Megan,

That’s a tough one. I think the Atoll and Diatom are going to be a little faster than the Pioneer (but not a ton to be honest). They are all 6″ thick inflatables, and while there are differences, when it comes to speed, those 3 boards are pretty close to each other. I would say the speed rating would be Atoll, then Diatom, then Pioneer.

Weight limit wise, you will be fine with either board. The Red Paddle Co 10’6 Ride just doesn’t have the volume you need for that kind of weight (you + kid + dog). It’s where I struggle a little bit in recommending the Ride for beginner paddlers.

A board that you could also consider would be the iRocker 11′ AA. I have found that to be a little faster than the Atoll, and also have a higher weight capacity, and it’s less expensive than the Diatom.

Finally, if you have the budget, then you could also consider the 11’3 Sport from Red Paddle Co. That would be the fastest board of the bunch, and also be responsive and have the weight capacity for what you need.

Hope that helps!

Steve,

With wind, your about the same on both the Atoll and the iRockers. They are all 6″ SUPs, so they do tend to sit on top of the water a little bit more than something like the Red Paddle Co 11’3 Sport or 12’6 Voyager. If budget allows, and wind is a big concern then I’d recommend going that route or looking at a hard SUP as they do perform better in wind. If you need something less expensive then either the Atoll or iRocker All Around would be 2 of our top recommendations on the inflatable side of things.

I hope that helps!

Lauri,

To be honest, you can’t go wrong with either of those boards. The main difference comes down to weight and accessories. The Atoll is about 5 lbs lighter than the iRocker All Around 11. This is great if you are planning on hiking in with the board, or if weight is a big concern. The iRocker, however, has more accessories and action mounts available, and also has one more layer of PVC. From our tests, it’s a little more stable and has a higher weight capacity than the Atoll, but is not quite as maneuverable.

And while this doesn’t matter when it comes to performance, both boards have very different looks. If there is one that you just love from a looks perspective, that might just tip the scale for you.

I hope that helps, let us know if you have any other questions.

Kim,

Yes, the Atoll will handle your weight. If you are a beginner and are worried about stability then you might want to consider a wider board like the Blackfin Model X, or XL, but I have taken several beginners who are almost exactly your height and weight and they did fine on the 11′ Atoll. The Atoll is also super lightweight, which is nice if you are looking to backpack in in somewhere, and will for sure be fine as you become more experienced.

I hope that helps!

This is a really comprehensive review. We’ve had the 2020 Atoll ISUP for about 6 months now and we love it. Your review is absolutely spot on. We just bought the kayak seat and are waiting to have it delivered. Can’t wait to try it out.

Melissa,

Great question! I would say that if the Atoll is your style 100%, then go for it! It’s a great board, and will be a great option for your height and weight. No, it doesn’t have as many features as the iRocker or the Thurso, but it is lighter and does have everything you really need. The biggest feature it doesn’t have would be an action mount for a GoPro, so if that’s a big deal then I would recommend the iRocker.

One thing you will notice is that the Atoll doesn’t have a rear storage bungee, but to be honest I personally don’t mind that since you can always just use a regular bungee cord if you do need that.

I hope that helps – let me know if you have any other questions!