Finally, A Kids iSUP

My friends, family, and I have been stand up paddleboarding for several years now ever since the COVID-19 pandemic led us to find a more socially-distanced activity that was fun, calming, and adventurous. It did not disappoint! The number of water outings we have had more than made up for the cost of each board, and most importantly, my children LOVE coming along! So much so, my son has overcome the fear of being in the water so he could one day paddle along on his own board — his recent swim lessons have shown great promise towards that goal.

I had been eyeing the Freein 7′ 8″ Kids iSUP since last year to surprise my son with but wanted to gauge his progress before spending several hundred dollars on a children’s board. He had finally gained enough confidence and balance when my wife and I gifted him with the updated, improved, 2022 model: Freein 8′ Kids iSUP. But before we get into the details, let us first go over what this article will contain.

What Will Be Covered

If you are reading this article, you are likely a parent seeking to enjoy some family time with, provide a boost of confidence for, or to encourage exercise to your child or children. At least that was the intent when our children were introduced to paddle boarding. Unlike my past iSUP reviews, this one will focus heavily on children from the perspective of a father by going over the following key topics:

• Review of the Freein 8′ Kids iSUP
• Tips and Tricks
  • How to turn your iSUP into a kayak
  • How to safely paddle board with kids

Tip: Read about iSUP vs SUP (and more) in our guide, Stand Up Paddle Boarding Basics & Tips: How to choose, prepare, maintain, and paddle Inflatable Boards (iSUP)

Why Not Rent?

The typical rental fee for a SUP in our area ran for $30/person for two hours. So, doing the math for an inflatable SUP at $400, that would equate to 14 rentals for up to 28 hours of use. It made sense for us to purchase one instead to save in the long run. I, personally, own and prefer the DvSport Sunshine, though I have recently been testing and liking the excellent, Bluefin Cruise 10′ 8″. My recreational friends prefer the Runwave series of boards (Kohala, Lotus Flower) and Abysup SUP123.

In A Nutshell

Having a paddle board appropriate for one’s height, weight, and skill level is essential in having a fun experience. Nothing would discourage a child (or anyone) more than a board that is difficult to balance, move, or carry, and that was one of the main reasons why our family wanted one specifically made for our seven-year-old son. He had been paddling — or rather, adventuring — with me for two years now, going from a scared, water-shy child to someone loving a dip in the Pacific Ocean and showing off his iSUP moves to fellow children. It was a pleasure seeing his confidence grow. But, there was one problem: although an adult-sized board (10′ L x 32″ W) kept him very stable, he struggled to keep up with other participants due to the incorrect weight-to-size ratio. Turning the iSUP also presented challenges since his little arms would have to work much harder to sweep the board into a new direction of travel.

Son and his Grandpa on iSUPs

The Freein 8′ Kids iSUP, at 8′ L x 28″ W x 6″ D and weighing just 12 lbs, significantly makes it more nimble and appropriate for a child (6+ years old) or teenager. The shorter length and width allows a kid to turn more quickly, use less energy to push the board through the water, carry around more easily, and very importantly: have a more realistic experience with building up balancing skills and appropriate workout level. As expected, our son was able to cruise around faster than ever before, although he still has much to learn on how to properly stroke through the water.

Freein rates its iSUP for someone up to 195 lbs in weight (compared to an adult iSUP that can usually carry up to 300 lbs), and naturally, the shorter women in our group were very much interested in trying it out. They loved it! I, too, tested and found it somewhat difficult (though not impossible) to balance on because of its shorter dimensions and carry capacity. But what did my son think? He loved having his own board and did not struggle much to stay balanced after a year of practicing on my adult board. I saw his renewed interest to learn how to swim that very same day! A 7.5-year-old girl friend of his also tested the board, was an absolute professional getting on and off, and even challenged me to a race (of course, she won!) Perhaps later this year, I can show her how to walk up and down the board and perform some trick moves? A Polynesian man later kayaked up with his daughter and asked for advice on how to get his child to that point. See our How To Safely Paddle Board with Kids guide.

Guide: How to Safely Paddle Board with Kids. See the tips and tricks on how we got our son to enjoy paddle boarding — and wanting to learn how to swim.

Like all iSUPs, the Freein has a soft traction pad to provide extra grip for the rider to stand on. It was easy to glide through the water while I was in a seated or kneeled position, and the kids had no trouble standing and keeping up with the adults. Be sure the board is pumped to the right pressure of between 13-15 PSI (board itself says 15-18 PSI), depending on whether it will be left out in the hot sun outside the water. A front D-Ring allows for an action camera, such as a GoPro Hero, to be mounted to further help build up the kid’s excitement of being filmed in action. That is also where I strap my Dolibest Tow Rope to haul a tired boy around.

Freein did a great job redesigning the 2022 model in both its overall shape and style. It is much more pleasing to look at than its older 7′ 8″ version. I found the short, manual pump cute — a mini version of an adult one — and size-appropriate for children, though be prepared to finish the board starting at around the 8 PSI mark. I have yet to see a kid being able (or wanting) to apply that much pressure with their smaller biceps. Electric pump to the rescue!

Front Top. No Bungee Deck

Were there any issues? Of course. Immediately noticeable, like many iSUPs, was the lack of additional D-Rings to turn it into a kayak, and a bungee deck at the front to secure shoes, waterbag, and the paddle to. Mind you, both can easily be fixed by buying the appropriate kit and following our guide on how to glue on D-Rings. A portion of the traction pad came loose along the edge of a small section that was easily fixed by applying PVC glue and let sit under pressure for 48 hours. I am also not a fan of the printed year “2022” as that would date itself in a few years.

Guide: How To Add D-Rings to Convert an iSUP into a Kayak. It is easier than you may think.

The biggest gripe I have with the board is the detachable fin system. It screws on and presents two problems: possible rusting of the metal parts and losing the screw itself. The latter actually happened to us on the first day, but Freein luckily had sent us a replacement. I much prefer the plastic tab design as the material is very resistant to saltwater corrosion. It usually also is secured with a string to minimize its risk from getting lost. I tried to mimic that design by tying a string to the replacement screw, and plan on drilling two holes (one into the fin and the other through the screw knob) to further secure it to the fin itself.

Fin Screw Mount

Overall, Freein did a great job with this board. It certainly felt and looked like a well-designed, miniature version of an adult iSUP that was fully enjoyed by a couple children and short women alike. Thumbs up from those testers!

What’s Good? What’s Bad?

Pros

Safety Leash: Practice pulling quick-release

• Very lightweight: 12 lbs
  • Light enough for children to carry themselves
  • DvSport: 24.5 lbs, dual-layered / Runwave Kohala: 25 lbs, single-layered / Abysup: 21.5 lbs, dual-layered
• Simple, pleasant artwork
• Less expensive than hard boards
• Fast to deploy/inflate
  • First time, an iSUP took me 20 minutes reading instructions and looking for the parts
  • Subsequent times took roughly 9-11 minutes to get paddle-ready
  • Consider using an electric pump for faster deployment. See TIPS section for more
• Compact and portable
  • Folds away easily to the size of a sleeping bag
    • Simply deflate, remove specific parts, protect the fins, and roll away
  • Takes up less space than hard boards
  • Can fit in a smaller car, is easier to carry around, and can be checked in on an airplane (and helps save on rental fees)

Top, Side, Bottom Views

• Carry handle at center of board for one-handed transport
• More durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures
  • This did not initially make sense: why would an INFLATABLE be more durable than a HARD board?
    • Hard boards are more prone to cracking, scratches, and appearance of holes that require immediate fixing. Who knew?
• Causes less injuries than hard boards

Inflatable SUPs are more durable than hard boards as they won’t scratch or ding when dropped, making them a bit more suitable for rocky, wild adventures

• Excellent board for children and lighter adults
  • Suitable for beginners and leisure paddling
  • If used by a heavier adult, its short length and narrower width makes it much more challenging to stay on than than both the Runwave Lotus and Abysup SUP123
  • Inflatables cause less fatigue
• Excellent stability for children (and light adults) with its 6″ inflated thickness, 28″ width, 8′ length
  • Volume was not provided. To get an estimate, take about 24% off the dimensions to account for the irregular shape: 201L
    • Calculation: 6″ x 28″ x (8′ x 12) = 16,128 cubic inches = 264L x 0.76
  • Extra volume adds more stability and weight support over hard boards
    • Supports up to 195 lbs, according to the manufacturer
  • Its dimensions make the board perfect for recreational, beginner paddling for children

• Can be used for surfing on small waves, though it will not be very nimble because of its relatively large size
• Based on my research, inflatables can last 10 years or more, depending on maintenance, storage environment, and other factors
• Multiple accessories included
  • Carry bag/Backpack for storage and transport
  • Freein-branded Pump at a cute, kid-friendly size
    • Can pump air in or out. Connect the hose to the opening marked “INF” to inflate
    • Single and Double Action pumping. I use Double to quickly inflate to about 8 PSI, after which I switch to the easier Single
  • 1 removable fin (screw to lock)
  • 3-part, floating, length-adjustable aluminum paddle
  • Safety leash
  • Repair kit

iSUP, Accessories

Cons

• Removable fin is the screw-in type
  • Screw could easily get lost (which it did for us — manufacturer sent a replacement at no charge)
  • We prefer the plastic tab design that is resistant to saltwater corrosion

Screw Mount with Secured Screw vs Tab Lock

• No D-Rings already affixed to help attach:
  • Bungee tie down at front to hold gear (ie. water bottle, lunch, jacket, sunblock)
  • D-Rings for Kayak conversion with optional seat(s)
    • Runwave Kohala has the D-Rings already attached and ready for use with a kayak seat
  • Adding D-Rings yourself is very easy… Check out our how-to guide!

Guide: How To Add D-Rings to Convert an iSUP into a Kayak — Adding a bungee deck or D-Rings was VERY simple

DIY Bungee Deck Added

• “2022” printed onto the nose — could mentally make the board look outdated in 5 years
• Takes time to inflate or deflate
  • Hard boards are ready to go and require little to no preparation
  • Took 12-16 minutes to deflate, clean up, roll up, and pack away
• Slower to turn and paddle than my DvSport due to its larger thickness, width, and length

• Requires a pump
  • Inflating a paddleboard to 12-15 PSI (about 1 Bar) takes quite a workout
• Does not perform as well or as fast as hard boards, making them not as good for racing competitions, though the performance gap between SUPs and iSUPs is narrowing
• iSUP is puncture resistant, but not puncture-proof

Tips

Paddle Boarding Basics & Tips

Tandem Kayak Seats /Tahe

We urge you to learn the basics to minimize injury, get more enjoyment out of your iSUP, and be familiar with how to choose and maintain your board so it will last longer.

Must Read: Stand Up Paddle Boarding Basics & Tips – How to choose, prepare, maintain, and paddle Inflatable Boards (iSUP)

How To Safely Paddle with Kids

Parents have asked us: “How do you get your children comfortable with water and start paddle boarding?”

Guide: How to Safely Paddle Board with Kids – See our tips and tricks that worked for our family and friends.

Life Vests

Life Jackets are essential for your safety and can even be required by law. See our guide on Personal Flotation Devices (PFD): How To Choose A Life Vest For Kayaking, Paddle Boarding.

Conversion to Kayak

Kayak Seat Conversion Kit /South Bay Board

Adding a seat is a VERY nice way of converting a stand up paddle board (whether inflatable or not) into a relaxing, single or tandem-seated kayak. All you need are four (4) D-Rings affixed to the iSUP that you attach the seat onto.

Guide: How To Add D-Rings to Convert an iSUP into a Kayak. It is easier than you may think.

A Kayak Conversion Kit can be purchased (like the South Bay Kayak Kit that includes 4 D-Rings and PVC glue). Molded, foam seats provide better comfort.

Kayak Accessories

Some kayak seats come with a storage zipper pocket attached to the back to store snacks, drinking water, windbreaker jacket, and other accessories. They usually can be removed and secured to the front bungee cords, too. The bag generally is water resistant but NOT waterproof — so, keep that in mind if you plan on bringing things that cannot get wet.

Final Thoughts

Admiring Scenery

The Freein 8′ Kids iSUP has been a welcome addition to our family’s collection of boards, particularly since kid sizes are not commonly available from many brands. Its shorter length and width makes it much easier for the young ones (or light adults) to maneuver on, putting more smiles on their faces than tired frowns.

Freein’s board looks just like a miniature version of an adult one, and should aid the children in their transition to larger boards as they grow older. I have found our son paddle with much more confidence and energy than ever before, and have been pleasantly surprised how receptive he has become to swimming lessons!

I have been dismayed, however, that no bungee deck netting or additional D-Rings are included to turn the iSUP into a kayak, but that is an easy fix with some patience and concentration.

Paddleboarding has become a favorite family activity of ours. Happy paddle days ahead!

Where To Buy

• Freein Kids
  • 8′ iSUP (2022): Amazon / Freein
  • 7′ 8″ iSUP: Amazon
  • See our guide: How To Add D-Rings to Convert an iSUP into a Kayak. It is easier than you may think
• Bluefin Cruise 10′ 8″ Adult iSUP
• Emergency Accessories
  • Whistle: Koala Windstorm | Strobe: ust See-Me 2.0 | Knife: Gerber EVO Jr.
• Accessories
  • Electric iSUP Pumps
    • Battery Built-In: Dr. Meter / Furein / BeWellAero (Heavy-duty and fast)
    • 12V Cigarette Plug: Samengd / Vachan
  • Garden Spray Hose for rinsing off
  • Dolibest Tow Rope (to more easily tow another board without bungee effect)
  • Bungee Deck to hold accessories and paddle
  • iSUP Safety Leash | Oceanbroad SUP/Kayak Paddle | YYST Paddle Holder Clip
  • GoPro Hero Action Camera
• Life Vests
  • See our guide: How To Choose A Life Vest For Kayaking, Paddle Boarding

Related Posts

• Reviews: Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
  • DvSport Sunshine: One of my favorites. A bit more advanced, dual-layer iSUP
  • Runwave Kohala: Less expensive, single layer iSUP board that many of my friends have recommended. It is a best-selling beginner board
  • Runwave Lotus Flower: Very light, dual layer iSUP with a colorful, flower-inspired art design. It is a tad more stable than the Runwave Kohala
  • Abysup SUP123: Dual layer, lighter iSUP that is slightly more advanced than the Runwave Kohala
• How-To Guides:
  • Stand Up Paddle Boarding Basics & Tips: How to paddle, prepare, maintain, and choose Inflatable Boards (iSUP)
  • How To Safely Paddle Board with Kids
  • How To Choose A Life Vest For Kayaking, Paddle Boarding
  • How To Add D-Rings to Convert an iSUP into a Kayak. It is easier than you may think