When stand-up paddle boarding first grew fashionable within the ‘90s, it required a tough, fiberglass board that took up 12 toes or so of space for storing and was a significant problem to truly get to the water. The one inflatable choices in the marketplace “felt soggy, like standing on a pickle,” says Kris Les, a merchandiser for L.L. Bean. That’s not the case anymore. “We’re at some extent now the place inflatable paddle boards are fairly good, they’re fairly darn inflexible,” he says.
Building updates over the previous few years imply which you could get an inflatable stand-up paddle board (aka SUPs) that’s simple to retailer in your storage or stick within the trunk of your automotive with out sacrificing a lot efficiency—particularly should you’re a newbie who’s simply seeking to get out on the water and have slightly enjoyable. The toughest half? Choosing a board.
That can assist you get on the water simply and sometimes, we chatted with Les about what to search for in the perfect inflatable paddle boards and examined a number of ourselves to search out the highest 10 that you just’ll need to make the leap on.
In This Article
01
What to search for
02
Greatest inflatable paddle boards
Greatest inflatable paddle boards, at a look:
What to search for in an inflatable paddle board
Once you’re on the hunt for the perfect inflatable paddle boards, Les says there are 5 key issues to bear in mind.
Dimension
Though boards can vary from simply six toes lengthy (for youths) to 16 or extra (for group paddling), Les says most vary between 10.5-12 toes, with 11-footers being the most well-liked. “That’s the candy spot,” he says. However smaller individuals would possibly want a shorter board so it’s lighter and simpler to move, whereas greater riders would possibly want one thing longer to higher assist their weight. Width issues, too: A wider board (round 32 inches or extra) shall be extra secure than a narrower one.
Form
Paddle boarding advanced out of browsing, so most SUPs are formed like surfboards, Les explains. “However as the game advanced within the mid-2000s, all people realized that, really, a surfboard-shaped board does not actually plow via the water as effectively as a board that has extra of the hull within the water and is extra pointy-shaped,” he says. These longer, narrower, pointy boards are referred to as displacement paddle boards and are greatest for individuals who need to paddle quick and much in a straight line. A large hull with a slight upward curve on the entrance, however, is named a planing board, and is extra beginner-friendly—it received’t journey as shortly or simply but it surely’s extra secure for leisurely floating round or performing some yoga.
Equipment
Bear in mind: You want greater than only a board to paddle board. Most inflatable boards in the present day are offered as packages with pumps, carrying luggage, a collapsible paddle, a leash (to strap the board to your ankle), and a small restore equipment. Increased-quality equipment like an electrical pump or carbon fiber paddle will imply a better worth level. Not all boards come as full packages, nonetheless, so be sure you search for precisely what’s included to think about the complete price of what you’ll must get on the water.
Space for storing
Most paddle boards include quite a lot of clips, velcro straps, and bungee cords on prime so you may stash your flip flops, drinks, or fishing gear, or hold your paddle safe if you wish to put it down for some time. Many additionally allow you to connect a seat so you may sit down and kayak. Suppose via how you propose to make use of your board to ensure it has what you’ll want.
Inflatable paddle board design
A paddle board you’re keen on the look of is a paddle board you’ll need to get on again and again. “Coloration is basically necessary,” Les admits. “That is your restricted quantity of leisure time that you just get. Once you’re standing on this factor, are you want, ‘Yeah, I actually like taking a look at this’?” Hopefully, you might be.
Store 8 of the perfect inflatable paddle boards
Greatest total: iRocker Cruiser 10’6″ 7.0 Inflatable Paddle Board — $599.00
Weight: 25 kilos
Size: 10’6”
Width: 34”
With a large 34-inch base, this board affords an incredible mixture of stability and maneuverability for newcomers. It’s simple to rise up from sitting or kneeling to standing (and even into downward canine—SUP yoga, anybody?) with out worrying an excessive amount of about your stability. And with a 435-pound weight capability, it may well accommodate a number of riders or pets, if yours are adventurous. The comparatively brief size does imply it’s meant for riders simply 5’8” and underneath, though one among our 5’10” testers felt tremendous snug on it out on the Charles River in Boston. Simply know that this board is offered as a fundamental package deal with solely the board, fins, restore equipment, and leash, so that you’ll must bundle it along with your most popular paddle, pump, and provider for a whole setup.
Max capability: 435 kilos
Pump: Not included
Provider: Not included
- 4 colour choices
- Vast base for further stability
- Straightforward to maneuver on the water
- Leash features a spot to stash your keys
- Pump, carrying case, and paddles are offered individually
- Really helpful for riders 5’8” or underneath
Greatest SUP package deal: Isle Pioneer 3 — $495.00
Weight: 19 kilos
Size: 10’6”
Width: 34”
For a sturdy, beginner-friendly board that comes with all of the equipment you want, look no additional than Isle’s best-selling Pioneer 3. The board itself is further sturdy and includes a full-length traction pad so you may get an incredible grip on the deck. The Pioneer 3 comes with an adjustable carbon paddle, hand pump, touring fin, and six-foot leash, all packed in a wheeled backpack. Our testers have been significantly impressed by how simple it’s to suit a number of individuals (or canines!) on board at one time. There’s additionally ample storage plus velcro loops to your paddle to retailer it when it’s not in use. All in all, the Isle Pioneer 3 is a superb bang-for-your-buck deal value a spot in your gear closet.
Max capability: 285 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Curler backpack
Additionally out there at Amazon.
- Sturdy, grippy deck
- Ample storage and attachment house
- Light-weight and compact
- Contains tons of equipment
- Usually on sale
- Fin could be cumbersome to connect
Most compact: Crimson Paddle Co 10’0″ Experience — $1,299.00
Weight: 20 kilos
Size: 10’0”
Width: 29”
Smaller riders typically battle to maneuver a protracted SUP into and out of the water. At simply 10 toes lengthy and solely 20 kilos, this compact board makes issues extra manageable. Completely-attached fins even make the setup one step shorter. Simply know that the max rider weight is 165 kilos, so that is positively designed for smaller, solo paddlers. And we positively acquired a exercise for all our little stabilizer and core muscle tissue to be able to keep upright on it—though it’s tremendous stiff for a easy journey, it’s simply 29 inches vast, so it’s going to problem your stability.
Max capability: 165 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Curler backpack
- Light-weight and brief for straightforward carrying
- Slices via the water shortly
- Comes with an incredible curler backpack with spots for the whole lot you want
- Everlasting fins are connected
- Paddle sticks a bit while you attempt to take it aside
- 165-pound weight capability
Most versatile: NRS Jukdo 100 — $925.00
Weight: 21
Size: 10’0”
Width: 31″
Should you’re in search of a do-it-all board, the NRS Jukdo has acquired you lined. Barely wider than different boards on this listing and extremely hardy, the Jukdo is designed with tons of considerate touches (barely raised deck rails, a die-cut EVA foam deck, and a grippy stomp pad to your again foot) to maximise rider stability on the water. Whether or not you’re seeking to mindlessly float on for a number of hours or need to endeavor on a sweaty, speedy paddle, it’s all you want for a time out within the solar.
“I’m tremendous impressed with its versatility,” says our tester, W+G Commerce Editor, Francesca Krempa. “I’ve had first-timing SUP pals get on this factor and really feel completely safe, whereas I’ve been in a position to take it out for longer, extra intense excursions and it saved up simply advantageous. It’s a splurge, but it surely’s value it should you’re stepping into SUP and desire a premium product that may be capable to develop as you do.”
The Jukdo is presently out there in three lengths: 10′, 10’8″, and 11′. We examined the 10-foot board and located it to be balanced and maneuverable, even for taller paddlers. However should you want slightly extra board underneath your toes, it’s possible you’ll need to measurement up.
Max capability: 190 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Backpack
- Additional sturdy
- Designed for optimum stability
- Additional grippy deck with rear stomp pad
- Versatile
- Contains pump, fins, and restore equipment
- Expensive
- Paddle offered individually
Most moveable: Pau Hana 10’ 10” Solo SUP Backcountry — $869.00
Weight: 14.9 kilos
Size: 10’10”
Width: 30”
Should you ever dreamed of mountaineering out to your favourite paddle-boarding vacation spot, this tremendous compact inflatable enables you to pull it off. “The entire shtick is it’s an additional light-weight, further small one which you could backpack remotely,” Les says. As soon as deflated, the Solo rolls as much as about half the scale of a typical inflatable SUP, and suits right into a backpack about as huge as your common sleeping bag. Even the paddle includes a distinctive breakdown design that allows you to roll it up for straightforward packing—nonetheless, some customers report that makes it much less environment friendly within the water.
Max capability: 350 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Backpack
- Light-weight and packs sufficiently small to hike with
- Paddle rolls up for compact storage
- Backpack performs double responsibility as a dry bag
- Glides simply and shortly on water
- Narrower 30-inch width means much less stability
- Paddle has combined opinions
- The brief guide pump creates its personal exercise
Greatest hybrid: Bote LowRider Aero 10’6” Full Trax Inflatable Paddle Board — $799.00
Weight: 30 kilos
Size: 10′ 6″
Width: 36″
Some days, you’re within the temper to SUP. Others, you need to sit back and kayak. With the Bote LowRider Aero, you are able to do each. This sporty inflatable paddle board consists of an inflatable kayak seat you may connect to your board and hybrid paddle for days you need to kayak.
It’s additionally loaded with options that make it an incredible paddling companion. The additional vast, 36-inch base is roofed in a full-length deck pad for straightforward, snug grip, whereas the bungee cords at the back and front permits for optimum storage. It’s additionally appropriate with the complete line of Bote equipment (offered individually), together with the model’s Magnepod line of magnetized tumblers, coolers, and audio system that connect to the board and keep put when you paddle.
“That is the second Bote board I’ve examined and it’s my new favourite toy,” says Krempa. “I really like that I can sit back and loosen up with the kayak seat on days after I don’t really feel like standing. However most of all, I really like how customizable Bote boards are—you may principally construct out your board precisely the way you need, which is vital for anybody who spends plenty of time on the water.”
Additionally out there at Amazon.
Max capability: 300 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Rolling backpack
- Hybrid mannequin permits you to SUP or kayak
- Versatile
- Vast, sturdy base
- May be personalized with equipment
- Ample storage within the bow and stern for securing down dry luggage and private belongings
- Heavy and barely cumbersome when deflated contained in the backpack
- Detachable fins are difficult to get out and in
Greatest for lounging: Pelican Inflatable Loungeboard — $499.00
Weight: 19.5 kilos
Size: 9’
Width: 39”
Not everybody will get a paddle board to work out. Typically, you simply wanna glide and chill, y’know? The Pelican Loungeboard is designed for simply that. With a 400-pound capability, this board lets a buddy be part of you on prime, or you may benefit from the velcro connectors that connect a number of boards collectively to create your individual floating island. At 39 inches vast, this huge boy is ultra-stable. And the complete deck is roofed in padded grip so you may actually use the entire house should you’re using tandem or need to do some yoga. Simply know that it’s a tank to maneuver: You don’t need to be attempting to get anyplace quick on the water on this. We discovered it’s not probably the most environment friendly to paddle on and is especially tough to maneuver in a straight line.
Max capability: 400 kilos
Pump: Guide
Provider: Over-the-shoulder duffle
Additionally out there at REI.
- Tremendous secure
- Excessive weight capability
- Simply attaches to different Loungeboards
- Exceptionally fast to deflate
- Light-weight
- Excellent for low-key float days
- Strikes slowly
- Doesn’t observe effectively in a straight line—not designed for touring
Most trendy: Thurso Waterwalker 126 10’6” All-Round SUP — $549.00
Weight: 23.7 kilos
Size: 10’6”
Width: 31”
Our testers discovered Thurso’s flagship all-around board tracked effectively in a straight line, and was simple to handle even when the water acquired slightly uneven. But it surely did take slightly work to stability when the circumstances weren’t 100% calm. With an electrical pump and a number of handles, setup and getting it into the water was a breeze total, although it took some elbow grease to get the middle fin on and off. We additionally loved loading it up with the whole lot we would have liked for longer adventures—there are a number of bungees on the nostril and tail to stash your stuff, and holders on the aspect hold your paddle safe if you wish to hop off for a dip.
Max capability: 300 kilos (however 130-180 is advisable)
Pump: Electrical
Provider: Curler backpack
- Enjoyable design offers traditional surf vibes
- Contains rechargeable electrical pump that inflates and deflates the board shortly
- Comes with a wheeled duffle bag for straightforward transport
- Options bungees on nostril and tail to tie down cargo, plus paddle holders on the aspect
- Requires some work to stability
- A bit of difficult to get fins on and off
