Best Paddleboards Rated By Consumers Water Sports

The best paddleboard is a model that suits your size and skill level. Once you’ve tried out a stand-up paddleboard you’ll soon want to purchase your own. In order to find the best stand-up paddleboards, you’ll need to consider the type and size of SUP board that will work best for you, in addition to the type of SUP accessories you’ll need and of course, the price.

Paddleboard Buying Guide

There are several different styles of stand-up paddleboards to choose from, each of which will come with its own pros and cons. Here are a variety of factors you may want to take into consideration when you choose a stand-up paddleboard and based on your priorities and needs, you can determine the preferences in the style you want to find in paddleboards. Here’s what you need to know to guide your buying decision.

Types of SUP Paddleboards

When it comes to stand-up paddleboarding, there are so many options out there. This is because there are so many different types of activities you can do while paddleboarding! From more specific sports like yoga, racing, and surfing to general purposes like touring, camping, fishing, or just taking a ride around the lake, boards can vary widely and the importance of certain features to the sort of purpose varies as well.

Surf SUP Paddleboards

A surfing paddleboard is often lighter, narrower, and shorter than other stand-up paddleboards, featuring a shorter tail and narrower nose. This style of board is designed for high surfing performance, quick turns, and is typically used mainly in surf zones in the open ocean. This type of board isn’t ideal for a more long-distance, flat water type of paddling because it will require a lot of physical effort to keep the board on track. This surfing style is also less stable than a long SUP board.

Touring SUP Paddleboards

A touring SUP is considered a multipurpose model that’s usually much longer, wider, and equipped with a greater volume. This sort of stand-up paddleboard also features a pointier nose. The volume and size of the board make it much more stable than a surf paddleboard, and they work well on flat water.

This sort of board is also perfect for the paddleboarder who plans on spending a lot of time and wants to go a long distance in flatwater paddling on still bodies of water. Touring boards are a good choice for beginners, so if you don’t have much experience paddling paddleboards and stand-up paddleboarding, then picking this SUP board style is the way to go.

Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboarding

The inflatable paddleboard was invented to solve a couple of SUP paddleboarding issues beyond simply paddling around. These issues involve transportation and storage. Many boarders live in apartments or don’t have large enough vehicles to accommodate a large, solid board. Because of these issues, an inflatable board makes a lot of sense. Inflatable boards are much easier and lighter to transport.

However, the border will need to sacrifice the stiffness of a traditional board, which at times can make riding waves a little challenging, but still possible in the right conditions. Not to mention, the added give in this kind of board acts as an inflatable raft and allows the riders to avoid holes or bumps while going over rough water in the open ocean or bumping to rocks.

Racing SUP Paddleboards

Racing stand-up paddleboards have become huge in popularity over the past few years. If you’re interested in racing SUP, or you simply want a great workout, a racing board is a way to go. This sort of board is much narrower and longer and has an extremely longfin and pointy nose. This style of SUP board is considered advanced and can definitely take some getting used to.

SUP Yoga Paddleboards

Yoga stand-up paddleboards are much longer and wider than the traditional wave SUP board. This style usually features a soft top and includes places to hook up a variety of exercise equipment such as resistance bands.

Maneuverability and Stability

Your main considerations when picking out a new board should be maneuverability and stability. Fins, core materials, width, length, thickness, volume, and hull type will all guide the stability of aboard. Learning more about these stand-up paddleboarding features and how they affect your ride depending on intended use can guide you to narrow down your choices when it comes to finding the right SUP board.

Displacement Hulls vs Planing Hulls

The body, or hull, plays an important role in determining how a SUP board will perform. A stand-up paddleboard will have one of two hull types: displacement or planing.

A planning hull is the best choice for riders who are looking for a SUP board that can do it all. This SUP board is wide and flat, similar to what you’d find on a surfboard. It performs well in both flatwater and ocean waves and is designed to ride on top of the water. Many beginners will start off their first time on a planning board because this style tends to be more versatile and stable for recreational surfing and paddling.

The displacement hull is ideal for racing and paddling longer distances. This style features a pointed bow or nose that’s similar to what you’d find on a canoe or kayak. This kind can easily slice through the flat water, pushing water around the board’s nose, off to the sides for better efficiency. Models with this kind of hull are usually narrower and longer than boards that have a planning hull. This works to make them much faster but it also puts them at an increased risk of tipping over if you take them anywhere other than flat water.

Sizing SUP Boards

The SUP board you choose must work for your size. If a paddleboard doesn’t displace the right amount of water for the rider’s weight, then it won’t be supported. A board’s weight capacity and volume are a couple of important factors to consider before you buy.

Calculating Board Volume

A board’s volume is expressed in liters and will give you an idea of a board’s ability to float with a determined amount of weight on it. The larger the volume the more weight the board can handle. Volume can be calculated by multiplying the length, width, and thickness of the paddleboard.

Typically, SUP boards are measured first by their length. How longboards are can give an initial estimate for what sort of volume it will have, although width and thickness play a role as well.

Shorter SUP boards feature a higher volume if it’s thick and wide. SUP boards that are a little longer can feature a lower volume if they are thin and narrow. This means that a rider (or riders) that weighs two hundred pounds who wants to ride paddleboards in the surf will need more maneuverable shortboards that have a higher volume.

Determining Weight Capacity

Every board comes with a weight capacity, which will be listed in pounds. Learning about a board’s weight capacity is crucial because if you’re too heavy for a SUP it will cause the board to ride too low in the water, making it hard to paddle.

What sort of Water are you Paddling?

You should also think about where you want to paddle in order to find the right length. Riding surf in the ocean and paddling around calm lake flatwater involve different styles of boarding, requiring different lengths of boards in order to perform well.

Can you Transport it?

Boarders should also consider the length in regards to the type of vehicle they have, the length of the walk to the shore or beach, and their home storage situation. If you are planning a SUP activity that requires you to carry a SUP board around with you for a long way, it may not be ideal to get a large, heavy SUP. You may even want to get an inflatable SUP and a carrying bag so that you can carry it around on your back if needed.

Paddleboard Length

Short SUP boards are usually under nine feet in length and are great for surfing. They’re also more maneuverable than a longboard size. Shortboards designed for children will be under eight feet in length. Medium-length SUP boards measure in at nine to twelve feet and are designed for all-around use in the ocean surf and over calm waters.

Long SUP boards feature a length of over twelve feet to fourteen feet and are great for touring and racing. These SUP boards are faster than medium or shortboards and have a reputation for better tracking. If you’re interested in touring or racing, you’ll want a board size and deck pad with this length.

Paddleboard Width

The width of a board is also important when you’re determining a board’s stability. Paddleboards are made up to thirty-six inches wide with deck pads designed to accommodate just about all body types.

A wide board features a width of thirty-one inches or wider. This type of width makes a wider board much more stable than a narrow board, which makes the SUP deck pad much easier to stand on. However, it also affects the overall speed of a board, making them much slower than a narrower board.

SUP boards are narrow feature deck pads with a width of twenty-nine to thirty inches. This kind of SUP board is much faster than a wide board but they can also be less stable.

Stand-up Paddleboards & Core materials

Another important factor to consider is the core materials used in a SUP you’re interested in. The quality of your stand-up paddleboarding can have a lot to do with not only the type of material used to make the board you’re riding but also the quality of the manufacturing of your board. That’s why you want to know you’re getting a good brand when you look for aboard. SUP boards are not all created equal.

EPS core

EPS foam is a kind of core that’s wrapped with epoxy and fiberglass, and it’s the most common kind of SUP core used. Plastic and carbon fiber are also used for the exterior of some SUP boards. The weight of a SUP board will vary based on the type of construction technique used.

Plastic Hollow Core

Mid-range models of plastic SUPs feature hollow cores due to the manufacturing process, but higher-end models can also come equipped with this kind of core because it works to increase speed and saves on weight, making it a great option for surfing.

Polyurethane Foam Core

Polyurethane is found on entry-level SUP boards and is much heavier than the EPS foam core. This can be an advantage if you have to carry your solid SUP for long distances at a time (maybe for SUP fishing or exploring multiple bodies of water separated by areas you’ll have to cross on land).

Inflatable SUPs

An inflatable SUP paddleboard features an exterior made from PVC and a drop-stitch construction that works to create an air core. They offer an advantageous alternative to solid SUPs. An inflatable SUP model is easier to store than a solid model, light to carry, and highly durable.

Paddleboard Fins

The fins attached to the board can add to the board’s stability and tracking. A large single fin is placed securely in a fin box and is usually secured using a screw and nut. The fin box features a channel that allows the fin to easily slide back and forth. The traditional three-fin setup offers good control in the surf and promotes straight tracking on calm water.

Race fins are stiffer and straighter. Fins that are stiffer are perfect for downwind runs because they allow a longer board size to track easily in rolling swells and large wind waves. An inflatable SUP paddleboard will be equipped with either a detachable semi-rigid fin that’s removable from the inflatable stand-up paddleboard or flexible rubber fins.

SUP Paddle Specifications

Having the right paddle is important as well. You want a paddle long enough to dip the blade pretty deep into the water without having to lean over to get the best propulsion force. For a beginner paddler’s guide, try a paddle that is approximately ten inches taller than you.

Accessories For Your New Paddleboard

After you get the right board, you’ll need a few more important pieces of equipment that can enhance your SUP riding experience. Let us guide you on what equipment to get for SUPs.

SUPs feature an elbow or angle located in the shaft for ultimate efficiency. Make sure you choose a paddle that’s six to eight inches taller than you are. Some companies recommend choosing a paddle that’s eight or ten inches taller.

The Coast Guard classifies a paddleboard as a vessel, so wearing a personal flotation device is a requirement. These regulations also require the rider to get a SUP light if paddling after sunset and to wear a whistle.

If hypothermia is a concern in cool conditions, experts recommend wearing a dry suit or a wet suit. In milder weather, you can wear a bathing suit or a pair of shorts and a shirt. Just be sure you wear something that allows you to move easily once you get wet.

A SUP leash is often sold separately and works to tether your SUP board to you, allowing you to keep it close by should you fall off. A paddleboard is a large floatation device, so wearing a SUP leash can be important for your safety. A SUP leash is designed specifically for rivers, flatwater, and surf, so make sure you buy the right one based on your intended use.

Buying a car rack will be an important purchase unless you have an inflatable board. If you have a solid board then you’ll need a way to transport it. You should find paddleboard racks that are designed to go on the crossbars of a traditional roof rack. Another option is to use utility straps and foam padding to securely strap your SUP board to the top of your vehicle. Now that you’ve read our buying guide, you’re almost ready to get your own SUP!

Stand Up Paddleboard Comparison Chart

Finding great stand-up paddleboards may appear challenging at first, but finding systems that are reviewed well by customers can help you get one that will be best for your intended water activity use and boarding conditions. Let us offer a comparison chart.

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California Board Company Stand up Paddleboard Review

The stand-up paddleboard by the California Board Company is made from high-density foam and is equipped with a fully waterproof core. This board also comes with an adjustable paddle, camera mount, and roof rack, and it features a higher than average weight capacity of three hundred pounds. While it might be a bit more difficult to store and transport, this paddleboard is a great choice in terms of high performance.

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iRocker Triple Layer Military Grade Inflatable Paddleboard Review

This iRocker triple-layer inflatable SUP paddleboard comes with everything you’ll need to start boarding, including a hand pump, repair kit, and carry bag. This model is made from military-grade PVC and features an internal layer of the drop-stitch core that’s six inches thick. This extra-thick core adds to the overall stability of the inflatable SUP board. There are few things more convenient than a paddleboard you can deflate and pack up with you or put away as needed. Though it doesn’t have the rigid structure other boards might have, it still performs more than decently in most conditions.

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Isle Classic Stand Up Paddleboard Review

The Isle classic paddleboard is a semi-solid model that’s designed to handle a wide range of water conditions with ease. The lightweight design makes it easy to transport and the overall flexibility of the board itself is what makes this board so popular with consumers. This flexible model offers great versatility in paddleboarding sports and water activities.

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