The most important facts about the Serene Life inflatable SUP in a nutshell
The Serene Life 10′ is a classic beginner and family paddleboard. Thanks to a rounded shape, this SUP is relatively stable in the water. This is of course desirable for SUP novices, because keeping the balance is the biggest challenge in the beginning. Thanks to this calm water position, you will quickly have your first successes with it and benefit from a quick learning process. With the length of 10′ it is very maneuverable and suitable for paddlers up to a maximum of 220 lbs (100 kg).
However, the Serene Life Board is not ideal for sporty and ambitious touring paddlers, it is simply not designed for this purpose.
For price-conscious SUP beginners and recreational paddlers who occasionally want to make an after-work round on a quiet lake or river, the SereneLife is certainly an interesting option. Also as a play island of the children for a family day at the lake, a beginner SUP of this category is long sufficient. As a complete set at a reasonable price, you get everything you need to get started in Stand Up Paddling: Paddle, fin, air pump, leash, repair kit and a transport backpack.
SereneLife Paddle Board Specification
With its rounded shape, the SereneLife is a classic all-round board. With this shape, the SUP is designed for a variety of uses. The focus is clearly on beginner friendliness and a stable water position.
The board is 10′ (305 cm) long and 6″ (15 cm) thick. The width of 30″ (76 cm) is rather below average in this category of entry-level boards. That’s why heavy paddlers or if you want to travel in pairs will quickly reach the limit. The maximum load is stated at 125 kg (275 lbs). From our point of view, this is a bit too much. At this load, the SUP might not sink yet, but good handling characteristics and stability would certainly not be expected. In terms of optimal performance, we estimate the maximum recommended user weight to be around 90-100 kg.
Pro/Contra
Pro
- complete starter set at a reasonable purchase price
- easier to inflate than large SUPs
- suitable for children
Contra
- Not quite as tilt stable as other entry level boards
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Construction/finish quality of the Serene Life SUP
Unfortunately, we were not able to find out exactly what kind of construction the Serene Life inflatable paddle boards are made of. Due to the weight and the price, we assume that it is a single-layer construction.
The inner life of the boards consists of a so-called drop stitch core. Thousands of polyester threads, which connect the top with the bottom, give the inflatable boards its shape. Practically all iSUPs are made with this core nowadays. As the visible outer shell on this core is still a single layer (therefore single-layer) glued resistant PVC.
With this construction, actually all cheaper SUP boards are produced. Even if they do not compete with the high-quality premium boards in terms of stiffness, robustness and durability, they are sufficient for occasional recreational use and can be used for several years.
SereneLife Paddleboard on the Water
On the water, the SereneLife board behaves exactly as you would expect from an all-rounder. As a medium sized all-around SUP, it has a high maneuverability and some glide. As a general rule, the longer a paddle board is, the higher speeds and nice planing phases are possible. That the SereneLife with a length of 10′ (305 cm) is not one of the top performers is of course to be expected.
As already mentioned, it is a little narrower than other beginner boards. Therefore, it is not the ideal board for heavier people or if you are not yet trained with the balance, to start. However, light paddlers or children will have no trouble with it and find a well-balanced board to learn.
Board Features
Deckpad: For a safe stand, the large non-slip EVA pad provides.
Luggage net: In the front area of the board there is an elastic band. At this you can fix some luggage on the board
Carrying handle: Like every SUP, the SereneLife has a central handle by which you can carry the board. Because these carrying handles are always attached to the balanced point of a SUP board, you can also use as an approximate guide for the position of your feet on the water.
Fins: On the bottom are 2 small fixed mounted side fins. That these are fixed, makes the assembly of course less complicated, but it is somewhat more difficult to roll up the SUP very small. In the middle is the holder for the large plug-in fin, which is also included in the accessories.
Accessories in the SereneLife starter kit
Double stroke air pump: Double stroke means that you pump air into the board both when pulling up and when pushing down. If this becomes increasingly difficult towards the end, with increased pressure in the SUP, you can switch to single stroke operation. Then you can use your body weight to pump the last few PSI into the board when pushing down.
If you go full throttle, you can inflate the board in about 5 minutes. After 10 minutes at the latest, even those who take it easy will be done.
Aluminum paddle: The included paddle is, as with virtually all of these starter sets, a simple aluminum paddle. The paddle is extendable so that you can adjust it perfectly to your body size.
Single fin: The removable center fin is easy to install without tools thanks to the plug-in system. This system can be found more often on cheaper SUPs. From our point of view it is also a bit more practical than the otherwise widely used US finbox system.
Leash: We believe that wearing a leash is one of the most important safety aspects. This prevents the SUP from drifting away even if it falls into the water and you always have the “saving” swimming platform close by.
Transport backpack: Thanks to its small pack size and low weight, the Serene Life is relatively easy to transport.
Our recommendation for you
The SereneLife is from our point of view a classic entry-level set, which is primarily aimed at beginners and occasional paddlers. If you don’t expect top performance from a SUP board and don’t have a big budget, this package is perfect for you.
But of course it always depends on your own expectations. Who wants to be sporty and very often on the road, which would probably be better served to invest a little more money. High quality, every single novelty and all the cool features always have their price.
But who can do without all these things. Just want to spend leisurely moments in nature or with the family at the lake without having to take out a loan, the Serene Life inflatable paddle board is a good choice.
