BEST INFLATABLE PADDLE BOARD UNDER $500

UNDER $500 INFLATABLE PADDLE BOARDS COMPARISON

PRODUCT  PRICE USE DIMENSIONS WEIGHT WEIGHT CAPACITY COMES WITH RETURN SHOP
Best Value for the Price

 FunWater Tiki 10’6 
$239.95 All-around 10’6×33″×6″ 17.6 lbs 330 lbs – Waterproof Bag
– Hand Pump
– Safety leash
– Adjustable paddle
– Repair kit
– Waterproof phone case
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Best for Newcomers on Flatwater

SereneLife Thunder Wave 10′
$280.49 All-around 10′x30″x6″ 25 lbs  275 lbs – Backpack
– Paddle
– Hand pump
– Safety leash
– Repair kit
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Best Value Paddle Board for Big Guys

Runwave Kohala 11′
$299 All-around 11′x33″x6″ 25 lbs 352 lbs – Backpack
– Double-action hand pump
– Fin
– Aluminum paddle
– Safety leash
– Repair kit
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Best for Smaller Paddlers

Roc Explorer 10’
$299.95 All-around 10’x33”x6” 17.8 lbs 350 lbs – Backpack
– Adjustable Paddle
– Safety Leash
– Hand Pump
– Waterproof Bag
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
SUP/Kayak Hybrid that Includes More Than Your Needs

Cooyes Wave 10’6
$299.99 All-around 10’6″x32″x6″ 19.5 lbs 330 lbs – Backpack
– Aluminum paddle
– Hand pump
– Kayak seat
– Dry bag, Fin, Leash
– Repair kit
– Phone waterproof bag
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Easy Yet Affordable Board to Learn On

Goosehill Sailor 10’6
$379.99 All-around 10’6″x32″x6″ 20.5 lbs 440 lbs – Backpack
– Paddle
– Pump
– Leash
– Fin
– Repair kit
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Great Price And A Very High Quality

Bote Drift 10’8
$399 All-around 10’8″x33″x6″ 19 lbs 250 lbs – Backpack
– Adjustable paddle
– Hand pump
– Leash
– Removable fin
– Repair kit
30 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
Amazon.com
Best Inflatable Paddle Board Under $500

Nautical (by iRocker) 10’6
$469 All-around 10’6″x32″x6″ 20 lbs 240 lbs – Backpack
– Fiberglass paddle
– 2-stage pump
– Safety leash
– Repair kit
60 Days
for a Full Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
iRockerSUP.com
Built to Last Casual Touring SUP Under $500

Bluefin Cruise 10’8
$499 All-around 10’8″x32″x6″ 24.9 lbs 330 lbs – Backpack
– Fiberglass Paddle
– 2-Stage Pump
– Safety
– Leash
– Repair Kit
60 Days
for Full Refund
(Learn More
Check Price
on
BluefinSUPboard.com
Very Stable Cruising SUP Board

Chasing Blue Solar Spirit 11’6″
$499 All-around 11’6″x34″x6″ 24 lbs 320 lbs – Wheeled Backpack
– Dual-Action Hand Pump
– 3-piece Carbon Shaft Paddle
– Removable Touring Fin
– 3 Action Mount Sets
– Repair Kit
– Phone case
30 Days
for Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
OutdoorMaster.com
Best for Newcomers on Flatwater

Chasing Blue Violet Spirit 10’6
$499 All-around 10’6″x32″x4.7″ 20 lbs 280 lbs – Wheeled backpack
– Ultra-light floatable paddle
– Action mounts
– Dual-action pump
– Leash
– Phone case
– Repair kit
30 Days
for Refund
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
OutdoorMaster.com
Best for Intermediate Paddlers at a Budget

Gili Air 10’6
$530 All-around 10’6x31″x6″ 19 lbs 280 lbs – Backpack
– Paddle
– Safety Leash
– Dual Stage Pump
– Repair Kit
– Valve Wrench
60 Days
for Full Refund minus a 20% Restocking Fee
(Learn More)
Check Price
on
GiliSports.com

BEST INFLATABLE SUP UNDER $500 REVIEWS

FunWater Tiki 10’6 Review

BEST VALUE FOR THE PRICE

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Easy to inflate, 0 to 14 PSI in about 5 minutes

– Pretty rigid at 14 PSI

– Feels stable after some practice

– Hold its pressure for days

– Board paddled reasonably well

– Paddle is decent and easily adjustable

– Its lightweight makes it easy for kids or small women to carry around

– Super easy to deflate and store

– Paddle floats on water

– Quickly deflates for pack up

– Large backpack makes getting all the parts inside easier
– Does not track well in the wind or waves

– Pump does feel cheap and not a double-stage

– Paddle is heavy

– The backpack will disintegrate after some use due to the poor quality material

– Inflation valve looks very cheap and unreliable

– A user was unable to complete warranty registration due to the non-functional website

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $239.95
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’6 × 33″ × 6″
  • Weight: 17.6 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 330 lbs
  • Comes with: Waterproof Bag, Hand Pump, Safety leash, Adjustable paddle, Repair kit, Waterproof phone case

TODAY’S PRICE

SereneLife Thunder Wave 10′ Review

BEST FOR NEWCOMERS ON FLATWATER

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Its square tail and recreational style makes it reasonably well-balanced

– Reasonably lightweight

– Easier to inflate than larger options

– Works best for flatwater conditions

– Offers decent performance for a variety of SUP activities

– Its shorter length makes it reasonably maneuverable

– Roll pretty smoothly and tightly

– Reasonably durable backpack

– The included pump is sturdy and connects securely to the valve

– Includes everything you need
– Not as stable as some larger boards

– Lack of stability might slow you down from reaching cruising speed

– Just one carrying handle means no one can help you in the task or haul it in or out of the water

– Not built for high speeds

– 275 lbs capacity is a little bit overrated

– Minimal cargo room

– Materials and construction are slightly lower quality

-Included paddle isn’t the most comfortable or efficient because it slices sideways underwater

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $280.49
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10′ x 30″ x 6″
  • Weight: 25 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 275 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Paddle, Hand pump, Safety leash, Repair kit,

TODAY’S PRICE

Runwave Kohala 11′ Review

BEST VALUE PADDLE BOARD FOR BIG GUYS

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Relatively lightweight

– Fast to inflate. About 5 minutes using the included pump.

– Folds away easily

– Excellent stability

– Can support two adults easily

– Very well-written manual that has visual and text instructions

– Backpack makes it easier to pack and looks it can hold two inflatables
– Inflating takes quite a workout

– Took around 14 minutes to deflate

– No front or rear carrying handle

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $299
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 11′ x 33″ x 6″
  • Weight: 25 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 352 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Double-action hand pump, Fin, Aluminum paddle, Safety leash, Repair kit

TODAY’S PRICE

Roc Explorer 10’ Review

FUN AND LIGHTWEIGHT AFFORDABLE BOARD

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Sufficient stability for even first time paddlers learning how to SUP

Lightweight SUP that is easy to carry around by youth and smaller paddlers

– Offers good performance for beginners

– Floatable paddle that minimizes the risk of sinking
– Maneuverable with ease


– 4 D-rings and a front cargo area let you bring your cooler with you

– One of the few under $400 boards that have a diamond grooved EVA deck pad that is comfortable, improves your feet grip and keeps you stable even in light chop

– Dual-action pump that can inflate your board in ten minutes or less

– Fun for beginners and experienced paddlers can surf it

– Designed more for playfulness and quick maneuvers
– One owner was forced to tighten the valve while inflating its board

– Backpacks is less durable compared to other ones in the market

– Moderate to heavy winds can affect its performance

– Aluminum paddles are on the heavier side

– Short warranty window

– Not very fast

– Its rounded nose doesn’t make it the fastest model

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $299.95
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’ x 33” x 6”
  • Weight: 17.8 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 350 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Adjustable Paddle, Safety Leash, Hand Pump, Fin, Waterproof Bag

TODAY’S PRICE

Cooyes Wave 10’6 Review

SUP/KAYAK HYBRID THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN YOUR NEED

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Becomes hard when inflated to 15 PSI

– Extremely durable

– Very light for its size, making it easy to lift by a 5’2″ from the car to the water

– Included seat isn’t as good as a kayak one but its still usable and handy to rest from standing

– Extra sets of D strings to attach a second seat or a cooler that you can also sit on

– Backpack has padded straps and a reinforced waist belt for long walks

– Adjustable paddle makes it sharable with kids and seems sturdy

– Can be turned into a SUP kayak without buying any extras

– Deck is non-slippery

– Pump inflates on the upstroke and downstroke, has a pressure gauge, and the deflation feature

– Easy to deflate in about one minute and fits neatly into the backpack

– Gets compact enough to fit everything in the pack easily

– Seems well built should last a while with proper care

– Comes with everything you need
– One buyer received one with a defective valve

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $299.99
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’6″ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight: 19.5 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 330 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Aluminum paddle, Hand pump, Kayak seat, Dry bag, Fin, Leash, Repair kit, Phone waterproof bag

TODAY’S PRICE

Goosehill Sailor 10’6 Review

EASY YET AFFORDABLE BOARD TO LEARN ON

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Very sturdy and held up well in winds and small waves despite its lighter-weight

– Lightweight and very easy to carry

– Glides smoothly and tracks better than expected

– Ultra stable and super comfortable

– Needs very little effort to paddle or maneuver

– Easily accommodated two teenagers

– Paddle coating made it comfortable to grip

– Does not bend when fully inflated

– Takes 6 minutes to inflate it to 15 PSI

– Stable in calm water

– Feels like it will hold up for a long time

– Easy to carry
– I don’t see this bag holding up very long

– Paddle is of low quality

– No kick pad on the deck make turning a bit harder

– Inflating it using the included pump is quite hard

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $379.99
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’6″ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight: 20.5 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 440 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Paddle, Pump, Leash, Fin, Repair kit

TODAY’S PRICE

Bote Drift 10’8 Review

GREAT PRICE AND A VERY HIGH QUALITY

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Super stable even in a big wake

– Easy to control

– Lightweight and sturdy enough to support two adults with two small dogs

– Tracks well even against the current

– No visible damage from dog nails after 3 hours of use

– Easy to roll up and pack

– Very well bag

– Good hand pump

– Takes approximately 8 minutes to fully inflate by hand

– Beautiful design

– Very good quality bag, with large buckles, zipper, and thick padding on the straps

– Shows little wear with the times
– Lightness of the board does cause it to skip more on choppy water

– Paddle is weak and needs to be slightly tightened when paddling hard. Another user declared that his paddle snapped in the shaft

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $399
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’8″ x 33″ x 6″
  • Weight: 19 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 250 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Adjustable paddle, Hand Pump, Leash, Removable fin, Repair kit

Nautical (by iRocker) 10’6 Review

BEST INFLATABLE PADDLE BOARD UNDER $500

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Its dual-layer PVC construction makes it a reliable and super solid paddleboard

– Comes with all the accessories to start paddling

– Lots of storage places with its two bungee storage areas

– Four handles for your kid to hold on to and feel safe

– Removable fins make the board suitable for different conditions and water bodies.

– Convert easily to a similar sit-on-top kayak

– Its length makes it great for smaller paddlers
– Its weight capacity is a little bit on the limited side.

– Tracking is not good compared to other iRocker models

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $469
  • Use: All-Around
  • Dimensions: 10’6″ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight: 20 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 240 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, fiberglass paddle, 2-stage pump, safety leash, and repair kit.

Bluefin Cruise 10’8 Review

BUILT TO LAST CASUAL TOURING SUP UNDER $500

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Super tough, so sturdy, and has rigid construction. The unheard five-year warranty confirms it.

– Remarkably stable and easy to control

– Tracks really well

– Pointed nose that cuts through water makes glides with decent speed

– So sturdy and the five-year warranty confirms it

– Fiberglass shaft and polyurethane blade makes the paddle impeccably strong and lighter than the aluminum ones

– Quite maneuverable by teens and short paddlers

– Convert into a SUP kayak without buying anything additional

– Palm grip paddle to be comfortable in your hand

– Kick pad feature helps you make quick and sharp turns

– Thermo sealing deck pad makes it durable

– Croco-diamond deck pad makes it pet-friendly and very comfortable, whether you are standing or kneeling

– Dual-action pump makes your work easier by inflating going up or down

– No length indicator on the included paddle

– Non-removable side fins makes it less versatile

– Backpack has no wheels

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $499
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’8″ x 32″ x 6″
  • Weight: 24.9 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 330 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Fiberglass Paddle, 2-Stage Pump, Safety Leash and Repair Kit

Chasing Blue Solar Spirit 11’6 Review

VERY STABLE CRUISING SUP BOARD

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Ultra stability helps stay comfortable in waves and chop

– Really easy to paddle on flat calm water
– Very rigid for its price

– Straight tracking and nice gliding makes it the ultimate cruiser

– Its weight capacity lets you bring your kid or pet and still cruise along nicely

– The valve automatically releases any extra air if you pump over the recommended PSI level

– Two large bungee systems provide easy-access maximum storage for long outings

– Large deck pad that feels comfortable when standing or kneeling, with ample traction even when wet

– Floatable paddler that is much lighter than what many competitors offer

– The hand pump can inflate on the upstroke and on the downstroke for added energy efficiency

– Unheard insulated backpack that makes sure what’s inside don’t get too hot or too cold
– Wider width makes it take a little more effort to turn

Fixed action mounts feels more secure than the included ones that use glue

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $499
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 11’6″ x 34″ x 6″
  • Weight: 24 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 320 lbs
  • Comes with: Wheeled Backpack, Dual Action Hand Pump, 3-piece Carbon Shaft Paddle, Removable Touring Fin, 3 Action Mount Sets, Repair Kit, Phone case

Chasing Blue Violet Spirit 10’6 Review

BEST FOR SMALLER PADDLERS

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Rigid and durable

– Glides well

– Can be easily carried by older kids

– Soft traction pad that covers most of the deck and prevents you from sliding

– Extra D-rings for a kayak seat or a cooler

– Two bungee storage areas to carry all you want

– comes with a two-year warranty and everything you need

– Three sets of action mounts to capture your adventures
– Violet Spirit is less stable than the Solar Spirit

– Backpack doesn’t feel very high quality

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $499
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’6″ x 32″ x 4.7″
  • Weight: 20 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 280 lbs
  • Comes with: Wheeled backpack, Ultra-light floatable paddle, Action mounts, Dual-action pump, Leash, Phone case, Repair kit

Gili Air 10’6 Review

BEST FOR INTERMEDIATE PADDLERS AT A BUDGET

WHAT I LIKED:WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
– Performs well on lakes, slow-moving rivers, and even small waves ocean

– Feels stable for experienced paddlers

– Responsive at quick sharp turns

– Its good tracking gives you an advantage racing your friend or when SUP touring

– Large deck pad area to stay comfortable in long paddling sessions or when you have a dog with you

– Three action mounts to keep video memories of your trips

– Paddle holder to avoid getting it in the water or to free your hands

– Two-stage pump is more efficient than the regular ones
– Really strong wind can decrease its performance significantly

– Included paddle is not lightest, but to be expected

– With its 31″ width, beginners may need some practice to feel stable

– D-rings small size makes using them a little bit harder

QUICK SPECS

  • Price: $530
  • Use: All-around
  • Dimensions: 10’6 x 31″ x 6″
  • Weight: 19 lbs
  • Weight capacity: 280 lbs
  • Comes with: Backpack, Paddle, Safety Leash, Dual Stage Pump, Repair Kit, and Valve Wrench
  • Return: 60 Days for Full Refund minus a 20% Restocking Fee (Learn More)

WHAT MAKES A PADDLEBOARD AFFORDABLE?

Places and features that manufacturers use to cut prices are:

  • Board: Using just one layer of PVC instead of two or three ones, resulting having a bouncier feel and are more susceptible to puncture and leakage. Some cheap SUP boards are marketed as dual-layer PVC ones when in reality the dual-layer PVC is limited only at the rails.
  • Paddle: Using aluminum, which is heavy and cheap, instead of lightweight materials like carbon or fiberglass.
  • Backpack: Using a simpler and thin-material backpack with little padding, instead of a durable and wheeled one.
  • Pump: Including simpler and slower single-chamber single-action hand pump instead of dual-chamber triple-action pumps.

WHATS THE LIFESPAN OF A CHEAP PADDLE BOARDS ?

Affordable inflatable paddle boards last around 1 to 2 years, after that, you can still use them but with a large decrease in their performance.

This lifespan expectation still depends largely on how and where you use it and if you take care of it or not.

Paddling mostly in whitewater or SUP surfing put more stress on the board than paddling in calm and flat water bodies.

Rinsing it with clean water then drying it and minimizing its exposing time to direct UV rays are all practices that extends your cheap inflatable SUP lifespan.


WHY I RECOMMEND INFLATABLES FOR UNDER $500 BUDGETS

  • Availability: Getting a quality inflatable SUP under $500 is possible. You can’t say the same for solid SUPs.
  • Comes as a complete package: except the life jacket.
  • Cheap transporting: No roof rack to buy, a bus drive ride can get you to the beach.
  • Cheap storing: No need of a garage, a closet is enough.
  • More durable: iInflatable SUPs dont get dented easily as the solid and they handle impact well.
  • Cheap repairs: They even came with their repaire kit.
  • Dog-friendly: Inflatable SUPs offer more grip. Its highly unlikely that your dog will pop it.
  • Beginners-friendly: They are more buoyant and stable than similarly shaped hards SUPs

PADDLE BOARDS UNDER $500 BUYING GUIDE

DEFINE YOUR NEEDS FIRST

Since inflatable paddle boards under $500 are all all-around SUPs and not activity-specific, what is best for you is also limited by:

  • Do you struggle with balance?
  • Do you prefer board balance over speed?
  • What are the water conditions you will be on?
  • Can you wait for deals or you are urgent ?

LENGTH

Paddle boards length sweet spot for adults with a budget under $500 is 10” to 11” because they offer:

  • Enough carrying capacity: 10” to 11” SUP boards offers between 200 and to 300 lbs of capacity, which is more than enough for most adults.
  • Maneuverable: Unlike shorter/longer boards, 10” to 11” boards can easily turn and while having decent tracking capabilities.
  • Handleable: Even if boards this long looks big, they still have a reasonable weight for adults to carry and paddle on their own.

WIDTH

Board width affects largely its stability, capacity, and a little his maneuverability.

  • Below 32” : Boards this narrow are less stable, has little less carrying weight but faster and, making them a good option for experienced paddlers.
  • 32 to 36 : This is my recommended board width for you. You can have a kid or pet and still feel stable.
  • Above 36 : Above 36”: As a beginner, you will feel uncomfortable touching water with your paddle. These boards are useful only as a fishing SUP.

THICKNESS

Unless you are looking for a kid SUP board, I don’t recommend you an inflatable paddle board with a thickness below 6″.

For adults over 225 lbs, 6″ of thickness is enough to keep them afloat. If you are lighter and a 5″ thin board can keep you afloat, get it to benefit from more speed, stability, ease of climbing back on it.

CONSTRUCTION

Chambers (or layers) are what hold air inside, and the more layer the inflatable board has the more rigid and sturdy it becomes.

WEIGHT

You should pay attention to the board weight because you will be carrying it on your back from your car to the water.

The inflatable paddle board construction is what affects its weight. 2-layer paddle boards are lighter than ones with 3-layer construction but flex more.

Most inflatable paddle boards in my recommended length (10” to 11”) are between 17 and 27 lbs, which can be carried and handled by adults on their own.

WEIGHT CAPACITY

Boards with a boxier shape, wider, and thicker will have a bigger weight capacity than one of the opposite.

Be careful with comparing the weight capacity of two paddleboards from different brands because some manufacturers like to estimate their board’s weight capacity towards the high end while others towards the low end.

I recommend you avoid getting a board with a weight capacity close to what you will be putting on it because this way you will lose a lot of its performance and maneuverability.

Weigh yourself, your pet, or your kid, and consider your gear to have a clear idea of the weight capacity your inflatable paddle board should come with.

DISPLACEMENT VS PLANING HULL

Inflatable boards are divided into two main shapes:

  • DISPLACEMENT HULL

This makes the board faster with good tracks due to the pointy nose that cuts through the water. You are less likely to find this shape on an inflatable paddle board under $500.

  • PLANING HULL

Planing hulls mean a wide, flat, and rounder nose that makes the board more maneuverable and stable in small waves.

DECK PAD

I see that deck pads are something that people don’t pay enough attention to.

The best paddle board deck pad is one that is large and grippy even when wet and able to drain out water quickly while paddling.

FINS

Fins help the board stay straight while paddling and also a little bit in the board balance.

Smaller fins make the board more maneuverable, while bigger ones provide added stability.

I recommended paddle boards with three removable fins because they let you fine-tune your board performance.

KICK TAIL

By kick tail I mean the raised little area at the rear of paddleboards.

Inflatable boards without a kicktail are still good for you as a beginner since intermediate and advanced paddlers are the ones who know how to turn using it.

HANDLE

My best inflatable paddle board under $500 for me is one that has three carrying handles.

Ones with only one carrying handle at the center cannot be carried by two persons or pulled when you are out of the water.

The center handle should be flat or has a removable cushioned grip to not bother you while paddling and be made of neoprene lining in order to be comfortable.

D-RINGS

D-rings are used to attach things like a cooler or a kayak seat and tie-down your gear and clothes.

If your inflatable paddle board under $500 does not come with enough d-rings, you can always glue down ones that are sold separately.

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

PUMP

The quality of the included pump you get depends on the price of the whole package.

  • Dual-Chamber Feature: This means that the pump provide more air pressure per stroke.
  • Triple-Action Feature: Hand pumps with this feature are able to switch between getting air from one chamber, getting air from both chambers, or getting it from both chamber and on the downstroke and also on the upstroke.
  • Pressure Gauge: This feature is essential because inflating your board over its recommended air pressure will damage it. If you really liked a SUP package but its included pump does not comes with a built-in pressure gauge, you can get it and buy an additional external air pressure gauge.

PADDLE

Make sure that the SUP package you are about to buy includes the paddle because some brands do not.

Affordable Paddle for Beginners

For the paddle length, it should be 4” to 7” taller than you.

Aluminum and plastic are both affordable materials used by some SUP brands to make paddleboards under $500. These paddles do their job, but they are not lightweight.

Recommended articles:

Best SUP Paddles

Best Kids SUP Paddle

LEASH

See on: REI.com / Amazon.com

The leash helps you to not lose your board by keeping it attached to your ankle. More than this, the paddleboard leash also makes sure you get something that floats near you if things went south.

The best paddleboard leash is one that has a coiled cord, dual swivels that prevent tangles, and a soft cuff.


OPTIONAL UPGRADES

  • ELECTRIC PUMP

An electric pump is the best first upgrade you can have because it has a big improvement on your paddling experience.

The best electric paddle board pump saves you time and effort.

My recommended electric pump is OutdoorMaster Shark II Electric Pump, it is fast and has a built-in cooling system that makes it able to inflate 3 SUPs in a row.

  • PFD AND LIFE JACKET
See on: Amazon.comREI.com

A personal flotation device is a jacket that helps you stay afloat in water by giving you more buoyancy. This is why I see it as an essential piece of gear for every paddleboarder.


HOW TO GET YOUR PREFERRED SUP BOARD WITH A DISCOUNT

To get your preferred paddleboard at a discount, all you have to do is to get the last year’s release.

From my experience, most of the time there is no big difference between the current year’s paddleboard board and the last year’s same paddleboard model.

And if there is a big difference between the two, you can wait for the next season to get it at a big discount.


HOW TO ENJOY YOUR AFFORDABLE PADDLEBOARD

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE BOARD’S LOW PERFORMANCE

Inflatable paddleboards under $500 will not be a high-end one, this is why you should improve how you paddle to be efficient, able to keep yourself in a straight line, and how to perform quick turns in order to compensate for the low performance of your affordable paddleboard.

MY BEST INFLATABLE PADDLEBOARD UNDER $500 IS …

It’s hard to look past Nautical (by iRocker) 10’6. For just $469, you get a reliable and super solid paddleboard due to its dual-layer PVC construction and a fiberglass paddle, which are not common in entry-level SUPs

CAN YOU TRUST A PADDLEBOARD UNDER $500?

The water body you are in, the weather, your fitness, and your swimming and paddling skills have more influence on your safety than your board as long as it remains afloat.

Inflatable paddle boards under $500 like Nautical (by iRocker) 10’6 can be trusted because even if they bump into a rock they will bounce back and
stay afloat unless it’s a really sharp rock.

Updated on December 22, 2021 by Ben

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