AQUATONE PLAYTIME 11’4 TEST REVIEW
Verdict:
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. You can’t take the Playtime for a paddle and remain in a bad mood. This lovely big Bertha is built for sunny days on calm water, probably with a Bluetooth speaker and snacks. The design allows you to switch between standing and sitting in the most comfortable SUP-kayak position possible.
Overview:
On paper, the Playtime is not that unusual. It’s 11’4″ long, 34″ wide, and 8″ thick. From above, it looks like a beefy tourer. Then you see the masterstroke: the cockpit. Made possible thanks to double-chamber construction, this board is more rigid than photos might suggest.
Everything for safe paddling is here. Front and back carry handles (which would also work as tow points), two inline fins, a coil leash, an All Style aluminum paddle, and a pump. Two more carry handles adorn the sides, and front and rear bungees store your yoga mats.
Brand claim:
Who knew we could pack so much fun into one bag? The PLAYTIME 11’4″ has a versatile open deck that makes it the perfect combination for both a kayak and a SUP. Offering riders the option to switch between the two styles freely. With optimal width and grip to the water, you’ll find yourself making smooth and effortless transitions while on the water.
Performance:
The Aquatone Playtime SUP is one of those boards that prompts the question, “Is this an inflatable SUP, kayak, or a floating party platform?” Spoiler alert: it’s a bit of all three.
When it arrived, we had never seen anything like it. There was a minor squabble to be the first to try it. The stand-out design feature is the sunken cockpit. This allows you to sit with kayak seat support and your feet lower than your hips – it’s ingenious, and if we’re honest, the first time a kayak seat on a SUP has felt like anything other than an afterthought.
The intention is that you can switch between standing or sitting, for example, if you want to take photos, drink in the view, or butter some bread.
The double inline fin set up reduces the row effect in kayak mode and squares things up a bit in SUP mode. Aquatone sensibly recommends the Playtime to be used by single paddlers in calm conditions close to shore. It’s super stable, but with an 8″ ride height, this is good advice as it will catch the wind. Regarding the single paddler, we think that the cockpit works great for throwing a child or dog in for the ride!
The Playtime is a unique creation in a world of homogenous iSUPs. Some people will never accept it, but it’s built for fun and getting people on the water in comfort. If you had a SUP school or hire shop and had a fleet of Playtimes and a heatwave like last year, you’d make a killing.
AQUATONE PLAYTIME 11’4 TEST REVIEW
Vital Stats:
Price: £579.00
Length: 11’4″
Width: 34″
Thickness: 8″
Volume: 400 litres
Fin: 2x inline centre