Thurso Surf Waterwalker Review

Thurso Surf is a well-known manufacturer active in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Thurso Surf boards are of high quality and well known for their wooden look. The Thurso Surf Waterwalker is one of the most popular models of the manufacturer.

The Waterwalker is an inflatable SUP Board, which is equipped by a very good processing, an extensive scope of supply, very high-quality accessories and with further extras, which are particularly practical for longer routes.

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker is a board that is ideal for beginners. The high carrying capacity and the extensive equipment also make it an interesting board for advanced paddlers who plan longer tours with additional luggage.

Three different versions of the Thurso Surf Waterwalker are currently available. The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 120, 126 and 132 are available. The boards with a length of 305, 320 and 320 cm are otherwise identical and similarly wide.

In this Thurso Surf Waterwalker test we will deal with the Waterwalker 132. This version is especially suitable for heavier paddlers, tours with a lot of luggage, for paddling with a child or two adults on board.

About the board

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132 is a 335 cm long, 81 cm wide and 15 cm thick board. The Allround SUP Board is well suited for various applications. The wide board is best suited for cruising over calm waters such as lakes, canals, slow speed rivers and waters with small waves.

The board is also a very good choice for tours with a lot of luggage or several paddlers on board. According to the manufacturer, the SUP is designed for a load of up to 150 kilograms. The wide and thick construction ensures high buoyancy. The board is therefore suitable for heavy paddlers and can also be ridden by two adults.

Processing and quality

The Thurso Surf SUP Board shines in processing. The edges are neatly finished and there are no glue residues on the board. The chic wood look also makes the board look very high quality.

The Dropstitch process was used in the production, in which two PVC layers were glued together. The process, which is today’s standard, makes the boards particularly stiff, robust and durable.

For a 335 cm long board the Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132 hardly gives way. The stiffness is mainly achieved by the robust construction and the thickness. The stiffer the board, the better the riding characteristics. An especially stiff construction like the Thurso Surf Waterwalker also makes the board quite heavy.

With a weight of 13 kilograms the Waterwalker 132 is not the lightest board, but it is in the normal range. The transport with the high-quality backpack is very comfortable.

Driving characteristics

On the water, the 335 cm long board convinces above all with a high degree of tilting stability. The wide construction and the three fins ensure that the Waterwalker lies very safely in the water. Beginners in particular benefit from the tipping stability.

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker has three fins, which provide a high degree of stability. What is also exciting about the Finns is that all three can be removed. Different configurations can be tried out.

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker is also suitable for SUP Yoga and Stand Up Paddling with a dog. The board is also exciting for anglers who can attach a lot of equipment to the two luggage nets. The round shape of the board is also conspicuous. The round nose also gives the board a lot of stability.

In comparison to sporty allrounders or touring boards like the Bluefin Cruise, this nose ensures that the Waterwalker 132 lies very safely in the water, but on longer tours the round shape also brakes. The Thurso Surf Waterwalker is also equipped with a number of features that make a board ride even more comfortable. On the one hand, the Waterwalker has two luggage nets. A large one is located in the front area and a further luggage net is located at the back of the SUP.

The Waterwalker has two luggage nets.

In addition, the lateral paddle holders are practical. On the right side of the SUP there are two loops which can be closed with a Velcro fastener. If you want to swim in the middle of the lake, the paddle holders provide a safe place for the SUP paddle.

The Waterwalker is also equipped with a central handle and two further handles, which are located at the back and front of the board. The handles are made of neoprene and feel comfortable.

Approximately half of the upper deck is coated with an EVA deck pad. The non-slip coating provides good grip even when the board is wet. On the Thurso Surf Waterwalker, the deck pad has a grooved structure that provides a very secure stand.

Another cool thing is that the Waterwalker can be equipped with a kayak seat. A kayak seat is not included, but it can be easily attached to the four central D-rings.

It should be noted that a double paddle is additionally required for kayaking. Here it is particularly practical that the paddle included in the scope of delivery can be converted into a double paddle with an additional paddle blade, which is available in the Thurso online shop.

Accessories

The scope of delivery is very extensive. The complete set includes a paddle, a leash, an air pump, a backpack, a repair kit and the three fins. The included accessories of the Thurso Surf Waterwalker are much higher quality than those of other sets.

For beginners it is especially practical that the Thurso Surf Waterwalker comes with the complete basic equipment. These complete sets are worthwhile in comparison to the single purchase of the accessories. The accessories included with the Thurso Surf Waterwalker would easily cost 200€ or more individually.

The included accessories are of very high quality. Most sets only contain a heavy aluminium paddle. For the beginner into stand up paddling, this is worthwhile, but at the latest in the second season, many paddlers replace this paddle with a lighter model. If the paddling movement is repeated thousands of times during a tour on the SUP, every gram is noticeable.

The Waterwalker, on the other hand, comes with a SUP paddle with a carbon shaft. Weighing only 900 grams, it is also very light and can be disassembled into three parts for transport. In addition, the paddle is height-adjustable so that it can be used by different paddlers.

The included rucksack was also convincing. This very well made and spacious backpack makes a good impression. With numerous additional carrying handles and wheels, it can also be used for other purposes. Furthermore, it is practical that straps are mounted inside to tighten the board. In addition, the SUP backpack has several small pockets in which other things can be stowed.

The scope of delivery also includes a high quality double lift pump. This air pump can pump air into the board when pushing down and pulling up. Switching from the double stroke mode to the single stroke mode is also very easy.

With the supplied air pump we needed less than seven minutes to inflate the 300 litre Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132.

The Finns are another speciality. Thurso Surf relies on a simple fin system in which the fins are attached to the board in a few seconds. It is especially interesting that all three fins are removable. This makes it easier to transport the board, because it can be rolled up more easily and different configurations of the fins can be tested.

Furthermore a holding line is included in the scope of delivery. It is a Colied Leash, which only expands to its full length when falling into the water.

Conclusion

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker is a very good complete set. The board makes a very good impression qualitatively and convinces above all by the robust construction and the many extras. The quite wide board is especially interesting for SUP beginners.

The Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132 is also suitable for heavier paddlers, trips with a lot of luggage or two persons on board. With a length of 335 cm and a volume of 300 litres, the board carries up to 150 kilograms.

Compared to other sets, the Thurso Surf Waterwalker is expensive, but the board can make up for this by the excellent workmanship, the scope of delivery and above all the quality of the accessories. Hardly any other SUP comes with such a light paddle and the backpack is one of the very best.