As a 5'2" fit woman, the 9'6" board is perfect. I've taken it on lakes that start calm in the morning and get windy in the afternoon and been happy with maneuverability and speed. I've had water entries that required a bit of walking, some small hills, etc. So I've carried the entire pack and on other days, the inflated board with paddle. This is the first board I've been able to carry easily given my height and arm length. I'd love a couple more rings for clipping things on but there's enough space under the cords to store what I need for a day on the water. The pack is big, especially for a petite person, so I would not take this if going terribly far. On the whole, a great board for this petite adult.