Hey guys,

I'm looking at some SUPs for me and my Mrs. I think I've narrowed it down to the Halo and Evoke but am still open to suggestion if there are better options, and would appreciate any input about sizing them as well. We've both hired SUPs before but only once or twice. We'll use them on flat water together. I'd also like to use mine in the surf from time to time. And I might lend my wife's one to mates who want to have a go in the surf.

Me: 84kg, I've surfed for many years, ride shortboards at intermediate level. I have a 7'6" mini mal which I use in small/weak conditions at the moment but I imagine I'll start using the SUP on some of those days. I'm thinking a Waterborn Evoke Carbon. Is 9'2" too big?

Mrs: 60kg, has not surfed before. Has just used big bulky rental SUPs a couple of times but she did fine. Will most likely only use it in flat water. Atlantis Halo 10" for her?

And are the paddles from Surfboard Warehouse decent or should we look elsewhere for paddles?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I think the Halo is a good board to start on. Chuck the plastic fins away, put in a quality 9inch single fin (classic dolphin, or greenough 4A) and enjoy catching anything and everything.
It's a bit of a tank though. Fast and trims nicely on a good wave but hard to turn. But thats not what it's for.
For me at 85kg the 10'6 is a boat (but having said that, I appreciated it when beginning). I'd like to try the 9'6 actually. Could be a good fun mush burger board.

Don't know the evoke but for something a bit more surfable you could get a good quality 2nd hand board for the same money?

Thanks @finsup. There's not much available second hand in my area and I'm not very keen to buy something I can't inspect. Good tip about the fin as well - I reckon I'll do that if I get the Halo.

Just noticed the Atlantis boards have gone up in price recently.... by 30%!!!
For not much more $ the Sunova 'the one' is worth considering. Much better quality of design and build. Never ridden it but it gets a good review.

I started a few years ago on a 10ft Evoke (I'm 85ks) and recently got a second hand 9.2 one. The design is basic, but I cannot fault the build (it's pretty bullet proof) and performs well (had the 10ft in well overhead point and beach breaks and it's worked well). Don't know about the Sunova One, but it is $700 more than the Evoke. Frankly for a first time board while your still working out what you want to do, skill level etc, I reckon you can't go past the Evoke, specially if $s are a consideration. I haven't used their paddles.

Thanks guys. @copperdog1 is 9'2" big enough for flat water paddling at your weight? I'm thinking that's probably the size I would go for and would split about 50/50 flat water and surf.

You drop from 170litres to 149litres. But both boards are similar thickness and the 9.2 only feels slightly less stable while paddling or standing around. The difficulty will be in getting a new 9.2 - I had been waiting for a while to get the 9.2 carbon, but no show (hence the 2nd hand board).

149 litres versus 85 kgs is a ratio of 1.75. That's plenty for flat water paddling. You won't be the fastest guy out there, but you can still have fun and practise your balance skills.

I think around 9ft is a good general size for anyone around 75 kilos minimum & 90 kilos max for surfing.
32 inches wide is good stability for those weights.
In my experience the wind has more effect against a longer board.
Longer boards are more heavier & cumbersome to carry, store & surf depending on its design.
The Evoke is a better surf performance shape & should be easier to turn than the Halo in surf.
The Halo should be a faster paddler.
For you with surf experience at your weight I think you could go smaller to the 8ft 6" Evoke. A mate of mine at about the same weight as you with just shortboard experience adapted quite well to it.
I even think your wife at her weight would do ok on that same size Evoke. But I would believe she would be a weaker paddler than you so maybe the 9ft 6" Halo would be a better match for her to keep up a better pace with your 8ft 6" Evoke when you both paddle on flatwater. And it would surf ok for the beginners.
I am around the same weight as you. Well I am 80 kilos now but was around 85 kilos. I found the 8ft 6" Evoke quite stable. I normally surf a Sunova SUP at 8ft 3" x 29" wide for performance surf. Then an 8ft 10" x 31 wide and an 8ft 2" x 32 wide for the best stability.
My wife is similar weight to yours. I got her on a 10ft SUP but she is a weak paddler due to only getting on SUP only once to 5 times a year. When the wind picks up to about 10 to 15 knots she has a very hard time to paddle & control her SUP. She can easily balance on my 8ft 2" x 32 wide SUP. And she is better able to control it in wind & carry that board as well.
And now comes the decision!?? If your mates want to surf with you as well & are about as experienced as you. Then yeah maybe the 9ft 2" Evoke may be a good compromise as it should be a slightly faster paddler than the 8ft 6" Evoke. And a bit better in stability for your wife to use as well. Nice & light to carry too.
Paddles? In my view. Carbon are the lightest & prefered.
Fixed one piece paddle for surfing & easy maintenance.
2 piece paddle for length adjustment for more than one user. But they should be pulled apart & rinsed in freshwater after every session & kept apart until dry. I have had one seize up on me. But forgot the brand.
I think the Surfboard warehouse are a good all round paddle.
For me personally. I won't pay more than $200. in case I break it. Which I have.
And I would never buy an aluminium paddle. They are too heavy.

Hey thanks heaps guys for taking the time to give me all that info. That's really helpful. A 9'2" and an 8'6" Evoke could be the way to go. Being a bit lighter and easier to transport and store would be really handy for us too. Really appreciate all your input. Happy shredding!

Have fun Shredmaster!!!?? I would be interested on how you two go with them.
As with most first time SUPers. Balance is what your body muscle memory has to get used to. My first SUP was 9ft 6" surf performance design. Easy enough on flat water & it yawed from side to side a lot on my first paddle which sort of annoyed me. Within 15 minutes I got bored & ran over to the local beach that had some small waves. I caught one wave, fell off the others as I wasn't used to the chop & water movement.
20 surf sessions later over a period of around 2 months in differing surf conditions. Obviously the choppier the more frustrating, I had it nailed. The side to side yawing disappeared after only the first session as my paddle strength got better. It also didn't come without injury as I was hell bent on surfing it.
Within a year I got my next shorter SUP the JP widebody 8ft 2" x 32" wide. So stable. By the next year I got my favourite board the Sunova Soul 8ft 3" x 29" wide. 110 litre volume & still use it. I had noticed less wind effect as the wind would turn my 9ft 6" board quite easily making me correct it back often.

The new Deep Wanderer allrounder has gotta be worth a look.

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Seajuice said..
Have fun Shredmaster!!!?? I would be interested on how you two go with them.

Hey @Seajuice - ended up getting the 9'2 Evoke Carbon and the 10' Halo. Generally very happy with them and have had heaps of fun on them the past few weeks. They suit us pretty well. When we're both heading out, the Halo is nice and stable/fast for my wife. The Evoke is good fun in the surf for me. And I've caught a few waves with my niece on the front of the Halo. I can imagine the 8'6 Evoke would be a bit more nimble in the surf so I think I would have been happy with that too, but I'm content with the extra stability/speed for flat water use for now, plus I have a mini mal and other surfboards if I want something smaller in the waves. My only complaint is the paint on the Evoke seems to come off pretty easily, I've chipped it in a few spots from bumping it on things. I think it's just cosmetic though, still water tight. Thanks again for your help choosing them.

Hey mate chiming I'm late, but good choice on the Atlantis boards, I've had a 9'6 Vex, 10' Mistress, 7'11 evoke and currently have my favorite 8"8' Mano and the timber 8"10' Mano.
Don't discount the 7"11' evoke when you want something fun, I'm 80kgs and loved it.
On the paint issue I found a can of white appliance paint (for fridges etc) that was the exact colour of the white evoke, couldn't pick where I'd painted!! If I find the can in the shed I'll send a photo.
Enjoying Suping, you'll never go back

My first surf specific sup was the 9.2 carbon evoke. The evoke has nice thin rails and turns easy. Had a lot of fun with that board. I liked it as a quad set-up the best and had it in anything from overhead to double overhead and occassionally bigger. I wouldn't recommend it for the big stuff knowing what I know now. It is fine up to 4ft overhead waves.

It is a tough durable board and the nose rocker saved me heaps of times from pearling.

The board feels a bit hard when going down really big faces and a bit of bump in the water. I really felt every bump.

Now, having 2 Sunovas in the balsa construction and I compare with the carbon Evoke.....well they feel much softer in the big wave bumpy surf. Not sure how to explain that difference but really noticeable.

The Evoke is a really fun board up to 4ft overhead waves and still have fond memories of catching waves with it.

Pretty much a non issue seeing you cant get an evoke carbon sup below 9-2.
They dont seem all that interested in surf sups any more.