Great overview! I am a 140kg friend of gravity and am using the Gladiator Pro 12.6W version for a month now, at 20PSI people tell me that it is almost not bending at all! This board made the difference between me being sad and disappointed that I am too heavy for this great sports and me going for tours almost daily, already losing weight, feeling healthier and happier and already looking forward to losing more weight until i can check out the speedy racing boards :) BTW: the German brand "Sportime" is the OEM of Gladiator and is producing its own "Seegleiter" Boards which are technically the same but have a kickpad and a different, rough, eva pad. Same price range, same technical data, different design but when ordering you can customize the equipment that the board comes with
Amazing! So great to hear. It's really cool that you pumped the board up a bit more to suit your weight. Sounds like it is working for you. Thanks for sharing those insights. Beau
Great story! I just ordered 2 12.6 pro from Sportime, they're already on the way and I can't wait to see how they perform. Did you had any quality issues, there are some people complaining about glue residue, worn of rails and quality issues with the deck. I hope our boards are fine, I don't mind a little glue residue or a little scratch here or there, there will be more soon but especially the deck is something I'm not 100% sure. We'll see, if it's ok, the 12.6 Gladiator Pro is easily the best SUP in this price range. It's got ALL the features you want and it's on sale allready so it's eve cheaper now. There's better for sure but you're likely spending double the money for it ...
Can't stress the leash topic enough! It's a small thing that people keep forgetting about but it has so much impact... We've been paddeling last week with borrowed boards and they had no leash, the lake where we've been was pretty shallow so you could just walk but it had a deep mud layer so you could get stuck when you fall in ... so we went for the tour, our kids on the board (with life jackets for sure!), it was a bit windy but nothing too bad. But then guess what happened, my wife went of the board on the tail end which pushed the board away and she got stuck in the mud almost waist deep. The wind pushed the board with our son on it away and she had not chance to get back because she was stuck. We've been in a group with friends so it was no big deal, we immediately secured the board and my wife and had a wonderful trip after that but imagine what could happen if you're alone or further apart of each other, maybe on the open sea or a really big lake...
Really useful overview, thank you Reuben. 6383 views and only 56 likes... a shame people can't spend that extra second to add a like for your very informative video. I'm new to SUP, but wanted a good unbiased review of the Gladiator range and they seem to tick all the boxes, but with that crucial 4.7/5 inch height advantage.
Additional info…. 1/05/22 At the time these Gladiator range overview videos were filmed (several months ago), SUPboarder was informed Gladiator was a Latvian registered company and at that point the team didn’t look any further into it. More recently, following the start of the conflicts in Ukraine, and online discussions following the videos becoming live, SUPboarder has done further research to understand the background and ownership of the brand. Our research shows that Gladiator is a Latvian registered company, with Iurii Dunin being the owner who lives in Latvia with Latvian residency, Originally born in Russia. The boards are made in a Chinese factory that is owned by Iurii with the help of Aquatech Solutions Limited who are the investment capital from Hong Kong . SUPboarder organised these reviews in autumn 2021 with FC UP, the UK distributor of the brand (a UK company) who manage a lot of the product development and marketing of the brand. Gladiator is not a direct sale brand, and therefore has many distribution partners around the world. SUPboarder is always committed to delivering honest information to help you make the best informed decisions throughout your SUP journey. And we therefore felt it was only right to share this additional information with you following our research More info here: docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRm3Q81fjlzy8L5DN4cJlC9FMi2TNcj_NmrToVJ90G5o40hXQk6UdFJ60oCE39qLHwkJusj-in25c_C/pub
Many thanks for this very interesting review. It was really helpful and supporting me in moving to this type of board/brand. I have a basic question on which I would really appreciate your support. Being 173 cm with 75kg of weight, I am really struggling in choosing between 11.2 or 11.4 with 4.7 or 11.6 with 5.9…I would use it mostly on lake (flat water) carrying around 5kg of extra load but some flexibility for sea usage and eventually touring in 2 would be useful… Many thanks for any advice.
Nice models but dark blue colour pick for a sup board looks a bit confusing. Will a 300 liters, say, 18-22 psi inflated board survive a direct sunlight for a full day trip in the 28'C warm sea without any issue? I doubt that, especially one should think of the pressure the board will sustain when taken from the water to the hot gravel shore during athlete's rest. My SUP board of the same quality, being totally white, exploded in the sunlight once was taken out of the water. Obviously the dark color will increase impact of temperature on the sunny day.
I really like your informative reviews. Well done, thanks a lot. I hear only good things about the Gladiator Pro boards, but I was wondering if the have a proofen record over a longer period in regrads to quality? From performance point of view the Pro range would be a good fit for me, but would the Elite range give more durability (based on the technology)? Alternatively I consider getting a STX Tourer. As sub-brand of Naish I would think they have a proofen quality record. Any advice you can give on that?
From customer reviews, we have heard both the Gladiator and STX boards are well built and riders are generally happy with the durability, lasting a number of years. As for the technology, if the Pro range suits you best, it will offer similar durability. The main difference is in the weight as the Elite constriction is lighter. Both great brands to choose. Hope this helps with your decision. Thanks, Beau
We have the 11'4 PRO and Elite in an upcoming SUPboarder PRO head to Head test with another 12 products in the same category so be sure to watch out for that
Both are very similar. The bluefin is a little heavier with the materials and fittings they use and likely more stiff because of it. Speed wise, they are fairly equal. Hope this helps. Beau
Hi, I'm struggling to choose which one, the weight is important to me, and the gladiator website doesn't seem to have the correct weights for the boards, iv asked a number of sup shops and they say the factory sheet says something different, and one said they'd weighed them and gave me different weights, and you, again, said a different weight! 🤦♀️ What would make so many different answers? And how to I find the correct one!! I'm looking for weights on the origin 10'6 kd 28" x 4.7" Pro 11'2 x 30" x 4.7" Elite 11'2 x 30" x 4.7" Your help would be much appreciated!
Hi and thanks for your question. There's usually some slight variation in weights on the board company website as each board is different when manufacturing - but only expect +/- 5% difference. Weighing the boards could be done with the fin in or out which might change the weight slightly too. I would ask the SUP shops to weight the boards if they can, but there shouldn't be a massive difference. We haven't reviewed all of those boards so unfortunately we can't tell you our weights. Hope this helps a little. Thanks, Beau
Oooh tough choice. Both great boards. We think you would be happy with either purchase. Quroc doing some really great things as a company in terms of sustainability and support for charities which might sway the decision. Hope that helps. Thanks, Beau
Hi, I'm looking for a budget friendly touring board, undecided between the Galdiator Pro 12'6 x 32 x 5.9 and the Shark T 12'6 x 32 x 6 (I'm 5'5, 85kg and wanting to carry some stuff too). The two boards are similar price points. What would you recommend, please?
Hey Rebecca. Very good question. These boards even feel very similar on the water. I would be pushed more towards the sharks, because of the better bungee set up and environmental awareness with the brand. But which one do you like the look of? Both very well-made boards that I feel will last. Thanks Reuben
Does the extra layer of rail really makes it that much stronger than the original? Where I’m located the pro version costs around 300 more than its original counterpart, a wheeled bag on its own costs just over 100. So I’m debating between the original and the pro…..
The extra layer increases stiffness and strength to a degree. If you look after it though, it would last just as long as other boards. If you are a heavier rider or need the extra stiffness, then the extra layer might be worth it. The board would give you better performance and feel. Hope this helps. Thanks, Beau
Well spotted. It seems to be a typo on the Gladiator website. From our experience, 135kg would be the max for this board in both constructions. Thanks, Beau
The back of the SUPs should be flat, Unless your looking at the bump described in this video.th-cam.com/video/KrqpetnWSuc/w-d-xo.html&lc=Ugz2uDjGCwgtv1zmwN14AaABAg
Hi, I'm interested in purchasing a board. I'm 6ft 1inch and weigh around 85kg. I have a lot of experience paddling hard boards (425pro). I want something quite advanced. Which size would you recommend please.
Oooh tough question. Lots to consider like what type of paddling you want to do and how you want the board to perform. Assume you are looking for an iSUP with the comment on the Gladiator video? Or a hard board? Going narrower will give you added speed and sensitivity. But if you are touring or paddling in choppy water, you might want something with a bit of stability. Let us know what you are thinking and we can help. Beau
Gladiator seem to have created a very competitive product. Based on dimensions, weight and deflection test results, the Gladiator Pro 10'6 is almost identical to the Quroc Qi Crossover. The Crossover does come with a full carbon paddle (rather than the carbon shaft and nylon blade) and seems to have better bungee arrangement and a deckpad that extends more towards the rear of the board, presumably making it easier to execute step back turns, but does that justify the bigger price tag, or am I better off saving £200 and going for a Gladiator Pro instead?
Really good comment and question. The Quroc boards are very well designed with good shapes and deck layouts like you have suggested. The big difference for me is the look of the boards, the Gladiator ranges is a very good looking range of boards but the Quroc is quite a boring and bland range... Almost no frills. When you're paddling them and they're performance I would say that they are both equal to each other and the bill quality also. But the pro range of gladiator does have a better more refined nose shape, which will give it the edge in choppy waters. Pending on what board you were looking at in Quroc. The overall package is outstanding though with the Quick release leashes and the extra dry bag. A bit like you have highlighted, the price tag of the gladiators is very good. Hope that helps a bit thanks Reuben
Does anyone know the origin country of the Gladiator brand? All I can find from googling is that it is Eastern Europe. For me it does make a difference if it is Russian or not.
Hi Mikael this is what we now know and have subsequently added to the post. ........... At the time these Gladiator range overview videos were filmed (several months ago), SUPboarder was informed Gladiator was a Latvian registered company and at that point the team didn’t look any further into it. More recently, following the start of the conflicts in Ukraine, and online discussions following the videos becoming live, SUPboarder has done further research to understand the background and ownership of the brand. Our research shows that Gladiator is a Latvian registered company, with Iurii Dunin being the owner who lives in Latvia with Latvian residency, Originally born in Russia. The boards are made in a Chinese factory that is owned by Iurii with the help of Aquatech Solutions Limited who are the investment capital from Hong Kong . SUPboarder organised these reviews in autumn 2021 with FC UP, the UK distributor of the brand (a UK company) who manage a lot of the product development and marketing of the brand. Gladiator is not a direct sale brand, and therefore has many distribution partners around the world. SUPboarder is always committed to delivering honest information to help you make the best informed decisions throughout your SUP journey. And we therefore felt it was only right to share this additional information with you following our research
Great overview!
I am a 140kg friend of gravity and am using the Gladiator Pro 12.6W version for a month now, at 20PSI people tell me that it is almost not bending at all! This board made the difference between me being sad and disappointed that I am too heavy for this great sports and me going for tours almost daily, already losing weight, feeling healthier and happier and already looking forward to losing more weight until i can check out the speedy racing boards :)
BTW: the German brand "Sportime" is the OEM of Gladiator and is producing its own "Seegleiter" Boards which are technically the same but have a kickpad and a different, rough, eva pad. Same price range, same technical data, different design but when ordering you can customize the equipment that the board comes with
Amazing! So great to hear. It's really cool that you pumped the board up a bit more to suit your weight. Sounds like it is working for you. Thanks for sharing those insights. Beau
Great story! I just ordered 2 12.6 pro from Sportime, they're already on the way and I can't wait to see how they perform. Did you had any quality issues, there are some people complaining about glue residue, worn of rails and quality issues with the deck. I hope our boards are fine, I don't mind a little glue residue or a little scratch here or there, there will be more soon but especially the deck is something I'm not 100% sure. We'll see, if it's ok, the 12.6 Gladiator Pro is easily the best SUP in this price range. It's got ALL the features you want and it's on sale allready so it's eve cheaper now. There's better for sure but you're likely spending double the money for it ...
Can't stress the leash topic enough! It's a small thing that people keep forgetting about but it has so much impact...
We've been paddeling last week with borrowed boards and they had no leash, the lake where we've been was pretty shallow so you could just walk but it had a deep mud layer so you could get stuck when you fall in ... so we went for the tour, our kids on the board (with life jackets for sure!), it was a bit windy but nothing too bad. But then guess what happened, my wife went of the board on the tail end which pushed the board away and she got stuck in the mud almost waist deep. The wind pushed the board with our son on it away and she had not chance to get back because she was stuck. We've been in a group with friends so it was no big deal, we immediately secured the board and my wife and had a wonderful trip after that but imagine what could happen if you're alone or further apart of each other, maybe on the open sea or a really big lake...
Thanks for sharing this experience. Leashes save lives. Hopefully a better experience for you when you next head out 👍
Really useful overview, thank you Reuben. 6383 views and only 56 likes... a shame people can't spend that extra second to add a like for your very informative video. I'm new to SUP, but wanted a good unbiased review of the Gladiator range and they seem to tick all the boxes, but with that crucial 4.7/5 inch height advantage.
Hey Pete. Thanks for the kind words. Put a smile of my face. Happy paddling Reuben
Additional info…. 1/05/22
At the time these Gladiator range overview videos were filmed (several months ago), SUPboarder was informed Gladiator was a Latvian registered company and at that point the team didn’t look any further into it. More recently, following the start of the conflicts in Ukraine, and online discussions following the videos becoming live, SUPboarder has done further research to understand the background and ownership of the brand.
Our research shows that Gladiator is a Latvian registered company, with Iurii Dunin being the owner who lives in Latvia with Latvian residency, Originally born in Russia. The boards are made in a Chinese factory that is owned by Iurii with the help of Aquatech Solutions Limited who are the investment capital from Hong Kong .
SUPboarder organised these reviews in autumn 2021 with FC UP, the UK distributor of the brand (a UK company) who manage a lot of the product development and marketing of the brand. Gladiator is not a direct sale brand, and therefore has many distribution partners around the world.
SUPboarder is always committed to delivering honest information to help you make the best informed decisions throughout your SUP journey. And we therefore felt it was only right to share this additional information with you following our research
More info here: docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRm3Q81fjlzy8L5DN4cJlC9FMi2TNcj_NmrToVJ90G5o40hXQk6UdFJ60oCE39qLHwkJusj-in25c_C/pub
Good to see the upgraded fin. Last year's version the fin was made out of angel delight!
Yes, us too
Many thanks for this very interesting review. It was really helpful and supporting me in moving to this type of board/brand. I have a basic question on which I would really appreciate your support. Being 173 cm with 75kg of weight, I am really struggling in choosing between 11.2 or 11.4 with 4.7 or 11.6 with 5.9…I would use it mostly on lake (flat water) carrying around 5kg of extra load but some flexibility for sea usage and eventually touring in 2 would be useful…
Many thanks for any advice.
Go for the 11'4 x 4.75". You will have more balance and it will feel better in the water. Enjoy!
Nice models but dark blue colour pick for a sup board looks a bit confusing. Will a 300 liters, say, 18-22 psi inflated board survive a direct sunlight for a full day trip in the 28'C warm sea without any issue? I doubt that, especially one should think of the pressure the board will sustain when taken from the water to the hot gravel shore during athlete's rest. My SUP board of the same quality, being totally white, exploded in the sunlight once was taken out of the water. Obviously the dark color will increase impact of temperature on the sunny day.
I really like your informative reviews. Well done, thanks a lot.
I hear only good things about the Gladiator Pro boards, but I was wondering if the have a proofen record over a longer period in regrads to quality?
From performance point of view the Pro range would be a good fit for me, but would the Elite range give more durability (based on the technology)?
Alternatively I consider getting a STX Tourer. As sub-brand of Naish I would think they have a proofen quality record.
Any advice you can give on that?
From customer reviews, we have heard both the Gladiator and STX boards are well built and riders are generally happy with the durability, lasting a number of years. As for the technology, if the Pro range suits you best, it will offer similar durability. The main difference is in the weight as the Elite constriction is lighter. Both great brands to choose. Hope this helps with your decision. Thanks, Beau
We have the 11'4 PRO and Elite in an upcoming SUPboarder PRO head to Head test with another 12 products in the same category so be sure to watch out for that
When will you release the video?
Love the design
glad you like them
hi, great review, wondering how this holds up to the bluefin sprint 14' interms of speed and stiffness, thanks!
Both are very similar. The bluefin is a little heavier with the materials and fittings they use and likely more stiff because of it. Speed wise, they are fairly equal. Hope this helps. Beau
Have you tested the 4 in 1 gladiator. Do you know where it fits in the range origin,pro,elite
Cheers
Not ever ridden this one but we think its ORIGIN construction from lookign at the website at SUP Inflatables.
make a revew of the gladiator 11.4!
Thanks for the request Sava
Hi, I'm struggling to choose which one, the weight is important to me, and the gladiator website doesn't seem to have the correct weights for the boards, iv asked a number of sup shops and they say the factory sheet says something different, and one said they'd weighed them and gave me different weights, and you, again, said a different weight! 🤦♀️
What would make so many different answers? And how to I find the correct one!!
I'm looking for weights on the
origin 10'6 kd 28" x 4.7"
Pro 11'2 x 30" x 4.7"
Elite 11'2 x 30" x 4.7"
Your help would be much appreciated!
Hi and thanks for your question. There's usually some slight variation in weights on the board company website as each board is different when manufacturing - but only expect +/- 5% difference. Weighing the boards could be done with the fin in or out which might change the weight slightly too.
I would ask the SUP shops to weight the boards if they can, but there shouldn't be a massive difference.
We haven't reviewed all of those boards so unfortunately we can't tell you our weights.
Hope this helps a little.
Thanks, Beau
Gladiator Pro or Elite or Quroc ?? 12'6" x 30" Which would you go for ?
Oooh tough choice. Both great boards. We think you would be happy with either purchase. Quroc doing some really great things as a company in terms of sustainability and support for charities which might sway the decision. Hope that helps. Thanks, Beau
Hi, I'm looking for a budget friendly touring board, undecided between the Galdiator Pro 12'6 x 32 x 5.9 and the Shark T 12'6 x 32 x 6 (I'm 5'5, 85kg and wanting to carry some stuff too). The two boards are similar price points. What would you recommend, please?
Hey Rebecca. Very good question. These boards even feel very similar on the water. I would be pushed more towards the sharks, because of the better bungee set up and environmental awareness with the brand. But which one do you like the look of? Both very well-made boards that I feel will last. Thanks Reuben
Does the extra layer of rail really makes it that much stronger than the original? Where I’m located the pro version costs around 300 more than its original counterpart, a wheeled bag on its own costs just over 100. So I’m debating between the original and the pro…..
The extra layer increases stiffness and strength to a degree. If you look after it though, it would last just as long as other boards. If you are a heavier rider or need the extra stiffness, then the extra layer might be worth it. The board would give you better performance and feel. Hope this helps. Thanks, Beau
Sorry, I don't understand English well. Why is there no sup 11.2 in your review? I would really like to see him.
Sorry we couldn't include the 11'2 in the review. We only had the most common sizes for the boards. Hope you found the video helpful anyway, Beau
Hi, Gladiator Origin 10'8 max carrying capacity 220kg, Gladiator pro 10'8 max carrying capacity 135kg...Why such a difference?
Well spotted. It seems to be a typo on the Gladiator website. From our experience, 135kg would be the max for this board in both constructions. Thanks, Beau
Is the back of the board a little raised like the front ?
The back of the SUPs should be flat, Unless your looking at the bump described in this video.th-cam.com/video/KrqpetnWSuc/w-d-xo.html&lc=Ugz2uDjGCwgtv1zmwN14AaABAg
@SUPboardermag I mean if the whole board is normal to be U shaped or straight ?
Hi, I'm interested in purchasing a board. I'm 6ft 1inch and weigh around 85kg. I have a lot of experience paddling hard boards (425pro). I want something quite advanced. Which size would you recommend please.
Oooh tough question. Lots to consider like what type of paddling you want to do and how you want the board to perform. Assume you are looking for an iSUP with the comment on the Gladiator video? Or a hard board?
Going narrower will give you added speed and sensitivity. But if you are touring or paddling in choppy water, you might want something with a bit of stability. Let us know what you are thinking and we can help. Beau
Gladiator seem to have created a very competitive product. Based on dimensions, weight and deflection test results, the Gladiator Pro 10'6 is almost identical to the Quroc Qi Crossover. The Crossover does come with a full carbon paddle (rather than the carbon shaft and nylon blade) and seems to have better bungee arrangement and a deckpad that extends more towards the rear of the board, presumably making it easier to execute step back turns, but does that justify the bigger price tag, or am I better off saving £200 and going for a Gladiator Pro instead?
Really good comment and question. The Quroc boards are very well designed with good shapes and deck layouts like you have suggested. The big difference for me is the look of the boards, the Gladiator ranges is a very good looking range of boards but the Quroc is quite a boring and bland range... Almost no frills.
When you're paddling them and they're performance I would say that they are both equal to each other and the bill quality also. But the pro range of gladiator does have a better more refined nose shape, which will give it the edge in choppy waters.
Pending on what board you were looking at in Quroc. The overall package is outstanding though with the Quick release leashes and the extra dry bag.
A bit like you have highlighted, the price tag of the gladiators is very good. Hope that helps a bit thanks Reuben
Does anyone know the origin country of the Gladiator brand? All I can find from googling is that it is Eastern Europe. For me it does make a difference if it is Russian or not.
Slovakia I believe
Hi Mikael this is what we now know and have subsequently added to the post. ...........
At the time these Gladiator range overview videos were filmed (several months ago), SUPboarder was informed Gladiator was a Latvian registered company and at that point the team didn’t look any further into it. More recently, following the start of the conflicts in Ukraine, and online discussions following the videos becoming live, SUPboarder has done further research to understand the background and ownership of the brand.
Our research shows that Gladiator is a Latvian registered company, with Iurii Dunin being the owner who lives in Latvia with Latvian residency, Originally born in Russia. The boards are made in a Chinese factory that is owned by Iurii with the help of Aquatech Solutions Limited who are the investment capital from Hong Kong .
SUPboarder organised these reviews in autumn 2021 with FC UP, the UK distributor of the brand (a UK company) who manage a lot of the product development and marketing of the brand. Gladiator is not a direct sale brand, and therefore has many distribution partners around the world.
SUPboarder is always committed to delivering honest information to help you make the best informed decisions throughout your SUP journey. And we therefore felt it was only right to share this additional information with you following our research