Hala

Board Review – Hala Asana

Board Review – Hala Asana

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The shape and size of the Hala Asana at 10.6 x 34” x 6” is the quintessential beginner platform. Since I began paddling I have always had a board in my quiver this size. This year the Asana has served as my teaching board, my family and friend board, and my lazy day board. You know the days when you just want to be out on the river and have a nice private island? This board is perfect for that!

In my SUP PUP clinics the Asana is my go to board for beginners, larger paddlers, or paddlers with large breed dogs. This season the Asana didn’t fail us. Every student who used it had a great stable experience!

Compared to other inflatables I’ve had in the past, the Asana is a bit more equipped for paddling with dogs. Here are some of the highlights that make it a dog friendly choice:

  • Handles on both ends of the board for easier carrying and handling.
  • D-rings on the front and the back for securing gear. I especially like tying gear down on the tail when paddling with dogs.
  • Neoprene handle cover for a more comfortable grip.
  • Generously sized deck pad for four paws, or in my case eight!
  • A D-ring on the bottom of the nose for anchoring the board. You know in case you need that private island!
  • It comes with a great heavy duty carrying bag that’s big enough to store your board, PFD, canine PFD, and all the rest of your paddling gear.

Board Review – Hala Playa

Board Review – Hala Playa

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It’s yellow! This is a board I bought for myself, a small (like me) low volume board that I can just have fun on. I’m a very petite girl, and all my other boards have a lot more volume, but that’s ok because I usually paddle with an extra 90 pounds. But sometimes, though rarely, I like to play around by myself, or paddle some laps when the dogs are playing on a sandbar.  And so this board is just perfect for that. 

In the past I’ve found lower volume inflatables less rigid, but that’s not the case with the Hala Playa. The Carbon fiber stringers makes the board so rigid, I sometimes forget there’s a bed of air between me and the water. 

It’s honestly the least stable board I have I my quiver this year, and it’s much more comfortable with one dog instead of two, even though the three of us can still manage. 

It came in handy this year on our annual Fourth of July trip home to Angola on the Lake. My brother-in-law bought a boat, and we had so much fun being towed around on it. 

The weight of the board is also a nice plus. It’s so much lighter than my Hala Nass, which has been the board I usually travel with. I love that it takes up just a little less room in the back of my SUV, and is just a bit easier to toss up on the roof rack. 

Bottom line is if you’re a smaller framed person, and have a small to medium sized dog and you’re looking for a board to just have fun on, this is a great option! I’m very happy with the Playa, it’s been a great addition this season. 

I love the playfulness of lower volume boards. Pivot turns with Kona are fun!

Getting towed on the Playa instead of paddling it!

Quiet evenings with one dog are so nice with this board.

Matchy matchy!

Board Review – Hala Hoss

Board Review – Hala Hoss

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There’s a good reason to have a really big board in your quiver when you teach SUP PUP clinics — large breed dogs!

So many times I get asked if large breed dogs can learn how to SUP, and the answer is always yes! You’ll just need a board large enough to accommodate your big pup, and the muscles to go along with it.

I used the Rival Hoss to accommodate the large dogs this season in my SUP PUP clinics. The hoss is 10’10” x 35”x6”! It’s a beast of a board and proved to be a great asset for teaching. Not only was this board great for large dogs, it was also really perfect for some of my older students who didn’t have the strength in their legs to balance a smaller board. The Hoss is like a floating island, at 35” wide it’s as stable as you’re going to get a board. It’s not going to be a fast board by any means, but it’s stable and fun — and we’re all about maximizing fun!

As with all Hala Boards the extra D-rings, handles, stomp pad and high quality construction make the Hoss a stellar value and perfect choice for paddling with dogs.

This board is so big it makes Riley and Kona look small!

The Hala teaching lineup, far left is the Hoss with a standard poodle named Tache.

Tache and his owner Beate in our summer SUP PUP clinic.

Test riding the Hoss. Photo taken by Tina Kay. Courtesy of Story Collaborative.

What can I say? They love to make a splash! Photo taken by Tina Kay. Courtesy of Story Collaborative.

 

Board Review – Hala Nass

Board Review – Hala Nass

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Can I just say that I can’t ever imagine not owning a touring inflatable? Seriously, and this one is the best of all worlds!

Touring inflatables are in my opinion the most efficient inflatables you can paddle. The 12.6 length offers more glide than anything shorter, and the 30” width is the perfect number for efficiency, comfort and stability.

But here’s where it gets important — it’s all about quality. If you purchase a discount brand inflatable you’re probably going to have something that looks more like a banana than a paddleboard. By nature inflatables will always have some flex because it’s essentially just an air filled rubber chamber. But the number of drop stitches, and the materials used will absolutely play a huge role in how rigid an inflatable can be. So looking for a high quality inflatable is always key, and nothing could be truer than the age-old saying, “you get what you pay for.”

Ok so now here’s where it gets super interesting! Carbon! Yes, Carbon Hybrid stringers are now being used on inflatable boards, like my new Hala Nass. The two stringers run the length of the deck and the bottom of the board creating a super rigid ride.

I’m pretty stoked about this. The stringers add very little weight, and it still rolls up nicely and fits easily in the back of my SUV, duffel bag, or storage shelf. Add in Hala’s extra D-rings, bungee cords, stomp pad, and 3-year warranty — mind blown!

I’m really not sure how it get’s much better than this; you have the convenience of an inflatable with rigidity that’s closer to a hard board than anything else on the market. The Hala Nass gets eight paws and two thumbs up from this crew!

 

Plenty of volume for two Aussies, and a human!

Exploring new waterways is always easier with an inflatable.

Seriously doesn’t get much better than this!

Board Review – Hala Asana

Board Review – Hala Asana

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The shape and size of the Hala Asana at 10.6 x 34” x 6” is the quintessential beginner platform. Since I began paddling I have always had a board in my quiver this size. This year the Asana has served as my teaching board, my family and friend board, and my lazy day board. You know the days when you just want to be out on the river and have a nice private island? This board is perfect for that!

In my SUP PUP clinics the Asana is my go to board for beginners, larger paddlers, or paddlers with large breed dogs. This season the Asana didn’t fail us. Every student who used it had a great stable experience!

Compared to other inflatables I’ve had in the past, the Asana is a bit more equipped for paddling with dogs. Here are some of the highlights that make it a dog friendly choice:

  • Handles on both ends of the board for easier carrying and handling.
  • D-rings on the front and the back for securing gear. I especially like tying gear down on the tail when paddling with dogs.
  • Neoprene handle cover for a more comfortable grip.
  • Generously sized deck pad for four paws, or in my case eight!
  • A D-ring on the bottom of the nose for anchoring the board. You know in case you need that private island!
  • It comes with a great heavy duty carrying bag that’s big enough to store your board, PFD, canine PFD, and all the rest of your paddling gear.

But if you think the Asana is only for beginners, think again! This board was an excellent choice this season for a down river run on the Shenandoah River. My husband and I did a 12-mile trip with the dogs, and the Asana performed amazingly. It glided well in flat water, and proved to be stable and agile in the whitewater.

Overall this board has served us well this season. Now that it’s been properly put through the ringer, we highly recommend it!

Riley and Kona and their own private island.

Room for three, and super stable.

Dory doing some land training on the Asana.

Dory, captain of the Asana!

Freddy getting comfortable on the Asana in our SUP PUP clinic.

New Year New Gear

New Year New Gear

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“Now that’s a well-equipped board!”

It’s the reaction I had the first time I saw a Hala inflatable SUP. I was attracted to all the d-rings and handles on the board – something I’ve come to need when paddling with 2 dogs. Then after riding one for the first time, my feelings for Hala only grew stronger. I could feel the difference, these boards are absolutely more rigid and better quality than most inflatables on the market.

This year I’ve decided to move from the Boardworks ambassador team, to the Hala team. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly; I love and will always love Boardworks boards. My very first SUP was a Boardworks ShuBu, and that board changed the way I see the world. But everything runs it’s course, and change is good.

I’m super excited to work with Hala because of their emphasis on exploration and expeditions. I’m not a racer or a surfer; the dogs and I are adventurers. This year I’m planning more multi-day trips with the pups, and Hala is the company that will help support this goal with boards more suited for expeditions.

I also like to be a resource for my students and followers. I see a trend and popularity with inflatables; people love the versatility and transportability of them. I do too, because 90 percent of the time inflatables are a better choice for me when traveling and exploring with my pack.

Throughout the season I’ll be using several of the 2017 Hala SUPs and posting reviews on them. I want to help people and their dogs find the right board. So stay tuned and don’t be shy about asking us what we think of our new quiver!

 

Dawn Patrol on the Potomac River in DC.

Expedition ready and room for 3. The Hala Nass, 12.6 x 30.”

Best crew on the Potomac.

Hammocks pair nicely with SUPs!