Best Inflatable Paddle Board: 8 of the Best iSUPs

It may be surprising to find that the vast majority of the stand-up paddle (SUP) market is inflatable. In fact, under most conditions good quality pump boards can perform as well as their solid counterparts. As such, to some extent the best inflatable paddleboard can be considered synonymous with the best paddleboard.

If you’re not specifically looking for an inflatable paddle board, be sure to check out our guide to the best paddle boards on the market.

An inflatable SUP (or iSUP) is the obvious choice for storage on board a boat or yacht – and here we take a look at eight of the best inflatable paddleboards for a whole range of different uses, from all-rounders for beginners to surfing. specialized, racing and even boards of white water …

How much air pressure does an inflatable paddleboard need?

Atmospheric pressure is the key. You really need to find a board that recommends inflating to an absolute minimum of 15psi pressure – ideally 18psi or more.

The more you can pump an inflatable, the more it feels and behaves like a solid board.

Inexpensive building boards won’t paddle effectively as their build quality, stitching, and valves just won’t take the pressure to inflate hard enough.

Whereas if your warranty covers you for 20 psi +, the performance can be like a solid board.

What is the difference?

So not all boards are created equal – but even beyond basic build quality and adequate air pressure, the design and dimensions of the board have a huge impact on a board’s performance. inflatable paddle board and on the conditions and / or specialization it suits best.

Basically the width provides stability while also creating drag, while the length makes a board directional but harder to turn.

A multipurpose board can be about 11 feet long by 32 inches wide, a wave board will be shorter and more rounded in the shape of a plane, while a tourer will be longer with more parallel rails, a racing board still longer and very narrow for optimum speed.

Here we take a look at examples of some of the best inflatable paddleboards for different specialties …

What else would I need?

Of course, if your board is inflatable, you will need a pump! Most iSUPs are supplied with a manual high pressure pump; generally you get what you pay for in terms of quality and therefore ease of inflation.

All boards also come with a fin which is essential in keeping you in a straight line.

A quick release leash is also essential, but this time for safety, to keep you strapped to your SUP – while in most situations a buoyancy aid is entirely optional.

Lastly, you’ll need a paddle as well: most entry-level and all-rounder packages will include a basic adjustable paddle, but since some of the boards featured here are a bit more specialized, they won’t necessarily come with one. .

Best inflatable paddle

Red Paddle Co 11’0 Compact Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard

Best inflatable paddle board for traveling

Red Paddle was the pioneer of high quality inflatable paddleboards and remains the most innovative brand on the market, with a wide range of products. In fact, the eight boards shown here could easily be Red designs, so no excuses included three!

The Red Paddle’s Compact fits in the smallest backpack on the market – half the size of most inflatable paddleboard sets.

Still, folded in this space is a true do-it-all board with a truly premium finish.

This 11 “x 32” compact is an ideal size for everyone, while the 9’6 “x 30” would be better for small boards and the 12 “x 32” more suited to calm waters and hikes.

Superb for storage and transport, expensive but very high quality with a 5 year warranty.

Recommended price: £ 1449

Buy the 11’0 Compact from Red Paddle Co (UK)
Buy the 11’0 Compact from Red Paddle Co (US)

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Gladiator Pro 10’6 ″

Best budget inflatable paddleboard

If you are really looking for a dinghy for your yacht or boat, or perhaps a casual beach toy or splash pad, then a basic 10’6 “x 32” design would do just fine.

While nowhere near as comprehensive as the marketing might have you believe, this standard SUP design is perfect for learning, playing, and covering shorter distances.

While this board size is ubiquitous, build quality varies widely from brand to brand. So it is often an illusion to buy the cheapest thing you can find online.

But if price really matters, Gladiator has the best-built ‘budget’ line on the market: this 10’6 “Pro is double-walled, good for 20 psi of air pressure, and comes with a 3 years.

Recommended price: £ 515

Buy it now on Gladiator Paddleboards

Voyager 13’2 ″ Red Paddle

While few go to the extreme of carrying a lot of gear or spending the night from their paddleboards, arguably the most popular form of recreational paddling is “hiking”: basically covering a route on a paddle board. Still water.

A relatively long, not too wide board is ideal for this – a length for gliding and enough width for comfort without sacrificing a lot of speed.

Many manufacturers offer some form of touring board, but the Voyager by Red Paddle remains the leader in the inflatable market.

In recent years, Red has smartly integrated vees into the hull, which, combined with a twin fin setup, provides additional stability.

This Voyager 13’2 “x 30” would suit experienced riders, the 12’6 “x 32” is more versatile, while the new 12 “x 28” is a perfect size for smaller paddlers looking for a cruiser. fast.

Recommended price: £ 1,299

Buy the 13’2 “Voyager from Red Paddle Co (UK)
Buy the 13’2 ″ Voyager from Red Paddle Co (US)

All Star Starboard Airline

Although the high-end SUP racing scene is almost exclusively solid semi-carbon boards, a suitably stiffened tire can be surprisingly competitive, especially over long distances and endurance courses when absolute top speed is at hand. minus one factor.

While several reputable brands produce impressive inflatable racing boards, Starboard probably has the widest range on the market today.

This 14 ′ x 26 ″ All Star would be the best choice as an adaptable yet competitive runner: they also offer a 14 ′ x 24.5 ″ Supercharged for lighter and more experienced runners, and a 14 ′ x 28 ″ for heavier, less experienced runners, plus a dedicated 14 ′ downwind and a pair of 12 ″ s for the shorter racing category.

Recommended price: £ 1,419

Buy it now from SupCo

Red paddle whip

Best inflatable paddle board for surfing

Solid boards reign supreme in surfing too – but again, hang your disbelief and a well-designed inflatable can more than hold up in the waves.

Of course, it won’t sculpt rail-to-rail turns like a solid, but one pumping will catch that many waves, charge brilliantly on the line, and spin perfectly on the back foot.

For the vast majority of budding surfers, an inflatable is arguably a better choice as it is more sturdy and less likely to injure yourself or someone else during a clearing.

The best representative of the genre is Red Paddle’s Whip; a single fin 8’10 “x 29” round tail with Red Paddle’s patented rail reinforcement slats, which, combined with its ability to withstand over 20 psi of air pressure, make it super stiff for this solid board feel.

Recommended price: £ 999

Buy it now from Red Paddle Co (US)
Buy it now from Red Paddle Co (UK)

Freshwater Bay Compact Tourer

For paddling in flat to rough water, the ideal all-rounder is 11 ‘+ and 30-32 ″ wide to provide the optimum blend of speed, stability and maneuverability.

This Freshwater Bay Compact Tourer is a shining example, at 11’5 “long and 32” wide, its glide is good but with over 300L of volume, even the heaviest riders will have no problem with balance.

The build quality and finish are excellent for the price: double-walled, dropped seams and an impressive maximum air pressure of 30 psi.

Hailing from the Isle of Wight and sold complete with paddle, pump and bag, this would be a great all-rounder to store on board a yacht as it will adapt to any conditions you might find in any port or mooring.

Recommended price: £ 695

Buy now from Freshwater Bay

ItiWit Tandem Decathlon

Multi-person boards aren’t common in paddleboarding, but paddling in company is great fun, and a few manufacturers produce quads and tandems.

The best value you’ll find is this Decathlon ItiWit under six hundred pounds – but be aware that it doesn’t include a pump, leash, or paddle, so budget for those too, unless that you don’t already have yours.

At 15 “x 35”, it’s relatively short and wide for a tandem, so while it won’t be the fastest or most directional, it will be stable and quite maneuverable.

Well designed for the money and good for 17 psi air pressure, so tough and stiff enough to perform well on water.

Optimized for two-person paddling, although a board this size can take a small family to push.

Recommended price: £ 599.99

Buy it now at Decathlon

Quiver NRS 10.4

Whitewater paddling is really a very specialized discipline, more popular in North America and continental Europe than in the UK.

Inflatable boards are the rule in river racing for durability and safety reasons, as they will inevitably spend time bouncing off boulders, boulders, and banks.

NRS has a 50 year history in kayaking and whitewater rafting, so it’s a sure bet if you’re ready to jump on a SUP.

This 10’4 ″ is a sturdy, bulky, 35 ″ wide twin-fin design, featuring an additional rocker to charge rapids, whirlpools and ferries.

Stable and responsive, it pumps an impressive 20 psi – complete with pressure relief valve to prevent over-inflation – and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Recommended price: $ 1295

Buy it now on Outdoor Play

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