Radinn Carve Electric Surfboard Reviewed in 2025

Radinn Carve — Agile Performance for Enthusiasts

The Radinn Carve is a sporty electric surfboard built for years of fun. On paper, Radinn’s boards seem very similar. They have the same jet packs, batteries, nearly the same speeds, and even the same prices. But on the water, their differences come to light. The Carve is insane to ride and never disappoints: it’s quick, maneuverable, and one of the best ways to spend a day on the water.

This board comes with bindings, which are optional on the Freeride. Plus, it has a raised kick pad and an optional forward handle for even better control.

Setup and Ride Style

Getting on the water with a Radinn board is about as simple as it gets. The battery snaps into the hull and is secured with three twist locks. According to Radinn, you should not store the battery in the board. That shouldn’t be a problem since you’re likely removing the battery after every ride to put it on charge.

A safety kill switch attaches to a magnetic port on the back end of the board. It’s worn on a leg strap, and should you fall off, the switch will kill power to the board’s engine.

The hand controller is wireless and attaches with a wrist strap. Speed is controlled with a press of your thumb—press harder and go faster. LED indicator lights on the side of the controller show you your battery’s state of charge. When the battery gets low, the last indicator flashes, and the controller vibrates. That’s when you know it’s time to head back to shore.

The deck features a soft EVA foam mat, so riding without foot straps is an option. The board does come with bindings, however, and they greatly improve the ride experience if you want to jump or carve with the Carve.

The battery that comes with all current Radinn boards is their largest one. The company advertises 45 minutes of ride time, but this number is highly dependent on rider weight and riding style. But we found we got about 40 minutes out of a charge, so it’s not far off the mark.

Cleaning a Radinn is also super easy. Mostly, all that’s needed is to wipe the board dry. The tool kit comes with a plastic spray bottle. This fits a port on the rear of the board near the jet exhaust. Attach the bottle and squeeze a little fresh water through the system, and you’ve cleaned the jet out. It’s a pretty slick system.

Carve Accessories and Upgrades

The Carve comes with pretty much everything you need to get riding. Out of the box, you get the board, battery and charger, jet pack, kill switch, hand controller and charger, fins, a toolkit with cleaning bottle, and a board bag. You also get foot bindings with the Carve.

This board is all about agility, performance riding, and flying through chop, so the bindings are a big plus. There’s also a forward handle you can add for even more control. Overall, however, we like having the choice regarding the type of ride we’re after on a given day. The bindings can be set up for regular or goofy riders.

Radinn boards all come with the same jet pack, but it is upgradeable via the app and over-the-air updates. For the advanced rider wanting to get the most out of their board, the Unleashed update adds about 20 percent more engine power and torque. It changes the ride quality enough to change up your eSurf sessions. Once you’ve purchased the upgrades, you can switch power modes inside the Radinn app.

At one point, Radinn was also offering battery upgrades via over-the-air purchases. As of July 2023, this is no longer the case, and all boards are shipping with the company’s longest-range battery—the G3 Extended. Some boards sold by dealers may come with the G3 Standard battery program, which can still be upgraded to the Extended via the Radinn website.

Radinn Design and Technology

All Radinn models now share the same G3 modular design. The battery packs are identical and interchangeable, as are the jet power units. These two units snap into the hull. It makes servicing the boards or sending out a component for repair quick and painless.

The Carve has twin fin boxes that accept FSC-II standard fins. You can get replacements from Radinn or nearly any surf shop.

Unlike the high-end boards made by Awake and Jetsurf, the Radinn hull is made of a painted fiberglass and carbon composite. You don’t get the top-shelve carbon fiber look, but it is significantly easier to repair should the surface get scuffs or scratches. Radinn calls their layup “LTD,” and it’s the same that is used on the Freeride. The X-Sport uses a hardier fiberglass-reinforced plastic hull called the XDL.

The Carve comes in two color choices, Tarifa (white and blue) and Phantom (dark grey).

We looked at the modular system and the technology components that come with the Radinn boards in depth. Check out Boat & Sail Magazine’s Radinn Freeride in-depth review for a closer look.

Radinn Carve Price/Quality

Like the other two Radinn boards, the Carve is priced well at $11,995 US as of July 2023. This includes the highest-capacity upgraded battery that the company makes, which is an awesome perk that most other companies will charge extra for.

The starting price of the board does not include the Pro or Unleashed over-the-air upgrade packages. Those will interest every Carve owner, but maybe not right when you purchase your board. Dividing them up keeps the initial cost lower and allows you to change things up later on.

Do We Recommend the Radinn Carve?

If you’re looking for a personal board to play with, the Radinn Carve is probably the one you want. The size and stability of the Freeride are appealing if you share your board or keep it aboard a yacht or at a lake cottage. If newbies are riding, the Freeride has the stability to make it a pleasant experience for everyone.

But beginners can start with the Carve, too—it just takes a little bit more practice. It’s worth the extra effort once you get the hang of it. For the individual owner, the Carve just makes the most sense. It’s a board you can grow into and use however you like. The removable foot bindings and narrower board mean you can both cruise and do some tricks once you have more experience. Plus, the smaller board is easier to transport and store. All in all, it’s a winning package.

The only thing like the Carve is the Awake Rävik S. It’s also a sportier board for tight turns and tricks. The advantage of the Rävik is that its larger water jet sits lower in the water, allowing the board to plane through the water easier, whereas the Carve sits lower and pushes more water out of its way. The ride on both boards is awesome but just a little different. It’s definitely worth trying both the Rävik and the Carve out before you make your final decision. It’s worth mentioning, however, that a Rävik S with the upgrade to the 45-minute battery will set you back $17,900, compared to only $11,995 for the Carve.