Hala Nass 12'6

Best For: Convenient all-around performance.

The Test: Another blow-up board that paddles almost exactly like its fiberglass-and-foam counterparts, the Nass carries speed like few other inflatables on the water. The secret? Flexible sheets of ­carbon fiber that boost stiffness and allow the Nass to track gracefully across both choppy oceans and serene lakes. We’d have liked better balance—its six-inch girth sets the paddler pretty high off the water—and all that volume means inflation takes longer than with comparable models, running testers roughly ten minutes. But handy D-rings in the front and back allow for easy loading of gear. Hala also makes a 14-foot model for serious expeditions.

The Verdict: A ready-for-anything performance board.

Article published by Outside Magazine.