Fanatic Fly Air and Fly Air Premium
Summary
If you are after a versatile all-around inflatable SUP the Fly Air from Fanatic is a SUP meant to be enjoyed by paddlers of all types. This classic board can go seamlessly from calm to choppy waters. The Fly Air is a top performing inflatable SUP that is available in three different sizes and two constructions. The board is built from a lightweight Drop Stitch construction; the Premium features Fanatic’s Double Layer Light technology. The Fly Air is a compact and portable yet rigid high performing board that boasts the ultimate stability and versatility.
Pros
- Ultra-stable.
- Great for beginners to intermediate.
- The perfect size for smaller riders.
- Premium construction.
- Lightweight and durable.
- Added rigidity.
- Comfortable top deck pad.
- Beautiful design.
- Bungee storage for bringing along gear.
- Removable center fin.
- Compact and easy to store.
- Easy to use.
- Great tracking and turning.
Cons
- No kick tail for surfing.
Table of Contents
Why Fanatic in Fanatic Fly Air and Fly Air Premium?
Fanatic is owned and operated by a team of riders whose only dream is to create the perfect board and to give everyone the chance to get out on the water. With over three decades of experience, unwavering dedication and incomparable customer service.
Fanatic has created some of the best products not only for themselves but for their fellow riders. Fanatic is ‘addicted to ride’ and wants to share that passion with the world by way of their innovative and functional products.
The Board
The Fly Air and Fly Air Premium are both available in three sizes with varying weights and weight capacities. From the smallest to the largest of the Fly Air, all of them weigh no more than a small toddler and can be transported and stored effortlessly. The added width on the Fly Air as compared to Fanatic’s more compact boards give provide beginners with more stability while finding their balance.
The Fly Air is another model in Fanatic’s range of all-around boards that is great for smaller paddlers and children. The Fly Air features a single-fin configuration with a removable fin for easy packing; the Premium features a tri-fin setup with two fixed PVC side fins that also pack down for easy storage.
Fanatic Fly Air
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9’8” | 32” | 4.5" | 17 lbs | 187 lbs |
| 10’4” | 33” | 5.5" | 18 lbs | 210 lbs |
| 10’8” | 34” | 5.5" | 19 lbs | 231 lbs |
Fanatic Fly Air Premium
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9’8” | 32” | 4.5" | 22 lbs | 187 lbs |
| 10’4” | 33” | 5.5" | 25 lbs | 210 lbs |
| 10’8” | 34” | 5.5" | 26 lbs | 231 lbs |
Design, Construction and Features
The Fly Air and Premium come in beautiful blue tones with bold striped accents and the Fanatic Logo cleverly placed at the nose and on the rail of the board. The removable center fin works with a click system so you don’t need to worry about carrying around or losing any small tools to set your board up. The top deck of the Fly Air is covered in a diamond grooved traction pad for added comfort and a stable grip for riders of all levels.
A carrying handle is found in the center of the traction pad for transporting your board while fully inflated. A few of our favorite features are the towing eyelets, which can also be used to attach a safety leash or for towing and tethering to your friends boards, and the bungee storage system. The bungee storage zone is a game changer giving you the ability to bring a dry bag or extra gear and for holding your paddle in place when you feel like taking a break.
Some important features you may overlook are the premium inflation valve located at the tail of the board and the Mast foot insert for windsurfing attachments. The versatility and functionality of the Fly Air is unlike many inflatable SUPs you see on the market today.
Lastly, the most significant difference between the Fly Air and the Fly Air Premium is the construction used. The Fly Air uses Drop Stitch Light Technology whereas the Premium uses Double Layer Light Technology. Both of the boards feature a Drop Stitch core encased in a light weight Tarpaulin layer, the Premium then receives a second lightweight layer of printed Tarpaulin.
Two layers of PVC rails are then added around the entire outline of the board and the Premium, again, receives an extra lightweight rail layer increasing the stability and reducing the overall weight of the board.
Fanatic Fly Air
Fanatic Fly Air Premium
The best part of these touring boards is the bungee storage, giving you plenty of space for bringing camping gear, a dry bag or offering a place to store your paddle on a long day cruising. The Ray Air Premium features a Mast foot insert for windsurfing and the 13’6” board comes with an extra bungee storage zone at the tail of the board for bringing even more gear or a second smaller rider.
Included Accessories
The Fly Air and Fly Air Premium both come with travel backpacks and a Fanatic Power Pump HP2. The Premium backpack has a few more upgraded features than the standard model. The standard backpack is simply a backpack; a place to store your board, it does have a large compartment on the front of the bag for accessories or smaller items; this is a feature the Premium version lacks. The Premium backpack does though, have wheels and a carrying handle at the top of the bag for easier transport. There are also padded shoulder straps with a hip strap for taking the weight off of your back. And finally there are loops for attaching accessories or gear to the outside of your bag. Whichever board you choose we recommend going for the Premium backpack for travelling with your Fly Air.
Taking it for a Spin
The perfect thickness of the Fly Air makes you feel like you’re sitting high and stable on top of the water. The Fly Air moves quicker across the water than the Premium because of its single fin system, this is perfect for those looking to surf or cruise. In order to slow down a bit and get a better handle on your turns, we recommend opting for the Fly Air Premium with a tri-fin system for better turns and a more controlled pace in the water.
Fanatic Fly Air
Fanatic Fly Air Premium
Likes and Dislikes
There isn’t much to not like about the Fly Air or the Premium from Fanatic. With two construction options giving us two very similar but very different boards, whatever we didn’t like about one board, was solved by the other.
Get Your Hands on One
Do you love the Fly Air already? If you are looking into getting your very own Fanatic inflatable SUP there are a few options available, you can order Fanatic boards from a number of places online or find an authorized dealer from the list provided on their website.
Last Words
The Fly Air and Fly Air Premium are both fantastic all-around iSUPs with something to offer just about everyone. We love the versatility of these boards with the option to go hard learning to ride some waves or just taking a long cruise for some alone time. The bungee storage system provides a place to bring a snack, secure your paddle and float around. The Mast foot insert gives you the option to try windsurfing without having to buy a completely separate board. Whatever it is you’re looking to do on a compact iSUP and wherever you want to do it, the Fly Air will be there to help you to get it done.
