Excellent All-Around iSUP: ISLE Pioneer 3 Review

The ISLE Pioneer 3 is the newest generation of ISLE’s most popular inflatable stand-up paddle board (iSUP). It’s aimed at beginners, but its versatility makes it a great all-around paddle board. The new full-length deck pad and removable bungees make it extra comfortable for lounging, play or on-water yoga. Better yet, the upgraded link system makes it easy to add a kayak seat for comfortable cruising.

To get us a closer look, ISLE sent Man Makes Fire a Pioneer 3 review unit with a kayak seat and paddle conversion blade. I personally paddled the Pioneer 3 on two lakes and one river. I paddled for speed on flat calm water and evaluated stability on windy, choppy water. I tested the Pioneer paddle board for performance with it under inflated as well as inflated to manufacturer specifications. In addition, I tested the kayak seat accessory for comfort, design and ease of use. In the past, I paddled the huge ISLE Megalodon as well as the Pioneer Pro, including the previous generation Pioneer.

This is what I learned, and here are my recommendations to help you determine if this ISLE paddleboard is right for you:

ISLE Pioneer iSUP Review: Versatile Upgrades in Version 3

The new all-around Pioneer 3 paddle board has several great upgrades that make this iSUP more versatile and user-friendly than before.

My favorite upgrade is the full coverage deck pad. ISLE gives you two sets of cargo bungees, one at the nose and one at the tail. Most boards don’t bother with deck pad coverage under cargo bungees. However, because you can easily remove these bunnies, you can get a comfy surface for lounging around.

In my experience with friends and family, we spend as much time sitting on and playing from paddle boards as we do cruising on them. I like being able to ditch the bungees. Of course, if you want to do some Yoga on a stand-up paddle board, the Pioneer’s full-coverage deck pad is for you.

20% Lighter Than Pioneer 2

I appreciate lightweight paddle boards, and the new Pioneer 3 is 20% lighter than its predecessor. To shed weight, ISLE dropped unnecessary fabric and improved design using its AirTech and PowerFuse welded rail construction. It now weighs in at about 19 lbs vs the previous version’s 24 pounds. I could definitely feel and appreciate the difference when packing the iSUP over land to get to water.

To help maintain decent rigidity, ISLE uses a PVC stringer along the outside rail to help reduce flex and deflection. It works well but it’s not as stiff as InfinityFiber stringers that ISLE uses on its high-end boards like the ISLE Pioneer Pro, which I tested and reviewed last fall. Most beginners and casual paddle boarders will be pleased with the rigidity of the new Pioneer.

ISLE nailed the performance balance between tracking and turning

It’s definitely not as rigid as the Pioneer Pro, but it was surprisingly good. When I inflated the board to at last 15 PSI, it didn’t bounce much, and the flex wasn’t annoying. At 220 pounds and a height of 6’3″, I’m a relatively heavy paddler with a high center of gravity. I enjoyed paddling on the Pioneer 3 and appreciated its overall stability.

Kayak-Ready ISLE-Link System

ISLE has been adding its new accessory linking system to its newest generation iSUPs. The ISLE-Link is basically a row of nylon loops all around the perimeter of each board. They let you clip in inflatable kayak seats and inflatable footrests wherever it’s comfortable for you on the board. You can also use them to link two boards together to make a more stable platform.

Kayak Seat Versatility

If you’re a beginner paddle boarder, you might appreciate having the ability to add a comfortable and stable kayak seat to your Pioneer. If there is a lot of waves or wind, having an option to sit down makes paddling easier for beginners.

I like kayak seats for family and friends who don’t have the confidence yet to stand all the time. If you attach the Cloud Kayak Seat, they can still go paddle boarding with you and cruise farther distances.

ISLE’s system is one of the best systems I’ve seen because it lets you position the kayak seat to accommodate different size paddlers. In addition, you can adjust the position if you’re packing cargo or want extra room for a dog.

Is the Cloud Kayak Seat comfortable?

The ISLE Cloud Kayak Seat is very comfortable. It has a cushy back rest that you can adjust to the best angle for you. The inflatable seat is comfortable, too, and gives you just enough height to improve paddling ergonomics without affecting stability. The Cloud Kayak Foot Brace is also handy and comfortable.

On the Pioneer 3 ordering page, you can add the Kayak Bundle to your cart or mix and match only the components that you want.

I do recommend getting the Remix Carbon Extra Paddle Blade even if you don’t get the kayak seat right away. Why? It allows you to transform your Remix paddle board paddle into a kayak-style paddle. This is very handy for windy days and choppy water. You can sit down on the board, paddle it like a kayak, and still have fun cruising around.

Outstanding Stability

While you might want a kayak seat for choppy water or leisurely cruising, you should know that the Pioneer 3 is a very stable, beginner friendly iSUP.

At 10’6″ long, 34″ wide and 6″ thick, it delivers a high-floating 326-liter volume with a rated 285-pound weight capacity.

Much of the width is retained through the main body of the board, which helps with stability. The slight rocker at the relatively wide nose rises above chop and waves. The taper at the tail helps with turning but doesn’t hurt overall stability.

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New Fin Box and Tracking Performance

The new fin box is an improvement over the previous generation. Instead of a single large and ridid fin box, ISLE splits it in half. This lets you roll and fold the iSUP more easily. In many competing boards, you’ll try folding the iSUP from nose to tail and you’ll end up with a rigid fin box that pokes off from the wrong part of the fold. So annoying. ISLE’s split fin box means you can fold or roll quickly and still fit the board in the included carry bag.

The new click-in fin system is also super easy to use.

As for tracking, the ISLE Pioneer 3 tracked surprisingly well. It doesn’t track as well as the longer, thinner Explorer 3 — which is expected. Wider, more stable boards don’t tend to track as well as thinner boards meant for cruising.

While the tracking is solid but isn’t a standout feature, the Pioneer turns fairly easy. Overall, ISLE has created a board that tracks well but also turns easily, which is one of the most important blends for beginners.

Key Specifications:

Length: 10’6″
Width: 34″
Thickness: 6″
Weight: 19 pounds
Volume: 326 liters
Rated Capacity: 285 lbs
Package Weight: 36 lbs

Pioneer vs Explorer iSUPs

The biggest question you might have is whether you should buy the Explorer 3 instead? Because the Explorer 3 is 12-inches longer and 2-inches narrower than the Pioneer 3, it will be better for cruising longer distances. The drawback to the Explorer 3 for beginners is that it will be slightly less stable.

Other than those general shape differences, the Explorer and Pioneer boards have the same overall build. You can still attach kayak seats and remove the bungee cords. The deck pad is only 3/4 length, so you get a bit less padding.

If you have good balance and imagine yourself wanting to cruise shorelines for miles, I recommend the Explorer over the Pioneer. If you imagine yourself, as well as friends and family, cruising around and playing near a spot on a beach all day, I recommend the all-around Pioneer.

Excellent Warranty

In case you’re unfamiliar with ISLE, the company backs its products with excellent warranties. The Pioneer has an outstanding 5-year warranty against defects plus a 60-day guarantee. These two commitments are something I really appreciate about ISLE.

Competitive Options

There are lots of great beginner iSUPs you can choose, but there are many cheap knockoffs, too. If you’re looking for a solid all-around iSUP for beginners, here are a couple of additional options I can recommend:

ISLE Explorer 3 — At 11’6″ long, the ISLE Explorer 3 is 12-inches longer than the Pioneer. At 32″ wide, the width is 2-inches narrower. Overall design and weight are very similar. The most important difference is deciding if you want to give up a little bit of stability to gain more cruising ability. If you have good balance or are willing to practice, the Explorer will be a winner for you.

iRocker Cruiser Ultra — The iRocker Cruiser Ultra has a similar build quality compared to the Pioneer, as well as similar overall shape and volume. A key difference is the 33″ width, which makes it slightly less stable than the Pioneer. However, because it’s a compact iSUP designed to be folded lengthwise to fit into a smaller carry bag, it has two large fins. These two fins give it superior tracking over the Pioneer (but also make it harder to turn).

Bass Pro Shops Ascend iSUP Package — This iSUP Package is a simple, low-cost package aimed at beginners. It doesn’t have the same quality as ISLE boards, but the price-to-value ratio is surprisingly decent. At full price, I think you can get better deals on more feature-rich iSUP packages . . . but on sale? Not bad.

The Bottom Line

All-in-all, the new ISLE Pioneer 3 iSUP is a fantastic all-around paddleboard. It’s super stable, so it’s great for beginners. The full length deck pad is awesome for comfort, leisure play, and yoga enthusiasts. The company’s full-length link system with a kayak seat transforms the stand-up experience to sit-down cruising comfort. If you’re looking for a versatile iSUP that will last years, the Pioneer is hard to beat. Very highly recommended.

Get the Gear:

• ISLE Pioneer 3