Duotone Blitz Air SLS Review — Tested by Our Shop Manager Declan

The Duotone Blitz Air SLS has been flying out of the shop this summer — with the heatwave we've had, inflatable paddleboards have barely touched the racks. So when our shop manager Declan finally grabbed one for himself and got out on the water, we made him give us the honest verdict.

The Blitz Air SLS is Duotone's sporty touring iSUP for 2026 — it takes the straight, fast outline of the Ray Air and adds extra width for stability, so you get glide and tracking without the wobble. It's built in Duotone's SLS welded construction, which makes it one of the lightest and most compact boards in its class: the 11'2" weighs just 7.2kg and rolls down small enough to live in a cupboard or car boot all summer.

Here's how it went for Declan — including his very honest take on the kayak seat from the Premium package.

Stable, quick, and easy to turn

Stability first. This was the thing that genuinely caught Declan off guard. With the straighter, sportier outline you might expect the Blitz to feel twitchy compared to a classic all-rounder — it doesn't. The extra width Duotone carried over from the Fly Air keeps it calm and predictable underfoot, even with a bit of chop rolling through. His words: way more stable than he was expecting.

Speed through the water. The pointy nose and straight outline do exactly what they're meant to — the board glides cleanly and tracks well, so each stroke actually gets you somewhere. If you've paddled a rounder all-round shape before, you'll notice the difference on the very first stroke.

Turning. A touring outline usually trades away manoeuvrability, but Declan found the Blitz easy enough to bring round — the diamond tail and kick-pad help you pivot it without drama. It's not a wave board, but for rivers, harbour mouths and coastal cruising it turns as easily as you'd want.

The kayak seat — Declan's honest take

The Premium package adds a kayak seat and a kayak blade attachment for the Paddle One, turning the Blitz into a sit-down paddler. Declan gave it a proper go, and he wasn't completely sold — the adjustment straps took a while to sort out and getting onto the board with the seat and straps in place was a bit of a wrestle.

Once he was actually sat in it, the picture improved: the seated position works your core and hamstrings nicely and it's a fun, different way to cover distance. His one lasting gripe was lower back support — the seat doesn't give you much, so longer kayak sessions may not suit everyone.

The takeaway isn't "avoid the Premium" — it's know what you're buying it for. If the kayak option appeals, set the seat up on the beach before you launch, take your time with the straps on the first outing, and it gets quicker every time. If you're mainly going to stand-up paddle, the standard package has everything you need.

What's in the box

Both packages are genuinely ready to paddle out of the bag. The standard package includes the adjustable 3-piece Paddle One, the HP8 double-action pump, the iSUP Race 23 fin in a US split box, a coiled leash, repair kit and the new Gearbag Pocket backpack — which Duotone have slimmed down by 1.5kg into a proper compact backpack with a waterproof stash pocket for keys and cash.

The Premium package adds the kayak seat and kayak blade attachment, which clip onto the four extra D-rings Duotone have added to the 2026 boards. There's also a tow and action-cam combo mount, plus a lashing strap that doubles as a shoulder strap for carrying the rolled board to the water.

Not sold on the pale green? Other colours and options

Blitz Air (heavy-duty version). The Blitz also comes in a non-SLS build: the Blitz Air 12'0" in Fusion Double Layer welded construction. Same shape and fittings, but built for maximum durability — Duotone rate it for hardcore daily centre and rental use, and it carries a higher recommended rider weight of up to 120kg. The trade-off is weight and bulk: it's around 2kg heavier than the SLS and rolls up bigger, so it suits heavier riders and heavy use over travel and portability. It comes with the fin, backpack and repair kit.

Grace Air SLS 11'2" Hybrid Touring. If you like everything Declan said about the Blitz but fancy a different look, the Grace Air SLS 11'2" is the same hybrid touring shape in a rose-red colour scheme designed for women. You can get it as the Grace Air SLS 11'2" full package at £509, or as the Grace Air SLS 11'2" board only at £459 if you've already got a paddle and pump. There's also a 10'4" allround version from £429 for lighter riders who want something a bit more playful.

Duotone Blitz Air SLS — Tech Specs