Honu Fairlight 11’6 iSUP Review – 2025

The Honu Fairlight 11’6 is a welcome new addition to the super-wide-and-stable board category. We put it through its paces to see what it can do.

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Honu launched the Fairlight 10’9 a few years ago, essentially to be a bigger version of their already popular Byron 10’6 all-rounder. They added some extra length and width to increase stability and appeal for heavier paddlers. The Fairlight 11’6 now takes the process a step further, again adding extra length and width to create an even more stable platform.

Honu claims that the Fairlight 11’6 has been designed ‘with utility in mind’. In their website description they suggest fishing, paddling two up or using the board in kayak mode, as some of the purposes it will be suited to, as well as just being a super stable board.

It’s certainly by far the biggest board in the Honu range. However, while it’s relatively easy to just design a big board with a ton of stability, it takes a whole lot more skill and know-how to create a big board that also feels responsive and pleasant to paddle. We’ll unpack this more in the review, and tell you how the Honu Fairlight 11’6 fares in the various areas of performance and construction. But we can tell you up front that Honu have done a great job with this design, so if you’re in the market for a bigger board you definitely want to read this review in full, as this may well be the board you’re looking for.

We think the Honu Fairlight 11’6 would be a great SUP for:

• Paddlers looking for a super stable platform
• Heavier paddlers wanting a board that will feel good underfoot
• Paddlers wanting a board with a high carrying capacity
• Paddlers who like to know that their board is really well made and durable

Honu Fairlight 11’6: Spec Sheet

• Board Category: All-round / weight carrier
• Listed Board Dimensions: 11’6 x 34″ x 5.5″
• Measured Board Dimensions: 11’6 x 34 ⅝ x 5.75”
• Listed Board Weight: 21.8 lbs (9.9 kg)
• Actual Board Weight (board only, inflated): 22.5 lbs
• Listed Max Capacity: 154-290lbs / 70-130Kg
• Recommended PSI: 16-20psi
• Fins: 9.4” touring fin with US finbox mounting.
• Paddle: Not supplied as standard, various bundle options
• Board Shell Construction Materials: Dual layer fusion with heat-welded seams
• Drop-stitch type: X-woven
• Price Range: Mid to High
• Warranty: 4 year new-for-old replacement following any manufacturing issues

Performance Review of the Honu Fairlight 11’6 Stand Up Paddle Board

Overall Score: [9.6/10]

• Stability: 9.5/10
• Speed: 6.1/10
• Tracking: 9.0/10
• Maneuverability: 9.6/10
• Construction Quality: 9.8/10
• Features/Accessories: 9.4/10

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Stability Rating: [9.8/10]

The stability score shown here is a global rating, based on comparative performance to all other sizes and styles of paddleboards (other than multi-person boards).

The Honu Fairlight 11’6 is undoubtedly a very stable platform. Width is by far the most important factor in determining a board’s stability, and the Fairlight 11’6 most definitely has plenty of width! Indeed, it’s a bit wider than its quoted 34”, we measured it at nearly 35”, which is seriously wide. The width extends reasonably far forward and behind the main standing area too, creating a very stable platform. Having slightly thinner dropstitch (Honu quote 5.5” but it measured closer to 5.75”) also helps with the stability, since being that bit closer to the water reduces the natural ‘corkiness’ of the board.

In terms of primary stability, i.e. the general feeling of how tippy the board is underfoot when you just get on it, the board really excels. For average weight paddlers the board is more than stable enough to move around on without it ever feeling like it’s going to tip you in.

The secondary stability (how it resists when you try and tip it over to one side) is also excellent, although just slightly less than other similarly sized boards, because Honu haven’t focussed the planshape of the Fairlight 11’6 totally towards maximising this area of performance. The nose and tail shape is designed to maintain a degree of liveliness and maneuverability, which we really like (see later in this review!). So yes, there are even more stable boards of this size on the market, but make no mistake, this Fairlight 11’6 still scores way higher than pretty much any board of less than 34” of width.

Honu suggests that the board has an upper weight limit of around 290 lbs / 130kg. We think this is bang on – we’d be happy to put someone of that weight onto this board. At the other end of the weight scale, because the board does maintain a reasonably lively feel despite its size, smaller people could for sure paddle it, but the limiting factor really becomes more about the extra width of the board making it hard to paddle properly for people of shorter stature, so again their suggested minimum of around 150 lbs is probably about right.

So let’s now consider Honu’s claim that the Fairlight 11’6 is a ‘utility board’. How does it fare for those other roles in terms of stability? While we didn’t get to try the board in kayak mode, it was very noticeable that the kayak seat fixing points are much further back in comparison to where they’re generally found on other boards, so the paddler will be sitting where the board begins to taper in to the tail, which may just feel a little wobbly.

As for having someone else on the board, this will work really well as there’s plenty of width in front of the standing area, and those two nice side handles will be great for the person to hold on to if they’re sitting down. The nose bungees are easily removed to make more space up front, although it will be more slippery there as there’s no deckpad underfoot.

For fishing, while dedicated SUP fisherpeople will desire a few more fixings (such as a paddle holder, and some fishing-specific mounts), the large expanse of uncluttered central deck area will work well, and being just a bit lower to the water will be a definite advantage when things get hectic as you’re reeling in a big one.

So with regard to the utility role, we’d say that while it won’t quite match what a board specifically designed for those particular roles can do in each case, it certainly can offer all those things should you so desire, while maintaining that pleasantly lively and responsive feel throughout.

So overall, we’re happy to give the Honu Fairlight 11’6 a very high score for stability.

Speed Test: 8.5/10

Wide boards are not fast by nature; the extra width simply means that there’s more board to be pushed through the water. Nevertheless, Honu has done a good job with the plan-shape of the Fairlight 11’6 to ensure that the board doesn’t feel too draggy, and the stiff high quality construction definitely helps too.

Cruising

The Fairlight 11’6 mooches along quite comfortably in cruise mode, but anyone on a narrower board will naturally pull ahead, even if they’re really not trying to, simply as a result of that extra width. However, to the Fairlight’s credit, we found that when comparing it to boards of similar width it was actually quite sprightly. It does a great job in combining stability with the feel of a board somewhat smaller.

Fast Cruising

This is actually where we found ourselves operating most of the time when on the board, simply because otherwise it all felt just a bit slow and sedate. And if you do step it up a bit, the Fairlight 11’6 actually responds quite well and definitely finds a better turn of speed. This is particularly the case on flatter water, since Honu have kept the nose rocker relatively low. So if you’re paddling with friends on narrower boards you certainly will be able to keep up with them, you’ll just need to paddle a bit harder than them!

Going Hard

This really isn’t what the board is about. It will go a bit faster than when in fast cruising mode, but you’re having to throw an awful lot more energy at it.

Overall

While the Fairlight 11’6 is never going to win any speed competitions, it’s still a reasonable performer compared to other boards of this size and style, particularly on flatter water. Essentially though, you are unlikely to be buying a board of this size for its speed performance, so it’s not really a concern unless of course you are thinking of using the board for paddling longer distances, in which case unless you’re 240 lbs+, we’d recommend looking for something a little less wide, such as the smaller Fairlight.

Tracking: 9.2/10

Tracking ultimately comes down to board length; a longer board will almost always track better than a shorter board of the same general width. So our tracking scores are intended to show how a board compares to other boards in its size. In the case of the Honu Fairlight 11’6 the scores compare to other boards in the 10’0 – 11’6 all-purpose category.

As a general rule, wider boards don’t track quite as well as narrower boards; that extra curve in the plan shape simply makes them easier to pivot, plus of course, your paddle is further from the centerline of the board which means that your paddle stroke automatically has more ‘turn’ in it. So what do we find with the Honu Fairlight 11’6?

Well, it certainly does have quite a bit of curve in its planshape, but the tracking performance isn’t too bad. The large high-quality fin set fairly close to the tail definitely plays a part in this, along with the relatively parallel-sided section in the plan shape in front of where you’re standing. The lowish nose rocker also helps keep the board locked onto its course.

So overall, we’re going to give the Fairlight 11’6 an average score for its tracking performance. It’s not amazing but actually no worse than quite a few narrower boards that we’ve paddled. Indeed once you’ve got into the habit of changing sides slightly more often with your paddle you’ll barely even notice it. It’s only if you’re paddling into a strong headwind, or your paddle technique is lacking, that you’ll really be aware of it.

Maneuverability: 9.6/10

Maneuverability scores are based on comparative performance to boards of a similar general length and style. In the case of the Honu Fairlight 11’6 the scores compare to other boards in the 10’0 – 11’6 all-round category.

Tracking and maneuverability are very much a yin and yang thing, any board design feature that enhances one will pretty much by definition detract from the other. It’s a major challenge to create a board that can excel in both departments.

The Honu Fairlight 11’6 doesn’t buck this trend at all; those factors that held it back just a bit in the tracking department really come into their own now. This board is FUN to throw around! Yes, it’s big. And we’re not talking maneuverability like cranking-a-hard-turn-on-a-wave maneuverability. It’s a big board, end of story. There’s a lot of board to turn. Nevertheless, it definitely qualifies for a high score in this category. Having all that stability yet also a bunch of curve in the plan-shape means that you can wander all around this board, and it cranks round the corners extremely well, responding readily to all the different types of turns. Being that bit bigger it inevitably takes a bit more effort, but as in general it will be larger paddlers using a board this size anyway, their extra weight and power will naturally compensate for this.

If you want a board to learn more advanced turns on, particularly of the step-back variety, then you’ll have an absolute blast on this baby. Super easy and super fun. Top tip: You don’t need to get your back foot all the way back to the tail, which is actually quite narrow. Just get your weight far enough back to lift the nose, and then enjoy pivoting the board around.

Overall, for such a big board we were very impressed by the Fairlight 11’6s ease and willingness to turn, hence the high score we’re awarding it.

To understand more about turning styles and how to do them, check out our how-to video.

Construction Quality: 9.8/10

The Fairlight 11’6 features Honu’s most advanced construction methods, including heat & pressure welding of the inner rail with 3K carbon strips. This construction technology has been taken from the award-winning Sorrento and adapted to this large-volume all-rounder platform.

Inside the board
Honu uses X-Woven Drop-stitch inside their boards, which from our experience is about as good as it gets with dropstitch in terms of rigidity. It’s not cheap but it definitely delivers the goods. Layers of drop-stitch are fused during the manufacturing process, where the polyester threads are woven, similar to carbon fibre, making it light & stiff.

Top and Bottom Skin
The outer skin features two layers of PVC fused together with heat and pressure. This two-layer fusion construction process has pretty much become the industry standard; it’s tough yet light and offers good rigidity,

Side Construction
The rails (sides) of Honu boards feature 3k carbon strips heat and pressure welded to the inner surface, with an extra 20mm PVC strip welded over the inner joint to add extra durability. Honu first developed this system on their Sorrento board and have now adapted it for use on the Max. It creates an extremely rigid board, and the welded seams will also add longevity, which is of course a bonus.

Board Stiffness (Bend Test) Results: 1.4” (3.3cm) Bend

The deflection test result for the Honu Fairlight was slightly greater than expected, as it’s a little more flex than we found on the Honu Sorrentos, which being narrower and thinner, in theory should be the ones showing greater flex. However, the Fairlight doesn’t have the 3k central stringer that the larger Sorrento does, and this clearly makes a difference. Overall though, because nobody is buying a board like the Fairlight 11’6 for ultimate performance, and the shape is so superbly stable anyway, this very slight extra degree of flex really isn’t a problem. Indeed, it isn’t noticeable in practice; the board certainly doesn’t feel at all flexy when you’re on it.

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Features/Accessory Review: [9.4/10]

Features:

The Honu Fairlight 11’6 comes in one colorway, the ‘dawn patrol’ color-scheme shown in these pix, a favorite of Honu’s. It gives a simple yet classy look.

The deckpad features a diamond groove pattern throughout, giving excellent traction underfoot, both barefoot and when wearing neoprene shoes. We’d like to suggest to Honu that extending the deckpad coverage slightly further forward would further increase the suitability for carrying other people, and give the board greater potential as an exercise platform.

Honu has added quite a few extra features over those supplied with the smaller Fairlight. At the front of the board we find a handle and a big hefty D Ring, great if you need to take the board under tow. Then we have 4 bungee straps, which we really like the configuration of. They unhook from the webbing loops on the board, so they can be removed in seconds. The tension in the bands can easily be adjusted also, so they can work whatever type of cargo you wish to carry, from a single water bottle through to a full set of camping or fishing gear.

Next up is a screw-in action cam mount on the centerline. While we’re all in favor of action cam mounts, the positioning of this one felt slightly awkward. It would be a great position for a drink holder, but is too close to the paddling position for decent action videos. Ideally the mount could be further forward, which would also declutter that area of deck.

Then we have a couple more handles, one on each side. Extra handles like these are really useful on a big board like this, especially when you’re trying to carry or move it in an already-loaded-up state. They’re also great for a second person sitting in front of the paddler to hold on to.

A quick shout-out to Honu regarding the comfort of their handles, incidentally. At first glance they appear to be simple bits of webbing but they’re very padded underneath and very comfortable to use. Yet they’re still relatively low profile and don’t sit up too highly on the deck.

Next up we have a set of 4 D Ring fixings, specifically for attaching a kayak seat should you so desire, but also really useful as general attachments anyway. However, as mentioned earlier, the setup will mean that the kayak seat is a long way back which is not a typical arrangement for a kayak seat on a SUP. Normally kayak seats are set up to put the rider’s weight over the center of the board. Also, if you are thinking of using the board in kayak mode it makes a huge difference to the ergonomic comfort set-up if you can have a footrest as well. There aren’t specific fixings for this but it should be possible to utilise that forward pair of handles to rig something up.

The rearmost seat mounting fixings also have threads for action cameras or other accessories.

And then, right back on the tail of the board, are another set of bungees. These are permanently fixed into position and not adjustable in tension, but they’re very low profile and won’t get in your way. However, if you did have designs to carry something more substantial in this rearward area, there isn’t really any easy way of mounting it. Another suggestion for a future model, it would be nice to have some mounts back here that are easier to attach bungees to.

The leash fixing D ring sits just in front of the inflation valve, and finally there’s a more traditionally styled padded carrying handle laterally across the tail.

On the underside we find the one split-style US finbox. The board comes with a high quality touring-style 9.4” fin.

It’s not a bad feature set but our feeling is that this is one area where Honu still has room to raise their game yet further. Their construction is excellent, their shapes are amazing and the boards work brilliantly, so they’re absolutely ticking all the major boxes! But the fittings don’t feel quite so well worked out. The positioning of the front action cam mount and the kayak seat mounts could be improved, and while fishing is specifically mentioned as a potential role for the board, there aren’t any fishing specific mounts or even a paddle holder. And the rear area of the deck doesn’t offer any easy way to mount cargo. Fortunately, this sort of detail is easily sorted out, and as said, in no way detracts from the performance or build quality. It’s still a decent set of fittings, but there are boards on the market with much better feature sets, which is why we’re not giving the Fairlight 11’6 the highest of scores in this category.

Included Accessories:

Honu boards come with a coiled leash and repair kit, and a well-made carry bag, crafted from 1680D ripstop nylon. The bag has reinforced handles, roller wheels, really thick, well-padded shoulder straps and an equally comfortable waist belt. There’s an external pocket and extra compartments inside. It’s a well made and well configured bag that we’d be happy to travel with.

The Fairlight 11’6 is not packaged with a paddle as standard but one can be ordered during the online purchase process (click ‘create your bundle’). The Honu Element paddle ($125) has a carbon shaft and a nylon blade and is a good durable option for the less experienced paddler, while the carbon ($225) and carbon/bamboo ($245) paddles are really high quality 3 piece paddles offering high performance and a really stylish look.

The Fairlight also doesn’t come with a pump as standard, but in the bundling process you can choose either a double-action hand pump or an electric pump.

Summary Review of the Honu Fairlight 11’6

Overall, we’re really impressed by the Honu Fairlight 11’6. It doesn’t have the most features on a multi-purpose board of this size, However if you’re wanting a really nice all round board that can carry a lot of weight and a few accessories, yet still feels fun and responsive, then you’ve come to the right place. The Fairlight 11’6 is one of the best and highest-performing examples we’ve come across for this role, and when you add into the mix the excellent construction and superb accessories, it makes for a pretty impressive all round package.

Happy paddling! We hope you enjoyed this review of the Honu Fairlight 11’6. If you have any questions or comments please leave us a comment below!

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