Retrospec Weekender Crew12’ iSUP Review
Pros
- Fantastic for 2-3 paddlers
- Surprisingly good just for solo paddling
- All the stability you could ever want
- Surprisingly light and easy to carry
- You can even set it up as a multi person kayak!
- Incredible package for the price
Cons
- You’re gonna need a bigger pump…or a good electric pump (our recommendation)
Multi-person boards or ‘party SUPs’ are normally just too big and pricey to be a realistic purchase for the casual paddler. However, Retrospec have changed the game with their incredibly well priced Weekender Crew – this is a board that everyone should own!
We weren’t initially sure whether we should be checking out the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12’. We’re not normally in a huge hurry to review party boards, because they’re really hard to compare to regular SUPs in terms of the usual performance measures we’re interested in; speed, maneuverability, tracking, etc etc. It’s apples and oranges. And for sure, that’s how it looked to be with the Weekender Crew 12’; while it is indeed of similar length to the boards we’re normally writing about, it’s a full 6” wider than anything else we’ve reviewed in the past few years. So our normal set of benchmarks and expectations go right out of the window.
But then we took it out on the water. And realized very quickly that the Weekender Crew 12’ absolutely deserves a full review, because Retrospec have delivered an amazing double whammy here. Firstly, the board is actually still small and light enough to not just be a multi-person board. Unlike most of the party boards on the market, the Crew 12’ can actually easily and enjoyably be paddled by just one person. And secondly, the whole package, including two paddles, is less than $500. You are in every sense, getting a whole lot of board for not a whole lot of money.
We think the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12’ would be a great SUP for paddlers who:
- Want a board that multiple family members or friends can paddle together
- Loves the idea of a party board that can still be carried and used by one person
- Appreciates the most stable platform imaginable for solo paddling
- Desires a super fun platform for all the kids to play on
- Doesn’t want to pay more than the price of a normal board for all this extra fun!
Retrospec Weekender Crew 12’: Spec Sheet
- Board Category: Multi person
- Listed Board Dimensions: 12’x42”x8”
- Measured Board Dimensions:
- Listed Board Weight: 36 lbs
- Actual Board Weight (board only, not inflated):
- Listed Max Capacity: 500 lbs
- Recommended PSI: 12-15
- Fins: 1 center fin + 4 tracking fins
- Paddle: 2x 3-Piece adjustable (63” – 84”) paddles
- Board Shell Construction Materials: Dual layer fusion
- Drop-stitch type: knitted
- Price Range: $499
- Warranty: 50 day return period, 2 year warranty
Performance Review of the Retrospec Weekender Crew Stand Up Paddle Board
Overall Score: 9.2/10
- Stability: 10/10
- Speed: 8.0/10
- Tracking: 8.0/10
- Maneuverability: 9.0/10
- Construction Quality: 8.2/10
- Features/Accessories: 9.1/10
Stability Rating: 10/10
If we’re talking about just one person on board then the Retrospec Weekender Crew is just ridiculously stable. Hysterically so. You can run around on the board, from one side to the other, walk up to the nose, back to the tail – indeed you could dance a jig on it. It’s not going to tip over. It’s off-the-scale stable compared to any ‘normal’ single person board. And that’s why we’re giving it the full 10/10. For sure, there are even bigger iSUPs out there; the massive great 8-man boards, for example. But they need multiple people to carry them, and to paddle them. One person couldn’t possibly do it on their own. Whereas this board could actually be used as a single person board. For sure, it will take rather more effort to paddle and is not going to score anywhere near as well as a narrower board in any aspect of performance, but the fact that it can be paddled by one person at all is impressive. And in that role, the stability really is 10/10.
If you’re putting several people on it, then of course stability becomes a different thing. Three paddlers working together could paddle this board very comfortably and pronounce it to be exceptionally stable. Whereas two people fooling about and not paddling in sync could easily end up in the water. As soon as you have more than one person on a board, stability becomes about more than just how the board behaves. However, we reckon that two people should quickly find this board no problem at all to paddle together, one each side, as you can see in the pix here.
Speed Test: 8.0/10
We haven’t done our usual specific speed testing for the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12’, because it’s kinda meaningless for a board like this. If you’re paddling it on your own it’s a lot of board to push along and certainly couldn’t be described as fast, although it does still go surprisingly well.
If you stand in the middle of the board your paddle ends up at quite an acute angle, so it’s hard to paddle with proper form. However, you can actually stand a whole lot closer to one side or the other, which makes it much easier to achieve a reasonably decent paddle stroke, although it does admittedly feel slightly weird, and of course when you change sides, you literally have to change sides!
The game changes entirely when you’re riding two up – now you can really start to crank this baby along. Work on getting your strokes synchronized, and really concentrate on smooth power delivery to keep the board moving steadily rather than lurching then slowing down, which is very destabilizing when there’s two of you on board. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll soon find that you can push the board along at a very satisfying pace.
So we really struggled to award this board a speed rating. It’s never going to win any races if you’re paddling it on its own; indeed, if that was the primary criteria for scoring it, we’d probably give it a 7/10. But with two paddlers working well together, it’d be more like a 9/10, if not higher. So we’ll split the difference and call it an 8/10.
To obtain our speed test results, we use a Speed Coach Sup 2. This gives us accurate readings on how fast we are paddling and our current stroke rates. For the top sprint speed, we paddle as hard as we can for approximately 10-15 seconds and then record our average speed. For the casual test, we paddle at 35-40 strokes per minute for approximately 30-60 seconds and record the average speed.
Tracking: 8.0/10
Tracking is another area where the performance of the Retrospec Weekender Crew differs dramatically, depending on whether we’re considering it with one rider or multiple riders. With one paddler either side, paddling together in a balanced fashion, the board will hold a straight line all day. Whereas with just one paddler, inevitably there is going to be some turning occurring with a board this wide – although the 5 (yes 5!) fins under the tail are definitely doing their bit in trying to hold the board onto a straight line course.
So again, it’s pretty hard to actually give a score for this aspect of performance. We’re going to go with 8.0/10, which is based on its tracking one-up. But it should definitely be borne in mind that this is still a really good score for a 42” x 12’ board!
Maneuverability: 9.0/10
Yet again, this is an extremely hard one to rate in comparative terms. So let’s just talk about it more generally, starting with the single rider scenario. Being so big, the board takes quite a bit of effort to maneuver using paddle turning techniques such as sweep turns, draw strokes etc. (For a whole lot more information on these paddle turning skills do check out our turning techniques video on youtube.) The substantial quantity of fins under the tail aren’t exactly helping in this respect, either.
However, on the flip side, there has never been an easier board to turn using tail-sink pivot techniques. You may think that you’re not up to such ‘advanced’ maneuvering skills, but trust me, you really are. Just walk back and stand on the tail. The nose will come up, but you’ll still be feeling completely safe and stable. Now try paddling on one side or the other, and hey presto, you’re doing a pivot turn. Paddle faster, turn faster – you can get this beauty spinning like a top. So much fun!
With multiple riders on board, turning becomes a whole new ballgame. It’s all about coordination and teamwork. Once you get the hang of it, you can crank the board around reasonably quickly, and it’s a whole lot of fun.
So again, it’s a hard one to score comparatively. However, because we had so much fun turning it from the tail, and honestly reckon that anyone, no matter how inexperienced or unstable on their feet, will be able to experience the same amount of fun, we’re going to give it a big fat 9 out of 10 in this category.
Construction Quality: 9.2/10
The Weekender Crew has a knitted drop-stitch core. The outer skin features dual-layer, puncture-resistant AerGlide-Fusion technology, which essentially consists of two layers of PVC laminated together to create a stiff and light outer skin. The sides (rails) of the board have an inner layer and outer layer, to add extra durability where it’s needed most.
Fusion is well established as a great compromise between durability and light weight. It’s significantly stronger and stiffer than the single skin construction generally found on lower priced boards, and it’s definitely playing its part in making the Weekender Crew 12’ such a successful board. If the board were heavier it would lose a lot of its fun character, plus of course it’d be a whole lot harder to get down to the water’s edge!
In summary, the construction of the Weekender Crew is what we would describe as ‘standard quality’ ie. It’s the standard sort of construction we would expect to find on a quality board. There are better levels of construction (such as those featuring welded rails, woven drop stitch etc), but these cost a whole lot more. Indeed, even most boards with this standard quality construction generally cost more. And more importantly, there are also many boards with far lower quality construction than what is on offer here. So when we say that the Weekender Crew is standard quality, we’re paying it a big compliment. It’s yet another example of how much quality you’re getting in this package.
Board Stiffness:
The extra width of the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12, plus the fact that it’s 8” thick rather than the usual 6”, means that there is zero risk of this board flexing under any normal paddler’s weight. With two people on board, if you’re spread out one behind the other, again, as can clearly be seen here, the board isn’t even remotely bothered by the combined 360 lbs of weight. However, if you jump up and down on the board you can get it to flex, and if when going two-up the two paddlers get badly out of sync, you can definitely feel a bit of movement rippling through the board. While it’s stiff, it’s not incredibly rigid, and you can also feel some flex and movement when you’re paddling over rougher water. But overall it’s not a significant issue, and nothing to reduce one’s enjoyment of the board.
To ascertain the rigidity of each board we review, we use our own specific laboratory bend test process. The board is inflated to its maximum recommended PSI and then placed across two sawhorses positioned exactly 7 feet apart. We then measure the distance from the middle of the board to the floor. Then, we place a 150 lb weight on the middle top of the SUP, and measure the distance to the floor again. The difference between the two measurements shows the deflection, or ‘sag’, that the board has experienced due to the added weight. We have been reviewing the stiffness of boards using this technique since 2021 and while it isn’t an exact replication of the weight distortion that occurs when a rider stands on a SUP board in the water, it still gives a very useful comparative tool in determining the stiffness of the board’s construction process.
Features/Accessory Review: 9.2/10
Features:
You’re not only getting a whole lot of board for your money when you buy the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12, you’re also getting a pretty comprehensive set of fittings and accessories, worthy of a board with a much fatter price tag.
For starters, Retrospec have clearly given some thought as to how the board is going to be transported. Which matters a lot with something this size. It’s a tall order (literally) for one person to carry it by the center handle. You’ll need to be at least 6’ to manage that, and it’s pretty unwieldy, but it can just about be done. Much easier to have two people, carrying it via the handles they’ve put onto the nose and tail. Or you could have two, three or four people carrying it by the four handles they’ve put along the sides – particularly good if your kids are taking the board out to play. And of course, once it’s on the water it also makes it that much more easy to manage, having all those handles dotted around.
The two bungee areas give a whole lot of carrying capacity. Indeed, unless you’re set on transporting a whole lot of cargo, you can probably do without the rearmost bungee, to keep the tail uncluttered for those super-fun pivot turns described in the Maneuvering section.
The deck also has 8 ‘Easylink’ connection points, to allow one or two kayak seats to be fixed to the deck. These aren’t included in the price but are easily available. Our top tip would be that if you’re planning on using the board in single kayaker mode, then get a footrest as well to use between the front Easylink connection points. It will greatly improve the kayaking experience.
We also love the fact that the board has not one but two sets of paddle holders. The board comes as standard with two paddles, so Retrospec have been smart and thoughtful to ensure that both paddles can be securely fastened if you do stop to take a break, picnic, swim, snooze or whatever while you’re both on board.
Last but not least, there’s an action camera mount on the nose; the type that allows you to either slot in a Go-Pro style clip, or screw on a mount accessory (or indeed anything else that fits an M6 bolt thread.)
On the underside of the board we find the 5 finboxes; one big central fin and 4 smaller side fins, all utilizing the same slide-in fin box system. On the underside of the nose is a D Ring for towing.
All in all, it’s a really good set of fittings for any board, let alone one at this ultra low price point.
Included Accessories:
As already mentioned, the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12 comes with two 3 piece adjustable paddles. The Retrospec paddle has a nylon blade and an aluminum shaft, and while we aren’t normally fans of aluminum paddles, we rather like this one. It looks classy, feels good and the adjustment system works well. The handle is nicely embossed too, giving good grip and comfort in the hand.
The board is too big to fit into the standard Retrospec backpack, so it comes in a roll-up bag. Be aware that at 11” x 14” x 48” the package is somewhat bigger than a normal iSUP bag, and isn’t something you could carry on your back in rucksack mode like you usually can with normal iSUPs. However, it’s smaller than we would have expected and should fit even in a small car.
We really like the way that Retrospec have tried to make it a complete package, right down to including two paddles, so that you can go straight to the water and get into party mode with the board. However, there is one fly in the ointment. It takes forever to inflate with the single (relatively small) hand pump. You really do not want to be inflating it this way. Get at very least another hand pump – the board has two valves, after all. But even with two hand pumps, it’s still a lot of air to deliver by hand. You’re almost certainly going to want a powerful electric pump.
Which begs the question; could you leave the board inflated and carry it on your car roof rack? Some brands don’t recommend transporting inflatables this way, and Retrospec do make it clear in their warranty conditions that incidents that occur during transportation are not covered. Our take is that if it’s strapped down well, and you’re only going relatively short distances and not driving too fast, then it should be OK. People transport mattresses on roof racks and the Retrospec Weekender Crew is a whole lot more rigid than a mattress. However, if you’re in a hot climate then of course you really don’t want to be leaving that board inflated out in the sun for any longer than you absolutely have to (sound advice for all iSUPs).
Summary Review of the Nixy Monterey G5
Earlier in our reviews, we say who we think the board will be suitable for. However, with something like the Retrospec Weekender Crew 12’, the question probably should be ‘who wouldn’t this board be suitable for’! Hardcore racers aside, pretty much anyone who likes to paddle socially would enjoy having this board around. If you have a paddling family, your kids will love this board; it’s a perfect fun platform. It’s small enough to be entirely practical and manageable, yet big enough for almost anything. And at $500, it’s genuinely affordable enough to be thought of as an additional purchase, alongside your other paddleboards.
Are there any downsides or caveats? Other than the fact that you’re absolutely going to need to get another pump, then we’re really struggling here. There is a small but valid warning to be made that scrambling back up onto an 8” thick board in deep water is definitely a bit more tricky than getting onto a 6” board. (Seriously, if this is likely to be an issue then just attach a rope with a stirrup loop to one of the side handles, so you can drop that down into the water, and put your foot into it, so it’s that much easier to ‘stand up’ to get your weight up and onto the board.)
Other than this very minor point though, we have nothing but good things to say about this package. It’s a whole lot of fun and incredibly good value. We hope to see a whole lot of these out on the water this summer!
Happy paddling! We hope you enjoyed this review of the Retrospec Weekender Crew. If you have any questions or comments please leave us a comment below!
SupBoardGuide
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