Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Review (2022)

The Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable SUP is an affordable and decent quality all-around board. The maximum weight capacity is 250lbs, which I’d say is realistically accurate with the given design of the board. This means that smaller, average sized, and a tad bit of heavier paddlers can use it.

Paddle boarding is a worthwhile experience when exploring the waterways. There’s more fun to it than you can imagine, which is why you should give it a try and experience the exciting feeling first-hand.

You can check its price here: Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP Package.

A Quick Overview for the Hasty

The Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board measures 10’8× 33″× 6″. It has a maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds, weighs 19 pounds, and comes with everything you need to get on the water.

The board is a cruising-oriented all-around suitable for SUP activities like cruising, short-distance touring, yoga, fishing, recreational paddling on calmer waters in general. It is designed to give you stability on the water, hence suitable for all skill levels. The board feels nice on the water – cruising speed and maneuverability. The accessories it comes with include: paddle, dual-action pump, backpack, repair kit, instructions manual, and a detachable fin.

Who and What Is the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable SUP Board Designed for?

Who: paddlers weighing up to 250 pounds.
What: cruising, fishing, yoga, and general recreational paddling on calmer waters.

The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board is ideal for average or larger people, weighing less than 250 pounds. Its length (10’8) and width (33″) make it a stable experience even for the taller folk. It’s good for both beginner and experienced paddlers since the width provides enough stability.

It is an all-around that is stable more than it is maneuverable. That makes it suitable for cruising, fishing, yoga, and general recreational paddling on calmer waters.

How Does the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable SUP Board Perform?

The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board is mainly:

stable

As stated earlier, this inflatable paddle board is designed with more stability than speed or maneuverability in mind. The width and rounded square tail is what makes the board stable. You can however make turns with the board, though it might not be super snappy, as it’s relatively long and wide. The board’s help with maneuverability, it’s not like you can’t turn it at all.

As for speed, the Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board is neither too long nor too narrow so it can build up some speed decent enough for cruising. It is not suitable for long-distance touring or racing as the width of the board makes it lose some momentum on the water. It glides smoothly due to its length and cuts through water nicely.

What Are the Specifications of the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable SUP Board?

Specifications of the Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board:

Type – all-around
Color – patterned blue
Construction – inflatable
Length – 10’8
Width – 33″
Thickness – 6″
Weight of the board – 19 pounds
Weight capacity – 250 pounds
Materials – drop-stitch inner core, a single layer of PVC, and EVA foam deck pad.

Type:
The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP is an all-around paddleboard, thus suitable for most SUP activities. You can use it for yoga, fishing, cruising, short-distance touring, etc.

Color:
The board comes in blue color with lots of interesting color patterns.

Construction:
The board is inflatable, meaning it is filled with air. It can be deflated, rolled up, and stored away easily when not in use. The board is inflated and deflated through a valve at the rear of the board. The maximum recommended air pressure is 15PSI.

Length:
The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board is 10 feet 8 inches long, which makes it a good option for average and/or larger paddlers. The length of the board helps the board track better on the water and thus allows to build up some speed.

Width:
The width of the inflatable paddle board is 33 inches. The average width of all-around SUPs is between 30 and 34 inches, so this board is wide enough for both smaller and larger paddlers. Wider boards are more stable.

Thickness:
The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board is 6 inches thick. This thickness is common among all-around inflatable SUP boards. 5 inches would be more ideal but 6 inches is still fine.

Weight of the board:
The board weighs approximately 19 pounds. Being lightweight makes it easier to use by smaller paddlers. It also makes it easy to store or transport.

Weight capacity:
The maximum weight capacity is reported to be 250 pounds. It can however support more weight, though that wouldn’t be optimal, as long as you’re not too tall, due to its width. The length/width ratio of the board enables paddlers weighing 250 pounds and less to keep balance on water. An average sized paddler can allow for an additional small rider or pet.

Materials:
The paddle board is made of a single layer of military-grade PVC material connected to la core of drop-stitch fibers. There are 2 layers of PVC material at the rails, and an anti-slip EVA foam deck pad on top of the board.

What Is Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Paddle Board Made of?

Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP board is made of:

probably single, maybe double layer PVC
multi-layer at the rails

It’s got your typical drop-stitch core which is then surrounded by PVC layer(s).

Usually the weak points are the seams at the rails or around the inflation valve, but I haven’t seen any1 having had any issues with those so far. They boast about a “military grade” PVC in their construction and given how little negative feedback there is about this board breaking down, the construction quality itself should be very good even if there’s only 1 thicker layer of PVC. There’s likely 2 layers at the rails for sure. They might be using some higher quality construction methods given their good track record, but they haven’t disclosed that.

Based on that, I’d say the construction quality is excellent and is more than fine for recreational use on calmer waters.

The recommended max PSI is 15. With proper care, it can last you many good years. For more info: construction of inflatable paddle boards (link opens in a new tab).

What Are the Features of the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board?

Features of the Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP board:

Nose carry handle
Bungee storage area
Center carry handle
Deck pad
Inflation valve
D-ring (1)
Rear carry handle
Fins (1+2)

1 – nose carry handle
The carry handle at the nose of the board is useful for companions that tend to sit at the front, to hold on to it. It can also be used to tow the board from the front.

2 – 6-point bungee storage area
The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board has a bungee cord attached to 6 D-rings at the nose of the board. This provides you with a space to store accessories and extra stuff you want to bring along.

3 – center carry handle
There is also a carry handle positioned at the center of the board. This allows you to carry the board comfortably when inflated. You should have no issue lifting the board since it is lightweight.

4 – deck pad
The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board has a deck pad made from soft non-slip EVA foam material. It is a rigid standing platform that gives you support and enhances grip and balance on the water.

5 – inflation valve
There’s an inflation valve located at the rear of the Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP board. This high pressure valve is where you fill the board with air. It is also where you deflate the board.

6 – D-ring (1)
A single D-ring is attached at the rear of the board. It is used for tying an ankle leash for safety or to tie the board to something hard when need be so it doesn’t drift away.

7 – rear carry handle
There is a third carry handle at the rear of the board. This one is probably used in pulling the board out of the water.

8 – fins (1+2)
The Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable SUP Board has a tri-fin system that enhances maneuverability and glide on water. These are two small fixed fins on the sides of the board and a bigger detachable fin in the middle.

What Else Is Included in the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Package?

The Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board package comes with a paddle, hand pump, travel backpack, repair kit, instructions manual, and a detachable fin.

Paddle
The package includes a 3-piece adjustable aluminum paddle which fits in the backpack when disassembled. It is adjustable from 71 to 86 inches and floats only for a while before it sinks as it is made of aluminum.

Hand pump
A dual-action pump with a pressure gauge on top is included in the Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP board package. The pressure gauge measure the air pressure in the board, and the maximum recommended PSI is 15, but 12 and 14 is fine too. It takes about 10 minutes to inflate the board but can be a little bit of a workout when you get to higher pressures. You can attach an electric pump if pumping the board gets too exhausting.

Backpack
The package comes with a travel backpack that measures 38× 18× 12 inches (length× width× depth) and can store everything that comes with the package including the deflated board and still have extra room for more stuff. The backpack has shoulder straps that make it much easier to carry and adjustable buckles to secure the accessories from bouncing around inside.

Ankle leash
Although you might think you won’t be needing this in most cases, and although you’re probably right, there are still some circumstances in which it can even save your life. The ankle leash is usually attached to the D-ring at the rear of the board and it connects you to the board. Say you were to fall in and there was a slight current + wind making it drift away faster than you can swim to it, the leash would stop the worst from happening. For more info: SUP Safety.

Repair kit
The repair kit comes in an orange cylinder container and holds a valve wrench with which you can tighten the inflation valve as it can come loose over time and start leaking air. It also contains PVC patches to fix up the board when you happen to hit something sharp.

Instructions manual
The package should come with an instruction manual to guild you through the use of the Bote Drift 10’8 inflatable SUP board and the accessories.

Detachable fin
The package includes a detachable fin makes the board glide longer in a straight line on the water. You should attach the fin when the board is halfway inflated so it locks in securely and you don’t lose it when on the water. You could remove it if in shallow waters to avoid damage.

So Is the Bote Drift 10’8 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Package for You?

It’s affordable, relatively stable, and lightweight (19 pounds) all-around SUP that is designed mainly for flat water activities (cruising, fishing, yoga, general recreational paddling, etc on rivers, lakes, streams, etc). Whether you’re a beginner or experienced paddler, as long as you weigh less than 250 pounds (roughly), Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP board might just be for you.

However, the board is too long and wide for surfing or whitewater riding; it is also too wide for racing. It’s an all-around that is more geared towards cruising on flat waters. It is mainly stable, builds up decent speed for cruising, yet remains maneuverable to an extent.

So if you’re looking for a paddle board to build up great speed (for long-distance touring or racing) or that is excellently maneuverable, then this board might not be the right choice for you.

Where To Buy the Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP Package?

Best way to buy stand up paddle boards would be from physical shops. That way you could gain much needed info, advice and tips from the enthusiastic sellers there (assuming they were experts on the field…).

If purchasing from a physical store was not an option, there are still online stores to check out.

Check the price or buy here: Bote Drift 10′8 Inflatable SUP Package.

Conclusion

Bote Drift 10’8 is an excellent quality all-around inflatable SUP board with a weight capacity of 250 lbs. It’s got most features you’d want from a higher quality board, but it’s missing the 4 D-rings for attaching a kayak seat. It otherwise comes with everything you need to get on the water and the quality of said accessory items isn’t too bad. Suitable mainly for cruising, but also fishing, yoga, and general recreational paddling on calmer waters, though nothing is stopping you from riding small waves as well, etc.

Included accessories
Bote Drift 10′8 iSUP package includes the adjustable 3-piece aluminum SUP paddle, detachable main fin, manual pump, backpack, and an ankle leash.

Warranty
It comes with 1-year warranty. Good customer support (it’s basically a sub-company of Bote, after all).

Where to Buy
It’s simple, buy here: Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP Package.

EXTRA READING

(Links open in a new tab)

Bote Drift 10’8 iSUP Review