Gear Review: Best Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards (2024)

If you enjoy getting out on the water and doing a bit of stand up paddle boarding, you do not have to restrict yourself to the traditional rigid SUPs.

For a lot of paddlers having the necessary space to store a full-size solid board is a real problem, especially when you consider that the longer SUPs are around 12-feet in length.

For many people, that size is definitely too big for a condo or apartment!

Not to mention having to transport the board from your home to the water.

That is what is so great about inflatable SUPs.

They are easy store, easy to transport – and they are so lightweight compared to other SUPs.

And if you’re on a budget, this is the best value SUP for the money.

So, if you’re interested in getting yourself a new inflatable standup paddle board this year, check out my top picks below.

Our Picks: Best Inflatable Paddle Boards

Where To Buy iSUPs?

If you are shopping for a new inflatable stand up paddle board for the first time, then you might not be sure where you should start your shopping.

Though SUPing is definitely a growing sport in the USA, there are not a lot of stores out there with a good selection of gear.

I’ve compared the selection at all the stores that I can find and have some up with a few places where you have find affordable iSUPs and a good selection.

Here’s where I suggest you start your shopping:

• REI
• The House
• See stand up paddle boards on Amazon

Reviews: Previous Picks for Top 10 Best 10-foot Inflatable SUPs

To make your comparison shopping for a new inflatable paddle board a bit easier, I want to share the boards that I think are the best for this year.

In my opinion, any of these are great inflatable stand up paddle boards for beginners as well as those of you who have experience paddle boarding.

All of the models listed below are top-rated by us and you can find them on the market right now.

So you can rest easy knowing that any of these are great choices for your new board. Happy paddling!

Please note that these are our previous reviews and boards may no longer be available for sale.

This inflatable standup paddle board is a great choice because it comes with a pump AND a 3-piece adjustable paddle. And it has a great low price. The Tower Adventurer and Tower Adventurer 2 are both good SUPs for beginner paddle boarders, but are also good for the intermediate paddlers. Basically you can learn on these boards but keep ’em for the long haul since they are high quality boards.

I like how this one performs in the water and how stable it feels. It really feels like you’re out there on one of the hard boards. I also like that it has a high weight limit. This SUP has a weight limit of 350 pounds, which means that you can probably get two people or one person and a dog on the board with no issues. And you will love how lightweight this standup paddle board is and it rolls up small enough to fit into a duffel bag or large backpack. The width for this SUP is around 32 inches.

One of the reasons that I like this iSUP so much is that it is very versatile, which is great for starter stand up paddle boarders. Think of it like this – if you’re new to SUPing, then you probably just want to try out a little flat water paddling, right? But once you get the hang of it, you might want to try your hand at surfing some waves, getting in a little yoga or even do some fishing from your iSUP. With this board, you can do all of those things. This is not true for all the iSUPs out there on the market though, which is why I love this one. Today I might want to be lazy and only do flat water paddling, but next week I might be all about surfing some small waves and this board means that I only need one iSUP instead of two. That’s what makes it such a great value. Plus, the price for this one is cheap. Definitely worth checking out if you think that this might be a regular water sports hobby for you. Heck, I think it’s even a good stand up paddleboard for teens!

If you prefer a SUP that is a little more lightweight than the Tower board above, then this one from Isle Paddle Boards is a good choice. The price is comparable to the other  quality iSUPs and it is also a high quality standup paddle board.

I like that with the Isle 10-ft inflatable standup paddle board, you also get a pump and a three-piece paddle (just like with the Tower Adventurer SUP). As you can tell, these are two very similar SUPs.

The big difference between this board and the Tower Adventurer is the weight – this one weighs less but it also has a much lower maximum weight limit. In fact, with this SUP the weight limit is just 200 pounds. So, that puts this board out for any large guys. It also means that you can’t get two people on this SUP.

Another key difference is that this board is a few inches wider than the Tower Adventurer. This one is approximate 36 inches wide.

Other than that, there is pretty much nothing else different between the Tower Adventurer and the Isle 10-ft inflatable SUP.

If you are on a tight budget and the Tower Adventurer and Isle SUPs are out of your price range, then the Solstice Bali SUP is a good choice for you. One of the notable differences between the Solstice Bali and the other two inflatable SUPs listed here is that the Solstice does comes with a carrying bag for storing and transporting the board. You also get a three-piece paddle and pump with the board.

I will say that I really like the size of the non-slip tracking piece on the board – it is a nice feature that should not be overlooked. I find this to be especially true for beginners since it prevents you from slipping off the board (most of the time).

You will also notice in the image that the paddle has an ergonomic “T” handle, which makes the paddle comfortable and easy to use. Or, upgrade your paddle with one of our top picks.

This six-inch thick board is one of the hottest iSUPs for 2015. It is actually a new entry in the market, but the Vilano brand is known for making high quality bikes. And their stand up paddle boards seem to be just as great. And you can’t beat the fact that this is a package deal.

I like that you get an all-in-one package with this one. In addition to the board, you get a three-piece aluminum paddle, a pump, the removable fin and the backpack carry bag for it all. This cheap Vilano iSUP also has some D-rings and a bungee cord for securing your gear or attaching a kayak seat.

I like that the deck has one of those grooved traction pads. It’s both comfortable and practical.

Overall, this seems like a super high quality iSUP for the money. It comes with a two year warranty and feels like it is made to last. Possibly the only downside here is the weight limit of 250 pounds.

Formerly known as the Mega iSUP, Red Paddle has re-branded it for 2015 as the 10’8 Ride iSUP and it is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I think that it offers the best stability control and stability on the market right now.

I like that this board is part of a great package deal – you get the Ten Eight Ride inflatable SUP, a repair kit, a Titan pump, a carry backpack, a promo cell phone case and a pressure gauge. This is definitely some of the most high quality iSUP accessories in a package. Get a good SUP paddle and you’re ready to hit the water.

You can use this board in pretty much any water conditions. It’s good for yoga, flat water paddling, surfing, river paddling and more. And you won’t believe how awesome the carry bag for it is – the bag has wheels on it for easy transport!

Bottom line: this iSUP is ultra durable, features industry leading high pressure 15 to 25PSI, is super rigid out on the water and offers unmatched control and stability in this price range. If you miss out on this board, you’ll probably regret it.

This board was updated for 2016 and made shorter by two inches than the 2015 model. Review above is for the 2015 model.

This is a relatively me new-to-me brand and I have to say that I really like this iSUP. It seems to be a pretty good mixture of the Isle and Tower Adventurer boards listed up above.

I really like how this one has such a huge anti-slip deck pad. It is one of the largest that I’ve seen, which makes this one extra good for new paddlers or anyone who is especially clumsy. This is also great for two people – so if you take someone out with you on the water, then I think this board is your best option.

I also like that you get a carry backpack instead of just a carry bag with this package. I find that the backpacks are definitely preferable for transport compared to the bags cause your arms can get pretty tired after being out on the water and carrying that heavy bag back to the car is the last thing you wanna be doing.

You get the paddle and pump with this one as well. It’s a complete package that has you ready to go as soon as it arrives.

Though it is an all arounder board, the shape of the nose means that it performs better in the waves than similar boards. So keep that in mind if you intend on using it at the beach.

Overall, this thing is very stable at 6-inches of thickness and tracks well in the water.

This Ten Toes iSUP is another great affordable option that offers high quality, stability on the water and affordability. It is also an all ’rounder board, which I find to be the best style since you can take it out in any water conditions and it will perform well.

I like that this one is 6-inches thick because it feels very stable on the water. It has the rounded nose, so it does seem to move better in flat water conditions than waves, but it’s decent with the waves too. I also like that it has what I consider to be a cheap, low price and you don’t have to compromise quality for that package deal of board + pump + paddle.

However, I don’t like that it does not come with any type of carry pack at all. So, that means an extra expense cause you need to buy one for it. And the manual pump is really tiring, so I suggest upgrading that if you go with this package.

This one does come as a all-in-one package deal with a paddle and pump though, which I think does offer a pretty good value for the price. But if it came with a good carry pack then it would be awesome value.

Bottom line: the Ten Toes theWeekender iSUP is a good value for the money and a great option for beginners to stand up paddle boards.

Primarily a surfboard brand, this iSUP from Imagine is actually a really good all arounder board. And it seems to perform better in the waves that most similar boards (not counting those with the pointed nose).

What I like about this one is that it is very stable and tracks well in all types of water. I’m actually really impressed with how it performs. It seems like a really high quality iSUP that should last for a quite a while.

What I don’t like about this one is that it doesn’t come with any accessories. No paddle. No pump. No carry bag. No repair kit. Nothing. Obviously, that is not the best value. So while the board has an affordable cost, you still need to budget for all the extras.

Granted, this does allow you the chance to get a better paddle and pump than come with most package deals. But still, it does sting a little to pay this much and only get the board.

Bottom line: I like how this board performs, it’s stability and quality. But – I only recommend it if your budget has room for the extra cost of paddle and pump.

BIC Sport has a pretty good reputation when it comes to paddle boards, so you may have never noticed that they are the same company that makes those BIC ink pens. Surprising, huh? Well, just like those pens, the iSUPs they make like this one offer good quality and value for the money.

I like that this board is stable in the water and has a reasonably large anti-slip deck pad. That makes it a pretty good choice for two people – assuming they can fit the small weight limit of under 200 pounds. Yup, it’s low but it will work for kids. I do like that this one is part of a package deal, with has you ready to hit the water as soon as you open the package.

What I don’t like about this one is the super low weight limit. Two hundred pounds is not a lot. And there are a lot of other iSUPs on the market with better prices and higher weight limits.

Bottom line: this is a good iSUP for the money, but only if you can meet the weight limit. It performs well in all water conditions, which is one of the reasons why I like it.

If you like the Solstice Bali listed up above but want something just a little better, then I recommend you consider the Solstice Tonga. Since they’re made by the same brand, you get all the same great features with this one.

I like how stable the Solstice Tonga is out on the water. And it performs well in waves as well as flat water. I also like that it has a high weight limit – it can support up to 325 pounds! With that in mind, this thing is a great value. I love that it can support heavier people at an affordable price. Plus, it comes with it’s own carry bag and pump.

What I don’t like is that it does not come with a paddle and the included pump is kind of on the cheap side. That is why I don’t think it is the best value on this page. But if you don’t mind having to buy a paddle separate and maybe a new pump, then you will probably enjoy this one.

Bottom line: this is a quality iSUP that is very stable and performs well, but it’s not the best value since it doesn’t come with a pump.

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