Best Inflatable Paddle Board for Beginners

BEGINNERS INFLATABLE PADLLE BOARD COMPARISON

BEST INFLATABLE PADLLE BOARD REVIEWS

Honu Byron 10’6

Lightest Inflatable Paddle Board

WHAT I LIKE

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

– Ultra-lightweight, making it incredibly easy to carry and transport, even for a smaller person – Durable and strong – Responsive and quick to maneuver – Faster to inflate – Stay stable even in waves and chop – Doesn’t take much effort to paddle and glide – Easier to pull the bag to and from your car. – Keep your feet closer to the water – Donation toward protecting the ocean with every sale – 2 years of free repairs on top of the warranty

– The package does not include a paddle. I recommend you bundle it with Element Jnr for a 20% discount on the paddle. –

Roc Explorer 10′

Low-cost Inflatable SUP

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– Affordable price – Maneuvrable – Lightweight – Easy to inflate and carry down to the lake – Easier on your feet/knees for long trips – Super easy deflating and storing – A floating paddle that fits long arms – Included everything you will need – Can support two adults – Good grip	– White zones dirty quick but remains easy to clean – Included pump does not work both ways – Multiple buyers experienced bad customer experiences – Many received defective or used products

Glide O2 Retro 10’6

Best for Large Beginners

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– Maneuvrable – Stable – Super durable and stiff – Glides well and tracks nicely – Fairly comfortable to move around on – Paddle feels sturdy in the hands – Wheeled backpack is very sturdy – Excellent customer service – Pump is light and doesn’t take up much space in the bag	– Limited gear storage – Paddle is not the lightest – Included pump is not powerful

iRocker All-Around 10′

Best for Maneuverability

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– Stable enough for fishing and fitness – Maneuverable – Glides nicely – Fun to paddle – Tracks well – Can handle a bit of choppy water and slightly windy conditions – Inflating, deflating, and setting it up is extremely easy – Incredibly easy to store and transport – Child safety handles are removable – generous cargo space	– Not the fastest board – White pad is a little hard to keep clean – One owner received a product with unperfect glue work – One user got air leaking seams after just one use

Nautical 10’6

Best for Beginners under 200 lbs

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– More features than expected – Looks good – Good weight capacity – Surprising speed for its cost – Tracks fairly well – Pasturdy feeling paddle – Good customer service	– Listed weight capacity is a little bit of an overstatement – Hand pump is as basic as you can get

Gili Air 10’6

Best-Value Quality SUP

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– Fairly priced – Glides well – Lightweight – Very sturdy – Looks cool – Stable – Dog friendly – So many rings to hook accessories to and bungees to hold everything on – Great customer service	– One owner received a broken hand pump – Customer service was not at the top with some buyers

Thurso Surf Prodigy Junior 7′6

Best Kids All-Around

WHAT I LIKE	WHAT I DON’T LIKE
– Extremely well built – Very stable – Much maneuverable – Quick draining and comfortable deck pad – Made using lightweight and durable material – Easy to set up fins – Free space in the bag to put other stuff	– Does not come with a pump – Not lightweight compared to similarly-shaped SUPs – Doesn’t track straight, you can help him when touring by attaching it to your board with a rope. – The bag is not adequate to be carried on your kids back

BEGINNER INFLATABLE PADDLE BOARD BUYING GUIDE?

WHAT MAKES A GOOD BEGINNER PADDLE BOARD?

• STABLE

I recommend you an inflatable board with a length between 10-12 ft and a width between 32” and 34” in order to stay stable while learning paddleboarding basics.

• VERSATILE

Since you are still beginning, all-around paddleboards are ideal since you are not sure of any type of paddleboarding your want to specialize in.

• AFFORDABLE

Because it’s difficult for beginners to notice the little difference between a high-end board and an average one, I recommend you to invest in affordable paddle board boards between $300 and $500 to get the best value for what you pay.

NOSE ROCKER

For beginners, I recommend you get an inflatable board with a nose rocker in order to stay afloat in rough waters.

HULL

A wide and rounded type hulls are the best for beginners since they make the board easily maneuverable and less tippy.

WEIGHT CAPACITY

Calculate the weight of your body and everything you will bring with you on your board in order to have an idea of what you should get.

If your total weight is close to the weight capacity of your board, get one with a bigger capacity in order to get the best performance.

FINS

Small fins make the board more maneuverable while larger fins make the board tracks well.

Always get a board with a removable center fin in order to have board performance adjustability and ease of storing.

ACCESSORIES

• PADDLE

What I recommend in terms of paddleboard paddles is the ability to float, how much lighter it is, how comfortable the grip is in your hand, and how durable the used material and its design.

• LEASH

Always have and use the ankle leash in order to have a floating body near you if things go south.

The ankle leash also helps you not lose your board if you fall from it.

The majority of paddleboard packages include a leash.

Get one that is coiled to not get it in your way while paddling

• LIFE JACKET

Life jackets are what help your stay afloat and visible to people around you or others trying to save you.

Unfortunately, most paddleboard packages do not include the life jacket to my knowledge. This is why it remains an additional investment that you should do on your own.

• D-RINGS AND BUNGEE STRAPS

D-rings let you have a storing area using bungee straps.

If an inflatable SUP board that you liked did not have d-rings or enough ones, you can always still get ones and glue them where you want them to be.

• CAR ROOF RACK

Car roof racks let you transport your inflatable board without deflating it.

BEST PADDLE BOARD BRANDS

Instead of ”the best brand” I believe more in the best product, but these are still some reputable brands that I can recommend listed by foundation year:

• BIC :1945
• NRS :1972
• ISLE :2004
• BOTE :2009
• Tower :2010
• iRocker :2016
• Thurso Surf :2016

BEGINNER PADDLE BOARD TIPS

• FALL AWAY FROM YOUR BOARD IN WATER.
• ALWAYS WEAR YOUR ANKLE LEASH TO KEEP YOUR BOARD NEAR YOU.
• KEEP SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM OTHERS WHILE PADDLING
• IF WIND IS IN YOUR FAVOR PADDLE STANDING UP. IF NOT, PADDLE WHILE SITTING DOWN.
• YOUR YOUR WHOLE BODY TO PULL THE PADDLE AND NOT JUST YOUR ARMS.

FAQ

Updated on January 18, 2022 by Ben