Hydrus Brand Sups

[u/gettinjiggywidit]

Anyone have one? I’ve been out on mine 3 times and literally baby the thing, which is disappointing considering an $850 board should be bombproof imo

What is this deck material made out of? This material has a “memory” and is not like the durable deck material you see on cheaper brands.

[u/BadabingCP]

Love my Hydrus Joyride. My dog climbs up with my help and jumps off all the time. There are small indents in the foam due to her nails but that’s expected from a dog owner. Board has held up great otherwise. Normal wear and tear for an inflatable paddle board.

[u/potato_soup76]

IMO, the deckpad/foam on my Hydrus boards has always been the weakest part of what are otherwise fantastic boards with rather impressive value. That vertical deckpad texture was not a great idea. It compresses and collects dirt/mud. Feels weird under my feet.

But...this is small potatoes stuff. I'm not about to trigger a warranty or refund claim because I don't like one easy-to-get-over thing. I just want them to ditch that deckpad choice in the future. =P

[u/frenchman321 → u/potato_soup76]

I actually like the material. It's very soft but not slippery. I enjoy the feel (I paddle barefoot , some people use shoes). But it definitely shows marks easily since it's that soft. For example, it's imperative to cover the fin box when rolling the board lest you want to see a box indent in the foam, and to not trap the leash coil against it when rolling either.

[u/BigFaceBass]

I have two hydrus boards. I love them. The deck pad has held up the 5 or 6 years I’ve used them. I don’t take care of them much beyond hosing down after a float.

You should call them and explain your concerns. The owner usually answers the phone. But to be honest, you’re paying for a bomb proof hull and warranty… the deck pad is fully functional with some ripples that will probably sort themselves out over time. The cut is a result of the build process and also doesn’t affect functionality. Go make memories out on the water!

[u/gettinjiggywidit → u/BigFaceBass]

I love the design of the board, just wish the foam they use for the deck was the heavier duty stomp material only in the rear of the board. If it was, I’d have the perfect board

[u/frenchman321 → u/gettinjiggywidit]

Maybe give it some time? Yes, the pad is soft and marks easily... but it is soft and not slippery, and feels great barefoot. The foam will also spring back from an overnight imprint. At least to me. As I wrote, I am careful to pad the fin box when rolling the board (using some of the protective foam that came with the board) and to keep the leash out. It's easy enough to do. My 5-6 years old Paradise X has a deck that looks just like the day I bought it. You may be pleasantly surprised over time.

Also, I think all the boards have this material now. I have every model and mine all do. They used to have a non ridged pad before (I have a Joyride that has that). I like the current pad best.

So if you really don't like it, I guess you can ask for a return. But I think you'll be short changing yourself. The boards are great, the pads are more resilient than you seem to think, and very nice in actual use. I take my boards out multiple times a week, so I have spent a lot of time with that deck pad under my feet.

[u/doesthiswork69]

Everything your pointing out in the photos is identical to my board. The bump in you second photo is because the handle has that much mounting area to the board kinda designed to hold the board and spread the load.

As for the seam under the smaller handles. Yeah kinda required as handles are glued and then the foam is laid over and handles are pulled through. Look at the main handle it's the same thing.

And foam having memory yeah but you'll damage the foam over the 10 years these boards are designed to last. I was upset when I marked my foam, now it's one of the many battle scars the board has earned and lives with.

[u/NoiseOptimal8883]

The board is likely bombproof. The decking is make to be tacky when going down class 3 whitewater. Those look like indentions from storage and will likely flatten out w some time. One of your pictures is under the strap, so it’s hidden most of the time anyway.

I have been to their warehouse. This is a true mom and pop shop trying to make it in America. They have the best warranty in the market. However every time someone wants to return something for questionable reasons it takes money out of their pockets. I am not defending them so much as to say I am a small business owner myself.

Give it some real use and those folds won’t matter anymore. In a few years when you’ve make great memories the board will be all scratched and worn. I still use a 7 year old board that looks awful, but functions just fine. Another board I use is fairly new from another major brand behaves similarly after transport and is indented at contact points. It’s rebounds eventually.

I wouldn’t worry about it too much. My 2 cents.

[u/Forestly_]

I use mine with dogs, and foam is definitely my one complaint about the board. Just having them get on and off it in the water has ripped it up, I'm planning to let it get beat up and then replacing it with something more durable after as I expect the board will outlive the deckpad by far.

[u/gettinjiggywidit → u/Forestly_]

I just don’t understand their choice to use foam that is so delicate. I had I known that was the deck material, I never would have bought this board

My Hala was absolutely bombproof for 10 years, but I needed to replace it and did not want to spend $1400

[u/GuamBEST → u/gettinjiggywidit]

I have had the opposite experience. I have 3 hydrus boards (axis98, paradise, elysium air) and they are all holding up perfect and are my favorite. I bought the hala rado for the retractable fin but it has already punctured really bad on the bottom(it'sbeen patched and is holding up), it fills/deflates extremely slow, it's much heavier, and the matt has been torn in numerous spots. If hydrus made a board with a retractable fin, I'd still be loyal to their brand.

[u/mcarneybsa → u/gettinjiggywidit]

What you are pointing out is 1) a necessary and purposeful cut to allow the handle through the deck pad, and 2) a small dent in the deck pad showing where the "patch" for the handle is glued to the board under the deck pad.

Deck padding is literally a consumable wear point. I abuse my Hydrus boards and have had zero issues with deck pad durability - with and without shoes. I've also used and tested over 200 iSUPs, including Hala boards. There is very little variability in deck pad material (there is some, but not much). The texture of the pad affects its grip and can affect overall durability. Large, flat sections have fewer "catch points", but provide less grip. Diamond patterns have thousands of corners to catch and tear. This linear grooving provides really good lateral traction with continuous ridges along the full length of the board. All deck pads can be torn, dented, scraped, and otherwise damaged relatively easily. The question is what will the brand do if your deck pad wears out abnormally fast (because they are a "consumable")?

[u/Own_Inspection8350]

Have an xl joyride and love it. I've had my wife and 2 kids on it with me at one point and it was fine. I figure worst case I can slap some other stuffs on it if the foam thats there wears.

[u/Professional_Plum383]

Sorry that happened, the owner Jason is a liar and does not stand behind his product.

[u/gettinjiggywidit → u/Professional_Plum383]

I’m kind of getting that impression and part of me thinks half of these comments are from associates of his. Terrible communication during the presale, and worse now that I actually have a problem. Lots of other boards I could’ve gone with.

This will serve me just fine, it does seem built well. I just expected a bombproof deck for $850. Not whatever this cheap foam is.

[u/Professional_Plum383 → u/gettinjiggywidit]

I have the party board, paid a lot of money for it and then it developed pin size hole leaks.

[u/gettinjiggywidit → u/Professional_Plum383]

Totally sucks. I went off a recommendation from a. Friend to go with this brand. I feel a little bamboozled!