The lightweight, compact design of the Chasm-Lite makes it a great board for road trips and overseas travel. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Over the years, I have paddled a lot of different inflatable paddle boards. Some are designed to be incredibly durable. Others are created to be hydrodynamic and fast. And others are designed to be lightweight and compact.
Through my years of testing, I’ve found that there always is a give and a take for each board. If a board is designed to be durable, then the cost is that the board is most likely large and heavy. If it’s created to be fast, then it’s most likely less stable. And most of the lightweight, compact boards I’ve tested sacrifice some stability in the name of packability.
But every once in a while, I discover an outlier: a board that does what it’s advertised to do but doesn’t sacrifice in other departments. Such is the case with the Kokopelli Chasm-Lite Inflatable SUP ($999).
Bottom Line: I put the Chasm-Lite to the test, paddling near my home in Santa Cruz, California. I carried it to my launching point, inflated it, and paddled it both on a calm, flatwater river as well as on the open ocean. The Chasm-Lite packs down smaller than any other inflatable SUP I’ve ever laid eyes on but still performs well, making it a great option for folks who like to travel with their board or anyone who is short on storage space.
CHECK PRICE ON KokopelliRelated: Best Inflatable Paddle Boards | Best Stand Up Paddle Boards | Paddle Gear Reviews
| Pros | Cons |
| Packs down super small | The pump isn’t very powerful |
| Versatile all-around shape | Not super stable in choppy/windy conditions |
| The bag doubles as a dry bag |
Putting the Chasm-Lite to the Test in Santa Cruz
Available Size: 10′
Size Tested: 10′ x 30″ x 6″
Weight (Board): 12.9 lbs
Weight (Full Package): 17.5 lbs
Board Volume: 290 L
Weight Limit: 250 lbs
Fin Configuration: 1 removable fin
Traditionally a packraft brand, Kokopelli knows a thing or two about making lightweight watercraft. In 2022, Kokopelli released the Chasm-Lite, announcing that “it is the lightest and most packable SUP on the market, condensing down to the size of a small sleeping bag and weighing in at an ultralight 12.9lb.”
Stand up paddling is one of my all-time favorite sports. I spend a lot of time traveling and love the idea of a board that takes up minimal space in my car, that doubles as a checked bag, and is lightweight enough to hike into some harder-to-reach paddling destinations. On paper, the Chasm-Lite seemed like the perfect board, and I was eager to find out.
First Impressions of the Chasm-Lite
When I first received the Chasm-Lite in the mail, I was shocked by how compact it was. It arrived in the included bag (which also doubles as a dry bag) and was smaller than any other compact paddle board I’d ever seen. Because the bag was so small, I assumed it didn’t include a paddle and pump, but once I got everything unpacked, I was surprised to find that it does indeed include a carbon fiber four-piece paddle, a hand pump, a leash, a removable fin, and a repair kit.
I’ve spent the past couple of months testing the Chasm-Lite near my home in Santa Cruz, California. I’ve paddled it on calm, sheltered rivers as well as out on the open ocean. Through my testing, I’ve inflated it and then repacked it into the bag numerous times without any trouble. Although I have other boards that perform slightly better than the Kokopelli, the lightweight, compact design of the Chasm-Lite has quickly made it my go-to board for roadtrips and overseas travel.
The Chasm-Lite and all of its accessories pack into this compact dry bag. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
What I Like About the Chasm-Lite
Lightweight and Compact
Weighing just 17.5 pounds for the entire package, the Chasm-Lite is easy to transport (the board itself weighs just 12.9 lbs). The waterproof bag that everything comes packed in includes removable backpack straps, so you can carry the board on your back or by hand. The bag also has water bottle holders on the side, which is a small thing, but one I greatly appreciated. And once you have the board all inflated and ready to roll, the bag doubles as a dry bag to keep gear protected while you’re on the water.
When everything is packed up, the bag measures 26″ x 13″ x 9.5″ and is a similar size to a small backpacking backpack. You can easily store it in the trunk of a car or in a closet. I was worried that repacking the bag after paddling would be a very tight fit, but I quickly found I could easily get the board, pump, paddle, and all accessories packed back into the bag on the first try.
Pro Tip: Fold the paddle board in half long ways and then roll it up as tightly as you can – this will help get all of the air out and allow the board to fit more easily in the pack.
The Kokopelli Chasm-Lite. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
All Around Shape
The board itself measures 10′ x 30″ x 6″ with an all-around shape. Due to the lightweight nature of the board, I feared it wouldn’t be the most stable paddling experience, but I was proved wrong. I inflated the board to 14 PSI, slightly above the recommended inflation of 10-12 PSI to ensure a more stable ride. On flat water, the Chasm-Lite performed seamlessly. It is plenty wide and stable, and I found the board easy to control and maneuver.
On the open ocean, like any board, the Chasm-Lite is less stable. The 6″ thickness and 250 L of volume help to keep the board as stable as possible, but you can definitely feel bumps on the water. I’m an experienced paddler, so I didn’t have any trouble with some small chop, but if you’re a newer paddler, you’ll want to stick to calm waters on this board.
The all-around shape makes the Chasm-Lite a versatile board. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Features and Accessories
In terms of features and accessories, the Chasm-Lite has everything you need without anything extra. The board has a small deck pad in the center of the board, covering plenty of space for you to move around, but not enough to walk the length of the board (which you probably wouldn’t do anyway). It has a grippy center handle for carrying and removable tie-down straps on the nose, which are perfect for strapping down shoes, water, or the included dry bag.
The four-piece paddle is fully adjustable and has a carbon fiber shaft paired with a nylon composite blade, which I found to be surprisingly high quality for such a lightweight design. The included center fin is a cheap plastic fin, but it attaches easily and tracks well through the water. Finally, the board includes a coil leash and a compact hand pump, so you can inflate the board anywhere you go.
The Chasm-Lite includes nice accessories like a deck pad, four-piece paddle, removable bungee straps, a center fin, and a dry bag. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the Chasm-Lite
Although there is a lot to love about the Chasm-Lite, there is some room for improvement. The included paddle is nicer than any other I’ve tried in this lightweight class of boards, but I still didn’t love it. The blade has a scoop design, and for whatever reason, it almost feels like it’s on backwards and doesn’t pull water quite as efficiently as I would like. I want to stress that I am a very experienced paddler, so this is super nitpicky, but it’s something that Kokopelli could work on improving. On the flip side, the paddle is fully adjustable and doesn’t move around at all while you paddle, which is not something I can say for most paddles included in iSUP packages.
The included paddle is adjustable and secure. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
I appreciate that the Chasm-Lite comes with a pump, but because it is compact, it is not very powerful. Consequently, it takes a fair amount of work to get the board inflated. This wasn’t a huge issue because I typically use my electric pump when I’m inflating my board at the car, but I like having a compact portable pump option for hike-in paddling destinations that I intend to visit with my Chasm-Lite.
Finally, the board isn’t as stable as some other all-around shapes, but just barely. On flat water, I found the board to be reliably stable, but if you’re on the open ocean navigating wind or chop, the board does lose some stability.
I also fear that the material may be thinner to cut down on weight, resulting in a less durable board. Only time will tell on that matter, but the board is made from an ultra-light 500 denier cross-woven with drop-stitch PVC construction and includes a limited lifetime warranty, so things are looking pretty good.
The Chasm-Lite alongside some of its competition. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
The Competition
We recently ran a review on The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards, and there are some great boards on the list. The other lightweight board on our list is the Red Paddle Co. Compact MSL Pact. The MSL Pact costs $1,499 to the Chasm-Lite’s $999 price tag. The MSL Pact weighs 16 pounds and is 4.7″ thick with a twin fin setup, while the Chasm-Lite weighs 12.9 pounds, is 6″ thick, and has a single, center fin. The pump that comes with the MSL Pact is significantly better and more effective, and the board itself is slightly more stable, but it doesn’t pack down as small as the Chasm.
If you’re looking for a more stable board, the ISLE Explorer 3.0 was our top pick for best all-around inflatable paddle board due to its reasonable price tag of $795, blend of speed and stability, and high-quality construction and accessories. Or, if you’re looking for a hybrid board that doubles as a stand up paddle board and a kayak, the BOTE LowRider Aero is a best-of-both-worlds board that doesn’t pack down as small (and weighs significantly more) and costs $899.
The Kokopelli Chasm-Lite is one of the lightest and most compact paddle boards on the market. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Weighing in at just 12.9 pounds and packing down to 26″ x 13″ x 9.5″, the Kokopelli Chasm-Lite is one of the lightest and most compact paddle boards on the market. Although the board sacrifices some stability for its lightweight design, it performs incredibly well on flat water. The package includes a four-piece paddle, center fin, coil leash, and removable bungee straps, and everything packs down into a dry bag with backpack straps. If you’re short on storage space, like to travel with your SUP, or want to hike into hard-to-reach paddling destinations, the Chasm-Lite is a great pick.
CHECK PRICE ON KokopelliEditor’s Note: For more options, including hardboards, here’s our overall Best Paddle Boards Review. We’ve also reviewed The Best SUP Paddles and The Best Lifejackets for Paddleboarding. Need something to wear when paddling? Here’s our guide to The Best Board Shorts, The Best Sun Hats, and The Best Rashguards. For more paddling gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
