HONU Sorrento 2022 – Review
12'6 x 30 x 5.9 - 330L Reviewed by us on Oct 3, 2022
Category: Touring & Exploring Equipment & Reviews Featured Level: Advanced Intermediate
“The Sorrento is a standout stiff and light board. Tourers or fast cruisers will love it.”
We reviewed the
12'6 x 30 x 5.9 - 330L
Construction: Inflatable
Technology: X Woven, Welded Carbon Rails
RRP: $1090,
Level: Advanced Intermediate
Category: Touring & Exploring Equipment & Reviews Featured
Year: 2022
Max rider weight: 110kg
Size variations
12'6 x 30 x 5.9 - 330L
What we say
Last year the 2021 Honu Sorrento was a test winning board in our Touring board. But that didn’t stop Honu from working hard on their 2022 board to make it even better. With its new rail construction the 2022 Honu Sorrento is, for its weight, the stiffest board we have ever tested! This is a board that many different paddlers will enjoy for many different reasons.
Got a question about this product?
Our RCMD rider weight: 110kg
Board weight: 9.8kg
Fin set up: Single
Pros: A really well finished board with great brand backing. The overall weight and stiffness is a massive pro. Handles and bungees are well placed, ready for the more adventurous tourer. Comes with a very comfortable bag.
Cons: The board is so good the plastic fin seems cheap and basic for the level of package. A more refined nose with less thickness would give the Sorrento even better performance in choppy waters. Lighter paddlers who aren't loading the board up and touring, should maybe look towards a thinner board, with a lower paddling feel.
Consider buying if... you want to get the lightest and stiffest board that you can find to go touring or faster cruising.
Review gallery
All size specifications
12'6 x 30 x 5.9 - 330L
Construction: Inflatable
RRP: $1090,
Level: Advanced Intermediate
Category: Touring & Exploring Equipment & Reviews Featured
Year: 2022
Max rider weight: 110kg
Board ratings
12'6 x 30 x 5.9 - 330L
Note: Products are rated/compared to other similar (style/construction) products on the market.
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What our readers say
Based on 4 user reviews.
Do you like the look of this product?
100%0%Do you think its good value for money?
100%0%Are you happy with its performance?
50%0%Reader Feedback
“Light, stiff, fast.”
“Great performance, especially at this price.”
How product could be improved
“I bought a neoprene handle wrap (for the nylon handle). Balance is a little off with a fin mounted (handle location). I've got a number of aftermarket fins that I use on this board. The touring fin is fine to begin and as nice as any other board at this price point.”
“Handle is a little off with fin attached (back heavy). Handle would be better fully wrapped in neoprene, Better fin. Sharper noise would make it faster.”
“Being 4.7"”
“I've bough the 2021 version and I'm very happy with the performance.”
Have your say
Help others make the right kit choices and help brands improve their products. It’s a win win.
What the brand says
“Go far, go fast”
Forget everything you think you know about inflatable SUP's. This award-winning touring SUP combines technology, materials, and advanced construction to deliver an inspired paddling experience. And it does so in a sleek, timeless style.
When the 2021 Sorrento won the award against the biggest SUP brands in the world, we were already deep into the 2022 redesign. We had some bold plans to take what we already knew to be a great board and make it an industry benchmark, and was in the early stage of prototyping our new rail construction.
We have taken a great board and made it even better!
Designed for those wanting to paddle further, it has enough anchor points for your backpack, water bottle, snacks and extra clothing. At 12'6" long by 30" wide, the Sorrento paddles easily in a straight line while remaining stable enough for all but total beginner paddle boarders. This sweet spot of speed and stability makes it the perfect board for riders who want to go far, fast, on their morning SUP paddle or lead the way on a weekend camping adventure.
So what is new in 2022? The board keeps its 5.9" thickness crafted from our light & strong X-woven material and overall outline, but from here, we launch into a list of improvements, some of which are 100% unique to Honu. The welded rails is something we are very proud of, but as you will see, we have made improvements just about everywhere.
Welded Carbon Rails
The rail is now constructed using heat+pressure welding that mechanically fuses the inner rail with a 25mm wide strip. This process is complex and tedious but forms a highly durable join. Then a 50mm carbon rail is bonded into the rail for added stiffness and protection before the outer rail is finally applied. When taking a close look at the rails on the new Sorrento, you will see a series of parallel lines. It is this complexity of our construction that creates these.
Stacked Carbon Stringers
The carbon stringer is now reduced to 50mm top and bottom for 2022, but is bonded under a 150mm vinyl strip. This stacked construction has improved the board's stiffness while simplifying the styling of the board, something we are sure our paddlers will appreciate.
Upgraded Accessories
It is delivered with the all-new Sorrento SUP backpack with a larger front pocket and improved side storage areas. The wheeled backpack also gets improved shoulder straps that are more contoured and padded for longer hikes into remote paddling spots.
And like all the range of 2022 boards, the Sorrento comes with a Bravo SUPer pump, the best hand pump available. (in our humble opinion )
Hi SUPboarder, very impressive stiffness indeed!
What board would you recommend for my partner and I who are 1,69m for 60kg, and 1,82m for 72kg, for day cruising or overnight adventure? (if that board would be too big/sick)
Hi Antoine, thanks for the comment. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out the iSUP touring test we did: https://supboardermag.com/2021/08/16/inflatable-touring-test-2021-supboarder-pro-head-to-head/ – lots of great info in there to help you with a decision. As you’re both lighter riders, opting for 5″ thick board might offer a better feeling if you don’t plan to take lots of gear with you. Choosing the right board has a lot of factors to think about like your ability level, paddling conditions and location for boards available. Look at the range of touring boards from Shark SUP, Starboard, RED, Gladiator, etc for ideas… Read more »
Hi there,
I have the starboard Go 10.8 hard board. Please tell me is the Sorento faster ? and does it track better ? Please compare the two boards for me . Thanks
Hey Cam yes to both. It will be faster and it will have better tracking. The Go will give you more stability and be better when playing in any surf or waves. For paddling further and faster the Honu will be better for that.
Interesting Reuben,
I watched your Takhine go 10.8 review and you said that a hard board will give you better tracking and glide than an isup. but I guess you were thinking Go hard board compared to the igo isup. And maybe the Sorento is less sticky than the average ISUP cause of its stiffness and lite weight ? Also I question if the Go 10.8 would be good in the surf and chop with the concave bottom ?
The Honu Sorento looks like a good compact board to sprint on the lake for fitness No ?
Good question and well observed. Definitely like you have said if you had the same size hard or inflatable board the hardboard would give you more stability better tracking and faster speed. But as soon as your inflatable board gets longer definitely over the mid 11′ in lengths, even though its inflatable it will have a bigger advantage compared to a shorter composite board. The Sorrento will just be a great all-round faster paddling iSUP that will take you places.
Thanks Reuben
I had the red paddle Sport 12.6 for a while. One thing I didnt really like is that I felt high off the water and disconnected. The Go has a more connected feeling.
I imagine the Honu will have the same disconnected corky feeling from the water. Also, the Sport never felt fast to me. It was pretty heavy at 27 pounds, maybe thats why it felt slow.How would you compare the Sorrento to the 12.6 red sport ?
Thanks
They Cam, the Sorrento felt a bit quicker than the sport but not by much. The feel on the water was about the same. Sorry for slow reply on this.
I think I will cross the sorento off my list then. I find the sunnova 2 piece system very interesting. but pricey. I could put a touring or race board completely in my 8 foot truck box and close the gate and lock the canopy. however I would have to sell the truck to pay for the board 🙂
The 2 pc boards do look interesting but unfortunately we haven’t used any yet.