Fanatic AllWave 8'10" Review

[crtraveler]

STC is going to post a review soon..... just wanted to make it a little easier for him...(hey bro, I got it started....isn't that the hard part?)

Looking for a new "surf" board.... is this the one??

Back to the Fanatic....hopefully I'll get a chance to ride it in person in a couple weeks....
Let's here all about it......??!!.......

[supthecreek]

I promised a few Zoners I would do a review of my new 8’10 Allwave.(he beat me to it)

Rider specs:
65 years old – 209 lbs
I demand performance in all surf
I like a stable board for 4 hour sessions
I like a little width.. I am NOT a masochist.
I like my boards tough…one MUST fund its successor… I can NOT afford a broken board.

Board specs:
8’10 x 31 x 4.5------ 146 ltr
Have not weighed it yet… probably around 20 llbs… not real light but decent.
Newest models now have  "ledge" handle. It is THE best handle in the business… full recess and wide opening. You can easily wear 7 mil wetsuit claw gloves and have room to spare.
Thank you Fanatic
Single concave to double concave with a strong "V" running from the front 3rd through the tail
Three fin only...2 x 5" side bites  1 x 5.8" center...no quad option
HRS construction.... very tough.

The story:
This is my 3rd Allwave. I started with the 9’6 x 32 last April
I added the 9’10 Last June as a small wave and flat-water board
I have been really happy with both of them.

As I lost considerable weight living the primal lifestyle… it was time to reduce.

I loved the Allwaves but I was ready to try something new.
I searched, inquired, looked, browsed and goggled looking for my next board.

My surf SUP is a one board quiver… it has to do it all.
Sizable R.I. Pointbreaks and fast hollow Cape Cod beachbreaks

I liked the SimSUP idea… but could not commit without demos… and there weren’t any here yet.

I fell in love with a few boards, but each had drawbacks… great if I could afford multiple surf SUPs.

A friend has an 8’10 Allwave. He had shoulder surgery and let me use his board for a week.
We had great waves during my demo week. The 8’10 handled everything... and did it well.

Great drive and hold on the hardest bottom turns on overhead beachbreak…It is easy off the top (my 9’6 was a bit too slow off the top) and snap backs are crisp. Down the line rail to rail pumping is a breeze and you can totally bury the rail on a lay down bottom turn.
It is an entirely new surf experience than my 9’6… I couldn’t be happier.
My surfing can now go to the next level.

I immediately ordered one from JimK on Sunday… he got it on Friday. I drove to JimK-Land on Saturday and had a good surf with Jim and Dave (SupnSurf) on Sunday morning. We had a great time with just the 3 of us on some clean 4 ft waves.

I love my 8’10 Allwave.
It does everything I want from a board.
It is stable for a smallish board
And… it is Allwave tough. No need for rail tape. No chips, cracks or paint wearing off
I was not wild about the blue color this year… but the other day… I traded in the water with a friend for an hour. I was amazed how beautiful the board looks… very crisp and clean... It “pops” in the water.

The Allwave deck pad and stomper is perfect. VERY grippy and comfortable underfoot.

I gotta add.... the Allwave will do something most "shorter" boards will NOT do... I swear, with God as my witness...(and my proner friend Mark)  I got to "Hang 10" on my 8'10 the other day... not once... but twice. For more than a moment... it felt controlled and... "Right"
The 1st time I was so psyched I rode it into the water at the end. The 2nd time I was able to walk it back before close out. I think being much shorter and thinner than my 9'6 allowed the fins to stay engaged. I was able to stay perched, first with a clean "5".....then "10"... for 30 yards, while maneuvering the board from the tip. It was a great easy feel. Luckily, I had just applied Re-Rek to the nose... Allwaves are very good noseriders.... in my book... a great feature

What can I say?... I'm in a rut... and loving it
Here are some pictures to show the board and the new Ledge handle.

[linter]

  30 yards?  where's God?  I want a witness.  And where exactly is that wave?
  Anyway .... my 9-6 simsup is supposed to arrive to today, con-way and You Know Who (see above) willing.  Come on down and let's swap for few minutes!

[Geoff C]

Creek, I think you just sold me my next board. Was gonna go for the 9'6" but now,hmmm. nice work buddy.

[crtraveler]

Thanks Creek!!  I'm looking forward to giving it a spin if possible....  if you get a chance to weigh it, I'd be very curious...  thanks bro

[supthecreek]

Geoff
I still have my 9'6... you are welcome to borrow it ....
As you may know, I managed to get the 9'6 body slammed int a jetty this winter.
Minor dings got repaired immediately...
But...I sent it off to have the repairs reworked (wasn't happy with the finish)
It should be back in 2 weeks.
We can water swap with my 8'10 anytime

Linter....
--may be waves in LinterLand next weekend... it will be an 8'10 and TipSUP surf fest.
Ahhh crap... it's Memorial Day weekend... that will be a challenge... but... not at DAWN
--The wave is a secret sandbar that has an incredible noseriding section on the inside... it just keeps jacking in front of you.... a dream wave for my backside. I noseride better backside... I like the control I get with my "down rail" foot.
--My witness is Mark "pig dog" longboarder... who was paddling out...hooting

I have always been a good noserider... but I have never been a "Tip" rider. I just felt extremely comfortable while getting "5" and went for it.... I gotta say... I'm thirstin" for more!

crt...
22 lbs... fully dressed with deckpad and fins
on my "not legal for trade" bathroom scale

[Subber]

Excellent review!
Thank you.

[TomKat]

Nice review. enjoy. I have the 8'10" and the 8'6" and find the 8'10 the most versatile board yet. I have much smaller boards that are great when it's small and perfect, But I can ride this board 7 days a week. 

[PabstSUP]

Great Review Creek!  Wished I could have made it down AC that Sunday. 

TomKat - I'm trying to decide between the 8'6" and 8'10".  I figured the shorter the better but am having second questions based on your notes.   My wife is planning on getting a 9'2" that she plans to use both for surf and light touring. 

[Fishman]

Nice review. enjoy. I have the 8'10" and the 8'6" and find the 8'10 the most versatile board yet. I have much smaller boards that are great when it's small and perfect, But I can ride this board 7 days a week.  

You have 8'6" and 8'10", do you ride the 8'10 more than the 8'6" Is there big difference in performance between them?
How much do you weight?  

[TomKat]

I would judt get the 8'10"  not the 9'2" message me. My 19 year old daughter did yoga on the 8'10" first day on flat water!

[TomKat]

I just got the 8'6" and rode it a few times. I'm 170lbs 5'10" good surfer, But instead of wind surfing or kite boarding when there is wind I still SUS. I think the 8'6" will be good in "good" surf. But I rode it today and it was pretty mushy and I could have used the glide of the 8'10". Got to go I will update more tomorrow.

[firesurf]

Creek excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to write this.
Great pictures too...

[cnski]

STC- What would say is the top weight limit for the 8'10"? Just wonderin.

[supthecreek]

I would probably keep riding it till I was between 230 -240 lbs... but I am sure above 235, I would be much happier on the 9'2. The best I can say is..... it floats me very well at 209 lbs. It gives me good stability, is easy paddling and has a decent glide to it.

It's a very difficult question to answer for others... everyone has a different comfort zone.