Bote HD Aero Review

The BOTE HD Aero is a large, stable inflatable board that's built for versatility and comfort on calm water or light chop. With its wide 34-inch deck, it easily supports beginners, yoga enthusiasts, or even paddlers bringing along a dog. While its size makes it less nimble than smaller boards, it still glides and tracks surprisingly well thanks to its thoughtful design and three-fin setup. The board's sturdy construction, reliable paddle, and convenient carry case add to its ease of use, though some testers noted the deck padding wasn't as comfortable for longer outings. Overall, the HD Aero is a solid choice for those prioritizing stability and quality over speed or maneuverability.

Stability

The HD Aero is wide and long, making it an extremely stable board. All of our testers found it easy to stay up on this board, whether it was a choppy day or they were new to paddling.

At 34 inches wide, the HD Aero offers stellar stability. Some of our testers enjoyed yoga or bringing a dog along, and found it was stable even with the extra movement. We took a few beginner paddlers out, and they also found it quite easy to stand up. On a lake day where we had a lot of boat wakes, this SUP easily handled broadside waves and never felt like it was going to lurch us off.

Even when shifting weight from side to side or moving around on the deck, the board stayed steady and predictable underfoot. This level of stability gave everyone more confidence to try different activities without worrying about tipping over.

Glide

This big board certainly is not built for touring, but we were pleasantly surprised with how well it kept up with other, faster boards. Often with larger boards, it can feel hard to get going or keep momentum, but not with this SUP.

The HD Aero does exhibit some back-and-forth movement when paddling and isn't as great at keeping its direction as some other SUPs. Its weight can make it a bit harder to get going on the choppier or windy days, but the large fin does help it stay on its course decently well, even in these rougher conditions. With wind and chop, we were able to keep up momentum fairly well, since its more pointed nose and weight help it cut through waves instead of bouncing around on them. For a casual, calm water paddle, this board was great and felt easy and fun to use.

Maneuverability

The BOTE HD Aero is a bit slower on the maneuvering, which isn't too surprising for its size. One beginner tester said that while the board was stable and felt easy to stand on, it was a “big rig to get turned around”. It took us several strokes to get this board turned around. Beginners or smaller paddlers might find this board a bit overwhelming to navigate, just due to its larger size.

While experienced paddlers may not mind putting in the extra strokes, less experienced users could find it tiring or frustrating after a while. Its size makes it feel more suited for straight-line cruising or relaxed paddles rather than weaving around obstacles or navigating narrow waterways.

Ease of Use

At 25 pounds, this SUP is on the heavier end of inflatables, but we still found it manageable to carry. Some of the testers who were a bit shorter had a harder time carrying this board since it is so wide and long. If you are walking around with it in the wind, it catches quite a bit and can be hard to walk with. We often were bumping trees or our car when grabbing it to take down to the water.

The carry case that comes with this board makes it easy to throw on your back and hike down to the water if you want. It fits back into its carry case easily, even with the accessories, something we have come to expect from BOTE cases and really appreciate.

This SUP does have a 10-inch fin, so paddlers should be wary that they need to be a bit deeper than most other boards before hopping on, and be cautious of what they are paddling over. This fin can also be finicky to get slid into place, and it took some muscle to slide it all the way on and take it off again.

Construction Quality

BOTE makes quality SUPs, and the HD Aero is no exception. This board feels sturdy but isn't too heavy, has plenty of cargo straps, comes with a quality paddle, and has options for all sorts of other bells and whistles if you choose to purchase them. This specific board does come with a paddle sheath to store the paddle on the board, but we didn't end up using it much because it needed to be removed (screw attachment) to roll the board back up. It also comes with rack receivers, but you have to buy the rack attachment separately. The front carry handle is also quite nice for dragging it up on shore or for transport.

A lot of inflatable SUPs come with a low-quality paddle, but the HD Aero paddle is solid, feels comfortable in the hand, and feels like an appropriate size for how big this board is.

One of the things many of our testers seem to dislike about BOTE boards is the deck padding and how uncomfortable it is to stand on for long periods. Something about the long, straight lines on the padding seems to be uncomfortable if you're on the board for an hour or more.

Overall, this board feels like it will last a long time through all sorts of wear and tear.

Should You Buy the BOTE HD Aero?

If you want a high-quality board that is stable and has lots of space for gear, dogs, or yoga, this would be a stellar option for you. For smaller paddlers or those looking for something easy to transport, this might be a headache. BOTE is a reliable brand for folks wanting a known and reputable SUP designer. It is on the pricier side for an inflatable, though, and might not be the best option for beginner users or people wanting to stay on a budget for a board.

What Other Inflatable SUPs Should You Consider?

If you're looking for stability but something easier to transport, check out the BOTE Wulf Aero or, even more affordable, the Advenor Extra Wide. If you are looking for a stable board that can hold a lot but want something rigid, check out the Lido Utility Armor.