The Wing Air EVO is now just called the Wing Air, and the package now comes equipped with a paddle and leash at no extra cost, in addition to the backpack, pump, and repair kit.
June 2020The BIC Sport 11'0 Wing Air has a typical profile for an all-around board with a few added features. It is 11 feet long, 32 inches wide, and 6 inches thick, making it a few inches longer than average. Its narrow sidecut and gradual nose rocker provide agility while its flat tail helps to improve stability by increasing the surface area in contact with the water. Deck bungees near the front of the board are great for storing gear. It's perfect for an after-work paddle on the lake or exploring a quiet beach cove with the family.
People often associate paddleboarding with an abdominal workout and a need for good balance. While this board requires nothing extreme in those departments, it lives up to that reputation more than some of its competitors. The single-center fin and narrow profile of the nose and tail offer limited stability compared to models with a wider profile and three to five fins.
While it may not be the best for yoga on the lake, this board provides enough lateral stability to learn on and is steadfast underfoot even for a first-time paddler.
This metric is all about the ability to move quickly while staying true to the course. The Wing Air provides about average performance in this area. Its nose rocker and narrow side-cut make it quicker than its larger, wider competitors, but it's no match for longer, narrower touring specific models.
Othe boards are able to cover longer distances with greater ease, but such high performance comes at a pretty steep price. The Wing Air is best suited for cruising at mellow speeds and for those who don't want to invest an arm and a leg in their board.
You can turn your board and negotiate obstacles by either backstroking or forward paddling. You can facilitate either by weighting the rear of the board. The Wing Air's reduced lateral stability makes moving towards the back of the board a slow and careful endeavor. This hinders the overall maneuverability of the board.
Back paddling is a fairly easy way to turn, but it requires you to sacrifice your forward momentum. Unfortunately, it's the best way to turn this board. Using forward paddling to change the Wing Air's direction is no easy feat, and it requires a fairly large radius turn.
Transporting this board is quick and easy. It comes with a backpack that fits the board and the included pump and repair kit. It also has a front pocket that fits the fin. Weighing in at 23 lbs, the board is comfortable to carry in the backpack. This method works great for transporting the board from the parking lot to the beach or other short distances.
The backpack is made of a fairly durable material and, even more importantly, closes with a burly zipper. We expect this backpack's lifespan to be similar to the other boards with proper care. Our main complaint with the backpack is that it lacks straps to cinch down the loose material, making it floppy while in use.
This board is quick to inflate compared to some of its competitors. Its narrow side-cut reduces the overall volume, making it one of the easiest boards to hand pump to the desired 15 psi.
The included pump has comfortable grips, but like most other raft pumps, a narrow base that makes the process of pumping a little unbalanced. While the pressure gauge seemed to be accurate when compared with other brand's pumps, the hose is prone to leaking at its attachment points.
The Wing Air offers great bang for your buck. It's half the price of many of its competitors and boasts more than half the value. While it doesn't outperform in any particular metric, its better than average scores in most categories make this a great all-around board that won't break the bank.
