Body Glove Mariner XL11ft iSUP

Like most of the other Body Glove inflatable boards we’ve reviewed the Mariner XL 11ft iSUP uses heavy duty drop stitch construction and an integrated Triple Layer Stringer for increased rigidity making the Mariner super durable so it’ll stand up to the test of time. With a 320 lb maximum capacity, the Mariner XL can haul quite a bit of gear in addition to a full-sized paddler.

Its' 11’ x 34in x 6in size means the Mariner XL is stable on the water, even for beginners. Features include an anchor tie off point on the nose, cooler tie-downs mid board, a multi-purpose handle to hold a water bottle or the included adjustable 3-piece paddle and of course the two Railblaza attachment points.

• Adjustable aluminum 3piece stand up paddle (75-85 in) 
• High-pressure dual action hand pump with gauge
• Dry pouch
• Coil leash
• Repair kit
• Carrying backpack with roller wheels

• Heavy duty drop stitch material.
• Triple layer stringer rigidity.
• Impact resistant fins.
• Tie off anchor point.
• Cooler tie off points.
• Multi-purpose handle that can carry a paddle during transport or a water bottle while padding for easy access.
• Mounts for over 70 Railblaza fishing accessories including rod holders.

The Mariner XL 11ft iSUP uses the same basic shape as the other inflatable SUP’s we’ve reviewed from Body Glove. Its long sleek shape and pointed nose make it ideal for lake paddling but thanks to its generous width the Mariner is stable enough to run a river should you choose. The Mariner is most closely related to the Body Glove Performer 11 SUP as they share the same dimensions but by adding an anchor and cooler tie off points along with two  Railblaza mounts for fishing rods Body Glove was able to offer a fishing specific SUP for those that want to get more out of their inflatable SUP.

While I am personally not a huge fisherman I can see the value in having a stand up paddle board that can do more than just paddle the water. Body Glove ensured that all the features which make the Mariner ideal for fishing don’t get in the way of day-to-day paddling for the average user. Unlike Body Glove’s Glide 11 Kayak which has foot braces that protrude from the deck of the SUP, the Meriner’s fishing specific features are unobtrusive which is a huge plus.

My favourite feature built into the Mariner SUP has to be the cooler tie downs. While not perfect, they do allow you to adequately fasten a cooler to the deck of the Mariner so that you can enjoy a cold beverage out on the lake and the cooler also doubles as a seat for when you need a break from paddling or if you just want to lower your centre of gravity should the water become rough. I did, however, find that the two tie-down points were not enough to securely fasten my cooler to the board and if I happened to tip the Mariner over on the lake the cooler would fall free. A third tie-down point to ensure that no matter how adventurous you get the cooler stays put would be a welcome addition.

Like the Body Glove Performer 11,  Raptor 10’8 and Glide 11 Kayak, the Mariner XL 11ft iSUP was fun to paddle, super stable—even for beginners and generally tracked well on the open water. Body Glove seems to have a solid design solution for all of their SUP’s and the Mariner is no exception. 

I was surprised by the Mariner’s sticker price of $1,699.99CAN / $1,299.99US as this puts it at the top end of the inflatable SUP category and priced similar to that of most hard boards. All other Body Glove SUP’s were priced right at well below $1,000. Even when you consider Body Glove includes an adjustable aluminum paddle, high-pressure dual action hand pump, dry pouch, coil leash, repair kit and backpack, the Mariner still ends up being pricey. 

One of my favourite things about Body Glove SUP’s are the extras they include (as mentioned above) an the backpack has always been great for transporting the deflated SUP no matter where you venture. The new version of this pack included with the Mariner now includes roller wheels which is a huge improvement and means that you no longer have to shoulder the 25lb SUP but you can simply roller the Mariner along to your next adventure!