- Equipment, workmanship, details: the first impression of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
- Processing of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
- Practical test of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
- SUP paddle: Stiff, but slippery and heavy
- Test summary of the Mistral SUP 10'6'' x 33'' from Lidl and Kaufland
- The test of the iSUP from Lidl and Kaufland in the video
Monday morning, shortly before seven o'clock, somewhere in southern Germany: We are the first customers of the day to turn up at the door of the local Lidl shop in the pouring rain. The discounter has various water sports products on offer this week, including an iSUP from Mistral for 249 euros (>> available here). With constant rain in Bavaria, the crowds are limited, but the first two SUPs end up in the shopping trolley just five minutes after the shop opens. One of the 10'6'' x 33'' all-round boards is also in ours (and a few bottles of wine while we're at it...).
The same model is also available at Kaufland from 20 June, and the equipment is identical!
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Equipment, workmanship, details: the first impression of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
The board, equipment and accessories make a good impression at first glance. In contrast to the usual SUP standard, the dimensions of the Lidl/Kaufland board are given in centimetres, 320 x 84 corresponds to about 10'6'' x 33''. The board is of double-chamber construction, the backpack is solid, the fin is of normal standard, the paddle can also be used as a double paddle and is heavy. A kayak seat and a small waterproof pack sack are also included. The board should be suitable as a fun and holiday board for the whole family, but is also suitable for small and medium tours.
Sufficient width for a safe start
With a width of 33 inches, it is more on the stable side and therefore also allows paddle beginners a safe introduction to the sport. A board with the dimensions 10'6'' x 33'' is also suitable for more demanding river tours, as it offers sufficient tipping stability and is still very manoeuvrable. The first striking feature of the Mistral SUP on land is the double-chamber construction. Here, two chambers are inflated separately from each other, which on the one hand offers special safety and on the other can usually ensure particularly high rigidity.
The deck is generously covered with a non-slip EVA deck and the carrying handle in the centre is lightly padded on the one hand and sewn on far enough so that it is really easy to grip. There is a towing eye under the bow to which you can tie the board somewhere and there is also a large luggage net on the bow, which is large enough for normal tours. The supplied leash (safety leash) is large enough at the ankle and nicely padded. The length fits perfectly, but the leash is rather thin.
Processing of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
Two fins are permanently glued under the board. In addition, a centre fin is mounted in a US box. This can be done very quickly without tools using the small screw. The two fins on the sides have the advantage that, for example, when paddling in shallow river waters with a small centre fin - which can be purchased separately - you can achieve better directional stability than boards that only have one fin in the centre.
The workmanship of the glued seams looks very neat, which is also important because experience has shown that the double-chamber design is more demanding to glue. The edges are particularly robust thanks to two layers of PVC. The board weighs 10.4 kilos inflated with fins and looks well equipped and finished.
The workmanship looks very neat
The paddle of the iSUP from Lidl and Kaufland is very heavy
As expected, the paddle in the set is a relatively heavy aluminium paddle that is adjustable in length and can therefore be used by people of different heights. However, its weight makes it one of the heaviest paddles we have in the SUP test. You shouldn't expect too much from the set. While the board meets the requirements of higher-quality SUPs, the paddle is comparable to paddles in the lowest price range. There is still plenty of room for improvement here. If you want to stay committed to the sport, you will probably buy a lighter and better paddle in the short or medium term. The paddle can be supplemented with a second paddle blade to form a double blade and the whole board can be converted into a canoe with the kayak seat. The paddle blades are made of very robust plastic and the tubes are made of aluminium. This makes the paddle sufficiently stiff, but also very heavy.
The rucksack supplied is spacious and holds all accessories. It is easy to carry on the back. With an additional chest strap and lap belt, it is well secured to the body and the straps are also sewn on so that the rucksack sits nicely high up on the back and does not hang over the buttocks. The pump can be used in two stages (one with high volume and one for high pressure) and meets the usual standards. The pump runs smoothly and you can reach 15 PSI with normal effort, as is usual with current pumps.
Practical test of the Mistral SUP from Lidl and Kaufland
And onto the water! The board is quickly carried into the water, the ascent is safe even in wavy conditions because it is wide and stable in the water. It feels firm underfoot and the double chamber in the standing area stabilises the board noticeably. The Mistral SUP does not lie straight as an arrow and flat in the water, but has a visibly curved water position from the start, which means that the bow rises clearly out of the water. The board therefore does not bend particularly under load, but this bend is obviously intended and is also present without load.
Because you are standing on the transition between the two chambers, the board under the soles of your feet feels particularly firm and not very flexible
The stiffness of the board is above average in the centre of the board due to the double chamber and the large width. Also, because you are always standing on the transition between the two chambers, the board feels firm and less forgiving under the soles of your feet (for such subtleties we test barefoot even in single-digit temperatures - and because surf shoes with shorts take some getting used to ;-)) Due to the curved hull shape, the board turns particularly easily because the bow can "slide" sideways over the water. On the other hand, you lose some board length in the water when the water is smooth. More touring-orientated boards usually lie completely straight in the water and are often at least 11'6'' long. Nevertheless, the three fins ensure that the board runs straight, so that you don't have to change sides too often when paddling. This means you can also enjoy longer trips.
SUP paddle: Stiff, but slippery and heavy
Ideally, the paddle should be seen as a free extra. Although it looks robust, is easy to adjust and also quite stiff, it is also very heavy at 988 grams. The paddle grips the water well and offers good propulsion with a well-chosen, medium-sized blade surface. You can get used to the (very) small handle, but not to the smooth shaft. The smooth aluminium is quite slippery when wet. The only remedy here is a special non-slip tape or wax, similar to what surfers use on their boards. This actually works really well.
With the Mistral SUP from Lidl, you get an all-round well-equipped board
Test summary of the Mistral SUP 10'6'' x 33'' from Lidl and Kaufland
With the current offer for 249 euros, you get an all-round well-equipped board with an elaborate double-chamber construction that is stiff and firm underfoot. The dimensions make the board a particularly stable all-rounder - the typical family holiday lake board. The board is visibly a little bent in the water and therefore turns very well, although this comes at the expense of its suitability for touring. Nevertheless, the board is a value-for-money tip and at least meets current standards in terms of design and equipment. The pump also works well, the paddle paddles well, but unlike the board it is in the simplest category. As a family all-rounder for short trips, the board on offer appears to be perfectly suitable. Light paddlers and paddlers with touring ambitions should look for boards with a longer, narrower and straighter shape.
The test of the iSUP from Lidl and Kaufland in the video
In addition to the all-round SUP, the Lidl range also includes an electric SUP pump from Crivit. We already tested this some time ago: SUP pump from Lidl put to the test
