Inflatable paddle board vs hard stand up paddle boar
As stand-up paddle boards are becoming more and more popular, people are hitting the internet to find the best boards out there. When thinking about purchasing a stand-up paddle board, the first step is to decide whether you want a hard board or an inflatable board. While experts can list many pros and cons for each side, there are several main differences to highlight. First, hard boards are slightly faster, may offer better stability and balance on the water, are heavier, and easily become scratched or damaged due to dropping the board, hitting docks or rocks while in the water, or scratching against objects during transport. Meanwhile, inflatable boards are easier to travel with due to their lightweight design, great for SUP yoga, easier to store due to roll-up capabilities, are an accessible option for beginners, and are more budget conscious.
Once you decide on the type of board you’d like to buy, the time comes to start comparing specific boards and weighing the pros and cons of each. There are hundreds of inflatable stand up paddle board available in brick and mortar stores and online. This can be overwhelming to someone looking to get into paddling for the first time, especially with all the specifications listed for each board. To help get you started, we’ve compiled a list of ten of the best inflatable paddle boards we could find along with performance details and the pros and cons of each board. While looking through this list keep in mind that each of these boards is a great board for a different person or family based on their needs and most people do a lot of research before finding that board that is perfect for them.
Shot Descriptions
Quick Comparison Table
| Item model | Dimensions, Weight | Max. Inflation Pressure | Max. Weight Capacity | Paddleboard kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SereneLife Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Check the price | 10’ x 30” x 6” 19.6 lbs. | 20 PSI | 275 lbs | paddling essentials, including a coiled ankle cuff safety leash, oar, manual air pump, and convenient storage bag |
| Atoll 11′ Foot Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Check the price | 11’ x 32” x 6” 19 pounds | 15 PSI | 350 lbs | High Pressure Bravo hand pump, repair kit, front and back bungee tie downs, travel backpack with waist strap |
| PEAK Inflatable 10’6 Stand Up Paddle Board Check the price | 10'6 x 31" x 6" 23 lbs | 15 PSI | 300 lbs | Paddle, Carry Back Pack, Coil Leash, High Pressure Pump |
| Pathfinder Inflatable SUP Stand-up Paddle board Check the price | 9'9 x 30" x 5" 20 lbs | 15 PSI | 240 lbs | Adjustable aluminum paddle, pump, detachable center fin, carry bag |
| ANCHEER Inflatable SUP Stand Up Paddle Board 10′ Check the price | 10' x 32'' x 6'' 20 lbs | 15 PSI | 286 lbs | SUP Board, Adjustable Paddle, Bravo High Pressure Hand Pump With Gauge, Backpack, Repair kit |
| iROCKER CRUISER Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Check the price | 10'6 x 33'' x 6'' 25 lbs | 15 PSI | 400 lbs | Floating fiberglass paddle, hand pump, Backpack, Repair kit |
| HydroForce White Cap Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard SUP and Kayak 10′ Check the price | 120" x 32" x 4" 34 lbs | 15 PSI | 209 lbs | aluminum oar, Air Hammer inflation pump, travel bag, pressure gauge |
| Ten Toes 10′ Weekender Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boar Check the price | 10'x30"x6" 27 lbs | 18 PSI | 250 lbs | aluminum Paddle, 3 removable nylon fins, manual pump |
| Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board by Roc Paddleboards 10' Check the price | 10'x33"x6" 29 lbs | 20 PSI | 350 lbs | Backpack, Adjustable Paddle, Automatic Electric Pump, waterproof floating bag, |
| ISLE 10’4 Airtech Inflatable Yoga Stand Up Paddle Board Check the price | 10’4” x 31” x 6” 18.2 lbs | 15 PSI | 255 lbs | Paddle, Carry Backpack, High pressure pump |
The paddle boards are like for diving boards through exploring the sea. Those are mainly used for diving in alongshore by the adventures lover. The famous USA Company PEAK has launched a new type of paddle board that comes with various types of important accessories. This design, is made for exploring the sea by surfing. It is like a sea warrior in high waves. The design is so scientific, that any professional surfer likes that. The curvatures of the board and sporty look attract people to purchase it. The board comes with 3 pieces of Aluminum ravel paddle which is completely adjustable. The surfing boat must be light weighted. Otherwise, it cannot be ported easily. This paddle board has only 18 kg of weight that is 35 percent lighter than the normal board. If the air is pulled out, the board can be folded like a piece of cloths and can also be placed inside a bag properly. Many of the boards come without fundamental equipment. But this model has come with various parts like the adjustable paddle, a manual air pump, user manuals and also water resistant mobile guard. For these additional features, the purchasing of the product is so much fruitful. Moreover, a hard plastic bag is provided to collect all the equipment and for easy portability. The design is suitable to uplift 150 kg of weight at a time. For this, any heavy or light person can get the joy of boarding while traveling in the sea. The sporty look attracts people for features and magnetic color combinations. The board has 1 year of complete manufacturing warranty including all parts. Moreover, the company provides 10 days of replacement guarantee to the users, if there is any defect like tearing or damage. The board takes a minimum time of 5 minutes to inflate by a manual pump in 15 minutes. If there is an automatic pump, it takes only 5 minutes to be shaped. The paddle boards have rolled out in the market with the seven attractive sporty looks. The color varies with the sizes of board. All colors are mixed and the sizes come between 10”-12”. The mix color combination is the new attraction by the company in 2019. This series of paddleboard comes with a manual air pump that is so much necessary for portability. If there are any emergency needs of air, the manual pump helps to pour the air in.
The backpack comes with no padded straps. So sometimes for long distance, it cannot be taken in hand or in back properly. No balancing feet attachments are available on this board. So sometimes if there is created of misbalance, it will not be so much fruitful for the customers.
The paddleboards are so much attractive rides while an adventure loving person is going to sea. The AQUAPALNET has launched a new type of paddleboard which has come in the market with all kinds of required additional instruments with it. The paddleboard has a design like a sporty surf board. Moreover, the color combination and the stickers attract the buyers towards it. The board is made of high qualities of PVC. There are sponges between two layers of PVC. For both side PVC, it is completely water resistant. The sponge never wet because there are three layers of PVC with plastics laminations. The board has a compact sporty look. It can be assembled in 10 minutes with all additional components. It takes only 15 psi of atmospheric pressure for being rigid. There is an EVA Deck that is so much deep. For it, the rider can sit on it with ultimate comfort and it reduces additional jerking. The board has arrived into the market with all additional components in just 298 Dollars. It is so economical to consumers. Moreover, very few companies offer these additional features with the paddleboard in this price. There is a tough grip to hold it while there are high tides. It keeps more balancing to the rider and makes a safety feature to the board. The tough grip makes a friction sense to the human body for not being slipped out. For this, the upper PVC layer is designed to create a balancing grip to the user. It is 3.25 meters long with a minimum weight of 11 kg for easy transportation. The packs come with one number of boards with the manual air pump, pressure gauge repair kits and also along rucksack for setting all the equipment in one place properly. The fins can be manually connected. Moreover, those can be lined up as you wish. One can set the only central fin. If there need more traction force, the side fins must be connected. There is a padded handle for hanging the board on the wall or to taking it while traveling. It is like an additional feature to the consumer in the economic price.
Unfortunately, the company has rolled out the only a single color combination of this model. So as a user’s choice, there must be more color choices for more attraction. The quality of the bag is not so much good. Moreover, the handle is not padded and also weak. So it cannot be used for long time holding.
Also read about Best inflatable paddle board under $400 Deciding Which One is For YouPEAK Paddle Boards – Best Stand Up Paddle Board 6” 2019
Aquaplanet – Best inflatable paddle board for beginners
SereneLife – Best inflatable stand-up paddle board under $500
This board boasts amazing reviews across the internet, and it’s not hard to see why. This wide board featuring a non-slip deck is great for use by both adults and children thanks to its in-water fins that make steering a breeze. Also, this board comes with everything you’ll need to get out on the water: safety leash, oar, air pump, and a storage bag.
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Atoll 11′ – Best inflatable stand up paddle board under $1000
This easy-to-transport board comes with a lightweight three-piece paddle, detachable fin, leash, air pump, and heavy-duty backpack for transport. The board boasts reviews of being able to hold large amounts of rider weight including multiple riders (And pets!), being carefully packaged and shipped so the board and all its components are intact when they arrive at your door, made with tough materials for durability, and being extremely stable when out on the water. Additionally, there is great internet presence from the board’s manufacturing company, Atoll, providing excellent customer service including quick answers to questions and problem resolution.
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PEAK Inflatable 10’6 – best inflatable SUP under $600
This beautifully designed board is sure to get you compliments as you comfortably ride through calm lakes and rivers. This board may need some adjustment when you first use it, but as you continue to practice and use the board you’ll find yourself gliding through choppy water on a board that you’re proud to own.
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Pathfinder inflatable SUP – Best stand-up paddle board under $300
This board is available in two BRIGHT colors (orange and blue) and its bungee cords allow riders to take cargo (sunblock, water bottle, waterproof camera, etc.) with them on their ride! While this is a shorter and thinner board, reviewers still remark this cheap inflatable paddle board as a great buy!
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ANCHEER – Best stand up paddle board 10′ under $300
This board is ideal for riders who want to cruise around a lake, do SUP yoga, fish from their paddle board, or sight-see along calm waters. The package comes with a paddle, detachable center fin, carrying backpack, dual function pump, and a repair kit.
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iROCKER CRUISER – Best inflatable stand up paddle board under $700
Best inflatable paddle board is able to hold up on those high-wind days, cruising through waves and providing riders with a secure and stable ride out on the water. There are excellent reviews for this board all over the internet, including in the review sections for other boards. It is a durable, weight-bearing board that users love. The accessory package includes a safety leash, high-quality paddle, carrying bag, and manual hand pump.
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HydroForce – Best SUP and Kayak 10′ under $250
This board allows riders to choose if they would like to paddle or kayak each time they go out on the water without having to buy more than one board/boat and does so at an amazing price! Aside from this versatility, the board offers a brightly colored design, inclusive accessories package, and easy-to-transport design making it accessible to a variety of paddlers!
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Ten Toes 10′ – Best inflatable paddle board under $500
This is a great board for families looking to have fun out on the water doing tricks on and off the board and priced low enough that families can get more than one! The package comes with an adjustable paddle, three removable fins, and a manual pump.
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RoC inflatable stand up paddle board – Best SUP under $400
The creative, cool graphic designs on this board will impress when you’re out on the water. This board also comes with an electric air pump that will be the envy of every other inflatable board user struggling to inflate their boards with manual pumps.
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ISLE 10’4 Airtech – Best inflatable yoga stand up paddle board under $800
This inflatable stand up paddle board is stable enough for the SUP yoga enthusiast, light enough for those concerned about the weight of other boards, and stylish enough for even the most discerning consumers. This board package includes a paddle, carrying case, and high pressure pump. Whether this is a gift for yourself or someone else, it is sure to meet every need.
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While this list can help you narrow down hundreds of options to just ten, it is up to you to decide which features are most important and which will not be as important for your intended use before picking a board and heading out on the water. Are you going to do SUP Yoga? Find a board with more stability. Do you want your board to hold several people and a dog? Find a thick board with a high weight capacity. Is this your first board and you don’t want to over-commit with an expensive board? Then maybe a less expensive option is the right choice for you. Whichever inflatable stand up paddle board you choose now or in the future and however you use it, it’s always an amazing feeling being out on the water, and you’re sure to love this way of interacting with nature. Happy paddling!
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iROCKER CRUISER Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
Thank you very much! I have long wanted to inflatable stand up paddle board, I chose for a long time, I watched which model, how they differed. I watched a lot on YouTube.
Decided to buy the iROCKER CRUISER, and did not regret it! Came well packed, no damage on the box. Extreme high quality and a great looking SUP. Excellent reviews about the brand itself! The pump is fantastic and able to inflate the board in about 10 minutes. This SUP is very stable. Wide board and high weight limit for kids and other riders. I feel it is well worth the money.
I'm looking into buying an inflatable SUP as a second board. Mainly due to space limitations (I only have room for one board in my storage unit and a board wont fit in my teeny tiny elevator).
What are your favorite brands? I've seen a wide range of prices (from $400 to $1200) and frankly I'm at a loss as to which are the best in terms of quality and reputation.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Take a look at Tower Paddleboards. I talked to them at the Ft Lauderdale boat show when they were fist getting started. Very nice group of people running the business.
I started shopping for an iSUP to keep on the boat (deflated in a storage compartment) to play with at the sand bar... The Adventuerer 2 model happens to come up as amazons deal of the day while I was looking for one. I think I only paid like $399 for the package. I’ve only seen it pop up as the deal again a couple times though. I was planning on buying the smaller model...but got the bigger one because it was on sale. I think it’s aorth the extra money for the length and the bungee cords and eyes to attach stuff too. If you are going to have to inflate two of them, you might want to consider a power inflator....inflating one is ok, but two would be a little pre-workout if your wife wouldn’t do it...
Tower also does a “grab bag” sale a couple times a year to sell their blems and returns...some that need patching, but most are just blems or used. Unfortunately they had it last week.
I own a C4 Subvector 9'3" and a Stride Airlite HD and have access to a C4 ATB 10'6". I paddle flat water and whitewater (class 2 play features, not well yet). For whitewater wave surfing, I like the C4 Subvector 9'3" with its "progressive rocker" (the entire board is rockered). Both the C4 ATB 10'6" and the Stride Airlite HD have only nose rocker, and they just don't fit the whitewater park waves where I SUP.
Both C4s were purchased used, and I like the newer C4 pump that came with the C4 ATB. I have used it to inflate all of them, and I leave them inflated almost all the time because I don't have a storage limitation and can't be bothered to spend any paddling time pumping them up.
All of them have been thrown around, jumped on while on land, fallen on, and used by a variety of people (kids and adults). The center handles on the C4s make them very easy to carry. The absence of a handle on the Airlite combined with greater thickness and weight make it more difficult to carry. The Airlite, however, is the most stable and is the one I prefer for inexperienced, unsure adults, especially if they are greater than 180lb. The Airlite is also the SUP I use when I take either or both of my dogs paddling with me (I weigh 140lb, my dogs weigh 93 and 85lb). I can take my calmer dog (93lb) on the C4 ATB with me, but it certainly isn't as stable with that much weight as the Airlite. For goofing around on flatwater (lake and pool) without the dogs, I prefer the responsiveness of the C4 Subvector 9'3".
I have (I hope) attached pictures showing both dogs with me on the Airlite HD, 1 dog with me on the C4 ATB 10'6", a friend on the C4 Subvector 9'3", and me on the Subvector off the river wave. You can see how low the ATB rides with just one dog (admittedly the trim is also off) versus the Airlite with both dogs. You can also see the nose rocker on the Airlite.
So, just like with the hard boards, what you want to do with an inflatable SUP should impact your design considerations before you purchase.