The Summer’s Hottest SUP: Body Glove Performer 2022 Review
What makes the Body Glove Performer one of the most popular standup paddleboards on the waves today? We took it for a spin to find out for ourselves.
In about a month of testing, I’ve not only paddled on the Performer myself, but I’ve also seen it everywhere — it is hands down one of the paddleboards I recognize most frequently out on lakes around Denver, Boulder, and along the Front Range.
Why? Who knows, but Body Glove made a good call pivoting from swimwear and wetsuits to making inflatable paddleboards, too.
Its Performer SUP is a solid option for beginners, and after chatting with a few who have owned the board for a while, is fairly durable too.
In short: Despite a few cons I have with the features of this board (namely the fins), it performs well in water. Its length and width are great for beginners, with enough room on board to stash gear. Plus, the Body Glove Performer‘s $999 price tag nets you an electric pump, paddle, leash, clear dry bag (bonus!), a permanent fin system, and even a GoPro mount.
Body Glove Performer 11-Foot SUP Review
The Paddleboard
Body Glove’s latest Performer SUP has drop-stitch construction, with a beautiful wood grain print on both the SUP and paddle blade. You’ll also notice the vibrant chevron stripes — and new for 2022 — laser-engraved foot placement guides on the EVA deck pad, which all add up to a really fun design. But that’s just looks.
This 11-foot SUP also has front bungee storage (no rear storage space, unfortunately). It’s slightly less front storage space compared to other SUPs we’ve tested. Though, Body Glove does include two small D-rings on either side on the back of the board, for tying down something larger like a cooler.
Nonremovable Fins: Pro or Con?
Now we’re going to get to the nitty-gritty of this board. The fins.
SUP makers tend to go in one of two directions with their fin setups for their boards: a single center fin plate, or a three-fin setup. Secondly, they also go in one of these directions in terms of type of fins: snap/slide in, or screwplate fins (which involve hand tightening a small screw and washer inside the track of a plate to lock in a fin).
Body Glove went in the less common direction of rubber polymer, permanent fins. There’s no installing (or losing!) these fins — they simply stay on the board, and are built to withstand some bumps and bend when rolling up the SUP for storing away.
The fins worked just OK for me — plenty capable for paddling and steering, but they definitely weren’t the best at tracking, probably because they are a little pliable/bendy.
I rarely see fin setups like this for inflatable SUPs, so it was fun putting it to the test. However, it definitely affects performance. Despite the bendy fins, the SUP itself still offers plenty of rigidity, like other inflatables, and was great when it came to balance on the water.
Paddle & Accessories
Body Glove includes a paddle and not one but two pumps (a manual and electric option) with its SUP, which is awesome. The paddle was durable in testing, easy to adjust, and fairly nice to grip.
The board itself also incorporates a more unique paddle holder we haven’t seen — along the center of the board, with the ability to strap it directly to the center handle.
The neoprene-Velcro handle unfolds and wraps the paddle shaft all snug like a bug in a rug. For those who may be planning to purchase a SUP to cart back and forth to their local lake, this is a cool bonus.
Body Glove Performer Specs
- Dimensions: 11 ft. x 34 in. x 5.4 in.
- Weight: 24 lbs.
- Max weight capacity: 320 lbs.
- Paddle: 3-piece
- Included: Bag, manual pump, electric pump, leash, dry bag, repair kit
Setup with this board was smooth sailing via the electric pump (we tested the manual too, to make sure). With the fins ready to go, all I had to do was grab the leash and paddle. One note: this SUP isn’t the lightest to carry, but otherwise makes a stellar option for weekend paddlers who just want to get out and go.
Conclusion
The final new component of the Performer? Starting in 2022, Body Glove is doing something extra cool. It’s partnering with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every Performer sold, meaning you’ll give a little back to the planet with your purchase.
Overall, this is a good board for beginners and functions great on water, but we do wish there were a few more standard features for the price. The fins have great durability, but aren’t the best for tracking.
The board is missing grab handles on the front and tail of the board (for carrying with two people, pulling ashore, loading up gear, etc.) This isn’t a deal-breaker, but I personally would much rather have grab handles than the plastic tow-point Body Glove included.
Other than that, most of our resident paddle expert’s qualms were minor. The Performer gives you an all-inclusive, ready-to-go package for an unbeatable price. For convenience and fun out on the water, definitely add the Body Glove Performer to your SUP shortlist.
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