Sorrento 12'6

I owned a Byron 10'6"(which I liked very much) before I decided to buy the Sorrento and based on the reviews I read, I was afraid to buy it and hesitated for about three months, because most of my paddling is in Lake Ontario which is rarely flat like you see in those YouTube videos when they review touring and race boards. Byron is super stable and versatile and even good for surfing, especially the 9'8" version which my son has and I was very much afraid that I won't be able to use the Sorrento on Lake Ontario which looks most of the time like a boiling pot, and that's how it was when I took the Sorrento out for the first time. To my pleasant surprise, I had no problem standing up on the board(although I expected to get wet) and cut through the giant swell at a much higher speed than the Byron. The board is stable enough with my 80Kg even in rough water and it gets even better when you add extra weight(2 kids in my case) because it sinks deeper in the water, and unlike other reviewers said, you can definitely travel with a pet or a second rider.
The board is very stiff and I cannot feel any flexing when I accelerate or when I cut through the swell. Step back turning is easy, and maneuverability in general is excellent. Trying to surf on the Sorento is challenging unless you go in straight line but it was never intended for surfing. Speed, on the other hand, is great. Although it's a bit narrower than the Byron, the Sorrento is very stable because it is a much stiffer board, which compensates for its narrow width. I'm very pleased with the Sorrento and the only time I take the Byron now is only in surfing conditions.

I was happy with my prior fairly expensive board but when a friend offered to buy it I started dreaming of something new. It didn’t take long to decide on the Honu. For starters, this board is gorgeous and I admire it every time I use it. The Sorrento tracks like a dream and is exceptionally stiff. The board is noticeably faster than other inflatables as soon as you start moving. An added bonus when I’m off the board is the light weight and small size for transport. I recommend using a boat strap to secure the board after loosely rolling it up, this has the added bonus of being a useful carry handle and allows the board to completely dry out. Buy this board, I promise it will far exceed your expectations.

Best sup product out there. The build quality is fantastic. Loving my Sorrento 12’6

I've been paddle boarding for years in Austin, Texas on all varieties of boards, both inflatable and rigid, and this Sorrento ranks as one of the best I've ever used, comparable to expensive rigid touring boards. Compared to the standard "recreational" inflatable board, it's extremely fast in the water. You really get a feel for how effortlessly it cuts the water when you give it one or two paddle strokes and see how long it'll drift before coming to a halt. It feels amazing. Only rigid touring boards are in the same category. The nose does a great job of floating over mild chop, and the tapered nose and tail reduce drag in a very noticeable way.

The tracking of this board is equally amazing. The hatchet fin that comes with it is very nice and provides amazing tracking stability. I would estimate that I can get 7-10 paddle strokes on each side of the board before I have to switch hands. Most of this tracking is down to the shape of the board more than the fin. On Lady Bird Lake in Austin, there is a lot of fanwort weed, which catches on most paddle board fins and creates tremendous drag. For this reason, I sub out a low profile 5.5" river fin so that I don't catch any weeds. Even with this low profile fin, the tracking is still amazing, with 5-8 paddle strokes per side before switching. By comparison, every "recreational" inflatable board I've used has been like 2-4. Might seem nerdy, but this makes a huge difference over the course of hours. It makes it much faster and more efficient to cover ground and you don't have to think about steering it straight.

As shoppers for this board will probably know, what you gain in speed and sleekness you lose in stability. This board is definitely more challenging than a recreational board due to the narrower width and tapered nose and tail, but I find it's perfect for an intermediate or advanced paddler who wants to move fast. Any narrower and it might be a bit too challenging to enjoy. But any wider and I would regret not having a faster board. This one strikes the perfect balance. For reference, I'm 5'11" and about 175 pounds. The length, width, and buoyancy is absolutely perfect for my size.

The quality of the board construction seems absolutely top notch. I will report back in the future if there are any problems, but I don't expect them. Very high quality control, very good attention to detail, everything seems quality, well designed, well made, and most of all beautiful. The board looks even better in person than in pictures.

If there's any downside of this board, it's related to the narrower "touring" width. Because the nose and tail are tapered for speed in the water, there's less space for coolers, gear, and passengers. You could easily take a smaller cooler, but I wouldn't recommend a big one. Nor would I recommend a big dog over, say, 40 pounds. Nor would I recommend a fellow passenger on this board. It's really designed for a single rider going light for speedy day cruises. At that, it is absolutely awesome.

As I alluded above, this board is comparable in speed and ride quality to much more expensive rigid boards. My other main board is a rigid Bote HD 12'. The Bote is awesome in the water, with superb glide and very good stability, but it's also very heavy and not quite as sleek in the water as this Sorrento. Additional bonus points for being able to transport and store the Sorrento more easily (can't fit in my parking garage with a hard board on top). Naturally the Sorrento has become my go-to board for weekday afternoon rides.

The awesome paddle board scene in Austin, Texas has gained a lifelong fan. I'll be bragging up this board to everyone who will listen!

I bought the Honu Sorrento just over a year ago, and I couldn't be happier with it! I'm a year-round paddler, so it's been on many outings, including two SUP camping trips.

It has a bit of a learning curve for balance, considering that it has a tapered nose and tail, and the fact that it's actually closer to 29" wide instead of 30", but I went in knowing and expecting this. In fact, it helped me improve my balance and overall paddling skills! This isn't the kind of board for absolute beginners, but once you have basic paddling skills, and want to take it to the next level, I highly recommend this board.

This board is faaast, especially on flat water of course - the glide is amazing. It also performs well in rough water - I recently did a trip over 5km of open ocean, with fairly big swells. The nose rocker size is perfect for helping you get above the waves when they're hitting you straight on.

The Sorrento is extremely stiff with the side and top and bottom carbon stringers. No flopping, bouncy board here! There are enough tie downs to put your gear for camping trips. The back bungee area is a bit small, given the tapered tail, but it's no big deal - I was able to use extra bungees to keep more gear between the back bungees and the centre of the board by tying them to the middle handle.

If you're looking for a versatile board that is speedy, but also great for SUP camping, has has fantastic quality and design, consider the Sorrento!

Mike at Inflatable Boarder provides an in-depth review of the Sorrento, which totally sold me on getting it. Well worth the read: https://www.inflatableboarder.com/honu-sorrento-isup-review/

Happy paddling!