Woven Dropstitch

LESS STRETCH AND HIGHER STRENGTH

For five years we have been trying to create a new, innovative technology for our inflatable paddleboards. We wanted them to be lighter, stronger, stiffer, more responsive. We got it wrong - a lot.

We could build boards that were lighter… but the materials warped and the double-wall fabric was uneven and started to separate in the sun. They were hard to laminate. They would wrinkle when rolled. We could build boards that were stiffer, but they were more expensive… and heavier.

Much heavier. But after getting it wrong – as we said, a lot, we’ve made this: a new weave with a perfect stretch to stiffness ratio.

The new woven technology process starts with glue-free PVC lamination on the top and bottom of the board. Inside the inflatable paddle board, we have our new weave on the top and base. This weave provides a structure for the polyester yarns – which gives the inflatable paddleboard its shape. The weave has less give than the traditional knitting method. Knitted fibres have soft and stretchy properties, whereas this new weaving is superior in stiffness, reflex and rigidity.

But it’s not just about adding on – we’ve also taken away, cutting weight by 1.5 kilograms on average. The yarn threads are reduced per square centimetre for better reflex. Less plastic and a lighter paddle board. Less weight, faster acceleration, easier to carry. With our new Woven Dropstitch Technology, our inflatable paddle boards are not only lighter, but stronger and stiffer. Better in every way.

Woven Dropstitch Technology. It’s the future.