MY BEST BLOW UP PADDLE BOARDS
- Best Budget Blow Up Paddle Board: Roc Explorer 10′
- Best All-Around Blow-Up SUP: iRocker All-Around 11′
- Best Beginners Blow-Up Board: BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8
- Best High-Performance Blow-Up SUP: Atoll 11′
- Best Ultralight Blow-Up Board: Honu Byron 10’6
- Best Weight-capacity/Board-weight: Gili Meno 11’6
BLOW UP PADDLE BOARD COMPARISON
| PRODUCT | PRICE RANGE | USE | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT | CAPACITY | COMES WITH | REVIEW | SHOP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Budget Blow Up Paddle Board Roc Explorer 10′ |
Low | All-around | 10’ x 33” x 6” | 17.8 lbs |
350 lbs |
– Backpack – Adjustable paddle – Hand pump – Safety leash – Fin – Waterproof bag – No repair kit |
Jump to Review | Check Price on Amazon.com |
Best All-Around Blow-Up SUP iRocker All-Around 11′ |
Medium | All-around | 11’ x 32” x 6” |
26 lbs | 435 lbs |
– Wheeled backpack – Dual-chamber triple-action pump – Adjustable paddle – 3 fins – Ankle leash – Repair kit |
Jump to Review | Check Price on iRockerSUP.com |
Best Beginners Blow-Up Board BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8 |
Medium | All-around | 10’8 x 33” x 6” |
20 lbs |
250 lbs |
– Backpack – Adjustable paddle – Dual-action pump – Fin – Repair kit – No ankle leash |
Jump to Review | Check Price on BoteBoard.com |
Best High-Performance Blow-Up SUP Atoll 11′ |
Medium | All-around | 11’ x 32’’ x 6” |
21 lbs |
400 lbs |
– Backpack – Adjustable paddle – Dual-action pump – Fin – Ankle leash – Repair kit |
Jump to Review | Check Price on Amazon.com |
Best Ultralight Blow-Up Board Honu Byron 10’6 |
Medium | All-around | 10’6″ x 32″ x 4.72″ |
16.9 lbs |
250 lbs |
– Wheeled backpack – Dual-action pump – Fin – Ankle leash – Repair kit – No paddle |
Jump to Review | Check Price on HonuBoards.com |
Best Weight-capacity/Board-weight Gili Meno 11’6 |
Medium | All-around | 11’6 x 35” x 6” | 24 lbs | 485 lbs | – Wheeled backpack – Adjustable paddle – 2-chamber 3-action pump – 5 fins – Ankle leash – Repair kit |
Jump to Review | Check Price on GiliSports.com |
BEST BLOW UP PADDLE BOARD REVIEWS
Roc Explorer 10′
Best Budget Blow Up Paddle Board
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Low
- Use: All-around
- Dimensions: 10’ x 33” x 6”
- Weight: 17.8 lbs
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs
- Comes with: Backpack, Adjustable Paddle, Hand Pump, Safety Leash, Fin, Waterproof Bag, No repair kit
- Return: 30 Days for a Full Refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Affordability. – Lightweight. – Comes equipped with more than you need to start paddleboarding. – Good performance for a beginner. – Stable on flat water even for big paddlers. | – Unstable in rougher water. – Not very fast. – The included bag is not very durable. – Inflation valve may get loose with time. – No front or rear grab handle. |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- Paddlers looking for a stable board without spending much.
- Easy to carry paddle board for youth or women.
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Flat water.
- Slow rivers.
- Ocean calm water.
Roc Explorer 10′ REVIEW
- SPEED
With its simple design and rounded nose, Roc Explorer is not very fast.
- STABILITY
Roc Explorer 10′ is pretty well stable for an adult paddler.
With 32’’ of board width, Roc Explorer provides enough stability that even a first-time paddler will have an easy time learning how to SUP.
- TRACKING
In calm waters, Roc Explorer does a fine job of tracking but in strong currents or heavy winds, it tends to veer off track and you will get blown all over the water.
- MANEUVERABILITY
With its lightweight, nose shape, and profile, Roc Explorer makes tight turns doable without a hassle.
This board is great at dodging objects or people around you.
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
Roc Explorer’s smaller size, volume, and lightweight design make it very easy to transport.
Its included bag fits everything inside comfortably, with comfortable shoulder pads and a waist belt that moves most of the weight to your lower body big muscles.
- EASE OF INFLATION
The board’s smaller volume makes the job of inflating it using the included pump a fairly easy task.
Most adults can inflate this board in less than 10 minutes.
As with almost all SUPs, I highly recommend you get an electric SUP pump to save your energy for paddling.
In case you get a loose inflation valve after months of use like some owners, you can easily tighten it with an inflation valve wrench.
Unfortunately, the repair kit does not include one.
- ACCESSORIES
Roc Explorer comes equipped with everything you need (waterproof dry-bag as a bonus) to hit the water, making it a great value for beginners or families looking to test paddleboarding without spending much.
The included aluminum adjustable paddle is good enough for a beginner.
The kit’s single-chamber dual-action hand pump is easy to use and gets the job done in under 10 minutes.
This board comes with an ankle leash that is very useful, especially on windy days, when just seconds are enough to get your board away from you if you fall from it.
The bag provides plenty of room to pack everything. Unfortunately, it’s not that strong and it can tear easily if you are not careful with it.
iRocker All-Around 11′
Best All-Around Blow-Up SUP
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Medium
- Use: All-Around
- Dimensions: 11’ x 32” x 6”
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Weight capacity: 435 lbs
- Comes with: Wheeled backpack, Dual-chamber triple-action pump, Adjustable paddle, 3 fins, Ankle leash, Repair kit
- Return: 60 Days for a Full Refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Durable construction. – Stable in choppy water. – High weight capacity. – Lightweight paddle. – Front two action-mounts placement clean up the deck. – Plenty of storage space. – Useful handles at the front and the back that kids can grab to feel safer. – Looks great. | – Bag is uncomfortable to carry. – Not too lightweight – Rear action mounts would be better if moved a little to the side. – Slower overall glide. |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- Beginner and intermediate paddlers seeking a longer board with plentiful storage.
- People looking to tour around lakes.
- Paddlers with kids, pets, or lots of gear.
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Flat water.
- Small waves surfing.
- Ocean calm water.
iRocker All-Around 11′ REVIEW
- SPEED
This board is all-around, which means it’s not aimed at being the fastest. But even with that, he performs above expectations for an all-around inflatable paddle board.
Compared to other iRocker paddle boards, iRocker All-Around 11′ is faster than iRocker All-Around 10′ and iRocker Cruiser 10’6.
- STABILITY
iRocker All-Around 11′ is ideal for even tall or heavy beginners concerned about their stability. It remains stable both in flat water and boat waves.
- TRACKING
This board does a great job going straight with the triple-fin setup.
Compared to other boards, it tracks better than the iRocker All-Around 10’ due to its extra foot in length.
- MANEUVERABILITY
This board is great at maneuvering around obstacles, especially with the step-back technique since getting its nose out of the water is pretty easy.
Compared to other boards, it’s not maneuverable as the iRocker All-Around 10’.
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
Rolling the bag with everything inside is relatively easy on hard surfaces like asphalt. Unfortunately, wheels sink in the sand.
When you walk carrying the bag, its solid bottom hurts your hips.
- EASE OF INFLATION
The dual-chamber triple-action hand pump you get with this board is amongst the best you can get in terms of hand pumps.
It has multiple inflation modes that try to make the job more efficient as possible.
However, I still recommend you get an electric SUP pump to save your energy for paddling.
- ACCESSORIES
iRocker All-Around 11′ comes with anything you need to get out on the water (see list above).
The carbon matte 3-piece paddle with nylon blade you get with this board is good for an out-of-the-box paddle.
One thing you may experience with this paddle is that the colors tend to scrape off and it has a bit of twisting when paddling.
As usual, even with the best hand pump, I still recommend you to upgrade to an electric pump like the iRocker 12V electric pump that can Inflate 4 boards one after the other without a problem, without worrying about over-inflating since it has the auto shut-off feature.
BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8
Best Beginners Blow-Up Board
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Medium
- Use: All-Around
- Dimensions: 10’8 x 33” x 6”
- Weight: 20 lbs
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs
- Comes with: Backpack, Adjustable paddle, Dual-action pump, Fin, Repair kit, No ankle leash
- Return: 30 Days for Refund with a 20% restocking fee (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Lightweight – Very stable – Rigid – Durable construction – Relatively efficient paddling – Easy to transport – Dog-friendly quality foam deck pad. – Beautiful design – Two-year warranty | – Low weight capacity compared to similar iSUPs. – Does not come with an ankle leash. |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- Newbies looking for a stable board to learn how to SUP.
- Paddling with a child or dog.
- Relaxed cruising around the lake
- Smaller paddlers looking for an easy to transport SUP.
- Family paddling
- SUP owners looking for a backup all-around SUP.
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Flat water.
- Small wave surfing.
- Ocean calm water.
BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8 REVIEW
- SPEED
This board is not designed to glide like a racing inflatable paddleboard because it’s all-around.
However, BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8 maintains its speed and has a smooth glide through the water, making it energy efficient.
- STABILITY
Its width of 33”, coupled with its wide nose and tail, makes it exceptionally stable, which is very important, especially for beginner to intermediate paddlers.
- TRACKING
BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8 tracks fairly well.
Compared to other boards, its bigger brother Breeze Aero 11’6 tracks slightly better due to its length.
- MANEUVERABILITY
The lighter weight of this board makes it easy to handle using simple paddleboarding techniques, whatever how tall or heavy the paddler is.
Advanced SUP turning techniques like the step-back are fairly easy with this board since it has a diamond grooved deck pad that extends along the back of the board.
Compared to Breeze Aero 11’6, Aero 10′8 is slightly better at maneuverability
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
The board overall lightweight in its heavy-duty bag with comfortable straps and a rear back pad makes carrying your board comfortable.
Unfortunately, handles are not padded at all and the bag has only one main pocket.
- EASE OF INFLATION
Unlike many paddleboard packages in the medium price range, Breeze Aero 10′8 comes with a dual-stage pump but a single chamber only. Making the last few PSI a little difficult to reach if you are not that powerful.
As usual, I highly recommend you upgrade to an electric pump like OutdoorMaster Shark II if budget allows.
- ACCESSORIES
BOTE Breeze Aero 10′8 comes with everything you need except the ankle leash that you should add to your package to keep yourself safe or avoid losing your board if you fall from it in fast-moving water.
The paddle blade is durable, but overall, the paddle is a bit on the heavier side, which is not a big deal for beginners, especially for the price that you pay.
Atoll 11′
Best High-Performance Blow-Up SUP
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Medium
- Use: All-Around
- Dimensions: 11’ x 32’’ x 6”
- Weight: 21 lbs
- Weight capacity: 400 lbs
- Comes with: Backpack, Adjustable paddle, Dual-action pump, Fin, Ankle leash, Repair kit,
- Return: 30 Days for a Full Refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Lightweight. – Feels quite stable. – Easy to maneuver. – Faster than many all-around iSUPs. – Glides and tracks well. – Includes a good paddle – Grippy and comfortable to stand on deck pad. – Includes everything you need to hit the water. – Great customer support. | – No front grab handle. – No rear bungee storage area. – The included pump is not a dual chamber. – No kick tail for quick turning. |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- Beginner to intermediate paddlers seeking a stable SUP.
- Touring on calm water bodies.
- Paddling with a dog or kid without sagging or riding low.
- Smaller paddlers looking for an easy to carry SUP.
- Heavy paddlers.
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Calm to choppier water.
- Slower moving river.
- Ocean paddling.
- Small waves riding.
Atoll 11′ REVIEW
- SPEED
Atoll 11′ weight of just 21 lbs and its raised nose makes it a bit faster than many 32” all-around inflatable paddle boards, requires less effort to move forward, reach some higher speeds, and maintain its momentum.
- STABILITY
Atoll 11′ size and shape, coupled with its diamond grooved deck pad, toughness, and rigidity, ensures a comfortable amount of stability for most paddlers, in most paddling conditions, or even with a kid or pet.
- TRACKING
This board′s tri-fin design and shape ensure it tracks well and maintains a straight line even without too much effort. Makes it easier to paddle, which is good, especially for beginners.
- MANEUVERABILITY
Despite its length of 11′, which is a bit longer than a pure all-around SUP, Atoll 11′ still maneuvers gracefully to dodge obstacles or paddlers around you, especially if you know how to do step-back turns by lifting the nose, that its lighter weight makes easy.
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
The bag you receive with Atoll 11′ makes carrying everything inside comfortable enough since its shoulder straps and a waist belt are well-padded.
Unfortunately, you can’t share carrying the inflated board with another person since it does not have a front grab handle.
Hauling the board into and out of the water is easy with the rear grab handle.
- EASE OF INFLATION
The included hand pump is very easy to use, even by first-time paddlers, but inflating your board to the desired PSI will always remain a workout.
With the built-in pressure gauge, you can easily know when to stop to avoid overinflating your board.
Overall, inflating Atoll 11′ is average if not bad. Especially that most competitors, at the same price range, include a dual-chamber that is more energy-efficient.
This becomes less of a problem since even with the best hand pump, you are always well served with an electric SUP pump.
- ACCESSORIES
Atoll 11′ package comes with everything you will need to paddle right out of the box (see list above).
The carbon fiberglass shaft and a nylon blade paddle you get with this board is super light and very comfortable to hold.
The bag you receive does not have wheels and is not the most comfortable and durable bag you can get at the same price range.
But this bag has nice features like a metal grommet to drain out moisture or dirt, an open mesh pocket for a change of clothes or a water bottle, and compression straps to compress the bag up, a well-padded back cushion, sternum strap, and a padded waist belt to comfortably transfer most of the weight to your lower body.
Honu Byron 10’6
Best Ultralight Blow-Up Board
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Medium
- Use: All-Around
- Dimensions: 10’6″ x 32″ x 4.72″
- Weight: 16.9 lbs
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs
- Comes with: Wheeled backpack, Dual-action pump, Fin, Ankle leash, Repair kit, No paddle
- Return: 30 Days for a Full Refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Very lightweight yet durable. – Extremely rigid – Incredibly easy to carry and transport – Responsive. – Stable even when loaded up with extra weight. – Comfortable whether kneeling or standing with a great grip. – Faster to inflate – Competitive price – 2 years of free repairs on top of the two-year warranty – A donation goes toward protecting the ocean with every sale | – Comes with no paddle. I recommend you bundle it with Element Jnr for a 20% discount on the paddle. – Included pump is not a dual chamber. – |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- Smaller person seeking an easy to transport and handle SUP.
- Firt-time paddlers looking for very stable board.
- Beginners seeking an easy to paddle SUP.
- Experienced paddlers looking for responsive and quick to maneuver board
- Paddlers looking to travel and exploring new destinations.
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Flat water.
- Light ocean surf.
Honu Byron 10’6 REVIEW
- SPEED
Honu Byron 10’6 is not designed for speed but it still cruises along nicely.
With its construction, lightweight, and size, it doesn’t take much effort to glide through the water
- STABILITY
Despite its thickness of just 4.72″, with its reinforced side rails and durable construction, Honu Byron 10’6 feels very stable, but due to its small size, you need to focus in order to stay stable in waves and chop water.
- TRACKING
With its center fin, Honu Byron 10’6 provides superior water tracking.
- MANEUVERABILITY
With its weight and thickness, Honu Byron 10’6 is very responsive to quick turns and maneuvers, making it a great choice for beginners and smaller riders.
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
Honu Byron 10’6 is incredibly easy to carry and transport with its weight of only 17 lbs.
The bag wheels still make it easier to pull it, so even smaller paddlers can transport it to and from the water without trouble.
- EASE OF INFLATION
Since it has a thickness of only 4.72″, Honu Byron 10’6 is faster to inflate.
Using the included double action hand pump, it will take less than 7 minutes to reach its recommended 15 PSI
- ACCESSORIES
Honu Byron’s 10’6 package includes everything you need except the paddle (see list above).
The included pump has a pressure gauge to not overinflate your board. But I will like to see a dual-chamber hand pump for this price range. But its design help keeps the package lightweight.
The repair kit you receive includes PVC patches as well as a valve wrench that some brands do not.
Everything comes in a bag that unfortunately does not have a waist strap, but I can understand it since this package is lightweight.
The bag’s handles are really sturdy, with a top and side padded handle to make carrying easier.
Wheels on the bag that makes pulling it easier are placed on the backside and not at the front, which can cause trouble with straps when you pull the bag.
Gili Meno 11’6
Best for Weight-Capacity
QUICK SPECS
- Price Range: Medium
- Use: All-Around
- Dimensions: 11’6 x 35” x 6”
- Weight: 24 lbs
- Weight capacity: 485 lbs
- Comes with: Wheeled backpack, Adjustable paddle, 2-chamber 3-action pump, 5 fins, Ankle leash, Repair kit
- Return: 30 Days for a Full Refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
| WHAT I LIKE | WHAT I DON’T LIKE |
|---|---|
| – Lightweight compared to similarly-shaped boards – Fast in the water – Fairly maneuverable – Tracks straight – Extremely portable and easy to carry by lighter paddlers – High weight capacity – So stable in waves and chop – Carbon fiber in rails makes the board stiffer – Comes with 5 different fins, when most competitors include only 3 – Gili support ocean charities and initiatives with every purchase | – Small d-rings makes removing the bungee cord harder – Diamond groves are not spread throughout all the deck-pad |
IDEAL CHOICE FOR:
- First time paddlers who need to feel comfortable
- Big guys looking for very stable board
- Paddlers after a large board but still lightweight
- Paddling with small children, pet, or tons of gear
- SUP anglers at a budget
GREAT IN CONDITIONS LIKE:
- Ocean paddling
- Flat water
- Fishing
Gili Meno 11’6 REVIEW
- GLIDE PERFORMANCE
Paddling fast the Gili Meno 11’6 is fairly easy.
In top speed, Gili Meno was way faster than BOTE HD but slightly slower than Blackfin XL.
In cruising speed, Gili Meno was a little slower than BOTE HD and barely slower than Blackfin XL.
- STABILITY
Usually, lightweight paddle boards are not stable, but Gili Meno 11’6 good construction and overall dimensions make it feel comfortable even under heavy loads.
- TRACKING
With the 9” fin, Gili Meno 11’6 tracks very well even in choppy water or under heavier paddling.
- MANEUVERABILITY
Despite being a wide board, Gili Meno 11’6 responds well to direction changes.
- EASE OF TRANSPORT
Weighing 24 lbs, Gili Meno 11’6 is easy to transport even by smaller paddlers.
- EASE OF INFLATION
The included hand pump makes inflating relatively easy for a smaller paddler with its 3-stage feature.
- ACCESSORIES
What differentiates Gili Meno accessories from its competitors is how many fins the board comes with.
The included backpack is durable and strong and not too big to carry on your back. It has enough room to store everything it comes with, is also equipped with a dedicated fin pouch, and its backside is well padded as handles and straps.
The paddle breaks down to 38″, making it perfect for traveling, and is adjustable from 67″ to 86″ to be used by many different-height paddlers.
The carbon shaft with nylon blade paddle weighs 29 oz and the full carbon paddle weighs only 27 oz. Both feel great to use and float in case you drop them in the water.
BLOW UP PADDLE BOARD BUYING GUIDE
LENGTH
Blow-up board length plays a huge role in its overall performance.
Generally speaking, the longer the board the better its glides.
For recreational paddling, it’s better to get a blow-up SUP between 10‘ and 12’.
WIDTH
32″ to 36″ of board width is what I recommend for recreational paddling by adults, it ensures that the board is stable enough and have enough space to have a kid or a pet with you.
WEIGHT CAPACITY
The board weight capacity is expressed in liters. The bigger the board, the heavier weight it can carry.
I recommend you to get a blow-up board with a weight capacity somewhere between 1.1 and two times your body weight in pounds.
FAQ
The Best Blow up SUP Board for me is …
It’s hard to look past Nautical 11’6.
For around $500, you get a solid blow-up board with an included kit that is more than adequate for a package in this price range.
Can I trust a Cheap Blow up Paddle Board?
Most of the time, no, especially with those boards around $200 on Amazon.
If you are on a budget, I recommend you Roc Explorer 10′.
For around $300, you get a lightweight board that is stable in flat water.
Updated on January 18, 2022 by Ben
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