Hala Board Comparison: Specs, Fin Systems and Sizes
Hala makes eight inflatable paddle boards in three series. Six of them carry the StompBox 2.5 retractable fin and are built for moving water. Two carry a polycarbonate US Air 7 fin box, the universal standard on premium boards, ship with a paddle, and are built for flatwater and easy rivers. That fin system is the biggest single difference between them, and it matters more than length or width when you are choosing.
Start with your water
Pick the series that matches where you paddle most. Within a series the choice comes down to your weight, what you carry, and how quick you want the board to feel.
Charge Series
Whitewater and river surf
Short, rockered, StompBox 2.5 retractable fin, swallow tail. For standing waves, holes and Class II to IV rapids.
- Atcha 86, 8'6" x 34", the nimble one
- Atcha 96, 9'6" x 36", the stable one
- Atcha 86-R and Atcha 96-R, limited run, wider tail
Adventure Series
Rivers, lakes and loads
Longer waterline for flatwater speed, StompBox 2.5 for rocky sections, 12 rigging points for multi-day gear and fishing.
- Radito, 10' x 34", quicker turning, lighter paddlers
- Rado, 10'10" x 35", most capacity in the lineup
Cruise Series
Flatwater, swell and easy rivers
Lightest boards Hala makes, unbreakable US Air 7 fin box, paddle included. Run easy rivers with a shorter fin.
- Straight Up, 10' x 33", sportier and lightest
- Hoss, 10'10" x 35", widest and most stable
Or pick by what you will do most
- River surfing and technical whitewater moves. Atcha 86 if you want quick and playful, Atcha 96 if you want more stability under you.
- First river board, bigger water, or a heavier paddler in whitewater. Atcha 96.
- Rivers and lakes on the same trip, multi-day floats. Radito for lighter paddlers and tighter rivers, Rado for heavier loads and longer crossings.
- SUP fishing. Rado on moving water, Hoss on lakes and flatwater. Both are rated to 325 lbs.
- Yoga, beginners, dogs, maximum stability. Hoss.
- Lightest board to carry, flatwater and light rivers. Straight Up at 19 lbs.
- A deliberate, front-to-back footwork style. Atcha 86-R or Atcha 96-R, the limited-run Atchas with the wider tail.
The eight boards
Prices and availability are read from the store when the page loads, so they match the product page.
Charge Series
Atcha 86
8'6" x 34" x 6"
Freestyle and nimble
River surfing, technical Class III to IV moves. Paddling Magazine Best Whitewater SUP 2026.
- 250 lbs capacity
- 24 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Charge Series
Atcha 96
9'6" x 36" x 6"
Dynamic and stable
Big water, high flows, heavier paddlers, first river board. The original Hala whitewater shape, since 2013.
- 275 lbs capacity
- 27.5 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Charge Series, limited run
Atcha 86-R
8'6" x 34" x 6"
Steady, deliberate footwork
The 86 shape with a tail 4.7" wider and raised stomp pads at nose and tail. Developed with Kazunori "Rama" Hirama.
- 250 lbs capacity
- 25 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Charge Series, limited run
Atcha 96-R
9'6" x 36" x 6"
Holds a line, pivots on command
The 96 shape with a tail 4.7" wider and a full-length deck pad. Developed with Kazunori "Rama" Hirama.
- 275 lbs capacity
- 27.5 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Adventure Series
Radito
10' x 34" x 6"
Agile expedition board
River and lake crossover, lighter paddlers, multi-day floats. The quicker-turning Rado.
- 300 lbs capacity
- 26.5 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Adventure Series
Rado
10'10" x 35" x 6"
Steady expedition board
Multi-day trips, SUP fishing, heavy loads. The most capacity and the most volume in the lineup.
- 325 lbs capacity
- 28.5 lbs
- StompBox 2.5
Cruise Series
Straight Up
10' x 33" x 6"
Versatile and fun
Flatwater, light rivers, all-around paddling. The lightest board Hala makes. Paddle included.
- 250 lbs capacity
- 19 lbs
- Polycarbonate US Air 7 box
B-Line 3-piece carbon paddle included
Cruise Series
Hoss
10'10" x 35" x 6"
Stable and steady
Beginners, yoga, fishing, maximum stability on any water. Paddle included.
- 325 lbs capacity
- 21.2 lbs
- Polycarbonate US Air 7 box
B-Line 3-piece carbon paddle included
Full spec table
Every figure comes from the board's own specification sheet. The table scrolls sideways on a phone; the board name stays put.
| Board | Length | Width | Weight | Capacity | Volume | Fin system | Core | Paddle | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atcha 86 | 8'6" (259 cm) | 34" (86 cm) | 24 lbs (10.9 kg) | 250 lbs (113 kg) | 260 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Atcha 96 | 9'6" (290 cm) | 36" (90 cm) | 27.5 lbs (12.5 kg) | 275 lbs (125 kg) | 311 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Atcha 86-R | 8'6" (259 cm) | 34" (86 cm) | 25 lbs (11.3 kg) | 250 lbs (113 kg) | 266 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Atcha 96-R | 9'6" (290 cm) | 36" (90 cm) | 27.5 lbs (12.5 kg) | 275 lbs (125 kg) | 318 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Radito | 10' (305 cm) | 34" (86 cm) | 26.5 lbs (12.0 kg) | 300 lbs (136 kg) | 310 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Rado | 10'10" (330 cm) | 35" (89 cm) | 28.5 lbs (12.9 kg) | 325 lbs (147 kg) | 340 L | StompBox 2.5 + ClickFins | Dual-layer PVC | Not included | |
| Straight Up | 10' (305 cm) | 33" (84 cm) | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) | 250 lbs (113 kg) | 300 L | US Air 7 (polycarbonate) | Woven drop-stitch | Included | |
| Hoss | 10'10" (330 cm) | 35" (89 cm) | 21.2 lbs (9.6 kg) | 325 lbs (147 kg) | 330 L | US Air 7 (polycarbonate) | Woven drop-stitch | Included |
Dot color marks the series: red Charge, green Adventure, blue Cruise. The two R boards are the limited-run Atchas. The six dual-layer PVC boards also carry a rocker-stiffening stringer. Every Hala board is 6 inches thick, uses Thick Fusion construction with welded and double-glued seams, is rated to a maximum of 20 PSI, and carries a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects. None of the eight includes a leash.
Two fin systems, two constructions
A fixed fin is not a defect. It is the right fitting for water where you are not hitting rocks, and it keeps those two boards lighter and simpler. On a Hoss or Straight Up the fin box is the part that separates it from a $400 board: it does not crack, it does not lock you into one brand's fins, and it is the same fitting found on $1,500 touring boards. If your paddling involves rocky, shallow, moving water, the retractable box is the reason to choose one of the other six.
Six river boards
StompBox 2.5 and dual-layer PVC
The StompBox 2.5 is Hala's patented retractable center fin. Spring pressure holds the fin fully deployed; when it strikes a rock it folds up into the board and springs back before your next stroke. You keep the tracking of a 9 inch fin in water shallow enough to hit bottom, without snapping fins or stopping dead on a shelf. Each of the six also carries two removable 4.5 inch gummy side-bite ClickFins that swap without tools.
The core is a dual-layer PVC drop-stitch with a rocker-stiffening stringer: the heavier, stiffer build, and what lets these boards take repeated rock strikes and hard water.
Hoss and Straight Up
US Air 7 fin box and woven drop-stitch
The US Air 7 Fin Box is the premium build of the universal US box: a solid polycarbonate housing with stainless hardware, no plastic slider, no clip to snap, nothing to lose. Budget boards ship a slide-in or snap-lock box with a thin plastic fin, and when the clip breaks or the fin floats away you buy that brand's replacement, if they still make it. A US box takes any US-box fin ever made, from a 3 inch gummy for shallow rivers to a 9 inch race fin for open water. Both boards ship with the 9 inch race fin; Hala's 8 inch flex, 4.5 inch gummy and 3 inch stubby center fins are $29 each and drop straight in.
The core is a woven drop-stitch with no stringer. It is lighter for the same footprint, which is why the Hoss weighs 21.2 lbs against the Rado's 28.5 lbs even though both boards are 10'10" long and 35" wide. The same size, built two different ways, for two different kinds of water.
The Atcha-R boards
The Atcha 86-R and Atcha 96-R are limited-production versions of the two Atcha shapes, developed with whitewater rider Kazunori "Rama" Hirama. Each has a reshaped rocker, a tail 12 cm (4.7") wider than the standard board's, a full-length deck pad with matching 1.5" raised stomp pads at the nose and tail, and a raised foot index at the tail. They reward deliberate front-to-back weight shifts: from a neutral stance they settle into a line and hold it, and they turn when you step back and commit your weight. The standard Atcha 86 and Atcha 96 turn more readily from a neutral stance. The R boards are a distinct riding style, not replacements for the standard Atchas. Both are sold on preorder; the product page carries the current ship estimate.
Tail width, measured 1 ft (30 cm) from the tail
| Board | Tail width | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Atcha 86 | 57 cm (22.4") | |
| Atcha 86-R | 69 cm (27.2") | 12 cm (4.7") wider than the Atcha 86 |
| Atcha 96 | 58 cm (22.8") | |
| Atcha 96-R | 70 cm (27.6") | 12 cm (4.7") wider than the Atcha 96 |
Overall width is the same within each pair (34" on the 86 and 86-R, 36" on the 96 and 96-R). The extra width is in the tail, which is where the R boards get their stability and why the rails ask for a more deliberate press to engage.
What each board is not
These are the honest disqualifications, taken straight from the numbers above.
- Atcha 86 is not the board for a heavy load. At 8'6" and 250 lbs of rider capacity it ties the Atcha 86-R as the shortest board in the lineup and ties for the lowest capacity. If you are near that number, or you paddle with a dog and a cooler, size up.
- Atcha 96 is not the fastest board here. At 36" it ties the Atcha 96-R as the widest in the lineup. That width is stability in whitewater, and it costs you glide on a long flat crossing.
- Atcha 86-R and 96-R are not the quick-turning Atchas. They hold a line and turn on a committed weight shift. If you want a board that spins from a neutral stance, choose the standard 86 or 96.
- Radito is not the largest river board. At 10' and 300 lbs it sits between the Atcha 96 and the Rado. If you want the most capacity for multi-day river loads, that is the Rado.
- Rado is not the easiest board to carry. At 28.5 lbs it is the heaviest board in the lineup. That is the cost of 325 lbs of capacity and the longest outline in the lineup.
- Hoss is not a whitewater board. It is the largest platform Hala makes and it has a fixed fin box. For yoga, fishing, family days and flatwater, that is exactly right. For rocky rapids it is not the fitting you want.
- Straight Up is not the highest-capacity board. At 250 lbs it ties the Atcha 86 and Atcha 86-R for the lowest. It is the lightest board Hala makes at 19 lbs, which is the point of it.
What comes in the box
Hoss and Straight Up
Board, B-Line 3-Piece LeverLock Carbon Travel Paddle, 9 inch race center fin, bag, pump and repair kit. A leash is the only thing not included.
Atcha 86, 96, 86-R, 96-R, Radito and Rado
Board, 9 inch StompFin, two 4.5 inch gummy ClickFins, fin key, bag, pump and repair kit. No paddle, so budget for one if you do not already have it. No leash.
Still deciding?
Six questions will narrow it to one board
Or paddle one first. Hala dealers and demo locations are listed by state, and a real person answers the contact form.
Read more: the StompBox, fins, rocker, construction and materials, the 5-year warranty.
Common questions
What is the difference between the Hala Atcha 86 and the Atcha 96?
The Atcha 86 is 8'6" long, 34" wide and rated to 250 lbs. The Atcha 96 is 9'6" long, 36" wide and rated to 275 lbs. Both use the StompBox 2.5 retractable fin and the same dual-layer PVC drop-stitch construction. The 86 is the shorter, quicker board, and the 96 is the wider, more stable one with more capacity.
Which Hala boards are built for whitewater?
The six boards with the StompBox 2.5 retractable fin: the Atcha 86, the Atcha 96, the Atcha 86-R, the Atcha 96-R, the Radito and the Rado. All six have a rocker-stiffening stringer and dual-layer PVC drop-stitch construction.
Which Hala board is best for a beginner?
The Hoss. At 10'10" by 35" it is the widest, most stable platform Hala makes, it is rated to 325 lbs, and it ships with a paddle. A lighter paddler who wants a sportier feel can start on the Straight Up, which shares the fin box and the included paddle in a 10' by 33" shape.
Which Hala board is best for SUP fishing?
The Rado on rivers and the Hoss on lakes and flatwater. Both are rated to 325 lbs. The Rado adds the StompBox 2.5 retractable fin for shallow rocky water and 12 rigging points for a cooler and rod holder; the Hoss is lighter and ships with a paddle.
Can I use a Hala Hoss or Straight Up on a river?
Yes, on flatwater and easy moving water. Both use a polycarbonate US Air 7 fin box rather than the retractable StompBox, so swap to a shorter gummy fin for shallow sections. They are not the boards to take into rocky rapids where a fixed fin will catch.
Why does the fin box matter on a $999 board?
Because it is the part that fails first on a cheap board. Budget inflatables use a slide-in or snap-lock plastic fin box with a thin plastic fin; the clip breaks, the fin is lost, and the replacement is brand-specific if it is still sold. The Hoss and Straight Up use the US Air 7 fin box, a solid polycarbonate housing with stainless hardware that takes any US-box fin made, the same fitting found on premium touring boards.
Which Hala board holds the most weight?
The Rado and the Hoss, at 325 lbs (147 kg). The Radito is next at 300 lbs, then the Atcha 96 and Atcha 96-R at 275 lbs. The Atcha 86, Atcha 86-R and Straight Up are rated to 250 lbs.
Which Hala board is the lightest to carry?
The Straight Up at 19 lbs (8.6 kg), then the Hoss at 21.2 lbs. Both use woven drop-stitch construction, which is lighter than the dual-layer PVC build on the six river boards.
Do Hala boards come with a paddle?
The Hoss and the Straight Up include a B-Line 3-Piece LeverLock Carbon Travel Paddle. The Atcha 86, Atcha 96, Atcha 86-R, Atcha 96-R, Radito and Rado do not include a paddle. No Hala board includes a leash.
Are all Hala boards the same thickness?
Yes. All eight are 6 inches (15 cm) thick.
What warranty do Hala boards carry?
Boards from 2021 onward are covered for 5 years against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship. Paddles and accessories are covered for 1 year.