The Badfish Sk8 Inflatable is a high-volume inflatable river shortboard that surprised us with is durability and performance. While its inflatable construction makes it a bit less responsive than the hardboard version, we really appreciate how much more resistant it is to dings and impacts—especially when we’re exploring backcountry spots with submerged rocks and unpredictable conditions. The board keeps the features we love about the Sk8 line, including the skateboard-inspired deck for secure footing, Tri-fin set up, and the rounded pin tail with the drop “wiki” rail that adds control and lift. Even though we’ve noticed the inflatable version is pretty lack-luster in its agility compared to hard boards, it does perform better than all the other inflatables we tested. As with all inflatables, this board feels like you are on a carpet of air, which tight rail-to-rail transitions difficult due to the spring-like nature of the board. Overall it is a very stable, resilient shape, and versatile board, making it a fantastic choice for surfers who want a reliable and durable board for unknown waves.