delivers a sure grip, it also protects the board from various things that I’ve dropped (pliers, SS water bottle, etc.)VALUE:As mentioned before, this is my first SUP so I wanted to get the most for my $. The way this SUP package is bundled is outstanding. It came with everything I needed right out of the box. While I’m typically a little leery of bundled packages as the accessories sometimes tend to be of lesser quality, this is not the case with the Blue Heron.The adjustable carbon fiber paddle is lightweight, solid and has performed very well so far. The adjustability makes it nice for when my wife wants to paddle the board as she is significantly shorter than me. This SUP also comes with a thick carrying/storage case that has good stitching and provides excellent protection during storage and travel. It also makes moving the board from the truck to the dock much easier.PERFORMANCE:The stability is exceptional. I’m 6’7” and weigh about 210lbs which can make balancing somewhat difficult in a kayak, much less a SUP. This board never feels “squirrelly’ when I’m paddling even when I have a lot of gear on the deck or while I’m casting.Speed is more than sufficient given the on-water stability and the high weight capacity limit. I’m sure there are faster SUPs out there, but for my needs, this thing is plenty fast/efficient. I was worried it might be sluggish, but it glides right along and tracks well even in the wind and chop.DESIGN:I primarily use this board for fishing so I appreciate the attention to detail that went into the multiple connection points that are recessed on the deck of the board. These points (see photos) make it easy to attach items like a fishing crate (i.e. milk crate with rod holders/tackle), small cooler, tackle box or other accessories. The abundance of bungees on the front deck are also good for quickly securing rods or the paddle.Short distance transport is pretty easy with the center molded handle in the board. It is balanced perfectly. However, for longer-distance treks I use a simple cart I rigged up with PVC and some small wheels (plenty of easy to build, cheap designs via google). I’m sure there are commercially available carts, but this was a easy to build an inexpensive.OVERALL:I couldn’t be happier with the value and performance of this SUP! It’s been a little over a month with this board and I have zero complaints. If I run into any issues down the road, I’ll update this review.

Love it!!!!

If you haven’t fished from a paddle board you are missing out. I know kayak is a big thing right now, but I needed something easier. In steps the Jimmy Styks Blue Heron. I live in Louisiana so there is no shortage of water, but I’ve got a pond right in my backyard with tons of potential. I needed something that allowed quick access.Set Up:Do you have 5 minutes? Well, set up for the Blue Heron will take you half that time, leaving you 2.5 minutes to grab a beer.Ease of Use:I have no time to be messing around, hoping I don’t fall off the board. Currently, there are three good sized alligators in the pond. If I can falling in I’m sure I would be fine, but why risk it. The Blue Heron was stable and secure. Even when casting, I didn’t feel like I was ready to go in at any point. If you are looking at stability this is your paddle board.Weight:Like I said, toting it from the backyard to the pond is a breeze. If you want a board that can go with you and isn’t bothersome this board fits the bill. Online it says 39.5 pounds, but that isn’t much with a sturdy board like this.Space:Love the space! It was simplistic and easy to find spots to put gear. I never found myself stepping around anything or moving it. The only thing I would love to see is somewhere to place another rod or two. Perhaps the next gen Blue Heron or fishing model from Jimmy Styks will have something to fit.Paddle:Super durable. I’ve beat the crap out of this thing, pushed off logs and retrieved lures. There is no killing it. Well done and light.Platform:Maintains its dexterity and soft touch to the feet. I’ve spent several hours and the last thing I thought about was a slippery surface or aching feet.Final Thoughts:The ease of use is a selling point on its own, but when you factor in a lightweight design with plenty of room that changes things. It goes from great purchase to bad ass purchase. Looking to hit up a hidden pond or backwater? The Jimmy Styks Blue Heron is the paddle board for you.