REASONS TO BUY
Looks cool
Good for flat water
REASONS TO AVOID
Struggles with waves
No bungees included
Pau Hana Malibu Classic Review
If you want a flatwater board with classic lines and looks, this is a solid SUP
Credit: David Wise
RELATED: Best Stand Up Paddle Boards of 2024
Our Verdict
The Pau Hana Malibu Classic is a decent beginner board that performed pretty well in most of our tests. We love the classic style and look of this board. It's got fairly good glide performance and is the perfect blend of stability and maneuverability for lakes or other flat bodies of water. The Malibu is easy to transport and carry and is also quite durable for a rigid stand up paddle board. However, we weren't the most impressed with how this board fared in windy and wavy conditions so it might not be the best choice if you routinely take your SUP out in rougher waters.
//Editor's Note: This review was updated for clarity on November 8, 2023, after our full late Summer/early Fall testing session.//
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Pau Hana Malibu Classic | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $899 List Check Price at REI | $1,430 List | $1,600 List $1,600 at Amazon | $1,250 List | $900 List $642.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | We think this is a great SUP for flat water but wish it did better in waves and chop | For the cream of the crop when it comes to stand up paddle boards, it’s hard to go wrong with the Catalyst | This is a solid all-around board that delivers stability and speed | A stable and robust SUP that is great for those who aren’t going anywhere in a hurry | If you want a great bang for the buck when it comes to SUPs, this is a fantastic option |
| Rating Categories | Pau Hana Malibu Cla... | Surftech Catalyst T... | Boardworks Kraken | SIC Maui TAO Fit AT | Tahe Beach Performer |
| Glide Performance (35%) | |||||
| Stability (25%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Pau Hana Malibu Cla... | Surftech Catalyst T... | Boardworks Kraken | SIC Maui TAO Fit AT | Tahe Beach Performer |
| Measured Weight | 31.0 lbs | 27.0 lbs | 28.0 lbs | 29.2 lbs | 33.4 lbs |
| Board Volume | 234 L | 203 L | 199 L | 195 L | 185 L |
| Weight Capacity | 249 lbs | 215 lbs | Not specified | 220 lbs | 200 lbs |
| Width | 34.0" | 32.5" | 32.0" | 33.2" | 31.5" |
| Length | 10' 6" | 11' 2" | 11' 0" | 10' 0" | 10' 6" |
| Thickness | 4.0" | 5.2" | 5.0" | 4.8" | 5.0" |
| Fin Configuration | Single | Single detachable center fin | Large detachable center fin, 2 optional side fins | 9" tool-free removable center fin | Large detachable center fin with 2 optional side fins |
| Bungee Cargo System? | Inserts only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Malibu Classic is decently priced and includes a paddle, making it a great choice for someone starting out looking for a complete package to get out on the water.
Performance Comparison
We love the classic look of this SUP.
Credit: David Wise
Glide Performance
We started by ranking and scoring the glide performance of each of our tested boards, looking at how much glide we got per paddle stroke in both calm and choppy water, as well as how much effort it took to accelerate each board up to speed. Starting with flat water, we were actually very impressed with how the Malibu did, given its shape. This board is on the shorter side with a rounded nose, so it definitely pales in comparison to any of the longer and pointier race or touring boards. It accelerates fairly fast, and you will get some noticeable glide for each paddle stroke.
The Malibu board glides fairly well on smooth water but struggles to make headway against waves.
Credit: David Wise
However, the Malibu struggles to make much headway against wind and waves. We also found that it doesn't surf all too well and tends to slap when moving through waves. Overall, we feel this SUP glides well enough for longer tours as long as you are reasonably confident that the water will remain calm — or you might be in for an unpleasant experience.
Waves can be a bit tricky with this blunt-nosed board.
Credit: David Wise
Stability
For this metric, we awarded points based on how stable each board felt for beginner to intermediate paddlers in varied conditions, as well as on how stable each board was when loaded up with additional weight — in the form of kids, cargo, or canines. The Malibu Classic is a 34" wide board, making it one of the wider boards relative to its length. We found it to be very stable on flat water and great for lakes or ponds. It's a fantastic option for beginners or novices, offering both stability and style.
As mentioned, stability can degrade a bit in wavy water. The board actually handles the waves fairly well from a tipping perspective, but the flat nose tends to slap a bit when going head-on into waves. This slapping motion can be a bit jarring — to the point where you can lose your balance and take the unexpected dunk if you're not paying attention.
This wider all-around board is great for beginners.
Credit: David Wise
Maneuverability
We assessed this metric by looking at how easy it was to run each SUP through a slalom-style course, how confident we were that we could avoid an obstacle at the last minute, and how large of a radius it took to complete a U-turn. The Malibu is definitely a flatwater board, so it doesn't respond particularly well to leaning aggressively into a turn. However, this is also a shorter board, so it fared fairly well in the U-turn and slalom tests. It's fairly nimble, but we could definitely see a collision happening if you don't spot an object in front of you until the last moment.
This board isn't the most nimble that we have seen.
Credit: David Wise
Ease of Transport
Next, we looked at moving each SUP to and from the water. We based scores for this metric on the weight, handle comfort, and overall feel when carrying each board. The Malibu is shorter compared to the touring options, which makes it a bit easier to haul. However, it is on the heavier side, tipping the scales at 31 pounds. Fortunately, the molded handle is fairly comfortable, and the board feels just fine to hold, just a little fatiguing over time due to its heft.
This board is a little on the heavier side but isn't too hard to carry.
Credit: David Wise
Construction Quality
This board has a VFT shell that makes it much sturdier than some of the composite boards we tested. It seems to handle minor bumps and abrasions very well. However, we did notice that some of these scuffs and scrapes showed a bit more clearly due to the coloration of the board, so it lost some marks for that.
This plastic-coated board held up well to our testing.
Credit: David Wise
Should You Buy the Pau Hana Malibu Classic?
If you are a beginner or intermediate paddler searching for an all-around SUP, we think the Malibu Classic is definitely worth checking out — as long as you stick to flat water. It's stable, has a decent glide, and is fairly maneuverable when the water is calm, but we found it struggled a bit when the afternoon wind and waves kicked up or when surrounded by boat wakes. Overall, we think this board could be a good budget buy, offering a generalist performance at a below-average price that includes a paddle.
What Other Stand Up Paddle Boards Should You Consider?
The Pau Hana Malibu is an excellently priced board, so if cost is what matters most, it's a good choice. The Tahe Beach Performer is about the same price though and offers better stability. If you can spend a bit more, we consider the SIC Maui TAO Fit AT to be the best balance of price and performance. If money is no object, our favorite board is the Surftech Catalyst Tuflite V-Tech.
—
Marissa Fox
You Might Also Like
