In my opinion, the Bluefin Cruise is currently the best SUP board on the market, one of the best-selling boards and also convinced in our SUP board test. The model is so successful that the British manufacturer Bluefin is now offering it in four different sizes (Bluefin Cruise Junior, Bluefin Cruise 10’8, Bluefin Cruise 12 and Bluefin Cruise Tandem). There is also the Bluefin Cruise Carbon, which is aimed at advanced and real SUP veterans.

Find out the price of the Bluefin Cruise 10’8:

On Amazon ->

Bluefin SUP Stand Up Inflatable Paddle Board with Kayak Conversion Kit | Ultimate iSUP Kayak Bundle (10’8”, 12’0” and 15’0″) (Carbon 10’8″)

On Bluefinsupboards.com ->

The different variants of the Bluefin Cruise:

Bluefin Cruise Junior -> For children
Bluefin Cruise 10’8 -> For beginners
Bluefin Cruise 12 -> For beginners and advanced
Bluefin Cruise Tandem -> SUP Board for two people

In this review, we mainly focus on the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 (325 cm) and the Bluefin Cruise 12’0 (366 cm) because these two boards are the most popular.

Bluefin Cruise overview

In my Bluefin Cruise SUP Board Test I go into detail about the board and the accessories included in the scope of delivery. There is a section at the end of the post where I answer frequently asked questions about the board.

Information on the board
Board type inflatable
Brand Bluefin
Skill   beginners / advanced
Application area all-round / touring
Length 325 cm | 366 cm
Weight       12 kg | 14 kg
Accessories     paddle, backpack, air pump, kayak seat and leash

Bluefin SUP Stand Up Inflatable Paddle Board | 14′ Sprint Model | Touring/Race Model | Complete with All Accessories

Construction

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 (325 cm) is quite a typical all-rounder. With a width of 83.5 cm, the board is very stable in the water. The dimensions also come close to the typical all-round board, which usually measures 320 cm x 80 x 15 cm.

The advantage of these boards is that they offer a lot of stability. This is particularly useful for beginners who still find it a little difficult to keep their balance on the board. With all-round boards such as the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 “, less emphasis is placed on top speeds and more on stability and driving pleasure.

Extremely elongated boards like the Bluefin Sprint, on the other hand, are uncompromisingly designed for high speeds. Due to their elongated shape, they are very difficult to ride for beginners. Here you need a good feeling for maintaining balance. And maneuverability also suffers from the design of the racing cars.

A middle thing between all-round and race boards are touring boards. The thing is this:

All-rounders offer a secure stand and the rounded shape makes them manoeuvrable. On longer tours, however, most of the time you only paddle straight ahead. There is a need for boards that slow down less and offer better directional stability.

This is where touring boards come in. Typically the boards measure 350 cm or more in length and are approximately 80 cm wide. The Bluefin Cruise 12, with its dimensions of 366 cm in length and 83 cm in width, falls into this category.

Touring boards are often a bit shaky for beginners. Kilometers of tours are also often not on the plan at the beginning. Advanced paddlers who have already had one season under their belt, on the other hand, feel really comfortable with touring boards like the 366 cm long Bluefin Cruise 12. The boards keep the track better and this allows higher speeds to be achieved.

And those who already have water sports experience or are already planning longer routes can also use a touring board like the Bluefin Cruise 12.

Dimensions

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 corresponds to the typical all-rounder with dimensions of 325 cm in length and 83.5 cm in width. The Bluefin Cruise 12, on the other hand, is a touring board that measures 366 cm x 83 cm.

It should be noted that both the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 and the Bluefin Cruise 12 are 16 cm thick. At just over 6 inches (6 inches = 6 inches = 15 cm), the board is much stiffer than narrower boards. The biggest advantage is that more air fits into the thick boards, which provides more buoyancy (i.e. a higher load capacity) and more stability.

Beginners should stay away from a board that is only 10 cm thick. The first inflatable boards, which appeared in Germany at the beginning of the 2010s, measured only 10 cm and curved in rows in the middle. In addition to the improved production processes, which in any case made for significantly more robustness and significantly extended the service life, the boards became thicker and thicker over time.

Material

The Bluefin Cruise is made of several PVC layers that have been glued together. The so-called drop stitch process is used in production. Boards made using this process are particularly stiff.

The covers of the Bluefin SUPs are also extremely stable and can withstand a (very high) air pressure of up to 28 PSI (almost 2 bar). Most boards from other manufacturers give in at this duck.

Weight

The average SUP board weighs 10 to 14 kilograms. With a weight of 12.6 kilograms (Cruise 10’8) or 14 kilograms (Cruise 12), the Bluefin Cruise Boards are exactly in the normal range.

In general, the transport of inflatable SUP boards is very easy:

After a tour, the air is simply deflated, the evacuated cover rolled up, then stowed in the backpack and the bag can then simply be carried.

Experience has shown that carrying the rucksack, which usually weighs 15 to 20 kilograms (board, accessories, other equipment, provisions, etc.) is no problem for distances of up to one kilometer. Longer hikes with a backpack on your back are still strenuous.

Load capacity

The load-bearing capacity of the boards is 130 kilograms for the 325 cm long Cruise 10’8 and 140 kilograms for the 366 cm long Bluefin Cruise 12. Heavy paddlers, tall paddlers, a paddler and child or two (light ) Paddlers ride at the same time.

(For two people, however, the Bluefin Cruise Tandem is best suited. The scope of delivery of the tandem includes two kayak seats and two (double) paddles.)

Many other manufacturers set the load capacity of their boards a bit high. As a rule, a small discount must therefore be expected. Bluefins boards are excluded from this rule. The Bluefin Cruise SUPs carry the specified weight.

In addition, the boards from Bluefin are inflated to a higher pressure (15 to 18 PSI) than the boards from other manufacturers (8 to 15 PSI). The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 can carry more load than boards from other brands (with comparable dimensions) because of this and its thicker construction. One example of this is the Aqua Marina Beast, where top performance can no longer be expected from a load of 110 kilograms.

Driving characteristics & area of ​​application

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 is an all-round board and – as the name suggests – can be used in a variety of ways. For this very reason, all-rounders are exciting for beginners.

After all, as a beginner you don’t yet know what is particularly fun about Stand Up Paddling. All-rounders are a good choice for lakes, short and medium-sized tours, leisurely trips with the family, trips over canals and surfing small waves. Beginners can try out many parts of the sport.

The Cruise 10’8 does not reach top speeds, but is still built quite sporty. The tapered nose reduces water resistance and the rather elongated design ensures good straight-line stability.

The nose of the Bluefin Cruise is pointed, which ensures better straight-line stability.

I would therefore describe the Cruise 10’8 as a stable entry-level model that still sets sporty accents. The three (removable) fins in particular ensure that the board is very safe in the water.

The three fins ensure a high degree of stability. All three fins of the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 can be removed, which is particularly practical for transport.

If you want to take it a bit sportier, you already have specific tours in mind for which a few kilometers have to be made, or who have already gained experience in dealing with SUPs, the Bluefin Cruise 12 is probably the best choice.

The directional stability of the longer board is quickly noticeable on the Cruise 12. The 366 cm long model is particularly convincing on longer stretches with passages in which there is a lot of straight-ahead driving.

On the one hand, the board deviates less from the direction of travel, so that the paddle side has to be changed less often. On the other hand, a higher speed can be built up with Cruise 12.

With the Cruise 10’8 and the Cruise 12 ′ I particularly liked the high-quality processed edges. When inflated, both boards are extremely stiff and especially the edges are extremely hard, which enables quick turns. In my opinion, boards from Bluefin can easily keep up with branded boards in terms of quality, which are well into the four-digit range.

Processing

In terms of workmanship, the boards from Bluefin play in the top league. With the Bluefin Cruise, you get a high-quality board (including extensive accessories) for a reasonable price. The Cruise is also very durable.

Another good guide are the Amazon customer reviews *. I’ve read a lot of them too. Most of these are very positive. Above all, the good workmanship, the extensive accessories and the good price-performance ratio are praised.

The Bluefin Cruise impresses with its very good workmanship. I didn’t notice any glue residue or edges that were not worked properly.

The Bluefin Cruise Boards cost a little more than other models, but in direct comparison it is noticeable that these cheap SUP boards are usually less well made. You can also expect less performance from these boards. Problems with adhesive residue, a strong chemical smell or stains on the board are unfortunately often part of the low-priced segment.

The big argument in favor of the Bluefin Cruise, however, is the (unbelievable!) Five-year guarantee that the British manufacturer offers on all of its boards.

Five years is a really long time for SUP boards. Many of the cheap models will not survive this. In a personal conversation a manufacturer of inexpensive SUP boards told me that this guarantee was absolutely “crazy” because its boards only lasted two years.

More about the board

There are a number of numerous little things about the Bluefin Cruise that I would like to at least briefly address:

EVA deck pad: The Cruise is equipped with an EVA deck pad. The large, dark gray cover pad has a honeycomb structure, which guarantees a secure stand and is soft to the touch at the same time. Even when wet, the EVA deck pad offers a good grip.

The crocodile / diamond deck pad ensures a very secure stand.

Mountable kayak seat: Another special feature is the mountable kayak seat. Many SUPs now allow such a seat to be retrofitted, but the Bluefin Cruise is particularly comfortable. The kayak seat is already included in the scope of delivery and can easily be attached to the four labeled D-rings. The Bluefin Cruise can be used twice: as a SUP board and as a kayak.

The kayak seat, which is included in the scope of delivery, can be attached to the central D-rings.

Additional carrying handles: The Bluefin Cruise is equipped with two additional carrying handles. There is a handle at the front and one at the rear of the board. The handles make it easier to carry the board.
Luggage net: The Cruise also has a luggage net that can be used to transport a drinking bottle or a drybag. The additional neoprene cords make it possible to transport more equipment.

Actioncam mount: The mount enables a GoPro or other action camera to be attached to the front of the board. On the Bluefin Cruise 2020, the action cam bracket has been improved by labeling it and protecting it with an additional rubber.

Equipment

All versions of the Bluefin Cruise include a range of accessories. In addition to the board, the scope of delivery includes an air pump, a backpack, a leash, a mountable kayak seat and a (double) paddle. With the equipment included in the delivery, you are already fully equipped for the first SUP tours.

Many high-quality accessories are included in the scope of delivery.

The accessories would cost a lot of money to buy individually. With a page like this you save a lot of money compared to that. The items included in the scope of delivery of the Bluefin Cruise alone would cost € 200 individually.

From time to time there are special promotions with extra accessories on bluefinsupboards.com/de/. This can e.g. an action cam or a better air pump, which is also included free of charge.

Paddle

Paddles made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (also called fiberglass) are not just a bonus. It is a full-fledged SUP paddle made of a high quality material.

Fiberglass paddles are light and stable. The included SUP paddle is very suitable for beginners as well as advanced users. Other manufacturers only add an aluminum paddle to their boards, which is heavy, does not last long and sometimes does not even swim. The story is very different with the Bluefin Cruise.

The paddle included with the Cruise is of high quality and makes the purchase of another SUP paddle superfluous. The specialty of the included paddle is that it can be converted into a double paddle.

The two-part paddle can easily be converted into a kayak paddle with an additional center piece and a second paddle blade. This way you can really use the SUP as a kayak.

(In contrast to stand up paddling, kayaking involves paddling with a double paddle.)

The paddle is height adjustable and can therefore be adapted to different body sizes (and thus paddlers). A maximum length of 2.15 meters can be set, which is completely sufficient for paddlers with a height of up to 1.95 m.

The 2019 Bluefin Cruise Carbon comes with a carbon paddle instead of the GRP paddle. Carbon is even lighter and more robust than fiberglass. The disadvantage of carbon, however, is that the material is more prone to collisions. So you have to be more careful in shallow water as well as when entering and exiting.

Other accessories

In addition to the paddle, the following products are included in the scope of delivery:

Retaining line: The leash included is a so-called coiled leash, which only expands to its full length when you fall into the water. This is an important safety measure, because if you use a simple line, you run the risk of this line getting caught on underwater plants or rocks. That can lead to nasty falls.
Backpack: The included backpack is provided with extra padding on the shoulder straps, which makes it easy to carry. Overall, the backpack looks high-quality and can also be used for other purposes.
Double stroke pump: The air pump is a modern model that blows air into the board when it is pushed down and pulled up. The inflation time is therefore shorter.

Frequently asked questions about the Bluefin Cruise answered

Finally, I’ll answer questions that came up in the comments or that I came across during my research.

Can I drive the Bluefin Cruise with several people?

Yes, both the Cruise 10’8 and the Cruise 12 can be driven by several people. The maximum load is 130 kilograms and 140 kilograms, respectively. So two light adults can ride on one board.

However, it works better with a child and an adult on board. So it’s a great SUP board for families! If the load is too high, the board will not go under. However, wet feet and a little more strenuous paddling are not excluded.

However, the Bluefin Cruise Tandem is best suited for paddling with two people. Not only does this board offer a higher load capacity of 160 kilograms and, with a length of 427 cm, significantly more space on the deck, but the scope of delivery also includes two kayak seats and two (double) paddles.

How much PSI is the Bluefin Cruise inflated to?

Bluefin’s boards are inflated to 15 to 18 PSI (a little more than a bar). With the supplied air pump this is done in 6 minutes.

You can always go faster, but you still need the strength in your arms to paddle. Alternatively, an electric SUP pump can also be used.

How long is the warranty on the Bluefin Cruise?

The British manufacturer has great confidence in its own products and therefore offers an unbelievable five-year guarantee on the Bluefin Cruise SUPs. In my opinion, the longer warranty period alone justifies the slightly higher price.

What is the difference between Bluefin Cruise and Bluefin Cruise Carbon?

There are three main differences between the (normal) Bluefin Cruise and the Bluefin Cruise Carbon. First, the accessories are different. The carbon version includes a carbon paddle instead of the fiberglass paddle. And the double-action pump has been upgraded to a triple-action pump.

Second, the Bluefin Cruise Carbon has an additional separate air chamber. In the event of a serious accident in which one air chamber is damaged, the other would be able to keep the board afloat on its own.

And third, work was done on the rails and rigidity. The even harder edges noticeably improve the driving characteristics (maneuverability and speed). Overall, the board is even stiffer than the (normal) Bluefin Cruise, although it has to be said that the normal version is really top in terms of rigidity.

In my opinion, the Bluefin Cruise Carbon is worth buying for particularly ambitious paddlers. An improvement can be felt in the driving characteristics and of course the better accessories (carbon paddle & better pump) justify the higher price. Beginners or occasional paddlers are already well advised with the normal cruise.

What is the difference between the Bluefin Cruise 2019 and the Bluefin Cruise 2020?

Bluefin currently offers two different models under the name Bluefin Cruise in its online shop and on Amazon.

There are essentially seven improvements that Bluefin has implemented for the Bluefin Cruise 2020:

Better action cam holder: Instead of the mount from the previous model, the Bluefin Cruise 2020 has a holder into which action cams have to be screwed. In direct comparison, the new board looks a bit more valuable.
Extra neoprene cords for the luggage net: This means that a little more luggage can be transported on the new board.
New design: The look is the most noticeable difference between the two Bluefin Cruise Boards. Personally, I like the new design better, but that’s a purely personal matter.
Improved kayak seat D-rings: The D-rings in the middle of the board have been specially labeled and additionally protected with a rubber.
Better paddle: The paddle that comes with the Bluefin Cruise 2020 has a new design and is also lighter. I’ll take a closer look, but at first glance the Bluefin Cruise 2020 paddle looks like the SUP paddle that comes with the Bluefin Cruise Carbon (2019).
All fins can be removed: All three fins on the Bluefin Cruise 2020 are removable. In the previous model, however, you could only remove the main fin. This makes transport easier and different fin setups can now be tested.
Additional fin pins included: The Smart-Lock fin system is also used on the Bluefin Cruise 2020. What is new, however, is that replacement pins have been supplied for the two smaller side fins and the main fin. Of course, this has the advantage that if the pen breaks off (has never happened to me on any board), you can repair this damage yourself with the spare parts.
In summary, it can be said that in addition to many nice gimmicks, the Bluefin Cruise has undergone a significant upgrade here. The better paddle and removable fins are noticeable advantages. This does not justify a surcharge that is too high, but for a moderate additional cost ($ 50-100) I would probably prefer the new model. (Especially since that is just fancier ;-))

How good is the Bluefin Cruise?

In our SUP board test, the Bluefin Cruise could absolutely convince us. The board is of high quality, comes with high quality accessories and is very safe in the water. Learn more.

How heavy is the Bluefin Cruise?

The Bluefin Cruise is available in different versions. The 325 cm long version weighs 12 kg, the 366 cm long version weighs 14 kg. With its high load capacity, it is a great SUP board for heavy paddlers, tall paddlers or two light paddlers. Learn more.

Who is the Bluefin Cruise suitable for?

The Bluefin Cruise is ideal for beginners and advanced users. With its high load, it is also a great SUP board for heavy paddlers, tall paddlers or two light paddlers. Learn more.

For which waters is the Bluefin Cruise suitable?

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 is an all-round board and – as the name suggests – can be used in a variety of ways. For this very reason, all-rounders are exciting for beginners. All-rounders are a good choice for lakes, short and medium-sized tours, leisurely trips with the family, trips over canals and surfing small waves. Here you can find out more about the various SUP boards and the Bluefin Cruise.

Conclusion

The Bluefin Cruise is one of the best SUP boards on the market. The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 is an excellent choice for beginners. Advanced paddlers are better off using the Bluefin Cruise 12. The touring board is ideal for longer distances and high speeds.

What impresses me most about the Cruise SUPs is the high-quality workmanship of the boards and accessories. Clearly, quality was not compromised here. In direct comparison with boards from other brands, it quickly becomes apparent that the Cruise is really stiff.

I also like that the Cruise 10’8 entry-level model offers a lot of stability, but is still quite sporty. In my opinion, the balance between tipping safety and speed was found very well here. This board can also be used for longer tours.

One thing that came up more and more in the comments is that Bluefin is calling for quite high prices for their boards. That’s true at first glance, but I think that this is justified by the better accessories, the really good quality, the top driving characteristics and the (unprecedented) warranty period of five years. It is not for nothing that the Bluefin Cruise is on my ranking list as the best SUP board 2019.

In the case of cheap boards SUPs, there are often additional costs after the purchase. Often times the paddle or backpack has to be replaced. And with many of the new brands it is even questionable whether the boards will be able to participate in several seasons. Because there are very few cases of long-term experience.

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