Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 - Review 2025

First Impressions Of Retrospec’s Weekender Plus 2

When you first unpack the Weekender Plus 2 hybrid iSUP, you are struck by both its light weight and the amount of gear it comes with. The entire package, with the carrying bag and included accessories, weighs 23 pounds. This makes it possible for any paddler to carry it to a nearby shore to unload and pump it up.

The board itself is light but has a durable feel. The PVC material does not feel cheap or thin like some other budget boards do, and you can tell this board can take some wear and tear.

This board comes with a plethora of accessories. There is a dual-action pump for inflating and deflating the board that also comes with the package. It was a bit difficult to pump up the board to the desired PSI (12-15 PSI) on the first inflation, but the deflation option is fantastic – so that made up for it. Everything else about setting up this board is business as usual, other than a slightly complicated paddle installation on the 3-part paddle.

Once the board is inflated it feels sturdy and is an attractive-looking board. The storage bungees on both the nose and tail of the board stand out as a bonus for anyone who likes extra storage on an iSUP. The decking on the board is soft to the touch but has a good anti-slip feel to it. All in all, the first impression of the Weekender Plus 2 is quite positive, but the true test is how well it performs on the water as both an iSUP and a kayak.

The Shape, Materials, And Design Of The Board

The Weekender Plus 2 has a quality, smart, and fairly compact design. At 10’6” it is definitely not a tandem board and is not designed for the tallest or largest of paddlers. Instead, this medium-sized iSUP has the silhouette of a leisure surfboard, with a rounded nose, squared back, and three fins.

The rounded nose is great for balance and stability, which makes it a great choice for beginners who are still learning the balance needed for paddle boarding. It is not built for speed, and racing and speed paddling is not what this board is trying to achieve. Instead, it is built for easy cruising, and the three fins help to give this board solid tracking. The board is 6” thick, which helps keep it above the water line, allowing your toes to mostly stay dry. The width is 32”, which further helps with the balance and stability.

The material is their rigid AerGlide-Fusion, with 2 layers of 1000D PVC and a drop stitch core. This provides a reinforced outer skin and very solid board.  The materials help make the claim that this is the company’s most durable all-around iSUP a reality. The PVC is sturdy and durable, but still light weight. This helps deliver on Retrospec’s goal to deliver lightweight boards that are built to last and hold up a variety of situations.

How It Feels To Paddle The Weekender Plus 2 On The Water

Overall the Weekender Plus 2 rides just how you would expect (and want) an affordable cruising iSUP to ride. It is not top when it comes to speed, or even balance, but what it delivers is a stable ride with adequate turning, tracking, and maneuverability.

Maneuverability And Turning

This board has solid tracking as an iSUP. The glide is not as impressive as a touring board, but this is mostly due to its wide nose design, which makes the board more stable, and in turn a little slower.

The board has good responsiveness, and only takes a few strong strokes to get going in the desired direction. This is partly due to the triple-fin design, which adds additional tracking to this iSUP. Turning is not challenging at all, and it is possible to turn in fairly narrow waterways without too much-belabored effort.

Stability And Strength

The Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 is also a fairly stable board. Its 32” width and rounded nose both help keep the board from wobbling too much when stroking the paddle and turning.

The material itself also feels firm and durable. It rivals the extra-firm rigidity that you might get from a premium iSUP brand like ISLE, so it ranks very well for an affordable all around board. It is solid enough to take into waters with light chop, but nothing more than that. Ideally, this cruising board should stay in fun and placid waters for the best results.

Included Features And Accessories On The Weekender Plus 2

Trio Of Detachable Fins

The three detachable fins give this board quality tracking and maneuverability, especially for the price point. The three fins are easy and straightforward to attach and detach without much trouble at all. This helps make inflating and deflating the board a smooth process.

Dual Action Pump

The board comes with a pump included with the purchase. This dual-action pump inflated and deflates the board. It can be a bit difficult to pump the board up to the ideal PSI on the first use but becomes less of a struggle as you use it more.

The deflating feature is great and saves you time when you are ready to pack up and transport the board. The pump also includes a PSI gauge, so you know when you have reached the ideal PSI (12-15 PSI) and don’t ever overinflate the board.

Carrying Handles

The board comes with a carrying handle in the center of the board as well as one at the nose. These handles are easy to use and well-placed. The center handle makes it easy to handle the board outside the water under one arm. The handle at the nose makes getting the board out of the water a bit easier.

Coiled Leash

The Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 also includes a coiled leash. The leash is comfortable enough. The coil helps prevent the leash from dragging behind the board and messing with your maneuverability. The provided leash serves its purpose and keeps you from having to pay out of pocket for one.

Foam Decking

This board also features some quality anti-slip decking. The decking offers support and comfort for your feet, which is crucial for longer rides. It is also textured, which allows you some good grip. This is great for paddling as well as slip prevention. It feels well made and is good quality for the price.

The Carrying Backpack

The Weekender Plus 2 comes with a carrying backpack that is large enough to fit the board and even all its included accessories. This means regardless if you want to use the board as an iSUP or as a kayak, you have all you need packed away in the easy-to-carry case.

While the board and accessories are light and easy to carry, the bag itself is not the best for longer distances. When carrying it as a backpack, parts of the bag can dig into your back or lower neck, making this a less-than-desirable method of transport. A rolling bag would be better, or at least a better design for the backpack itself. It does, however, provide ample space for all the equipment, and is easy to carry short distances.

Built-in Bungees For Storage

There are two sets of bungees on the Weekender Plus 2. There is ample storage in the front bungee area by the nose of the board. The back bungees are less ample, but this added storage capacity is more than many boards offer, and is ample for most paddling situations this cruiser is likely to encounter.

Front Action Mount

The board also comes with a front action mount. This is a great feature for those looking to document all their iSUP and kayak adventures on this board. The action mount is located near the nose of the board, which in most cases is perfect for capturing all the action. The only downside to this placement is it sits behind the bungees, so if you use the bungees for storage, your camera won’t be able to film in your direction without some difficulty.

3-Piece Paddle With Additional Kayaking Blade

Retrospec includes not only a three-piece aluminum iSUP paddle for The Weekender Plus 2, but it even includes an additional kayak blade attachment. The paddle is adjustable and extends to about 7 feet in length. This is long enough to work well for most paddlers.

The kayak attachment allows you to transform your iSUP paddle into a kayak paddle without having to bring a large additional paddle along. In fact, there is a paddle holder on the side of the board where you can safely store your kayak paddle attachment when you aren’t using it, making the transition even easier. All four pieces of this paddle fit nicely into the travel bag as well.

The paddle can be tricky to assemble and adjust, but once assembled it works adequately well for an included paddle at this affordable price. We had trouble getting the pieces together and the adjustable height to lock firmly into place. When this paddle gets wet it gets a bit slippery and could use some gripping as well.

AerComfort Inflatable Kayak Seat

One great perk to this board is that the inflatable kayak seat comes included with the board. In many cases, kayak seats are an additional charge and an optional purchase on hybrid boards.

The AerComfort seat is easy to inflate and gives you a little height and leverage. It is also quite comfortable and easy to connect to the included attachment points. The only downside to this seat is its limited adjustability. The seat sits straight up at almost at a 90-degree angle. If this angle was more adjustable the seat would be more comfortable and suitable for longer journeys. But all in all, it’s a comfortable and functional kayak seat.

Repair Kit

Another great inclusion that comes standard with the Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 is a repair kit. Even though this board has durable and puncture-resistant PVS material, accidents do happen. The repair kit comes with a PVC patch, and the ability to make a quick repair if there is the unlikely event of a puncture.

Waterproof Phone Case

Another fun accessory that this board comes with is a waterproof phone case. Many paddlers likely already have a waterproof phone case or drybag for paddling, but this is a great little free gift to add to the overall package. Since this is a great introductory iSUP, it is nice to include the waterproof phone case, as this might be some paddlers’ first iSUP.

Packing Up And Transporting The Weekender Plus 2

After unpacking and riding the Weekender Plus 2, the final test is how well and how easily the iSUP packs up. Perhaps the best part about packing up the board is the deflating feature on the provided pump. It makes it very easy and safe to deflate the board of all the air, which cuts down on time.

The entire kit fits into the provided bag without any trouble. The only downside to the bag is when it comes to carrying it. Some people might find that the bag digs into your neck or upper back a bit. This is not the end of the world but makes carrying it for longer distances quite uncomfortable. A wheeling option or a more thoughtfully designed bag would be a welcomed improvement compared to the current design.

Design flaws aside, the board packs up nicely. At 23 pounds, this hybrid iSUP is a complete and light package, which is impressive and a definite selling point.

How This Hybrid iSUP Performs As A Kayak

One of the best attributes of the Weekender Plus 2 is the fact that it not only converts into an iSUP, but it performs quite well as a kayaking vessel. The board comes equipped with everything you need to make kayaking a reality. There is an additional blade to convert your iSUP paddle into a kayak paddle. It also comes standard with a quality kayak seat.

Once you convert the board into a kayak, which is fairly simple, you will instantly notice how well the board tracks as a kayak. It has a nice glide and moves quite quickly. This board is not quite stable or rigid enough to race with, but it is strong enough to comfortably paddle and glide at a nice cruising pace.

The only downsides to kayaking in the Weekender Plus 2 have to do with the design of the accessories – more specifically the seat and the paddle. The seat is very vertical. This is great for kayaking posture, but on longer rides, it would be nice to have an easy-to-adjust seat angle.

The paddle works fine, but it can get a little slippery when wet. This doesn’t pose much of a problem when using the board as an iSUP, but the paddle tends to get wet as a kayak. Even with these minor flaws, the board works very well as a kayak, and  is lots of fun to use as one.

A Note On Transitioning From Kayak Back To iSUP

Keep in mind that when the board is set up in kayak mode it is a bit challenging to then stand up and use it as an iSUP. Because the seat must be installed in a fixed position, you need to stand forward on the board, which is not an ideal position for paddling and makes turning a bit hard. Ideally, you will remove the seat before you continue using the board as a SUP board.

Does The Weekender Plus 2 Measure Up To Its Pricetag?

The big question for anyone looking for a new hybrid iSUP like the Weekender Plus 2 is whether or not the board, its included accessories, and its level of performance all measure up to its price tag. At just over $400 retail, there is no question that this board delivers on its price point. In fact, this board is one of the best hybrid board deals on the market right now.

It isn’t easy to find a board made of quality materials, with all the inclusions that the Weekender Plus 2 provides for less than $500. The fact that it is not only a hybrid, but a well-performing hybrid, makes this board a very great deal. It is at a price point where it is a perfect first iSUP for someone who needs a multi-purpose paddling vessel that packs up easily.

For the price, it also serves as a great second iSUP for those looking for a fun cruising hybrid that they can carry to a harder-to-reach destination, or bring along for another paddler to use when you bring a friend along on a paddling adventure. The fact that it comes equipped with a convertible paddle, leash, and even a waterproof phone case makes this board an exceptional deal.

Is The Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 iSUP Worth Buying?

Now that you know the Weekender Plus 2 is worth the price tag, you are likely wondering if it is a board worth purchasing. It’s important to note that purchasing an iSUP is a very individual decision with lots of variables. These variables include experience level, interests, and size of the individual. This board, while not ideal for all, is one that many people looking for fun cruising iSUP should consider purchasing.

For one, this board comes with everything you need. Any new paddler who is curious about iSUPs will love this board. It is stable enough to learn on and has everything a beginner needs to get started.

It also performs well as a kayak, making this great for not only beginners but also for paddlers looking to add a simple but fun board to their arsenal. The Weekender Plus 2 is a nice second board for people who like to bring along company on paddling trips, but don’t want to have to worry about renting a board. It’s also pretty sweet to have a board that works well as a kayak that fits into a backpack.

This board is not without its flaws. It isn’t a racing board, and there are more stable boards on the market. It is also not the best board for taller and heavier borders. But its pros outweigh its cons, and this board is definitely worth some serious consideration for anyone looking to buy a hybrid iSUP at an affordable price.