10 Best Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards of 2021

An inflatable stand up paddle board (SUP) is a lightweight, versatile and easy-to-use paddle board. These SUP boards also have a decent weight capacity such that they can carry quite a lot regardless of their weight and due to their heavy-duty construction, they are extremely durable.

If you have never paddled with an inflatable SUP before, don’t worry. They are also great for first-timers.

In order to help you find a great SUP, we have gathered some of the most popular and best inflatable SUP for the money. Let’s see if those SUPs are worth the money or not, shall we?

10 Best Inflatable SUPs – Review

Starting us off is SereneLife's Thunder Wave, which is the best overall due to a number of reasons.

For starters, it comes as a complete kit with a manual air pump, a coiled ankle cuff safety leash, a patch repair kit, a foldable paddle and a storage bag.

The unit is built from a heavy-duty military-grade PVC material that is scratch-resistant and absorbs shocks quite well on impact.

This is topped off by a high-pressure laminated finish with a UV-resistant coating and a non-slip thermosealed deck pad for stable paddling.

Other features include 3 detachable fins, a carrying handle and a long and wide 120 x 30-inch size for maximum stability.

On the downside, this board has a weight capacity of 275 lbs., which is relatively low.

Weight is always a big problem when it comes to the SUP. However, the ISLE Airtech is a potential solution to this problem. Indeed, this model is one of the lightest units in this review, coming in at only 21 lbs.

Despite being so lightweight, the SUP has a sturdy and durable construction that consists of military-grade PVC.The deck pad is covered in a soft brushed EVA material, which enhances traction for non-slip use.

Other features include a 3-piece adjustable aluminum paddle, a leash, a high-pressure pump and gauge, a removable fin, a sticker pack and a heavy-duty carry bag. The only issue is that this unit has a low weight capacity of only 240 lbs.

If you are on a tight budget, Goplus' inflatable SUP is the most affordable piece to consider. Despite this, the product has an exceptionally good PVC build with drop stitching for stability and safety, as well as bungee straps at the front for storage or to grab onto for safety.

Additionally, the top deck where you stand on has a very soft and comfortable EVA layer that has grooves for anti-slip use. This is especially important for beginners and those who are planning to use the boards for long hours.

You also get a relatively high 440-lb weight capacity, which allows a heavy person to comfortably hop on.

Other features include an adjustable plastic paddle, a heavy-duty pump, a carry bag and other accessories like a repair kit that will allow you to quickly and easily mend any punctures on the fly.

The only problem is that this board is quite heavy when deflated, weighing in at 26 lbs. This makes it a bit difficult to carry.

Inflating the iROCKER Cruiser is quite easy and this can be attributed to dual-chamber, triple-action hand pump, which delivers a lot of air at full throttle.

The pump has an integrated pressure gauge that allows for easy monitoring and can only register the pressure at a minimum of 7 PSI.

Other than that, the paddle board has a high weight capacity of 400 lbs., which allows a heavy person on board plus a pet such as a dog.

You also get 3 detachable fins for better maneuverability, a carry bag for keeping all the pieces of the set, multiple D-rings with bungee straps at the front, an anti-skid soft-rubber deck and an adjustable fiberglass paddle.

However, the model is quite expensive to buy.

You get no less than 3 detachable fins with this SUP, which makes it a bit easy to maneuver despite having a long length of 132 inches.

If you are paddling in smooth waters, you can remove two of the fins, leaving only the center one. This helps to improve tracking due to minimized drag.

Other than that, this unit comes with a lightweight carbon shaft paddle that weighs only 2 lbs., yet is stronger than the ones made from aluminum or fiberglass.

You also get an ankle coil for tying yourself to the board, front and rear bungee straps for storage, 3 comfort grip handles to help you climb on board from the water, side paddle holders and a beautiful wood graphic on the deck

On the downside, the board is quite costly.

One of the best things about this unit is its superior maneuverability. At a length of 118.1 inches, it is short enough for easy steering.

Moreover, you get a detachable center fin at the bottom which gives you more control when making turns while a perfectly smooth and flat bottom enhances stability.

The product is also quite affordable but still includes an adjustable aluminum paddle, a manual air pump and a carry bag with shoulder straps.

Other features include a large deck pad for enhanced stability, bungee straps for securing cargo or holding for safety purposes, a 5-inch thick design that is very compact for easy storage and a D-ring for attaching a leash.

The only problem is that the board has a low weight capacity of only 240 lbs., which might not be ideal for an overweight person.

Though inflatable, this Vilano Journey SUP has a very rigid structure that almost feels like a hard board.This is made possible by a hard-grade PVC construction with Korean drop stitching all around, which enhances its durability.

The board is also easily maneuverable thanks to its 120-inch length, and this is further improved by a single fin at the bottom for better control. This fin is removable so that you can have better tracking on smooth waters.

Other features include an adjustable 3-piece aluminum paddle, a non-slip deck that is grooved for better traction, multiple D-rings and bungee straps for holding cargo, and a heavy-duty air pump with an integrated pressure gauge.

The only problem is that the unit is quite heavy because it weighs 25 lbs.

Atoll's inflatable SUP is characterized by a long deck that has a length of 132 inches. This makes it ideal for tracking and it includes 3 detachable fins for some steering control.

Despite its big size, the unit weighs only 21 lbs. and this is because it incorporates the use of light construction technology. Though made using PVC, this technology ensures the board is 40% lighter than other comparable models.

Other features include a high-pressure dual-action hand pump that inflates when pushing down or pulling up, an adjustable 3-piece fiberglass paddle, a Velcro leash and a relatively weight capacity of 350 lbs.

Combined, these features make this the top rated inflatable SUP in this review. On the downside, the board is very expensive.

Vilano's Navigator is fitted with an oversized anti-slip deck, which makes the piece more comfortable to use. This section also has diamond grooves that help to improve traction.

Though heavy, the SUP has an ultra-portable design, in which it only measures 36 x 10 inches when deflated for storage, and 120 x 31 x 6 inches when fully inflated.

This 120-inch length also makes it easily maneuverable because it is quite short while a single detachable fin gives you more control when paddling.

Other features include a high-grade PVC construction that is very durable, D-rings along the length of the board, bungee straps at the front for holding cargo, a carry bag and a shoulder strap for easy carrying.

Inflatable vs . Hard SUP

It can be confusing to choose between an inflatable SUP and a hard SUP. After all, the difference may not be that obvious at first look. Here is a quick overview of the differences between those 2 types of SUPs.

1. Performance

When it comes to performance, the difference between the hard SUP and the inflatable SUP is quite drastic. Hard SUPs are usually made out of fiberglass, which is much more efficient than the inflatable SUP. Therefore, they deliver higher performance.

2. Portability

Portability is important for those who constantly need to carry their SUP to and from the kayaking location. Of course, when it comes to portability, the inflatable SUP is the best choice. This is because while in the inflatable SUP is deflated, it shrinks in size, thus making it smaller and therefore, easier to fit in a small space.

Additionally, due to the lighter construction materials like PVC used in the inflatable SUP, it is significantly lighter than a hard SUP made out of fiberglass, for example.

3. Storage

Following the same concept of portability above, the inflatable SUP is much easier to store than the hard SUP. Evidently, the hard SUP cannot be deflated and will always keep its same size wherever you take it.

On the other hand, the inflatable board can be deflated making it smaller in size for more convenience.

In fact, the size of the inflatable SUP becomes so small when deflated that it can literally be stored anywhere. For this reason, most manufacturers ship their inflatable subs with a carry bag implying that you can easily fit the inflatable board inside.

4. Durability

When it comes to durability, there is no competition. The hard SUP is significantly more heavy-duty and durable than the inflatable SUP. This is because the hard paddle board is usually made out of more durable and heavy-duty materials like fiberglass while the inflatable SUP is constructed from a flexible material like PVC, which is less durable.

5. Efficiency

Again, when it comes to efficiency, the hard SUP is superior to the inflatable SUP. However, with modern manufacturing processes and better designs, the efficiency difference between an inflatable SUP and a hard SUP is constantly getting smaller and smaller.

6. Cost

Due to the construction material difference, the hard SUP is more expensive than its inflatable counterpart. After all, the inflatable SUP was originally made for those on a tight budget and who could not afford a real hard SUP.

How to Buy the Best Inflatable SUP