REASONS TO BUY
Very stable
Good glide
REASONS TO AVOID
Cumbersome to turn
Not the most durable
Boardworks Kraken Review
This smooth-gliding board is a great all-round option, blending speed and stability
The slightly rockered nose of the Kraken helps to glide over the water.
Credit: Sara James
RELATED: Best Stand Up Paddle Boards of 2024
Our Verdict
The Boardworks Kraken is an all-around stable boat that maneuvers and glides well, making it a solid choice for both beginner and experienced paddlers. It's definitely on the pricier side, but it's well-made and fun to use. For the right person, the investment will be worth it. Overall, we feel the Kraken is great for anything from pushing your limits with a long trek to long leisure days out on the water. To see how it stacks up against the rest of our tested boards, have a look at our full review of the best stand up paddle boards.
Editor's Note: We retested this board and then updated this review to reflect our findings on November 8, 2023.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Boardworks Kraken | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $1,600 List $1,564 at Amazon | $1,430 List | $1,250 List | $1,559 List | $900 List $755.25 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This is a solid all-around board that delivers stability and speed | For the cream of the crop when it comes to stand up paddle boards, it’s hard to go wrong with the Catalyst | A stable and robust SUP that is great for those who aren’t going anywhere in a hurry | All-around high-performance board that excels across the surf, race, and tour | If you want a great bang for the buck when it comes to SUPs, this is a fantastic option |
| Rating Categories | Boardworks Kraken | Surftech Catalyst T... | SIC Maui TAO Fit AT | Starboard Generatio... | Tahe Beach Performer |
| Glide Performance (35%) | |||||
| Stability (25%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Boardworks Kraken | Surftech Catalyst T... | SIC Maui TAO Fit AT | Starboard Generatio... | Tahe Beach Performer |
| Measured Weight | 28.0 lbs | 27.0 lbs | 29.2 lbs | 30.4 lbs | 33.4 lbs |
| Board Volume | 199 L | 203 L | 195 L | 249 L | 185 L |
| Weight Capacity | Not specified | 215 lbs | 220 lbs | 220 lbs | 200 lbs |
| Width | 32.0" | 32.5" | 33.2" | 28.1" | 31.5" |
| Length | 11' 0" | 11' 2" | 10' 0" | 12' 6" | 10' 6" |
| Thickness | 5.0" | 5.2" | 4.8" | 6.2" | 5.0" |
| Fin Configuration | Large detachable center fin, 2 optional side fins | Single detachable center fin | 9" tool-free removable center fin | Large detachable center fin with 2 optional side fins | Large detachable center fin with 2 optional side fins |
| Bungee Cargo System? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Boardworks Kraken is a solid, all-around paddle board that performed well across our testing metrics. We tested the 11-foot version, which is 32 inches wide and 5 inches thick. Also available in smaller 9'9" and 10'3" sizes, this board is very stable, glides decently well, and is reasonably agile.
Performance Comparison
Thanks to its smooth lines and easy of paddling, Kraken has been a popular choice amongst our testers since we first started testing these stand-up paddle boards.
Credit: Sara James
Glide Performance
For this metric, we evaluated each board's speed and gliding efficiency to determine the score, conducting a time trial and a distance-per-paddle-stroke test on both smooth and rough water. We conducted two trials for each of these tests in opposite directions to mitigate any influence from strong currents or winds, then averaged the results. The Kraken finished our flat water time trial test in good time, but performance dropped a little in the rough-water version. Still, glide was good in most situations and should be more than sufficient for the majority of users.
The Kraken can move at some speed even when paddling against the current.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Stability
Here, we compared how each board handled carrying additional passengers or gear, and traversing rough waters, and we collected the opinions of novice and first-time paddlers.
This is not designed as a yoga board but experts found the Kraken very stable.
Credit: Sara James
The Kraken was quite popular with our novice testers. In addition to being a great beginner option, this board is also excellent at transporting goods, whether cargo, additional passengers (within reason), or dogs. Finally, while this board's speed and glide were affected negatively by choppy water, its stability was not — it does an excellent job of remaining stable when conditions are rough.
Even in gentle current, testers found the Kraken stable and easy to control.
Credit: Sara James
Maneuverability
Testing for this metric consisted of a time trial through a slalom course and a 180-degree U-turn test. The Kraken offered a solid performance.
At 5 inches thick, the Kraken is one of the thinnest SUPs we tested, making it easier to dip the tail for pivot turns.
Credit: Sara James
This board completed our slalom course in good time. We completed U-turns without back paddling, successfully completing entire turns in our test area with a single skeg configuration — though the Kraken did cut it a little bit wider than some other boards.
The Kraken can turn with a few gentle paddle strokes.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Transport
We assessed how easy it was to move each SUP out of the water and into our vehicles. We weighed each board and considered the ergonomics of the handle. The Kraken isn't terribly long or heavy, making it moderately easy to carry. This board weighs 28 pounds, a very reasonable weight for an average person to load independently without assistance. The handle is integrated and provides a point for locking, if you desire.
You can usually load the Kraken on a car without an additional person if the car isn't excessively tall.
Credit: Marissa Fox
Construction Quality
The Kraken seems to be one of the more delicate boards and thus sustained slightly more damage than most in our tests. The first year we purchased this board, the nose suffered a small collision with a wall when we first unboxed it and moved it around. This caused a surprising amount of damage — enough that it needed a little repair and filler.
The aethethetic finish of the Kraken makes it slightly more susceptible to visible damage compared to some of the other boards we tested.
Credit: Sara James
This board also had a small (0.25"x 1.5") section of the outer gel coat flake-off near the fin of the board. However, we found no common mentions of damage in user reviews and also did not have the same experience when we purchased a new one for our latest round of testing. This leads us to believe we may have paddled and tested the first board a little too hard, which is understandable, as it is one of our favorite models and a popular choice for our testers.
The Beach Performer fin system doesn't require and screws and was the easiest fin system out of all those we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Boardworks Kraken?
The Kraken is an exceptionally well-rounded board, making it a great option for almost anyone. It can be a little delicate, so we would strongly caution against taking this board down rivers or other bodies of water with tons of obstacles. This also means that it probably isn't the best bet for families. That said, paddlers of all skill levels loved this board in our tests, as it offers enough stability for novices but paddles well enough for experts that it doesn't feel like a beginner board. The Kraken is a great bet if you want a well-rounded SUP for multiple paddlers and most conditions.
Comfortable for cruising on very gentle moving water, the Kraken is a popular choice with our testers thanks to is light weight and superior performance.
Credit: Sara James
What Other Stand Up Paddle Boards Should You Consider?
If you are seeking a SUP that has superior glide performance and can handle chop a bit better, consider the Starboard Generation LT. Alternatively, if you are looking for a more affordable option, consider the SIC Maui TAO Fit AT, which offers superior durability and adequate glide for a lower price point.
The Kraken scored highly across the metrics, despite not winning an award.
Credit: Sara James
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Sara James and Marissa Fox
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