Starting with the Straight Up boards first. The Rival Straight Up is 10’ x 33” x 6” with a volume displacement of 311L. This board comes with a paddle, 4 fixed side fins, and a more economical price point. The Carbon Straight Up is 10’6” x 32” x 6” with the same volume displacement of 311L, but does not come with a paddle and side finds are click fins. Again, I own the Carbon Straight-Up and really enjoy it because it is a bit longer, narrower, stiffer for better tracking, and handle more weight (in my opinion).
Straight Ups are awesome all around boards for smaller paddlers, say paddlers under 6’ tall and/or 200lbs. I have a buddy 6’4” at 236lbs and you can tell the board is just to small for him, most of the side rail is under water when he is on it loaded up with gear. Then, when someone like myself 5’6” at 175lbs or smaller hops on, it looks like it fits like a glove. Straight Ups are fantastic for shorter distant paddles, hiking it in, little gear, or looking to save some space rolled up. Board takes less time and effort to blow up, due to its smaller size. Able to handle rivers (flat and whitewater) and tracks pretty well on lakes. I don’t say super well because it is on the shorter side, which takes away some of the tracking ability. But putting a longer center fin on does really helps with tracking and increases the stability of the board. The shorter length makes it super easy to maneuver and easier to carry around for shorter folks. This is the board I put almost every first timer on, since they can handle the shorter length a lot easier. It just hits that sweet spot shape and size wise to be very versatile, which people love!
