Charge Series
Built for one thing: technical whitewater. Both boards run high-rocker performance profiles, surf-inspired outlines, and the patented StompBox 2.5 fin system. Active spring pressure keeps the fin fully deployed through current and contact, snapping back from rocks instantly. The benchmark for river SUP since 2013.
Paddling Magazine Best Whitewater SUP 2026 (Atcha 86) | Inflatable Boarder Editor's Choice (Atcha 96)
Class II–IV Whitewater · 50+ Prototypes · Patented StompBox 2.5 Fin · Board Award Winner · 5-Year Warranty
Board Award Winner. Built to Run Class IV.
The Boards That Defined Whitewater SUP.
Hala Gear has been building inflatable whitewater SUPs longer than any other brand. More than 50 prototypes and years of obsessive river testing produced the Atcha, the 9'6" shape the entire category eventually adopted. In 2015, Hala patented the StompBox retractable fin and solved the sport's central problem: fins that catch rocks and stop boards dead in rapids. Independent reviewers now call the Atcha 96 "quite possibly the pinnacle of design for intense whitewater paddling" (Inflatable Boarder, 2025). The team who designed these boards paddles them every season.
Atcha 96 or Atcha 86?
Find Your Charge Series Board
Two whitewater boards, the same core kit, 5-year warranty, and a concentrated River Rocker built for technical water. One is shaped for big water and volume, the other for technical lines and quick moves. Here is how to choose.
Atcha 96
Shaped for high-volume rivers and powerful hydraulics. More volume and a wider stance keep you buoyant and in control when the river is running hard — the board independent reviewers called "quite possibly the pinnacle of design for intense whitewater paddling."
Best for: Class III–IV big water · Paddlers over 180 lbs · High-flow rivers · Surfers who want a bigger canvas
View the Atcha 96Atcha 86
Quicker edge-to-edge and more playful on smaller technical features. Narrower, lighter, and faster to spin, it rewards paddlers who want to paddle tight lines and surf every feature they encounter on the river.
Best for: Technical Class III–IV · Paddlers under 180 lbs · River surfing · Quick side-to-side moves
View the Atcha 86Quick Decision Guide
High-volume rivers, larger paddler, want a bigger platform? The Atcha 96 gives you the volume to stay on top of powerful hydraulics.
Want to surf every feature, spin fast, throw the board around? The Atcha 86 is lighter and more responsive for surfing and technical rivers.
Can't decide? Many Hala paddlers own both — the 86 for surfy, low-water, technical days; the 96 for bigger water and stable versatility. The 96 still loves to surf and spin, so you can't lose.
Both include pump, fins, repair kit, and carry bag. Paddle sold separately.
Leash not included — always paddle with one. · Our team paddles these rivers.
Is this you?
Who Paddles the Charge Series
The River Surfer
You run rivers to surf holes and catch waves. You scout features and commit to lines. The Atcha was designed specifically for you.
The Technical Paddler
You have years of river experience and want a board that matches your skill level — one that rewards precision and punishes nothing.
Ready to Level Up
Comfortable on Class II and ready for Class III. The Atcha 96 is forgiving enough for beginner and intermediate paddlers while performing at the top of the sport as your skills grow.
Primarily paddle flatwater, ocean, or casual Class I–II? Take a look at the Adventure Series or Cruise Series instead.
Built different
Built Different. By Design.
Every Charge Series board comes with technology Hala spent 15 years developing. Here is what that means on the water.
StompBox 2.5 Retractable Fin
Hala patented a spring-loaded fin in 2015 that deflects off rocks and snaps back before your next stroke. Before it existed, catching a fin on a rock could flip your board in the middle of a rapid; the StompBox 2.5 removed that risk entirely. Every Charge Series board ships with one.
River Rocker, Concentrated
Both Atchas are shaped with a concentrated River Rocker profile: the curve is focused closer to the nose and tail, giving you aggressive nose lift to boof drops, punch through holes, and link moves on technical water. The Adventure Series shares the River Rocker family but carries that curve over a longer, smoother arc. This one is purpose-built for whitewater — designed for the river, not compromised by it.
Glued + Welded Construction
Dual-layer drop-stitch with glued-and-welded seams. At 15+ PSI these boards are rigid, responsive, and ready for a rock garden. The 5-year warranty on every Hala board reflects a build quality we stand behind completely.
Buy It Right. Buy It Once.
Why Hala?
Every Charge Series board includes a 5-year warranty, the patented StompBox 2.5 retractable fin, glued-and-welded dual-layer construction, dual-action pump, center fin, repair kit, and Backcountry Rolling Backpack. Paddle sold separately. Need help choosing between the 86 and 96? Our team paddles these rivers. Reach out.
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