Kona Active vs Cruiser vs Numinous – which one is right for you?

Are you faced with the choice between Kona Sports' different SUP series and wondering which one best suits your needs? As Scandinavia's leading SUP manufacturer, we offer three distinct product lines – Active Air, Cruiser Air and Numinous Air – each designed for specific uses and paddling styles.

During our 18+ years in the industry, we have developed these series based on thousands of hours of testing, feedback from Swedish paddlers and a deep understanding of Scandinavian conditions. Each series represents our design philosophy of uniting body, movement and gear, but with different focuses on performance, stability and application.

In this comprehensive comparison, we go over all the differences between our SUP series to help you make the right choice. You'll get concrete specifications, practical usage scenarios, and honest pros and cons for each series.

Whether you're a beginner looking for confident stability, an all-round paddler who wants versatility, or a performance-oriented paddler who prioritizes speed, there's a Kona series that perfectly matches your needs. Let us help you find your ideal SUP partner for many years of Scandinavian paddling.

Table of contents

• Overview of the Kona SUP series
• Active Air - all-round for everyone
• Cruiser Air - touring & longer tours
• Numinous Air - racing & performance
• Technical specifications
• Price comparison
• Which one suits you best?
• Frequently Asked Questions about Kona SUP Series

Overview of the Kona SUP series

Kona Sports' SUP range is built around three pillars that reflect the needs and aspirations of different paddlers. Each series is developed with our Scandinavian design philosophy, where functionality, durability and ease of use are at the heart.

The Active Air series represents our all-round focus with boards that work for most SUP paddling. This series is designed for paddlers who want versatility without compromising on quality. Perfect for families and recreational paddlers who value both performance and stability.

The Cruiser Air series focuses on touring and longer adventures with added stability and comfort. These boards are created for paddlers who prioritize safety, longer trips and maximum comfort on the water. Ideal for exploratory paddling and family use.

The Numinous Air series represents our racing and performance line with a focus on speed and efficiency. Developed for ambitious paddlers who seek top performance and are not afraid of a more demanding SUP experience.

All of our series share the same basic quality principles – premium materials, advanced dropstitch construction and thoughtful Scandinavian design that withstands Swedish climate conditions year after year.

Choosing between the series is not about better or worse, but about matching your specific needs, experience level and paddling goals with the right design philosophy.

Active Air - all-round for everyone

The Kona Active Air series represents our most versatile product line, designed to perform excellently in most SUP situations without being a specialist in any specific area.

Design philosophy and strengths

The Active Air was developed for the modern family who wants a SUP board that works for all family members and uses. The balance of stability and performance makes it ideal for both beginners building confidence and experienced paddlers looking for a reliable All-round board for the whole family .

The hull design is optimized for efficient water cutting while maintaining forgiving stability. This is clearly noticeable when you switch between leisurely family paddling and more sporty tours - the board naturally adapts to your pace and level of ambition.

The reinforced dropstitch construction and premium materials ensure long-term durability. The Active Air series is built to last many seasons of intensive family use in Scandinavian conditions.

Technical advantages

The 32" width of our main model Active Air 10'8" provides the optimal balance between stability and efficiency. Wider than racing boards for safety, but narrower than pure stability boards for better performance.

The 291 liter volume fits most adult paddlers (60-120 kg) with a good safety margin. This makes the Active Air a natural choice for families where several people will be using the same board.

The included accessory pack is designed for versatility with adjustable aluminum paddle , high-quality pump and spacious transport bag for easy handling.

Best for:

• Families who want a board for everyone
• Beginners who plan to develop
• All-round paddlers who value versatility
• Recreational paddling in varying conditions

Cruiser Air - touring & longer tours

The Kona Cruiser Air series is developed for paddlers who prioritize comfort, stability and safety on longer adventures and touring paddling.

Design philosophy and strengths

Cruiser Air was born out of the needs of Swedish paddlers who want to explore our long lakes, archipelagos and coastal areas with maximum safety and comfort. Every design decision is optimized to give the paddler confidence even in more demanding conditions.

The extra wide platform (30.5") combined with a longer profile (12'6") creates exceptional stability without compromising tracking ability. This makes Stable SUP for longer trips ideal for longer trips where comfort and safety are crucial.

The construction prioritizes durability and reliability with extra reinforcements at critical points. As a touring board, it must withstand intensive use far from home base where repair options may be limited.

Technical advantages

The 297-liter volume provides generous buoyancy for paddlers up to 120 kg or for carrying extra gear on longer adventures, making the Cruiser Air a natural choice for camping SUPs and all-day excursions.

The longer 12'6" profile provides excellent tracking ability that reduces effort over longer distances. The paddler can focus on enjoying nature instead of constantly correcting direction.

The deck design with strategically placed D-rings and storage allows for safe transport of touring gear. For longer tours we recommend supplementing with a waterproof packing to keep extra equipment dry.

Special touring benefits

For Swedish conditions where weather can change quickly, the Cruiser Air offers secure stability even when wind and waves increase unexpectedly. The wide platform provides a safety margin that is appreciated on longer trips far from land.

The comfort is clearly noticeable after several hours on the water, where the stable platform reduces fatigue and stress, making longer adventures more enjoyable and safe.

Best for:

• Touring and longer adventures
• Paddlers who prioritize stability and safety
• Beginners who want maximum security
• Family activities with children and young people

Numinous Air - racing & performance

The Kona Numinous Air series represents the culmination of our technological evolution, designed for paddlers who seek maximum performance and are not afraid of challenges.

Design philosophy and strengths

The Numinous Air was developed for ambitious paddlers who want to push their limits and experience SUP on a more intense level. Every millimeter of the design is optimized for speed, efficiency and responsive handling.

The hull shape with a narrow profile (27" or 25") and long waterline length (14') minimizes water resistance while the advanced rocker design ensures optimal hydrodynamics. This results in speeds that match hard racing boards.

The construction uses our most advanced dropstitch technology with strategic reinforcements that provide exceptional stiffness at high PSI values. Every stroke is efficiently converted into forward motion without energy loss.

Technical advantages for performance

The narrow profile requires more technique and balance but rewards with superior speed and efficiency. For paddlers who master the technique, racing SUP for competition an almost meditative experience of gliding through the water with minimal effort.

The 14-foot length provides excellent tracking and glide that is clearly noticeable over longer distances. The board maintains speed longer after each stroke compared to shorter, wider boards.

The strategically placed volume distribution optimizes trim and balance for racing position, reducing fatigue even during intense training sessions or competitions.

Racing and training

For Swedish club paddlers and competitive paddlers, the Numinous Air offers performance at an international level. The board is used by our Kona Sports racing team and has proven itself in Swedish and international competitions.

The response and feel of the Numinous Air quickly develops paddling technique. The board "teaches" through its precision and requires a clean paddle stroke for optimal performance.

Challenges and requirements

Numinous Air requires more experience and technique than our other series. Beginners may find it challenging, but for the right paddler it is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Narrower platform means less stability, requiring better balance and concentration. This makes it less suitable for casual family paddling but perfect for training and performance development.

For extreme performance there is also The narrower racing model at 25" width that requires even more technology but provides maximum speed.

Best for:

• Racing and competitive paddling
• Ambitious training paddlers
• Experienced paddlers looking for performance
• Club paddlers and semi-professionals

Technical specifications

To facilitate your comparison between our SUP series, we present here the most important technical specifications of our main models.

Dimensions and volume

Construction and materials

All of our series use premium dropstitch construction with military grade PVC for maximum durability. Numinous Air has additional carbon-fiber reinforcements for increased stiffness at high PSI values.

Working pressure for all models is 20-25 PSI, which provides optimal stiffness and performance. Our valves are of the highest quality and work reliably even in Swedish winter conditions.

Included accessories

The Active Air package includes adjustable aluminum paddle, high-volume dual-function pump, safety line, repair kit, and premium wheeled carry case.

The Cruiser Air package has the same accessories as the Active Air but with a reinforced transport bag for touring and additional safety equipment adapted for longer adventures.

The Numinous Air package includes a lightweight carbon fiber paddle, racing pump for quick setup, minimalist transport bag, and advanced repair kit for racing environments.

Performance characteristics

The Active Air offers balanced performance with good stability (8/10), average speed (7/10) and excellent versatility (9/10).

The Cruiser Air prioritizes stability (10/10) and comfort (9/10) with medium speed (6/10) and excellent touring capability (10/10).

The Numinous Air maximizes speed (10/10) and efficiency (10/10) with challenging stability (6/10) but superior racing performance (10/10).

Price comparison

Our various SUP series are priced to reflect their design complexity, materials and target audience, while maintaining Kona Sports' value proposition of long-term quality.

The Active Air series represents the best value for general SUP use. The price point makes premium Kona quality accessible to families without compromising the core features that make our boards special.

The investment is justified by its versatility – one Active Air can replace several specialty boards for families who want quality without multiplying the costs.

The Cruiser Air series is priced as premium touring boards with a focus on safety and comfort. The higher price reflects extra material for increased volume, reinforced construction and specialized touring accessories.

For paddlers who prioritize safety and comfort on longer adventures, the price difference is justified by the increased safety and reduced stress while touring.

The Numinous Air series is positioned in the premium racing segment where performance and advanced technology justify a higher price point. Carbon reinforcements, precision manufacturing and racing-specific accessories drive the cost.

For serious racing paddlers and club actives, investing in the Numinous Air is often more economical than separate training and competition boards.

Long-term value analysis

All Kona series are designed for 8-10 years of intensive use under Swedish conditions. When calculating cost per year and usage, even our premium models are very cost-effective.

Our comprehensive service and parts program ensures that your investment can be maintained and repaired for maximum longevity. This is especially valuable in Swedish conditions where seasonal use requires proper winter storage.

The quality and durability of Kona SUP boards make them a long-term investment that can be used for many years with proper care.

Which one suits you best?

After going through all the technical specifications and design philosophies, now comes the most important question – which Kona SUP series best matches your needs and ambitions?

Choose Active Air if you:

• Want a board that works for the whole family?
• Are you a beginner who plans to develop in SUP?
• Looking for the best combination of stability and performance
• Prioritizes versatility over specialization
• Want premium quality at an affordable price

Active Air for all needs is our most popular choice for Swedish families because it grows with the user's skills and needs. It never loses relevance even as you become more experienced.

Choose Cruiser Air if you:

• Prioritizes safety and stability over speed
• Planning longer touring adventures and exploration
• Are you a beginner who wants maximum security?
• Paddles with children or less experienced companions
• Value comfort highly on longer distances

Cruiser Air for touring is the obvious choice for Swedish touring enthusiasts who want to explore our beautiful lakes and archipelagos with safety and comfort.

Choose Numinous Air if you:

• Have experience with SUP and are looking for a performance challenge
• Are interested in racing, training or club activities?
• Values ​​speed and efficiency over stability
• Want to push your limits and develop your technology?
• Sees SUP as training and performance sport

The Numinous Air for performance is for ambitious paddlers who are ready to take the next step in SUP and aren't afraid of technical challenges.

Unsure about the choice?

If you're still unsure, we recommend starting with the Active Air. Its versatility allows you to explore different SUP styles and discover what you like best before potentially specializing with the Cruiser Air for touring or the Numinous Air for racing.

This approach allows you to develop your skills incrementally and make informed choices for any future additions to your SUP equipment.

Contact our SUP experts for personal advice based on your specific conditions and goals.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kona SUP Series

Can I upgrade from one series to another later?

Absolutely! Many paddlers start with Active Air and then progress to Cruiser Air for touring or Numinous Air for racing depending on where their interests develop.

We recommend considering keeping your first Kona board even if you upgrade. The Active Air works great as a family and guest board, while the Cruiser Air can be kept for safe family rides even if you later focus on racing with the Numinous Air.

This approach allows you to build a complete SUP arsenal over time without making previous investments obsolete.

What are the differences between the models within the same series?

Within each series we offer different sizes optimized for different paddlers and uses. The Active Air is available in 10'8" for all-round use, while the Cruiser Air 12'6" focuses on touring stability.

Numinous Air is offered in both 27" width for stability and 25" width for maximum speed . Narrower widths provide higher speed but require more technique and experience.

The choice within the series is primarily based on your weight, experience level and specific application. Our product guides will help you choose the right size within the selected series.

How do Swedish weather conditions affect the choice of SUP series?

All our series are designed specifically for Scandinavian conditions, but certain features become extra important in Swedish weather conditions. Cruiser Air's broad stability is especially appreciated when wind and waves increase unexpectedly.

Active Air's versatility makes it ideal for variable Swedish weather conditions where you never know exactly what the day will bring. Numinous Air's performance is less weather-dependent as racing often takes place under controlled conditions.

For seasonal paddlers who store SUP boards over the winter, all of our series have the same high quality valves and materials that can withstand Swedish temperature changes without any problems.

Can I use the same accessories between different series?

Yes, many accessories are compatible between our series. Safety lines , pumps and basic repair kits work for all models. Fins are also standardized and can be swapped between series.

Paddles are often series specific for optimal performance. Numinous Air racing paddles can be used with other series but give best results with racing boards. Similarly, touring paddles work best with Cruiser Air.

Transport bags are usually series-specific due to different board dimensions, but we offer universal bags for families with several different Kona models.

Which series is recommended for Swedish club and competition activities?

For Swedish SUP clubs and racing activities, Numinous Air is developed for serious competitive paddling and high-performance training.

Active Air works well for club training and recreational racing where the focus is on technique development and social SUP. Many clubs use Active Air for beginner courses and general training.

The Cruiser Air is perfect for club touring activities and longer adventures where safety and group stability are more important than pure speed. The Swedish Lifesaving Society recommends wider, more stable boards for group activities.

How do I optimally maintain different series?

Basic maintenance is the same for all our series – rinsing after use, dry storage and immediate repair of damage. Numinous Air requires extra attention to carbon reinforcements and high-pressure components.

Racing boards are often subjected to more intensive use requiring more frequent inspections. The Cruiser Air's robust construction can withstand the most, but touring use can expose the board to more environmental hazards requiring regular checks of hull integrity and accessories.

All our series benefit from professional service before and after the season. Contact our service to book an annual check-up and maintenance.