ROC Scout Review

Looking for an affordable board that doesn't compromise on stability? The ROC Scout is among the lightest of the inflatables we have tested (coming in at 16 pounds), comes with a few extra accessories, and stands out for its excellent balance of price, quality, and stability. While its MSRP isn't remarkable, frequent sales offer it at unbeatable rates, making it a standout choice in its category. Explore how this board stacks up to our testing.

Performance Comparison

Stability

We tested this board in wind, calm water, and even a small rapid river day, and no matter the conditions, this board was easy to stand up on. We brought a dog friend onboard, tried some headstands, and had two people on it, and this board rocked it all. Jumping up and down in the middle of the board had far less flex than many of its competitors, which surprised us because it has a very similar feel to some of the more flexy boards. The ROC Scout SUP is made of military-grade lightweight PVC material, making it durable without adding additional weight.

One thing to note is that this board doesn't handle broadside waves too well. We noticed that waves or rapids coming in on the side really caught the edge of the board and made it very easy to get thrown off. When turning around on a windy day or on a river, we found the safer choice was to kneel, turn and then stand again.

Glide Performance

This board surprised us with its glide capabilities. Given its lightness, we expected it not to have much glide. The ROC Scout amazed us, though, and scored above average.

On a windy day with some chop, it was slightly above average in its glide performance, keeping direction pretty well thanks to the three-fin system. On the flatter days we went out, this board moved and tracked extremely well. We were able to paddle six to seven times on average on one side before having to swap to paddling on the other side. On the really calm water days we found that we could paddle roughly 10 times on one side before having to swap over and paddle on the opposite side. This board doesn't have a ton of back-and-forth wiggling, which is often seen with lighter boards.

Maneuverability

Here, this SUP scored very average with our testers. At 10 feet long, this inflatable is a little shorter than most, which helps a bit when it comes to making turns. It does take a few back-and-forth paddles to turn it around 180 degrees. When there was a current, the board really wanted to stay straight down with the flow of the water, and we found it took some effort to steer around any obstacles. One helpful tip is that since this board is pretty stable, you can lean quite a bit to help it turn quicker.

Overall, this board's maneuverability is right in the middle of your average inflatable stand up paddle board. We didn't really have any major complaints, but we would suggest that if you need a quick-turning board or something made to navigate obstacles (think river paddling), this might not be the board for you.

Ease of Use

The ROC Scout has some major pros but also some major cons here. The carry case this board comes in is great; it is easy to fit the board back into with all of the accessories, which is not always the case. The backpack is comfortable, and the waist belt strap plus the lightness of the board make it exceptionally easy to transport. We also appreciated the spare dry bag and kayak seat this board came with. While the seat was not the most comfortable, it did make an afternoon river float much easier, and we were able to sit back and relax. On the flip side, when the kayak seat is strapped to the D-rings, if you want to stand up and paddle, the seat makes it so you have to stand pretty far forward on the board. Otherwise, you'll need to unclip it in between sitting and standing. We also appreciated that the fin is incredibly easy to put on and remove.

One thing this board is majorly missing is handles on the tip and tail. When we stopped onshore and wanted to pull the board onto the shore, you had to either walk and grab the middle or use the cargo straps, which isn't ideal.

Construction Quality

Overall, the ROC Scout board feels like it could take a few bumps and dings with no real damage. We walked it down a very rocky river bank, occasionally bumping it along the way with no issues. For a couple of trips out, we took a dog with us, and there weren't any marks or scuffs afterward. If you do plan to take a canine pal out, something to note is that the deck padding only covers part of the board. If they are hanging out on the tip or tail, we noticed that their paws slipped pretty easily on the areas that didn't have deck padding on it. The deck padding itself is comfortable; several of our adventures on this board were a couple of hours long and we had no issues with how it felt underfoot.

The paddle and pump that come with this board are certainly on the lower end of the quality scale. By the second use, the paddle was loose and easy to slide up and down, even in the locked position. Having a tool kit to tighten it might prove helpful for anyone purchasing this board. The pump also had a small leak by the second use and did not pump the board very quickly. It is a dual-action pump, which is helpful, and has a small plug on the side to use when adding the last few pounds of air to make it easier. But for us, it didn't feel quick or exceptionally easy to inflate the SUP.

Should You Buy the ROC Scout?

If you are looking for a board that doesn't sacrifice stability, comes with a few extra accessories, and you are willing to keep an eye out for when and where it is on sale, this board is a stellar option. It's great for beginners because of how easy it is to use and its lightness, which makes it simple to transport. Intermediate paddle boarders just looking for a casual, affordable board to use will also enjoy this SUP.

What Other Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Should You Consider?

If you want stability and a board that is easy to use but are looking to spend a little bit more money to get higher quality, check out the Bote Wulf Aero or the Isle Pioneer 3. If you are looking to buy a board ASAP and don't want to keep an eye out for when this board is on sale, check out the FunWater 11.