Gear Review: Badfish MCIT
I've been paddling the 11'6" Badfish MCIT for over a year now and it's definitely my go-to board for downriver SUP.
Badfish MCIT Board on the White Salmon RIver
MCIT is an anacronym for Multi Chamber Inflatable Technology. The floor of this board inflates like other inflatable SUPs but it also has small inflatable tubes on each side that provide extra volume and great secondary stability. This board powers through big river features better than any other SUP I've seen. Additionally, some river permits require boats that have multiple chambers and this is the only SUP that does.
This board powers through big river features better than any other SUP I've seen
This board also tracks amazingly well. It loves to go straight and is extremely fast for an inflatable SUP. The downside of it's great tracking is that it's hard to turn in whitewater. Once it's headed in a particular direction, it's hard to correct the angle. More traditional SUP designs can turn on a dime.
The fins are well thought out. There are two permanent small and indestructible fins as well as a removable 9" center fin (which I've never used) which can be replaced by shorter NRS SUP fins. Personally I don't like fins, so I used a sawzall to cut them off my board.
This board can surf, but not as well as traditional designs. It's a long boat so it tends to pearl so you need to keep carving back and forth. If you're looking for a downriver board that can also surf, then Dan Gavere's signature Astro Stream is it.
Finally, I appreciate that this board comes in 3 sizes. I'm 6'2" and 220 lbs so the one-size-fits-all boards don't work well for me. It's great to pick a board size that fits my weight and paddling style.
If you're looking for a stable board for paddling downriver and prefer tracking over maneuverability then this is definitely the board for you!
