Editors Rating

First up we’ve got the Expedition stand up paddle board from Isle Surf & SUP which has been designed with longer trips in mind. They’ve incorporated their spectacular own Fusion Lite build to provide you with an awesome board you’re able to carry wherever and whenever you want. It doesn’t matter where you’re intending on taking your trip, it’s been constructed to cope with it all.

So, whether you want to head to the ocean, lake, river or just that little stream, it will handle obstacles that come its way or that are thrown in its watery pathway with the same durability. You’ll find a diamond traction pad fitted to the deck that stops you from slipping while also keep your feet comfortable.

Another nice touch is the fact this inflatable stand up paddle board is 100% pet friendly. Perfect for when you want to take your pooch out to catch some waves. Storage-wise, this also provides in the form of two bungee systems, one at the tail and one at the nose. If you’re looking for variety, it’s limited with this, but it does come in two nice and watery colors, known as moss and aqua.

Our favorite thing about this product is the money-saving package you get. There’s just about everything you could want or need and some things you probably never knew you needed. A coil leash, center fin that’s detachable, high pressure pump, paddle, backpack and even a waterproof phone case are all included for the retailing price.

Editors Rating

Given the name the Adventurer, the next inflatable SUP board comes from Tower. In response to the many worries and concerns about where the compromises lie when you invest in these inflatable alternatives, this 6-inch thick board can hold medium to large sized riders easily. Its stability is never compromised, and if you stay within the 400-pound guideline, there’s no chance of it bending.

The thickness is important, particularly if you’re new to stand up paddle boarding or are hitting onto the current craze of Yoga boarding. IT’s also ideal if you’re looking to draft in your little ones to nurture a passion in them for this exhilarating pastime.

From a maintenance point of view, if you’re not looking to fuss around too much before and after you’re on the water, this is a must have. You’ll find across brands and models, there’s one feature of paddle boards of the inflatable variety that’s the same – their all made using drop-stitching and from a military-grade PVC. This is no different and is robust to deal with anything.

So, if you are new to this sporting activity, it’s forgiving enough to cope with the serious number of dents, dinks and dings you might put it through. Similarly, to board above, this comes in an economically-sound package that provides you with a fiberglass paddle in three parts for easier storage, a fin and reasonable quality pump. Everything you need to have a blast on the water!

Editors Rating

Not to be confused with the, in many people’s eyes, vastly superior paddle boards from iRocker, this next one from Roc is hardly an unknown quantity. It’s one of the most popular and best-selling, not just inflatable but SUPs in general of all time. We especially love the coating this features that provides protection against the harmful UV rays from the sun that can normally damage PVC.

You’ll never have any issues with this board and overheating, that’s for sure. To be honest, when you consider the excellent and safe amount of grip it gives you with the exceptional flotation balance it provides, you’d be hard pushed to find fault with it.

One issue we noticed though, and this is a small one, the D-rings you get to use as an anchorage for your leash, are a bit small and can be fragile. It’s also difficult to pump up. However, once you find the sweet spot, it won’t take nearly as long each subsequent time you use the board. We’ve featured it for a reason, though, so let’s not harp on about the minor issues.

Let’s instead discuss the great package you get with this board. As well as the board, in all its glory, you get a rather nifty and sturdy allow paddle, a separate key bag, so you know where they are when you get out of the water, waterproof holder for your pride and joy (phone), pump, leash and probably one of the best ever backpacks. Seriously, there’s so much love for that backpack online.

As well as being generous in size, it’s also comfortable when worn on your back and completely waterproof. Nothing you put in there, when it’s sealed properly and in fine working condition, will get damaged by water. Did we also mention that the Roc paddle board is backed by the company’s 1-year warranty? Now you can see, despite the flaws, why it’s here!

Editors Rating

You’d think, give it’s made by a bunch of SUP enthusiasts who know the aquatic pastime inside and out, that whenever Atoll released a SUP, it was a big deal. When it comes to this 11-foot inflatable wonder of a stand-up board, it is! There’s so much to love and admire about this board. You’d almost think we’re lying and it’s a traditional hard-body model instead.

However, inflatable it is, so like most it’s extremely lightweight. Does that come at a price? Is it weaker? No, because although they’ve used machine lamination to work on a dual layer of PVC. Is that some fancy-smancy sales talk? Not at all, dual layer inflatable SUPs fare better against the usual wear and tear than even hardboards and less expensive inflatable types.

The stability is another thing to behold and celebrate, as because of its dimensions, it’s got a stability that will suit both beginners and those expert veterans too. It really needs stability too, when you consider how much the manufacturer reckons this can handle and handle it can. We’re talking a massive 350-pounds, making it an inflatable SUP with one of the largest capacities around.

In terms of how well it performs, you get a huge amount of speed and stability. Due to the three-fin design of the board and its precise and refined shape, it tracks, that is maintains course, superbly. Whereas it’s probably one of the largest capacity boards, it’s also one of the lightest in terms of its own weight. With the D-rings on its tail and bungee at the nose, you’ve got lots of storage space.

The package, as you’d expect from a manufacturer like Atoll is also sublime in what it includes. There’s that astonishingly light weight adjustable paddle, removable fins that can be attached and removed without the use of any tools, the backpack, leash, repair kit, bungee tie downs for the nose and tail and the Bravo dual-action hand pump.

You’d need that pump if you tried to rattle that list off too quickly out loud!

Editors Rating

Okay, so it may not have the most subtle of color schemes, compared to the other cool paddle boards we’ve featured. However, just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, don’t judge a paddle board by its color. Color does not denote quality, after all. Just as a barista having bright blue hair doesn’t make her better or worse at her job than the cute brunette with pigtails.

In fact, it’s often the opposite, if you’ve been to a trendy coffee house recently! Anyway, we digress. The thing that’s most striking about this Pathfinder inflatable stand-up paddle board, is the price tag. It’s one of the least expensive on the market and one of the cheapest in our guide. So, if you’re not sure you want to invest the 100’s of $ required for most start-up kits, this might be for you!

Despite its price, though, like we said about its looks, it’s still a great allrounder when it comes to performance. Although it’s not made from military-grade PVC like most, it still includes the almost standard these days, drop stitching which helps to reinforce the seams and make a paddle board bulletproof.

Well, it’s not actually bulletproofed. Like, if you find yourself under attack by a hail of enemy bullets, and you’re balding and either a tall muscular dude from Hayward down in Cali or a shorter muscular bald guy from Shirebrook in Derbyshire, we’re not going to suggest you use this to dodge those bullets. But, for dinks, dings, rocks and other stuff – sure, it’ll mostly cope with them fine.

Now we know it’ll have not escaped you eagle-eyed readers that this is slightly thinner than the rest of the gang here. Although that does put it at a distinct advantage in the long run and means you suffer in the stability department, remember it’s around half the price of most of the big guns. Again, while we’re not suggesting a seasoned pro or avid Super would want this, it’s great for beginners.

Editors Rating

As you’ve undoubtedly seen, there are a lot of things we need to discuss when looking at each of these individual inflatable SUPs. A lot of the issues you find with inflatable paddle boards, SereneLife in their wisdom have tackled. Most crucially, they’ve went to a lot of effort to deal with the problem of sun exposure and its effect on the PVC rubber used in.

With this board, the UV-resistant coating provides it with additional durability as well as reducing the damage the sun can have on it. The grit you get with this paddle board is why we’d recommend it for beginners. However, we’d not really recommend the riding style for beginners whatsoever. 

You’d have a hard time trying to get balanced because the abilities of the board is very much dependent on PSI. This isn’t exactly a bad thing, because it doesn’t make the board less functional or anything, but it just means boarders with more experience will have a better and more successful time, rather than beginners using it as their first model.

With the design of the board, SereneLife have ensured the board is extremely light in all important ways while keeping a reasonable size. Even the oar has been created with a different tact than other models – to contend with and fight against the water currents rather than bending to them. This means, unlike with some inflatable SUPs, you’ve got an oar that you can use to row.

Editors Rating

iRocker, for the people already in the know, is a name that needs no real introduction. With their All-Around SUP board, they’ve created something that’s appealing for all riders. That’s regardless of skill level and where they intend to use it. It can cope with just about any water environment. Right off the bat, it’s best to point out this board is recommended for bigger riders.

Either that or if you’re intending on taking more than one person out at the same time. One of the things you’ll notice straight away with this board compared to others on the market, is the fact that it doesn’t have one layer or even just two layers of PVCV rubber. Nope, iRocker have went full hog and made it with four different layers of rubber.

What does this mean for the board, though? It means, according to the company, it will always pass the test no matter how rough the waters are. So, that’s one thing it has in favor of it. Another thing that sets it apart is its high maximum capacity limit of 435-pounds and the fact it is much wider than a lot of the other ones, measuring at 32-inches. This increases the stability of the board.

In terms of its performance, it appears to provide a very joyful and exhilarating experience. Although it’s wider than another great iRocker product, the Sport, it doesn’t lose anything in terms of fast movement over and through the surface of the water. A key component to this board, as with most, is the backpack, which can fit everything that comes with this SUP and more still.

Editors Rating

Although you’ve possibly never heard the brand name before, it’s a solely hand-made product that has multiple levels of stitching to give it a stable and weight-saving structure. What’s more, the company has been making inflatable paddle boards for stand-up paddle boarding for years, since 2005. This inflatable SUP is another that’s been firmly been designed with touring riders in mind. D-rings are featured on the board, making it possible to attach a comfortable seat, as well as other items.

Items you’d need on longer journeys. So, if you want to go on a nice trek through forests, woodlands and along various bodies of water, this might be a great option for you. It remains suitably stiff even at lower air pressures and will stand the test of time and various tricky situations when you’re having to contend with choppier and exciting waters.

Like the others in our guide, this pack comes with everything you need. It differs mostly in terms of price tag. So, if you’re looking to give paddle boarding a go for the first time, this would be a better investment than those more expensive models.

Editors Rating

From another brand you may not be exactly familiar with, Aqua Plus, comes the next great paddle board in our guide. This is an awesome, all-inclusive style package that features just about everything except for the kitchen sink. Unless there’s some code you can give at the checkout when you buy it, we don’t think it features a kitchen sink.

What you do get for your investment in Aqua Plus’s entry to the inflatable SUP field is an incredibly portable and lightweight board that’s capable of handling a rather respectable load capacity of 330-pounds. It’s been made with both ends of the spectrum when it comes to experience and skill in mind. Both beginners and experts will find joy with this SUP.

It’s curiously very rigid design almost makes it feel like a hardbody board, rather than one filled with pressurized air. As ever, military-grade PVC is featured extensively, as is the reliably robust and durable drop stitching to hold it all together by strengthening the seams. Another standard feature is the diamond groove traction pad for comfortable, safe and confident ride.

There are also several D-rings and a bungee cord setup for storing things on your paddleboard securely. With a jam-packed special deal, we’re not sure we can really say much against this supper cool inflatable SUP. If you’re looking to save a little but want to spend enough on a decent paddle board, this would be an awesome choice to settle on.

Editors Rating

The penultimate in our guide is another smaller brand, but based on the features of this SUP, it deserves some recognition. Following in so many footsteps that came before it, this standup paddle board benefits from a highly robust construction consisting of dual-layer of plastic and the drop-stitch that helps to reinforce everything together and keep the seams tight and well finished.

This inflatable paddle board has been designed with users of all skills in mind and has a reasonable weight capacity of 240-punds. One of the things we really like about this model though, is the fast inflation you gain the benefit of, with it taking just 12 minutes to pump up fully, even by hand. This means there’s less time between arriving at the water and getting on it.

It’s been made to be kid friendly with a safety rope that enables you to take your little one out with you for their first experience of stand-up paddle boarding. Everything, as is standard these days, fits conveniently into the included backpack.

All in all, although this may not be from one of the more prestigious brands, it’s still a great beginner board for those of you who’ve yet to experience the simple, though tricky, joy of paddle boarding.

Editors Rating

The final SUP in our guide is one you’ve probably seen advertised and mentioned everywhere, because these beauties seem to get…well…everywhere. The Gili inflatable paddleboard gets everywhere for a reason, though. It’s a nice medium-priced board. In terms of its package, you get everything you really need and want.

However, whereas some packages, admittedly are just cobbled together seemingly as an afterthought to sell the board, the Gili one has branded items that have clearly been chosen because they do their specific job well. One thing we’d say though, is that while it’s a good all-rounder and suitable for rides of extended periods of time, keep in mind it’s got no UV-protection.

Given that it weighs just under 20-pounds, you know you’ll not have too much travelling with this in tow. There’s a lot to love with this board…and a few…forgivable errors. When you consider the nuts and bolts of it, though, you start to see why many people highly regard and recommend Gili. A worthy rival to iRocker and Atoll.