Lidl Mistral Paddle Board Review (2022) iSUP Paddleboard

On our inquiries, when there are new boards again, there was also no clear information. It is unclear if and when the boards will still be available.

We recommend anyway prefer to reach for alternatives, because there are good reasons against the Lidl paddle Board.

Who wants to have a Paddle board for sure now, should rather order another paddle boards such as one of the presented Lidl paddle board alternative. But even here there are already models that are no longer available due to high demand.

Look at our video review of the Lidl Mistral:

The Mistral paddle Board from Lidl is a very affordable paddle board with a large scope of delivery and thus attracts mainly beginners who do not want to dig too deep into their pockets for their first paddle board.

Since 2016, we have presented hundreds of paddle boards for all possible purposes on this blog and can safely say that there are several reasons against buying the Lidl Paddle board.

Nevertheless, in this board review we present you the most important features of the board and tell you why the Lidl paddle board does not convince us.

Short on Time? Here’s the Most Important:

Mistral Paddle Board From Lidl Review in Detail

The Lidl paddle board is characterized by the wide design, which in combination with the three fins, provides tilt stability. The wide and round nose is a classic feature for an allrounder paddle board. The Mistral paddle board from Lidl is therefore suitable for beginners.

In this presentation, I go into detail about the specific features of the paddle board and also mention various features of the individual parts from the included accessory set. At the end, there is also a FAQ with interesting questions that relate specifically to this board.

If anyone has any unanswered questions, feel free to ask them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them as soon as possible.

Board Type	Inflatable
Brand	Mistral
Skill	Beginner
Price Category	Affordable
Area of Application	Allround board (allrounder)
Max. Paddler Weight	ca. 95 kg (210 lbs)
Length	320 cm (10’6″)
Width	84 cm (33″)
Thickness	15 cm (6″)
Volume	–
Weight	10.8 kg (24 lbs)
Accessories	Bedienungsanleitung, Rucksack, Doppelhub-Luftpumpe (umschaltbar), 3-teiliges und stufenlos verstellbares Paddel, Leash (Sicherheitsleine), abnehmbare Einzelflosse (Stecksystem), Reparaturset inkl. Ventilschlüssel

Construction

The paddle board is characterized by its wide construction and round nose. Tilt stability is thereby given and offers beginners the necessary safety for the first paddling experiences. The Lidl paddle Board is an allrounder. Allround paddle boards can be used in a variety of ways.

If you want to be a bit more sporty, you should go for touring boards, as these are better suited for longer trips and the construction is also adapted to this.

The Mistral board from Lidl is therefore not designed for high speeds, but it offers beginners suitable advantages due to its robustness. The paddle board is 32 inches wide and has a thickness of 6 inches.

The board has two air chambers. This provides additional rigidity and safety. The safety comes from the fact that in the very unlikely event of a broken air chamber, the other air chamber can still keep the board afloat.

Load Capacity

The maximum payload is given by Lidl as 330 lbs. This is an optimistic figure that refers to the maximum payload, but not the paddler weight. We recommend the board up to a paddler weight of about 210 lbs.

The paddle board is suitable for sporadic use in calm waters. You can gain your first paddling experiences with the Mistral and the large scope of delivery guarantees that you can immediately use it in a versatile way.

The scope of delivery also includes a kayak seat and an extra paddle blade, which can be used to convert the paddle into a double paddle. The kayak seat attaches to the eyelets on the left and right side of the board center.

Compared to last year’s model, the kayak seat of the Lidl Mistral paddle 2021 is significantly better padded.

Areas of Application and Driving Characteristics

The paddle board is an allrounder and therefore especially designed for beginners. Lakes, canals and calm coastal waters can be navigated.

For sporty ambitions or plans for longer tours, one should resort to touring boards. These are better suited to sporting ambitions than the Allrounder due to their narrower construction and more pointed board tip.

The nose is wide and rounded and slows down the Lidl paddle board somewhat in terms of speed. However, this is super for beginners, as higher stability is guaranteed.

The paddle board is equipped with three fins. The central removable US fin is about 10 inches long, 0.34 inches thick and 9 inches high.

The side fins are 6 inches long and 2.5 inches high. With the US fin box system, assembling the fin is a little more involved. Here, parts can also be lost, but for this fin system, there is a large cross-manufacturer selection of fins.

It is a pity that the two side fins can not be removed. This ensures that the rolled up board cover has a slightly larger pack size. Over time, the protruding fins will also affect the interior of the backpack somewhat.

Material and Weight

The paddle board is made with the drop stitch process and is made of a PVC layer.

The board consists of a PVC layer, which speaks for less weight. Thus, however, the paddle board is less rigid than double layer paddle boards and also less robust.

The board weighs 24 lbs unfilled and the weight is average to light compared to other boards in the allrounder class.

Lighter paddle boards are easier to transport, but in return the carrying capacity and stiffness is also lower. The stiffness of a paddle board is crucial for the speed and maneuverability of the board.

Design and Workmanship

The price-performance ratio of the Lidl Mistral 2021 paddle board is good at first glance.

Unfortunately, however, we noticed numerous defects (bubbles, scratches, paint stains, etc.) already after unpacking. This is not usually the case with boards from other paddle board brands.

In the Lidl online store, a free return and the return period of 90 days is specified.

The design is otherwise kept relatively simple. The front is mostly colored in blue. The lower board side is very simple and kept in gray. In addition, the Mistral logo is depicted there centrally in blue outlines.

On the deckpad you can see the lettering “mistral” in white.

Other Features

• Deckpad: The paddle board is covered in the middle with an EVA deckpad. This consisted of small Mistral logos in 2020, which was rather impractical. The Lidl Mistral 2021 has a classic diamond structure, which provides a good grip.

• Luggage net: A luggage net is attached in the front area of the paddle board. Another advantage here is the included drybag, as you can stow your stuff while paddling with this included feature.

• D-Rings: There is one D-ring in the front and one in the back, to which you can attach the included leash. Additional D-rings are located centrally on the board to attach the kayak seat.

• Carrying Handles: There is a carry handle centrally located on the front of the paddle board.

Accessories

The scope of delivery of the Lidl Mistral 2021 turns out to be quite extensive.

• Mistral Lidl paddle Board Paddle: The included paddle is adjustable in length (approx. 5.5-6.7 ft) and convertible into a double paddle (approx. 7.5 ft). The conversion is specifically for the use of the kayak function. The shaft is made of aluminum and the paddle blade is made of nylon and fiberglass. The handle is made of polyvinyl chloride. Overall, however, the paddle is very heavy, so advanced paddlers will surely swap this for a carbon paddle.
• Mistral Lidl paddle Board Leash: The scope of delivery includes a leash. This is sometimes also referred to as a safety leash. The leash is attached to D-rings in the front or back of the paddle board as well as the ankle.
• Mistral Lidl paddle Board Backpack: The included backpack measures 37 x 17 x 10 inches and thus offers enough space for the rolled up board as well as the accessories. For longer distances on foot, however, a better padding of the shoulder straps would have been very good.

• Mistral Lidl paddle Board Kayak Seat: Included is a kayak seat, which is much better padded than the seat from the previous model.
• Mistral Lidl paddle Board Air Pump: The included Mistral air pump is a double stroke air pump. This means that air can be pumped into the board when pushing down and pulling up.
• Mistral Lidl Repair Kit: Also included is a repair kit with PVC glue, PVC patches and a valve wrench.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Alternatives to the Lidl Mistral Paddle Board

So, all in all, there are a few reasons that speak against the Lidl Mistral paddle board. But don’t worry, on this blog we have already presented hundreds of boards and can therefore recommend the following paddle boarding for beginners with a clear conscience:

Bluefin Cruise 10’8

The Bluefin Cruise is one of the best beginner and intermediate paddle boards on the market.

The board comes with a lot of high-quality accessories (including a kayak set), is top-quality, has performed well in several paddle boarding tests and has already been tested in practice by many buyers.

Comparison

• Also, the Bluefin Cruise is significantly stiffer than the Lidl Mistral board, which has a positive effect on the maximum load capacity and performance.
• With its sleek cruiser design and pointed nose, the Bluefin Cruise is the better choice for sporty beginners. The Bluefin Cruise has better water displacement than the very rounded Lidl Mistral board.
• Last but not least, the board also comes from an established brand that has already made a name for itself with its paddle boarding.

Decathlon Itiwit X100 Series

The very affordable Itiwit X100 10′ is a 305 cm long beginner paddle board with a sportier cruiser build. Included is only a leash and backpack, so pump, paddle and other accessories can be assembled by yourself.

Comparison

• With its wedge-shaped design, the Itiwit X100 has good water displacement and is fast in the water.
• Since no paddle is included, you can invest directly in a high-quality carbon paddle here. Meanwhile, these paddles also no longer cost a lot of money. However, the saved weight is very noticeable on longer trips.
• For touring, the Decathlon Itiwit X100 (even without a lightweight carbon paddle) is a better choice than the very round Mistral Lidl paddle board with the paddle that weighs a kilogram.

Variants

Decathlon Itiwit X100 boards are available in three different sizes and several color variants. There is something for every weight and taste.

If you weigh less than 75-80 kilograms, you should go for the Decathlon Itiwit X100 10′.

If your weight is above that limit or if you want to use the board with two light adults, a dog or child on it, you should reach for the Decathlon Itiwit X100 11′.

Penguin Lancer

The Lancer is a very good board for beginners, which is especially convincing due to the good build quality, the wide design, which provides a lot of stability, and the high-quality accessories included.

The lightweight board with the simple design is a very good choice for beginners who want to learn stand up paddling on this board.

Comparison

• The 340 cm long board has a larger volume, which provides more buoyancy. This makes the Penguin Lancer a better board if you have regular trips with 1-2 kids.
• We also really like the Lancer’s really high-quality backpack. The Penguin Lancer is ideally suited for longer journeys on foot or by public transport.
• The chic wood look also sets it apart from many other paddle boarding boards.