If you are thinking about buying a kneeboard to mess around on, or to compete professionally with it is important to know the various parts of a kneeboard and how they affect you’re riding experience. Even if you’re just getting into this sport, we can help an amateur like you find the best equipment.
In order to help you with this task we have broken down the various kneeboard components that affect your riding style. Below is our breakdown of what to look for when shopping and a list of our recommended kneeboards.
Top 10 Best Beginner Kneeboards for the Money (2018)
| BOARDS | EDITOR RATING |
|---|---|
| O'Brien Radica Kneeboard with Hook |  (4.6 / 5) |
| Driftsun Kneeboard 2017 |  (4.2 / 5) |
| Hydroslide Havoc Kneeboard |  (4.4 / 5) |
| Hydroslide Revolution Kneeboard |  (4 / 5) |
| O'Brien Voodoo Kneeboard with Hook |  (4.3 / 5) |
| Hyperlite 2017 HO Joker Kneeboard |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Hydroslide Phantom Kneeboard |  (4.8 / 5) |
| O'Brien Ricochet Kneeboard with Hook | (4.6 / 5) |
| O'Brien Black Magic Kneeboard with Hook | (4.4 / 5) |
| HO Sports Proton Kneeboard with Powerlock Strap | (4.5 / 5) |
Level of Experience:
This has a huge level of impact on both the price that you should pay for a kneeboard as well as what type of kneeboard you should be buying for yourself. Generally speaking, if you are an experienced kneeboard user then you are going to want a board that is built for performance. If you are a beginner user, you will want a board that is very buoyant and stable in the water so that you can get used to riding it and be able to develop a proper riding style.
Beginner Kneeboard:
If you are a beginner, there are certain things that you should look for in order to make sure that you get a kneeboard that you can learn properly on. First of all you should set yourself a lower budget, unless you plan to kneeboard on a regular basis. The cheaper boards on the market are mostly meant to be used by beginner kneeboard riders and will do the job just fine. These types of boards will be made out of plastic and they will likely have a hollow center to them, which allows them to be quite buoyant on the water. Often times beginner boards will actually have fins on them, which allows the user to be able to have more maneuverability while riding the board.
Experienced Kneeboard:
These type of boards are generally made using a compression molding technique. This technique creates sharper edges on the board and allows you to be able to turn very quickly. The main reason that this type of board isn’t recommended for beginners is that it is harder to balance on and it isn’t as buoyant in the water. Being not as buoyant will make it harder for you to be able to start to kneeboard as well as the board will be submerged further into the water than that of a beginner board. These boards are more expensive than a beginner board, but they are also more durable and are designed to be both a lighter and a thinner design, which is ideal for tricks and playing around on.
Styles:
Generally speaking, you will find that there are two different styles of kneeboards available in the marketplace. The first type that you will come across in your search is called a slalom board. This type of board is used for a sport called slalom skiing. Slalom skiing is a high paced sport where you are dragged behind a boat and must go around the obstacles. A slalom board has fins on the bottom of it, which allow you to be able to steer more accurately. Additionally, this board also has sharp edges which allow you to be able to turn with ease. The other type of board that you will come across is called a trick board. This type of board uses rounded edges instead of sharp ones. The other difference between these two boards is that the bottom of a trick board is also rounded.
Strap:
One thing that you may want to keep your eye out for if you are looking to get a nice kneeboard, is a solid safety strap. Generally, a good quality board will have a Velcro strap on either side of the board. In order to make sure that you are safe when you are using the board, these straps need to be fairly strong so that they won’t come apart if you fall in the water. It is important, however, that you are able to slip out of these straps if you need to because otherwise wearing these straps could be extremely dangerous.
Knee Pad:
This is one aspect of a kneeboard that a lot of people pass over. This pad is essentially a soft pad located on the top of your board so that you are more comfortable when you are kneeling down on your board. Without the use of a good quality kneepad, not only will it make you uncomfortable, but it will also make it so that you get scratched up and sore knees.
Rocker:
If you want a board that is capable of traveling at fast speeds, then making sure that you have the right rocker for that purpose is extremely important. Generally the manufacturer of a kneeboard will state the amount of rocker that a board has in centimeters. If a board has a high number, this means that the board is going to be easier for you to be able to turn. If the board has a lower number, this means that the board is going to have an increased amount of speed as there will be less of the board in the water slowing it down.
Handles:
Depending on the purpose of the kneeboard, one thing that will differ from unit to unit is the handles on the board. You will generally find that knee board handles are around 15 inches wide so that you have plenty of room to grip onto the board. The wider grip allows you to be able to perform more tricks with ease as it allows you to be able to hold the handle behind your back if you want to. Sometimes kneeboard manufacturers will actually design a board to have more than one kind of a handle built into the design of a board to allow for even more tricks. One thing that you may want to look for is handles that are capable of floating as this will keep your board from getting away on you. Look for something called a neoprene foam float if you want to be able to have this feature on your board.
Rope:
Occasionally when you are looking at kneeboards, you may find that a rope comes with your purchase. It is a good idea to know what kind of rope is of a good quality, as well as what different types of ropes mean as far as how your kneeboard experience will go. Generally speaking you will find that kneeboard ropes range in length anywhere from 60-70 feet. It is important to have a rope that suits your riding style as a rope actually plays a huge role in your riding experience. There are two general types of ropes that you will come across in the marketplace. Here is a breakdown of the two types:
No Stretch Rope-
This type of rope is the ideal type of rope for a rider that wants to be able to perform tricks while on their kneeboard. A board that has no stretch will normally be made out of a material called Spectra. This type of material is built to be very durable with extremely low moisture absorption. This type of rope is ideal for experienced kneeboard users as it helps to keep the rope nice and light which is ideal for both transportation purposes, as well as getting setup on the water.
Low Stretch Rope-
This type of rope is best for someone who is an amateur rider and who wants to learn how to kneeboard. It is also a good board for people who don’t care to do a whole bunch of tricks. You will generally find that this rope is made out of a material called polyethylene or some kind of polyethylene blend. The best thing about this type of rope is that it can be used for both a kneeboard as well as water skiis. If you want to get a multi-purpose rope, even though this might be heavier than a no stretch rope, then this is the rope that you should consider purchasing or should look for when you are buying your board.
To Conclude:
Hopefully after reading this article you now have a better understanding of the various aspects of a kneeboard that affect you’re riding. It is always important to make sure that you know the company that you are buying from so that you can be sure that you are getting a good quality product. Even if you are buying from a well-known company, it is a good idea to look at the warranty and the return policy of the unit that you are thinking of purchasing so that you can be sure that you are covered down the road. Best of luck with finding yourself an awesome kneeboard and good luck out on the water!
Man doing kneeboarding stunt by microgen/DepositPhotos
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