Contents
- 1 Best Stand Up Inflatable Paddle Boards (iSUPs) of 2024
- 1.1 The Best Standup Paddle boards of 2024
- 1.2 1. Best Overall Standup Paddleboard: Hala Rado
- 1.3 2. Best Budget Standup Paddleboard: BOTE Breeze Aero Classic Inflatable Paddleboard 10’8″
- 1.4 3. Runner-Up Best Paddleboard: iRocker Blackfin Model V 12’6″
- 1.5 4. Best Stability: Atoll Stand Up Paddle Board
- 1.6 5. Best for Beginners: Gili Air Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
- 1.7 Conclusion
- 1.8 Frequently Asked Questions
Best Stand Up Inflatable Paddle Boards (iSUPs) of 2024
One of the best outdoor activities to enjoy a lake, river, or ocean is paddle boarding. Whether you’re traveling by car, plane, or foot, an inflatable paddle board is the ideal option because certain boats and conventional wood paddle boards are less portable due to their bulk.
Are you looking to buy a brand-new inflatable SUP board? If so, please review our most recent list of the top inflatable paddle boards for 2024. As more boards enter the market, this list will be updated, so be sure to check back frequently for changes.
The Best Standup Paddle boards of 2024
Best Overall Standup Paddleboard: Hala Rado
Best Budget Standup Paddleboard: BOTE Breeze Aero Classic Inflatable Paddle Board
Runner-up Best Standup Paddleboard: iRocker Blackfin Model V
Best Stability: Atoll Stand Up Paddle Board
Best for Beginners: Gili Air Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
1. Best Overall Standup Paddleboard: Hala Rado
Colorado-based Hala Gear is known for making high-quality SUPs, and one of their best-selling models ever is the Hala Rado ($1,399). This all-arounder remains at the top of our list thanks to its somewhat larger length, lively tail shape, and robust deck (useful for both balance and towing stuff).
The 10’10” Hala Rado board is made to perform well in flatwater and whitewater. Its distinctive progressive rocker profile, which features a small upward curve from the tail to the nose of the board, makes it easier to maneuver and more aggressively surf waves and rapids. In order to perform better in moving water, the design has a swallowtail shape at the tail that promotes balance and agility.
2. Best Budget Standup Paddleboard: BOTE Breeze Aero Classic Inflatable Paddleboard 10’8″
One one the best SUP out there is the $700 BOTE Breeze Aero Classic Paddleboard. In comparison to most of our favorite SUP designs, it’s an affordable board that comes in at the middle of the pack in terms of size and versatility.
In order to increase the rigidity of the board, this SUP is built with over 10,000 composite stitch fibers along the inside core and military-grade PVC. For increased comfort, the top of the SUP is lined with a BVA foam pad.
The nose of the board is softly rockered, which helps it handle rough waters. The fixed additional little side-bit fins assist the board track even in shallower waters when the detachable 10-inch center fin is not necessary.
In order to give users another carry option, BOTE even invented an inventive attachable shoulder sling that clamps to the side of the Breeze Aero Board.
For less than $700, this inflatable stand-up paddle board is among the best available due to its meticulous design features.
3. Runner-Up Best Paddleboard: iRocker Blackfin Model V 12’6″
The Blackfin Model V is a fantastic example of a touring paddle board with triple-layer PVC, carbon rails, and reinforced seams. The board is 12’6′′ in length and 32′′ in width, with a weight capacity of up to 485 pounds. It excels above comparable 12’6″ boards at this point. Expert paddlers will love it just as much as those who have just been kayaking for a few seasons because of its enormous weight capacity and reasonable streamlining.
This stand up paddle board excels at providing speed and strong tracking in the water, even in windy or choppy conditions, thanks to its design, tapering at the tail, center fin, and twin fin layout. Although this board has excellent stability and is 32′′ wide, it may still be suitable for those with less expertise, we would not suggest it for beginners.
The board has a high-pressure value that is typical of other SUPs and has a suggested PSI range of 12 to 16. (Between 12 PSI at the lowest end and 17 PSI twice when around 40 pounds of additional weight are being carried on board.) To make sure there were no problems with the seams or seals right away, we inflated and deflated this board more than 20 times. Everything is going OK so far.
Back on our list of the top 5 SUPs is the Blackfin Model V. It comes with a 2-year general guarantee, 3-year seam warranty, and 1-year accessory warranty (for parts like the fins and 3-piece paddle), which is more significant for anyone who is still unsure about quality or durability.
4. Best Stability: Atoll Stand Up Paddle Board
The Atoll 11-foot Inflatable Stand-up Paddle Board, one of the longest paddle boards we tested, offers perfect stability for long-distance paddling and yoga poses on the board. We were quite impressed. Additionally, getting back on the board felt effortless, even when you were in the midst of the water. When the weather was windy, the paddle board stayed sturdy even though we used it in still water.
Although longer paddle boards might occasionally be challenging to handle, this one wasn’t. Using the paddle to turn or change the direction of the board was not difficult for us. Although the Atoll board was quite easy to move, we wish it had handles on both ends so that two people could carry it if necessary. Nevertheless, the padded shoulder straps of the carrying bag made it comfortable to use, and both the board and the supplies fit inside it without any problems.
5. Best for Beginners: Gili Air Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
Anyone wishing to get started paddle boarding should get this board. It’s composed of sturdy, superior-grade PVC and is lightweight. The hand pump setup takes about four minutes, but you might need assistance attaching all of the fins. We enjoy how secure and stable this board feels as it glides over the water thanks to its wide base, which feels solid and nearly like a traditional paddle board.
Folded within the bag, the carrying case is somewhat heavy, but it’s well-made, with strong straps and lots of zippered compartments to hold fins and other equipment. We particularly value the fact that the main compartment zips virtually all the way around, making it incredibly simple to put the board back inside after a demanding day. We also really enjoy how this board feels and looks; it comes in four different colors and feels more upscale for the price.
Conclusion
After reading this post, we hope you will be better equipped to choose an inflatable SUP and related gear that will maximize your time on the water and help you introduce paddle boarding as an exciting new pastime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to stand up on a paddle board?
Although getting your footing on the paddle board may be challenging at first, it becomes easier as you begin to feel for the balance required to paddle. There are two excellent ways to get out on the lake without standing: sitting or kneeling if that’s how you feel most comfortable.
What should I wear on a stand up paddle board?
Wearing a swimsuit or quickly drying clothing is a sensible idea when kayaking in a huge body of water. Even experienced paddlers may fall into the water due to the balance learning curve of the sport. When you’re out on the water, you should either wear a life jacket or have one on board for safety reasons.
Are inflatable paddle boards better than hard ones?
Inflatable paddle boards are unquestionably superior to rigid boards for travel since they can be easily packed up and compressed into a stuff sack. Inflatable paddle boards are significantly easier for beginners to use than hard-shell boards, even if you don’t plan on traveling far.