Here’s a little clip from a trip down the Upper Colorado on the brand new Hala Yula from Hala Gear. This is a brand new board that’s designed specifically for running rivers. I’m not a huge down river paddler, but I love to try out new boards and I thought I’d share this video as well as a few initial thoughts.

The Yula is a unique shape for an inflatable SUP. The shape is similar to the Badfish MVP-S in that it carries most of its volume in the nose and has forgiving chined rails. But the fact that the Yula is inflatable, sets it apart from the MVP-S in a few ways.

First, inflatables are nearly indestructible making them a great choice for down river standup paddling in shallow water. I’ve yet to put a hole in an inflatable board, but I’ve dinged almost every other hard board I own.

Second, the transportation of inflatables is something to consider. Most whitewater specific hard boards are very heavy, bulky, and difficult to transport. The ability to roll up your board and toss it into the trunk of your car can be clutch.

Third, the weight of the Yula is far lighter than the MVP-S. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better, just different. A heavier board will tend to punch through sticky holes easier because it will keep its momentum. Lighter boards are easier to maneuver and change directions. The choice to go with a lighter board vs a heavier board is mostly personal preference.

This board isn’t designed for river surfing, but it did fairly well in that area. Its main strengths lay in its river running abilities. If you’re looking for a whitewater, down river specific standup paddle board, the Yula is definitely worth considering.

Written by | Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a land locked surfer living in Colorado. He gets his surfing fix on the local rivers, where he SUP surfs standing waves.