Thurso Surf Expedition Touring Inflatable SUP In-Depth Review

I always love a good touring board that enables me to get in some long straight paddling sessions with more speed.

You can’t beat that feeling of getting into the rhythm of some good power strokes, becoming one with the elements as you glide swiftly through the water, feeling the wind on your face as you power through. It’s exhilarating!

The Thurso Surf Expedition is perfect for that experience. It has a tapered nose, a tapered tail and lean 30” width that keeps this paddleboard gliding smoothly.

It is best suited for those who have a bit of paddling experience already or who are confident in their fitness and stability levels.

The nose tapers quite quickly from the center of the board and I did feel less stable initially, especially on choppy water and when dealing with windy conditions.

However I found that I got the feel for it quickly and enjoyed the faster paced workout I got with this SUP.

Check out the video below of the Thurso Surf Expedition in action.  In the video I am paddling the Expedition on one of my favourite local lakes testing it out, getting the feel for how well it glides and maneuvers.

SPECS

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I found it to be a good size for myself. A larger person may prefer a longer board but if you have the skill it is capable of holding a lot of weight – up to 330 lbs.

With that let’s take a closer look at what you get with the Expedition package.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

The Thurso Surf inflatable SUP’s always come with a deluxe accessories package so you are getting quite a bit for your money.

Included with the Expedition board is:

• Backpack With Wheels
• 3-Piece Paddle With Carbon Fiber Shaft
• 10’ Coiled SUP Leash
• 3 Clip-In Fins
• Double Action Hand Pump With Pressure Gauge
• Repair Kit
• User Guide

Let’s take a closer look at those accessories…

BACKPACK WITH WHEELS

Carry this bag on your back with the padded shoulder and waist straps or roll it for longer distances with less effort.

The bag packed with the board and all accessories ways over 30 lbs. and I definitely found it heavy for carrying on my back and much preferred rolling it to my destination.

The backpack unzips on three sides so you can easily get the board in and out of the bag.

There is a large front zippered pocket that can be used for storing some of the accessories such as the leash, the fins and the repair kit.

There are also side mesh paddle holders and clips if you prefer to store your paddle there as opposed to inside the bag. With multiple carry and grab handles I found it is easy to lift in and out of the car.

Only downside is that the back straps can’t be tucked away so they tend to get in the way when rolling the bag and for travel.

Other than that it’s a good bag, functional and perfect for storing the board and all accessories safely away.

CARBON SHAFT PADDLE

The carbon shaft 3-piece paddle is lightweight and feels great to use. The lighter weight allows for less arm and shoulder fatigue for longer paddles.

The paddle is adjustable from 68” – 84”. For touring your ideal paddle length will be about 6-8” above your head so you can adjust it based on your height.

3 REMOVABLE CLIP-IN FINS

The clip-in fins easily slide into the fin box and clip into place.

With these clip-in fin boxes you cannot customize your fins or their placement but they are easy to use and make securing the fins a snap.

Also with all three being removable you can choose which ones you want to use based on the type of water you are in or the type of paddling you are doing.

Often a good touring board will only need one large touring fin. With just the large center fin attached the board will have less drag and be able to track straighter. This is the fin you will want to use for long straight fast paddling trips.

With all three fins attached the board is slightly more stable and easier to turn and maneuver.

This Expedition tapers off quickly from the center and feels less stable than some other touring boards of similar dimensions. For that reason all three fins might be preferred to maximize the extra stability where you can especially if you are working on building up your skill level.

The last option is to simply attach the two side fins. With just the two side fins attached the board will be more versatile in different water conditions but the tracking won’t be as good.

Your best bet is to try out the different configurations for yourself to see what feels good.

DUAL ACTION HAND PUMP

The hand pump has two settings to make pumping easier. Start in double action mode until the board takes shape.

Then flip the switch and continue pumping in single action mode until you reach 12-15 PSI.

The pressure gauge on top of the pump will show your progress. It took me almost 8 minutes to inflate with the hand pump with fairly steady pumping.

Although I never use the hand pumps for deflating my boards it is capable if you want to use it for that as well.

10’ COILED LEASH

A lot of boards come with a SUP leash these days, which is awesome because it is an important safety item.

I remember back when I bought my first board several years ago it came with none of the extras… no paddle and no leash. Those had to be bought separately.

These days ISUP companies are including more and more great accessories in their packages.

The 10’ coiled SUP leash attaches to the back D-ring on the board and to your ankle or calf.

If you should fall in the water the leash will ensure that your board does not get swept away from you.

The coiled design keeps it from dragging in the water and away from your feet.

The leash has an easy pull-tab that allows you to quickly and easily remove it from your ankle.

REPAIR KIT

The repair kit comes with two small PVC patches, waterproof glue and a valve tightener. Hopefully you don’t ever have to use it but it has you covered if you should need it.

WHAT’S NEW

MORE BUNGEE CORDS

With the 2019 Expedition there is quite a bit more bungee cord for securing gear.

With the latest model there is a large bungee section at the nose of the board secured to 6 D-rings.

There is also a smaller bungee section on the back tail of the board.

With the larger bungee sections there is lots of space to secure a dry bag or two or even a cooler.

I can easily fit a 15L dry bag, my flip-flops and my water bottle under the front bungees with lots of room to spare.

LIGHTER WOOD GRAIN PVC

The updated wood grain PVC material is a little lighter on the new Expedition than the previous model.

The lighter material isn’t very bright when out on the water but it is very classy and natural looking.

NEW DESIGN ON SIDES AND BOTTOM

The sides and bottom have a white and black design that is also new for the 2019 boards.

All in all this is a great looking ISUP, sharply designed and well thought out.

SIDE PADDLE HOLDER

One of my favourite new features on this board is the side paddle holder.

There are two Velcro straps that you can use to secure your paddle when not in use.

The Velcro straps work great and I definitely liked using them.

This may not be a feature you use all the time but for those moments when you’re just hanging out on the water or maybe doing a few stretches out there you can easily secure your paddle so it is out of the way and safe.

This is a nice feature not offered by many inflatable boards.

MORE GREAT FEATURES

There is no shortage of great features on any of the Thurso Surf boards. The Expedition is loaded right up with functional features to make sure your day on the water is fun with nothing to worry about.

MULTIPLE D-RINGS

There are 15 stainless steel D-rings attached to this SUP for securing gear if you need them.

Besides the 6 being used by the bungees up front and the 4 being used by the bungees at the back there is also 2 on each side near the center of the board and one at the back tail to secure the leash.

The side D-rings could be used to secure a seat if you wanted to paddle the Expedition kayak style.  Thurso Surf sells a comfortable seat specifically for this purpose.

SMOOTH TRACTION PAD

The traction pad has smooth lines that feel great to stand or kneel on.

It is a decent length for maneuvering your feet if you need to and provides good grip when paddling.

PADDED CENTER CARRY HANDLE

The center carry handle has a bit of padding on the underside making the board more comfortable to carry.

FRONT GRAB HANDLE

The front grab handle is there to use if you should fall in the water and need to grab hold of the board.

Or use the front handle to pull the board into shore.

PERFORMANCE

The Expedition is very streamlined. Although the very center of the board is 30” wide, it tapers quickly into a pointy nose and tapered tail.

You will notice immediately how easily this board glides and how quickly you can pick up speed.

In wind and choppy water it definitely requires more focus and strength to stay on and paddle. In those types of conditions you will want to use all three fins to add as much stability as possible.

It was made for speed and smooth glide and that is definitely what it does best.

I preferred paddling it on calm water and when doing a straight long paddle it was a lot of fun.

CONSTRUCTION

Thurso Surf uses a two-layer PVC construction with triple/quad PVC coating on the sides.

Their boards are made strong and durable for sure. The only downside to the type of construction they use is the added weight.

The Expedition weighs 28 lbs. and you can feel that weight when carrying and paddling the board.

However it can also hold up to 330 lbs., which is pretty awesome for a touring board of this size.

SETUP

Setup will take 10 -12 min max.

Take the board out of the bag and unroll. Push the pin in the valve so that it pops up then secure the pump to the valve and start pumping.

 

Once you have reached your set PSI level remove the pump and secure the valve cap. Turn the board over and clip in the fins.

Attach your leash to the back D-ring, grab your paddle, put on your PFD and away you go. You’ll get faster at the process each time you do it.

WARRANTY

The Thurso Surf Expedition comes with a full 2-year warranty.

I have heard only great things about their customer service and know they stand 100% behind their products.

I feel very confident in not only the quality of their boards but also their passion for SUP and creating a good customer experience.

SUMMARY

The Expedition is great for exploring coastlines, gliding across calm lakes or paddling down a quiet river.

The faster speed and streamlined touring design will appeal to those who feel confident in their stability and SUP skills.

It wouldn’t be my choice for a backpacking SUP but you will certainly go further faster with this inflatable paddle board. It is ideal for fitness and for taking your SUP skills to the next level.

Best of all with the great design you’ll look fabulous while you’re at it! ☺

WHERE TO BUY

Live in the US? – Click Here For The Best Deal On The Thurso Surf Expedition At ThursoSurf.com.

Live in Canada?  Click Here For The Best Deal On The Thurso Surf Expedition At ThursoSurf.com/ca.

WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? READ ON…

Hopefully you found this review helpful. My reviews are definitely a labor of love and generally take a lot of hours to put together.

Being an avid paddle boarder myself I write the reviews based on how I used the board and try to include as much detail as possible for those looking to make a new purchase.

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