ROC Polar Outdoor Review

ROC has become a popular brand that offers affordable boards to those looking to enter the sport. This is the third ROC board we have added to our lineup, and it stands out for its lightweight design, easy transport, and impressive maneuverability, but it does come with a few trade-offs. While it glides smoothly across calm water and handles headwinds better than expected, its stability falls short compared to other ROC boards we've tested and is especially noticeable for beginners and in choppier conditions. That said, its responsive shape allows for quick turns, and thoughtful features like paddle straps and cargo areas add convenience.

Stability

Our previous experience testing other ROC boards we were consistently impressed with how stable they were, but the ROC Polar Outdoor seems to offer less stability than its cousins. Beginners had a harder time on this board, and we saw a lot of wobbling back and forth. Our more advanced testers were fine on this board but noted that it didn't feel super easy to stay standing. Broadside waves were an issue for all levels of folks. When we were out on a lake with wakes coming our way, the broadside waves would almost knock us off every time. On all of our outings, we noticed that whoever was on this board would end up sitting on and off, not to get worn out from balancing.

We didn't feel comfortable leaning too far one way or rocking this board super hard, as it felt like we would fall off. There is a little bit of reverb underfoot when in chopier conditions, but not enough to dampen the experience.

Glide

The Polar Outdoor is light, so it's pretty easy to move on the water. We enjoyed calm water paddles and were pleasantly surprised by how well this board handled a headwind. The more pointed nose of this board helps it keep its momentum and keep moving through choppier water. It bounces a bit over the waves, but not so much that it slows you down. We didn't have to work quite as hard to keep moving as we would have expected.

When it comes to tracking, this board keeps a steady line pretty well, above average for most boards, especially the lower-cost ones.

Maneuverability

The ROC Polar Outdoor offers excellent maneuverability thanks to its lightweight design and responsive shape. It can make a tight turn with minimal strokes. It's impressive how quickly this board gets turned around.

Since the board is a bit thinner than others, we wouldn't necessarily recommend paddling this around a bunch of obstacles, but if needed, it would be able to navigate pretty well. Overall, it delivers an agile and enjoyable paddling experience

Ease of Use

This SUP only weighs 19 pounds, so it is quite light and easy to transport. Whether it's in backpack mode or being carried while inflated, this SUP was easy to transport. We also appreciated that after being rolled up, it fit back in its carry case with no problems.

The pump that comes with this board is very mediocre. It pumps pretty slowly since it doesn't have an option to switch from double action to single action, so you are stuck pumping with one pressure the whole time. We mostly used our electric pump because it just took so long to fill up with the one that came with the board.

The paddle is very basic. We recommend checking it before taking it out on the water to ensure the pieces are tightened, preventing them from slipping around while you paddle. This happened a few times when we took the board out.

This board has a three-fin system, with only the center fin being removable. One complaint we had every time we used this board was that the center fin could be quite difficult to get into place and took a bit of extra effort.

Construction Quality

This SUP has the thinner feel of a cheaper board, which makes sense for its price point. This makes it light and easy to transport, but it does feel less sure underfoot than some of the other boards we have tested. Even though it is a thinner construction material, you do not get a bad reverb sensation underfoot even in choppy conditions.

It does come with front and rear cargo straps, making it easy to bring along whatever you need for your paddle outing. It also has front and rear carry straps, which always make things easier.

Something we don't see often on boards but always love when we do is the paddle straps that come on this board. Whether you're carrying the board to and from the water or wanting to swim and not lose your paddle, or even do yoga, it is so nice to just strap down your paddle to the board.

When we unpacked the board, we immediately noticed that there was a bunch of glue around the valve. In our research, we noticed several reviews complaining about leaking valves, which made us a little concerned about the board's longevity. No issues yet, but something to note for potential buyers.

Should You Buy the ROC Polar Outdoor?

If you are looking for an affordable SUP, this could be a decent option to look into. If stability is anywhere in your top priorities, though, you might be better off looking at some other options. Beginners might appreciate the entry-level price point, but have a harder time on this board than some of the other boards at a similar price point.

What Other Inflatable SUPs Should You Consider?

If you want something more stable in a similar price range from ROC, we would recommend checking out the ROC Scout. If stability is your main focus, then check out the BOTE Aero Wulf, our top inflatable board, or the Advenor Extra Wide if you want something similarly priced to the Polar Outdoor. Looking for something that turns well and can handle choppier conditions? The iRocker Blackfin Model V is a speedy board designed to move.