Thurso Waterwalker 11’ — A Dream SUP Come True
These Thurso Waterwalker 11’ SUPs are absolutely amazing. I recently had the chance to float the Teton River in Idaho on an NRS board with my cousin, and I fell in love with paddleboarding. But I couldn’t afford a $1000+ SUP, so I dug into the specs and spent weeks researching. My soul just wanted to get back on the water.
What I found was a sea of cheap boards that didn’t feel trustworthy—until I found Thurso. This board completely overdelivered. The design is next level. Honestly, I’m blown away by the attention to detail that went into every aspect of this board.
Each fin has its own screw-lock feature—no risk of losing them. The Velcro paddle holders on both sides make it easy to strap the paddle when carrying to the water or doing fascia yoga on the board. I’ve never seen that before. It’s also loaded with D-rings so you can add a kayak seat if you want. The handles? Bombproof. The materials? Phenomenal.
The board also has a cushioned deck pad that adds traction and comfort—perfect for yoga or paddling. It comes with some extra features I probably won’t use, like a GoPro mount and a cup holder screw, but others might love those. What I do use is the pump—and wow. It’s a dream. It inflates and deflates quickly, and you can charge it via USB or plug it into your car’s outlet. Total game-changer.
Even the little things are done well: a zippered pouch for fins, repair tools, and goodies. The three handles make carrying it super flexible, and while I was looking for a lighter board for lake hikes, the 22 lbs are manageable. If it were 20 lbs, that’d be perfect—but it’s not a dealbreaker. The wheeled backpack is solid, with hip straps and space for gear. Personally, I could do without the rear gear bungees to shave off a little weight, but I know they’ll be useful for others.
I bought the blue board for my husband and got the crimson for myself (note: it’s more of a deep brown tone). We also picked up the Thurso life jackets, which have front zippers—great for function and they double as comfy kneeling pads. The included paddle is great, and I’m excited to upgrade to the kayak paddle version soon, since I love paddling from a seated position.
For me, this board is everything I’ve ever wanted—it’s a SUP, a kayak, and a canoe in one. Customer service? Incredible. My crimson board got stuck in Canadian customs, and Thurso told me they’d ship me a new one if it didn’t arrive in time for our trip. I was speechless.
My only complaint about the board is the bag. The rollers are great for moving everything easily. But the backpack part of actually putting that on your back and walking with it somewhere is a joke. It rides too far into the butt to make it a functional backpack to hike anywhere. Kinda disappointed in that as everything else is so well designed.
Bottom line: Stop shopping around. This board blows NRS and others out of the water. It’s built with heart, brains, and serious quality. I want to tell everyone I know—just pony up and buy this board. You’ll be so grateful you did.
