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7 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2024 Helpful Guide

Updated August 24th, 2024

best inflatable paddle boards reviews

Are you looking for a new inflatable stand up paddleboard? We are here to help with our guide to the best inflatable paddle boards of 2023. We have spent a lot of time testing and reviewing paddleboards and researching the market to find the best iSUPs out there. We understand that there are many choices out there and no board is the perfect board for everyone.

The 7 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards



1 – iRocker All Around 11

☆ Best Overall
iRocker All Around 11 product image

What we liked:

  • Carbon paddle and triple action pump
  • Big long stable board
  • Plenty of room for a large dog
  • Roller backpack with many pockets and bungee
  • A fun board to paddle around
  • Sturdy stiff and durable 3 layer construction
  • Many accessory mounts, handles and D-Rings

What we didn’t like:

  • It takes a bit of effort to get back into the bag
  • The triple action hand pump is difficult to fit into roller backpack and doesn’t make hand pumping much easier or faster

Summary

The iRocker All Around 11 has been our favorite SUP board since we first tried it out. It is a perfect combination of performance and stability. It has enough D-Rings and accessories mounts to be usable for almost any activity. It uses 3 layer PVC construction that is tough, durable, and stiff. iRocker has tried to replace it with their Ulta Series, people love the original so much that they had to bring it back. We are really happy they decided to bring back the original All Around 11.

Accessories

The AA11 comes with a 3 piece carbon paddle, triple action pump, and roller backpack. The 3 piece paddle is one of the better paddles we have found in inflatable SUP packages. There is an optional blade available to turn it into a kayak paddle. Our one complaint about the AA11 accessories is the triple action pump. It can’t be used to deflate the board. The triple action pumps from NIXY and Thurso can also deflate.

On the water performance

On the water is where the All Around 11 really shines. It is a very stiff board on the water thanks to it’s 3 layer construction. It is stable enough that any beginner can use it. It is long enough to have better glide than most 10’6″ or 10″ inflatable SUPS. The 3 fins give it excellent tracking. A river fin is available for those who want to use the board in shallower water. The board is stable enough to be used for SUP fishing or yoga or any other activity.

Specifications

  • Size – 11′ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 435 lbs
  • Board Weight – 26 lbs
  • Construction – 3 Layer
  • D-Rings – 20
  • Paddle – 3 piece carbon
  • Pump – triple action hand pump

2 – Red Paddle Co. Voyager 12’6″

☆ Best Touring SUP
Red Voyager Product Image

What we liked:

  • Very good glide
  • Efficient V-hull shape for moving through the water
  • Stable enough for beginner paddlers
  • Durable bag with a lot of extras such as hideable straps and transformer option
  • Extra removable handles
  • Enough D-Rings to mount a kayak seat or mount other accessories and gear

What we didn’t like:

  • Very high cost
  • Large size and weight of the Titan 2 Hand Pump
  • Doesn’t turn as quick as single fin touring SUPs

Summary

The Red Paddle Co Voyager 12’6″ is a fast and easy to paddle board. It has a unique v-hull shape created by splitting the drop stitch at the bow to add a slight angle. Red Paddle Co produces some of the finest inflatable paddle boards in existence. The Voyager line is designed for touring with more efficient glide and load carrying ability than their Ride MSL boards. The board has a clean deck design with only 1 flat profile bungee and a few D-Rings across the middle and rear of the board. It uses Red Paddle Co MSL construction with RSS stiffening battens. It’s clear this board is meant to go places and has a clean deck for carrying gear.

Accessories

The Red Paddle Co bag is one of the best available. It uses premium materials and has flaps built in to hide the backpack straps when rolling the bag. The latest iteration is their transformer bag which can be used with just the backpack straps. You can carry as little as possible to the water. They include the large Titan 2 Hand Pump with this board. It helps inflate the board to higher PSI faster. It can’t deflate which is a miss. No paddle or leash are included

On the water

The v-hull board shape pieces water and chop better than a standard flat inflatable board. The 32 inch width makes the board stable enough for almost any paddler to use without compromising speed much. The board uses twin fins that give it very strong tracking without being too draggy. It is a very efficient feeling board on the water that glides well.

Review

See our review of the Red Paddle Co Voyager 12’6″ to learn more

Red Voyager paddling across lake

ALSO READ: The Best Inflatable Touring Paddle Boards

Specifications

  • Size – 12′ 6″ x 32″ x 5.9″
  • Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
  • Board Weight – 30.35 lbs
  • Construction – MSL with RSS Battens
  • Paddle – Not included
  • Pump – Double Action, Double Chamber Hand Pump

3 – Bluefin Cruise Carbon

☆ Best For Large Paddlers
Bluefin Carbon Cruise product image

What we liked:

  • Bluefin offers a 5 year warranty on their inflatable paddleboards
  • The board is very stiff for an inflatable paddleboard allowing for hard and aggressive paddling
  • Good on water performance for heavier over 300 lb paddlers
  • Comes with a kayak seat and extra paddle blade
  • The backpack straps can be stowed away on the bag.

What we didn’t like:

  • The clamps on the paddle need to be tightened before using
  • The bag doesn’t have a handle on both sides
  • The kick pad is too far rearward on the board to be useful
  • The board is on the heavier side at almost 35 lbs

Summary

The Bluefin Carbon Cruise is one of the best paddleboards available for larger paddlers. It has a published weight capacity of 386 lbs. It is available in both a 10’8″ and 12′ long versions. The 12′ is a large board at 12′ x 32″. It’s made from high density drop stitch with dual air chambers making it very stiff. The second air chamber adds an extra measure of safety when paddling away from shore. This is one of the best boards available for larger size paddlers or taking a dog out with you. It is designed with tons of accessory mounts for fishing or other adventures.

Accessories

The board comes with high quality Bluefin accessories. The bag is well made and has wheels. It easily fits everything in it without much challenge to get the zipper closed. The paddle has a carbon shaft and nylon reinforced blade. The pump is triple action and can inflate or deflate.

Bluefin includes an extra paddle blade and kayak seat so you can convert the board into a kayak. The 12′ version of the board could easily work as a tandem if you got one more seat and paddle.

On the water performance

On the water, the Cruise Carbon handles larger paddlers very well. It has decent speed thanks to its length and narrow nose and tail. Beginners love it because of its stability. It’s so easy to stand up on for any size paddler. The Cruise Carbon won’t be as fast as a narrower touring board. It will be a very stable platform for fishing or any other activity you want to do on it.

Review

See our review of the Bluefin Carbon Cruise 12 to learn more.

Specifications

  • Size – 12′ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 386 lbs
  • Board Weight – 34.86 lbs
  • Construction – ESL Fused PVC with high density drop stitch and carbon reinforced rails
  • D-Rings – 20
  • Paddle – 3 piece carbon fiber
  • Pump – Triple action double barrel

Get up to 50% OFF during Bluefin End of Season Sale


4 – Thurso Surf Max

☆ Best For Paddling with Dogs
Thurso Surf max product image

What we liked:

  • Very large and stable board
  • Good platform to do things like paddle with a dog, fish, or yoga
  • Removable handles to make a more clear deck
  • Full length deck pad that covers the entire board
  • Easy to use fin system that uses standard US Fin Box for center fin
  • Carbon paddle with quick release clamp for lower connection
  • Fast triple action hand pump
  • Bag with wheels
  • Paddle holders on both sides of the board

What we didn’t like:

  • Bag has no padding where it’s worn as a backpack
  • No second side handle on the bag
  • Not as many action mounts as other fishing SUPs and no Scotty mounts

Summary

The Thurso Surf Max is a large 11’6 x 34″ inflatable paddle board that is good for just about anything. It has a fully padded deck making it good for carrying dogs and other passengers. It’s got lots of handles, D-Rings, and action mounts so you can customize it for whatever activity you want to do with it.

The board uses double layer woven PVC construction with carbon reinforced rails and performed well in our stiffness test and feels stiff and durable on the water.

Accessories

The board comes as a complete package with one of the better accessory packages available. It has a carbon 3 piece paddle. The triple action pump is fast and easy to use The bag has rollers and backpack straps. It doesn’t have any padding on the back to make it comfortable to carry as a backpack. They include an accessory bag for keeping the small pieces like the fins, leash and repair kit organized.

On the water performance

On the water, the board is easy to paddle and fun to use. It is one of the most stable boards available and that is one of the best features. Very large heavy paddlers have no trouble standing up on it. It’s great for paddling with a dog because it is stable enough for the dog to move around without sending you both into the water. It does take some extra effort to paddle into wind and chop because of its size.

Review

See our review of the Thurso Surf Max to learn more.

Thurso Max Paddling across lake

ALSO READ: The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards for Dogs

Specifications

  • Size – 11′6″ x 34″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 370 lbs
  • Board Weight – 29 lbs
  • Construction – 2 Layer Woven w/Carbon Rails
  • D-Rings – 17 D-Rings, 4 action mounts, 1 GoPro mount
  • Paddle – Carbon 3 piece
  • Pump – Triple action pump

5 – Blackfin Model X & Model XL

☆ Best Fishing SUP
Blackfin Model X Product Image

What we liked:

  • Very stiff 3 layer construction with carbon reinforcements
  • Ala carte shopping menu that lets you customize your package
  • Very stable wide board great for dogs, beginners, or larger paddlers
  • Good tracking
  • Fin tethers to keep you from losing a fin
  • Lots of D-Rings and accessory mounts
  • Available accessories such as fishing racks

What we didn’t like:

  • Not the fastest board especially in choppy water
  • Higher cost

Summary

iRocker makes 2 similar boards with the Blackfin Model X and Blackfin Model XL. They have similar design and construction and come with the same accessories. The Model X is 10’6 x 35″ and the Model XL is 11’6″ x 34″ so you can have the size you want for whatever activity you want to do with your inflatable SUP.

The Blackfin Model X and Blackfin Model XL have a new upgraded design for 2023 with improvements to the construction after last year’s recall. It still has 3 layer construction with carbon reinforced rails. They enlarged the seems a bit and changed the location of some of the D-Rings. The fins now have tethers in addition to flip locks to help prevent fin loss.

The Model X is the shortest and widest of the Blackfin Model X, XL, and V boards. The V is one of our favorite inflatable touring boards. The XL is great for larger paddlers. The Model X is a standard 10’6″ all around board that is extra wide at 35 inches. It can still hold a lot of weight with a capacity up to 450 lbs. The Model X is great for people that want a very stable and easy to turn board and aren’t that concerned with speed.

The Model X is a perfect beginner board or board for doing yoga or taking dogs out.

Accessories

The Blackfin Model X is available with a wide range of accessories. iRocker now lets you choose your package so you can pick any pump, bag, or paddle to go with the board or just get a bare board by itself. The downside to this flexibility is that the package cost is now more expensive.

iRocker sells a full range of fishing accessories to go with the Model X and XL. These include fishing racks, rod holders, coolers, sand spears, and anchors. You can easily customize the Blackfin into your ideal SUP fishing setup.

On the water performance

The Model X is not going to win any races with it’s speed and glide. It will carry a lot of weight and it is a perfect beginner board thanks to it’s width and stability. The X is perfect for people that aren’t that comfortable standing on other less stable boards. The 3 fin design does track decently well making it easy to paddle.

The extra width of the board does mean you will have to work a little harder in choppy water to push the board through the chop. It’s a great board for calm days when you want a relaxing paddle, want to go fishing, or try SUP yoga.

Review

See our review of the Blackfin Model X to learn more

Blackfin Model X on water

Specifications Model X

  • Size – 10′ 6″ x 35″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 450 lbs
  • Board Weight – 23 lbs
  • Construction – 3 Layer with carbon rails
  • D-Rings – 18
  • Paddle – Optional
  • Pump – Optional

Specifications Model XL

  • Size – 11′ 6″ x 34″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 485 lbs
  • Board Weight – 23 lbs
  • Construction – 3 Layer with carbon rails
  • D-Rings – 18
  • Paddle – Optional
  • Pump – Optional

6 – Retrospec Weekender Plus

☆ Best Value

What we liked:

  • Stiff board construction on par with iRocker and NIXY inflatable SUPs
  • Kayak seat with inflatable seat cushion that is actually comfortable to sit on
  • Complete package that includes board, bag, pump, leash, convertible paddle and seat
  • Low cost for a complete package with kayak conversion included

What we didn’t like:

  • There really isn’t much to complain about for the price you pay for the Weekender Plus

Summary

The Retrospec Weekender Plus is a great entry level inflatable SUP that comes with a kayak conversion. It has board stiffness equal to an iRocker or Nixy board. It comes with a great kayak seat with an inflatable seat cushion. It’s actually comfortable to sit on. It retails for well under $400.

The Weekender Plus comes as a complete package with a board, pump, bag, convertible paddle and kayak seat. The aluminum paddle and bag are the 2 items that look and feel like the price point of this package. The board and seat would be happy in a $500-$700 package.

Accessories

The standout items in this package are the board and the kayak seat. The kayak seat has an inflatable seat cushion. It attaches using metal hooks that go into loops on the board. It uses 2 straps to hold the cushion in place and 2 to adjust the seat angle. It’s way easier and faster to setup than a standard cheap kayak seat. Did we mention it is comfortable also?

On the water performance

The board is 33 inches wide making it stable enough for first time paddlers. It has 3 fins to help with tracking. It’s a fun relaxing board to paddle on the water. It is equally fun to use as a kayak or a stand up paddleboard. If it’s too windy and choppy to stand up you can still have fun kayaking.

Review

See our review of the Retrospec Weekender Plus to learn more.

ALSO READ: The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards Under $500

Specifications

  • Size – 10’6″ x 33″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
  • Board Weight – 23 lbs
  • Construction – 2 Layer Fusion
  • D-Rings – 16
  • Paddle – 4 piece aluminum convertible
  • Pump – Double action

7 – Bluefin Cruise 10’8″

☆ Best Value

What we liked:

  • The board is very stable and would be a great beginner board
  • Bluefin offers a 5 year warranty on their inflatable paddleboards
  • The paddle with 2 clamps has less rattle than other aluminum paddles

What we didn’t like:

  • The bag doesn’t have wheels or a handle on both sides
  • The board doesn’t have a rear bungee
  • The kick pad is too far back on the board to be useful

Summary

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ Paddleboard is a very stiff sturdy board that comes in a complete package. It includes everything you need to paddleboard. The Cruise is available in 3 sizes to suit different sized paddlers and different activities. There is a 10’8′, 12′ and 15′ version.

This board is one of the stiffest inflatable boards available. Bluefin claims they use the highest thread density in their drop stitch available from any board maker. They use a very thick 2 layer laminate construction. The board feels noticeably thicker and heavier when you roll it out to inflate it. This board weighs in at 29 lbs making it one of the heavier inflatable SUP boards.

Accessories

This board has one of the better backpacks available at this price range. It doesn’t have wheels but it has heavy-duty construction with thick comfortable straps. The paddle has a aluminum shaft. The double action pump is nothing special but it gets the job done.

On the water performance

The board is 10′ 8″ by 32 inch wide. This gives enough width to be stable and a little better tracking than a 10′ board. It is still easy to maneuver and suitable for a first time paddleboarder. The extra stiffness makes it work better for heavier paddlers.

Review

See our review of the Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ to learn more.

ALSO READ: The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards Under $500

Specifications

  • Size – 10′ 8″ x 32.5″ x 6″
  • Weight Capacity – 330 lbs
  • Board Weight – 24.8 lbs
  • Construction – 2 Layer
  • D-Rings – 9
  • Paddle – 2 piece aluminum
  • Pump – double action pump

Get up to 50% OFF during Bluefin End of Season Sale


Doug Ryan Portrait Skiing 200x200

Ryan Craig
Co-Founder & Chief Editor

I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days, I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible. Visit our About Us page and learn more.

ryan@lowbudgetadventurer.com