The ISLE Pioneer Pro is a premium inflatable standup paddle board and a sit-on-top kayak hybrid. This means you can use the Pioneer Pro as a traditional iSUP or as a kayak — or both depending on your needs in any given day.
To get us a closer look, ISLE sent Man Makes Fire a review unit to test and return. Man Makes Fire gear reviewer Chris Maxcer took the Pioneer Pro out paddleboarding on a warm fall day to test its real-world performance. To help you determine if the ISLE Pioneer Pro is right for you, here is what he learned and here are his buying recommendations:
Review: ISLE Pioneer Pro iSUP
As a standup paddleboard, the inflatable ISLE Pioneer Pro delivers truly outstanding rigidity for easier paddling and improved performance.There are many great usability — and versatility — features built into the ISLE Pioneer Pro, but there is one massive standout feature: Rigidity. The ISLE Pioneer Pro is much stiffer than typical inflatable standup paddle boards.
Why is stiffness or rigidity important in an iSUP?
Typical iSUPs bend in the center when you stand on them. That bend — or flex — robs you of stability and paddling efficiency. On choppy water or waves, flex makes it harder for most beginners to maintain good balance. I’m a fairly heavy and tall guy with a high center of gravity, and I find that less rigid or under-inflated boards are harder for me to paddle.
The ISLE Pioneer Pro delivers outstanding rigidity in a rugged, versatile design that enthusiasts will appreciate and beginners will love
To put it simply, greater stiffness in your iSUP improves stability and paddling efficiency. Less flex also helps the board float higher and lets it travel more smoothly across the water, letting your horizontal energy move in your desired direction of travel.
The Incredible Rigidity
This photo does a great job of illustrating how rigid the new ISLE Pioneer Pro really is. The deflection from my body weight is nearly indiscernible in real-world use!ISLE’s Pro series boards are designed to chase the performance delivered by rigid hardboards . . . but still let you roll them up for easy travel and storage. To achieve this, ISLE had to build the board differently — just increasing internal air pressure isn’t enough to get hardboard-like stiffness in a long board.
The key differentiating design feature is the inclusion of InfinityFiber, which is a patented material found exclusively on the ISLE Pro Series models.
ISLE places InfinityFiber panels on the center and sides of the Pro paddle boards. When these panels come under tension when inflated, they become very rigid.
In addition, ISLE uses its PowerFuse welded rail technology to fuse the top, bottom and rails together, which increases both durability and rigidity. Plus, ISLE says its PowerFuse system is so good it lets ISLE double the length of its manufacturer warranty from 2 years to 4 years.
As I was inflating the Pioneer Pro to the recommended 15 p.s.i., I could tell the board was stiffer than most. Once I started paddling on the Pioneer Pro, I was amazed at how well the extra stiffness translated to improved stability and paddling efficiency. Straight line tracking was very good.
The extra stiffness improves stability and paddling efficiency
This extra rigidity really does translate to a higher, more stable float and greater paddling efficiency. If you’re a tall or larger human like myself, you’ll likely appreciate this extra stability and rigidity when you’re out on the water. It’s very nice. Similarly, if you like to paddle with a friend or canine companion, you’ll have a better experience as you approach the recommended weight capacities.
So how much deflection and rigidity are we talking about here? You might be thinking, Is it a big deal? It is. Keep reading if you want more detail — or you can skip down to other key features and recommendations if you don’t!
Measuring & Testing Rigidity
ISLE places several strips of InfinityFiber along the center and side of the Pioneer Pro to increase rigidity when inflated.There isn’t a current industry standard for measuring deflection, but ISLE says it is working with a third-party lab to create a standard deflection test and rating system. The idea is to create an easy-to-understand rigidity ‘R-Factor’ metric that customers can use to help determine the relative stiffness of an iSUP.
During development, ISLE’s deflection measurements, which are essentially the amount of bend in the center of the board when it’s under load, show that it’s stiffer than most competing boards. ISLE doesn’t report deflection in specific competitors’ boards, but the company says typical industry iSUPs have a baseline deflection of about 5.8 cm.
ISLE shared some measurements with Man Makes Fire in comparison to its own popular ISLE Pioneer 2.0 iSUP (which I’ve paddled and still recommend as an excellent beginner paddleboard with very good stability).
In testing maximum deflection at 15 psi with a 100kg load over a span of 2 meters, the new 10’6″ Pioneer Pro had a deflection measurement of 2.6cm. Compared to the non-Pro Pioneer 2.0 of the same size, the non-Pro ISLE 10’6″ Pioneer 2.0 has a deflection measurement of 4.1cm. ISLE says typical industry inflatables have a baseline deflection of 5.8 cm.
If you do the math, that’s just a difference of 1.5 cm. Are you sure that results in a better ride you might ask? I’m sure. I went into the test run expecting the Pioneer Pro to feel similar to most other good boards that are properly inflated, but I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciate and notice the difference.
Shop the ‘Complete Package’ Pioneer Pro SUP-Kayak Package at ISLE and save 30%!
Who is the ISLE Pioneer Pro for?
In the photo above, you can tell that I’ve positioned the kayak seat towards the rear of the board. That’s not optimal for cruising long distance — unless I add gear or a water-loving dog up front to balance the board. Of course, the full-length accessory loops let you fine-tune things however you like.Now this question gets to the heart of the ISLE Pioneer Pro:
Who should buy the ISLE Pioneer Pro?
On one hand, the ISLE Pioneer Pro is aimed at more experienced paddlers who will marvel at the stiffness and paddling efficiency. If you like to cruise shorelines for miles, an inflatable hardboard in the new ISLE Pro line is for you. In fact, if you want to cruise shorelines for miles, the even stiffer Explorer Pro is probably the better choice. Experienced paddlers likely already know this, but what about people who are newer to iSUPs and recreational kayaking and are trying make an informed buying choice?
I can help with some perspective.
One one hand, as a premium iSUP, the price seems a bit high for iSUP beginners. Most beginners will do just fine with a less stiff beginner-friendly board like the excellent ISLE Pioneer 2.0.
The ISLE Pioneer Pro now includes a new easier-to-install fin design.And yet, the ISLE Pioneer Pro is surprisingly beginner-friendly — even more so — than typical paddle boards. For instance, the extra stiffness, width and volume of the Pioneer Pro makes it more stable than most iSUPs for larger paddlers. For reference, I’m about 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Smaller boards with less volume, width and rigidity are a bit harder for me to paddle. While the ISLE Pioneer Pro isn’t priced against typical beginner boards, I found its on-water stability to be better than any other board I’ve paddled in years — with the exception of the monster 15′ Megalodon, of course.
My core recommendation comes down to this: If you have the budget and want an improved iSUP ride, the ISLE Pioneer Pro is for you.
But there is another important benefit of the Pioneer Pro design that might be important to you — the kayak configuration.
Check out ISLE’s competitive 60-day guarantee here!
Hello Kayak
The hybrid design of the ISLE Pioneer Pro lets you use your standup paddleboard as a sit-on-top kayak. The excellent rigidity and high-volume float gives you a stable base that’s easy to paddle.Meanwhile, the Pioneer Pro is also great for those times you want a sit-on-top kayak experience. While you can simply use a kayak paddle and sit on most any iSUP with a relatively stable and good experience, sitting on a flat iSUP board without a seat isn’t particularly comfortable.
ISLE sells an inflatable Cloud Kayak Seat with a backrest. It elevates you just a bit, which makes sit-on-top kayaking more comfortable for most people. The ISLE Cloud Kayak Foot Brace helps keep you stable and deliver more power in each stroke to the water, making paddling more fun. If you get the Cloud Kayak Seat, spring for the Cloud Kayak Foot Brace too and you won’t regret it.
Shop all your ISLE kayak, paddle and pump accessory options for the Pro Series here!
As for the kayak paddle, ISLE’s Remix Alloy 4 Piece SUP-Kayak Paddle is a great paddle option if you really dig the iSUP-Kayak hybrid idea here. I tested all of these accessories with the Pioneer Pro and the quality and functionality is excellent.
The biggest benefit of the ISLE Remix Alloy 4 Piece SUP-Kayak Paddle is that you get a traditional iSUP paddle style that converts to a decent two-bladed kayak paddle. The biggest drawback is that it doesn’t have the most efficient blade shape for more serious, long-distance kayak paddling. For a few miles of exploring, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
Excellent Connection Design
The full-length connection loops let you easily secure gear and attach accessories wherever you want.One key benefit of the Pioneer Pro is that its sides have full-length attachment spots for seats, accessories, or bungies and gear.
You can configure a single kayak seat so that inexperienced guests can paddle along with you. Or you can add two kayak seats. The many attachment points will let you do what you want however you want. For instance, if you want to paddle with a dog, to give your dog more space up front, you can set the seat farther back than you would for a solo trip. So easy.
How to Buy and Configure the Pioneer Pro
The Pioneer Pro and Explorer Pro are often sold alone without a paddleboard or pump because most experienced iSUP enthusiasts will already have that gear.The ISLE Pioneer Pro and the longer, narrower Explorer Pro are typically sold alone — just the board itself, a fin, an ankle leash, and a large rolling backpack travel and storage bag.
When you go to buy it online, you can pick the style of paddleboard paddle you want, as well as choose a pump to inflate the board.
If you’re buying the Pioneer Pro, there is a decent chance that you already have some of this gear and might not need to buy gear you don’t need or want.
However, ISLE also sells another version of the Pioneer Pro on a separate product page as a package deal:
Choose the Pioneer Pro SUP-Kayak Complete Package Instead
On a separate product page, ISLE also offers a ‘Complete Package‘ version, sometimes with a sweet discount. It’s the way to go for new paddle boarders and those who want the versatility of the kayak components.The ISLE Pioneer Pro SUP-Kayak Complete Package includes the Cloud Kayak seat and foot brace as well as the the 4 Piece SUP-Kayak Paddle . . . with a manual pump, of course.
As of the time of publication, this package was 30% off and represents a pretty compelling price-to-value ratio if you want a high-performing, do-it-all iSUP/kayak.
Key Specifications
The ISLE Pioneer Pro has three size options. The author tested the 11’6″ version that is 36″ wide.The Pioneer Pro comes in three length options: 9’6″, 10’6″, and 11’6″. All three versions are 6″ thick.
Aside from length, the key difference between the three models is width: The 9’6″ is 32″ wide; the 10’6″ is 34″ wide; the 11’6″ is 36″ wide.
If you intend to be a solo paddler, any of the three options should work well for you. If you want to paddle with dogs, partners or paddle longer distances, choose either of the two longer, wider versions. The 11’6″ version also has a much higher weight capacity of 450 pounds, so keep that in mind compared to the smaller options.
To see all how all of ISLE’s iSUPs compare to each other in one chart, check out ISLE’s Paddle Board Size & Weight Chart.
Chris Maxcer’s Key Benefits of the Pioneer Pro:
- Superior rigidity makes paddling easier and more efficient
- Straight line tracking is very good
- I really appreciate the high-volume design
- The accessory and gear attachment system is outstanding
Competitive Options & Alternatives
If you’re interested in the ISLE Pioneer Pro, there are other competitive alternatives and options that might also meet your needs. Here are a few we recommend:
ISLE Explorer Pro — Like the Pioneer Pro, the Explorer Pro series uses InfinityFiber to create superior rigidity. The Explorer Pro, it turns out, is even stiffer than the Pioneer Pro, so if you want optimum rigidity, the Explorer Pro is for you. The Explorer Pro is longer and but not quite as wide as the Pioneer Pro, making it better for cruising long distances faster.
iRocker Blackfin XL 11’6″ Ultra — The iRocker Blackfin XL 11’6″ Ultra iSUP is a wide, long, high-volume paddle board designed for enthusiasts who want a stable ride and a lot of versatility. Like ISLE, iRocker sells kayak accessories. You can also add on a fishing rack you can stand up and hold onto. The biggest benefit is lots of accessory options; however, the deck is less configurable for positioning kayak seats.
NRS Thrive Stand-Up Paddleboard — NRS is a rafting, kayaking, and iSUP company that’s known for producing outstanding whitewater gear. Its iSUPs are also known for excellent durability and longevity — I’ve paddled several over the years, all of which have been great — but the Thrive series is the company’s best. One benefit is the built-in pressure relief valve that lets out air if the internal pressure reaches 20 PSI, which can happen if you leave an iSUP on a hot beach in direct summer sun. The Thrive is relatively stiff and very stable, particularly the 11′ version that’s 36″ wide. The biggest drawback for people interested in hybrid use is the lack of attachment points for accessories.
The Bottom Line
All-in-all, the ISLE Pioneer Pro is a very rigid, rugged and versatile standup paddle board and sit-on-top kayak hybrid. As an iSUP, it excels with outstanding stability. As a sit-on-top kayak, the high-volume rigidity improves paddling while the excellent full-length attachment points let you dial in the seat setup for comfortable days on the water. Pricing is a bit high for many beginners, but the quality, stable ride, and overall value delivers a remarkably versatile, high performing experience. The 4-year warranty is also impressive. Very highly recommended.
Get the Gear:
- ISLE Pioneer Pro
- ISLE Pioneer Pro SUP-Kayak Complete Package — best for versatility for all skill levels
- ISLE Explorer Pro
- ISLE Explorer Pro SUP-Kayak Complete Package — best for longer-distance shoreline cruising
Our Gear Review and Tester’s Specific Related Experience:
Chris Maxcer is an outdoor writer and outdoor gear enthusiast who has tested and reviewed several iSUPs for Man Makes Fire as well as paddled dozens for his own enjoyment. He’s a fan of stable, high-volume paddle boards because they’re good for beginners and are more versatile for family and friend recreation days at the beach or river. Of course, Maxcer has also written hundreds of in-depth outdoor gear reviews, including independent, first-hand reviews of fly fishing gear, camping gear, hunting gear, backpacking gear, as well as beach and water play gear. He believes the best way to understand a product is to use it in the real world for the kind of activity it was designed for.
Man Makes Fire publishes independent gear reviews, unencumbered by any requirements from any gear brand or manufacturer.
