The Mirage Eclipse 鈥減edalboard鈥� from Hobie聽isn鈥檛 the newest piece of gear at Summer Outdoor Retailer聽this year, but hear us out: it鈥檚 definitely the most enjoyable.
We got the chance to test it at Cochiti Lake, just outside our home base of Santa Fe, New Mexico, back in May. Don鈥檛 let the聽StairMaster aesthetics fool you:聽the Mirage Eclipse can move. That鈥檚 thanks to the fins underneath the board, which flip back and forth and propel聽the vessel聽forward with each step on the pedals up top.
It admittedly takes some getting used to. I鈥檓 accustomed to having my feet planted on a paddleboard, moving them only when I鈥檓 changing direction or adjusting my weight. On the Mirage Eclipse, you鈥檙e constantly shifting weight, causing聽a slight rocking back and forth. And I have terrible balance to begin with. But once I got in the groove and picked up some speed, as on a bike, it was easier to keep my balance. Plus, the EVA deck pad is comfy and grippy.
Another similarity to bikes: handlebars. Since the pedal-drive system eliminates the need for a paddle鈥攚hich you鈥檇 normally use to change direction on an SUP鈥擧obie built the steering into the handlebars. Pull either the left or the right lever聽(akin to brakes on a bike) to turn in the respective direction. Don鈥檛 think you鈥檒l be banking any GS turns, though; the radius is wide.
Back to that speed. Because the Mirage Eclipse moves via leg strength rather than arm strength, you can generate more power with less energy and travel more efficiently across the water. I wasn鈥檛 calculating exact knots, but the board moved fast enough to bring a big grin to my face.
The Mirage Eclipse comes in two sizes鈥�10.5 feet and 12 feet. Both are .听