Review: Bote Lowrider Aero Paddleboard

The first thing I noticed when taking the Lowrider out of the storage bag (which is much nicer than Bote’s older bags, more on that below) was the massive rear fin. It’s much longer than the detachable fin on the Breeze Aero, and by far the deepest fin I’ve seen on a paddleboard. A sailor friend of mine quipped, “That paddleboard has a draft.”

That deep fin makes the Lowrider track straighter, which means you aren’t constantly veering and correcting course as you paddle. Relative to the Breeze Aero and other boards I’ve used, there is far less side-to-side movement when paddling. The larger surface area of the fin also makes the board a bit more stable in rough water, especially when combined with the width of this board.

I’ve long wanted to do some multiday paddleboarding trips, and I’ve gone so far as to load up about three-quarters of my gear, only to decide it just wasn’t going to work. The Lowrider, however, is capable of such feats. I did not have time to actually do a trip, but I did load it up and paddle around. As you might expect, it was heavy, sat lower in the water, and was slow to turn, but it wasn’t that bad, especially if you put the seat on so you can switch back and forth between standing and sitting. It’s probably outside most people’s use cases, but if you’re a weirdo like me, know that this is probably your best bet for paddlepacking.

The Lowrider Is a Little Higher

Speaking of the seats, they’re quite comfortable and stable. They can be attached in a variety of ways. There are three tie-down points on each side of the board, and the seats themselves have a strap that allows you to adjust the amount you’re lying back. They never get quite as upright as you’d be in a kayak, but I paddled several miles and had no back strain or other pain.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re a seasoned kayaker: You’re much higher on the water than you would be in a kayak. You aren’t going to want to paddle anything technical, but it’s still a stable, comfortable experience, and the board is plenty maneuverable. Cruising flat water, it was surprisingly fast and agile (for something this size), and the Lowrider didn’t blink even when I took it out in a 15-knot wind with pretty good chop. To my mind this is one of the best reasons to get a hybrid. On those rough days when you aren’t going to be standing up, you can still get out on the water.