Best Paddle Board for Lakes (#1 Best SUP for Lakes is …)

BEST SUP BOARDS FOR LAKES COMPARISON

LAKES STAND UP PADDLE BOARD REVIEWS

Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132 11’

BEST: All-Around SUP for Flat and Small Surf

PROS: – Reasonably priced – Stylish design – Quality pump – Speed, glide, and tracking exceeded all-around expectations – Easily maneuvered – Stiff – Great customer support

CONS: – No action mount on the rear end – The paddle sunk in the 3rd time it fell apart for a user – Bag started to fall apart 6 months for more than one buyer

Bluefin Cruise 10’8

BEST: Affordable All-Around SUP for Lakes

PROS: – Very stable – Reliable – Great value for the price – Super tough and rigid – Comes with a kayak seat – Grippy deck pad with a kick-tail for quick turns – Ergonomic shaft – Great customer service

CONS: – A little bit heavier, making it harder to carry to the water – Carry bag has no wheels – Fin box is not universal

iRocker Cruiser 10’6

BEST: Beginner Paddle Board for Lakes

PROS: – Easy to balance on – Really stable – Tracks well in flat water – Durable – Glides through the water better and turns easier – Good looking graphics – All fins are removable making folding it easier – Lightweight and easy to use the paddle – High-quality bag – More than one owner get themself a second iRocker Cruiser – Great customer support

CONS: – Maybe a bit slow – Paint chipped off the paddle after it came in contact with the sandy bottom One owner said that the pretty weak shaft cracked by the river and the paddle came off and sank – iRocker support said that the paddle is not covered under the warranty after 90 days – Manufacturer defects happen and you should check it as soon as you receive it

Blackfin Model X 10’6

BEST: Stable Lakes Paddle Board

PROS: – Great stability – Lightweight – Very rigid – Tracks well – Durable – Very high weight capacity – Comes with everything you need, except the life jacket – Full carbon fiber paddle shaft – Best hand pump in the market – Great customer support

CONS: – Not fast enough for experienced paddlers – Can be wider for short paddlers

Bluefin Sprint 14’

BEST: Touring Paddle Board for Lakes

PROS: – Stable – Very affordable – Extremely durable – Tracks and glides well – Speedy – Grippy and comfortable deck pad – Lots of cargo area – Can carry a lot without affecting its performance too much

CONS: – The included pump is just a single chamber one – The included paddle is not the best in the market – Unsuitable to beginner paddlers

Honu Byron 10’6

BEST: Beginner Lightweight Paddle Board

PROS: – Strong durable construction – Lightweight – Very stable despite its thickness – Turns very easily – Fun even in light ocean surf – 1% of all sales are donated to protect the ocean

CONS: – Not designed for speed – Doesn’t take much effort to paddle – Requires your attention to stay stable in waves and chop – The included hand pump is not dual-chamber

Sea Eagle FishSUP 12’6

BEST: Fishing SUP for Lakes

PROS: – Very stable – Roomy – Tracks well – Lots of useful D-rings – Paddle or use motor – Versatile configurations – 3-year warranty – 180-day money-back guarantee – Excellent customer service

CONS: – Heavy to be carried by one person, but a wheeled cart solve it

Nixy Huntington Compact G4 9’6

BEST: Most Compact All-Around SUP for lakes

PROS: – Lightweight and Ultra-Compact when deflated, making it awesome for backpacking – Best suited for those who want to travel light – Fun to paddle on lakes, rivers, and in light surf – Easy to maneuver even in wind and chop – Tracks straight – Glides fairly well – The included hand pump is the best of its type – Inflating it manually takes less than 7 minutes – Comes with everything your need except the lifejacket

CONS: – The hand pump is a little heavy

Glide O2 Retro 10’6

BEST: All-Around SUP for Big Paddlers

PROS: – Stable – Incredible quality – Glides and maneuvers well – Easy to paddle – Super durable – Stiff – Tracks nicely – Lightweight – excellent customer service

CONS: – If you weigh more than 300lbs this board will be a challenge – Limited gear storage – Listed max PSI rating of 25 is too high

Surftech Bark + prAna Aleka Tuflite 10’4

BEST: Solid All-Around SUP for Lakes

PROS: – Lightweight – Stable – Easily maneuvrable – Glides nicely on the water – Easy to carry and load on your car – Reasonably priced – Eco-friendly construction – Gorgeous aesthetics

CONS: – Fragile front end – Easy to scratch

iRocker All-Around 10′

BEST: Maneuverable All-Around SUP for lakes

PROS: – Tracks nicely – Maneuverable – Enough room for gear – Materials are very durable – Can handle a bit of choppy water and slightly windy conditions – Comes with everything you need to get on the water except the life jacket – Does everything very well while still be functional for beginners – Easy to carry even for a 4’11 paddler – Comes with the best available hand pump – Very easy to inflate and deflate – All 3 fins are detachable, which makes packing much easier – Great customer service

CONS: – Pumping it up is a bit of a workout but very doable – Not the absolute fastest or most maneuverable out there, and it’s not supposed to be – White pad is a little hard to keep clean – One user has air leaking seems just after the first use – Another user said there is excess glue around a bunch of the padding

THE BEST STAND UP PADDLE BOARD FOR LAKE

There is no best stand up paddle board for lakes because you can use any paddleboard type (touring, all-around, racing, yoga ), but your best paddleboard for lakes depends on your use.

It’s best to see all paddleboard types to get an idea of what is best for you.

• ALL-AROUND SUP FOR LAKES

All-around paddleboards have a rounded nose, usually range between 10′ to 12′ in length and 29” to 36” in width, and are thicker. They are known to have a decent speed, good tracking, and being maneuvrable.

The stability that all-around paddleboards have on calm water makes them a good option for beginners to learn how to stand and balance.

The large space that all-around SUP boards offer lets you enjoy nature even with your kid or your pet.

All-around paddleboards let you practice a range of paddleboard activities like fishing or surf, this is why they are the best option if you are not sure what activities you’ll practice most often on a lake.

• TOURING SUP FOR LAKES

Touring paddleboards are usually 12’ to 14′ in length, narrower, have a pointed nose to cut through the water, and have more rockers.

Their shape makes them track straighter (which means fewer paddle side changes and course corrections), faster, good for longer distances, but the paddler’s range of movement is limited to the center of the board.

Compared to all-around paddleboards, touring SUPs are longer, narrower, and they glide faster but they are less maneuverable due to their longer length and often square tail.

For storage, touring paddleboards can hold plenty of gear front and rear.

If you want to cover long distances on lakes, touring paddleboards are the best for you, if you are still a beginner, a touring board can be challenging for you because it’s not the most stable type out here.

• RACING SUP FOR LAKES

Racing SUPs are a version of touring SUPs, they are longest and much narrower for less drag and more speed, but this makes them difficult to stand on.

Lakes around the world organize paddleboard races every year, if you can’t found one just challenge your friends for a race in your near lake.

LAKE VS OCEAN PADDLE BOARDING

SUP paddlers are often on oceans and lakes, and because there is a difference between lakes paddleboarding and ocean paddleboarding, I will make educate you in order to stay safe.

• OCEAN PADDLE BOARDING

Ocean paddleboarding requires you to always monitor the weather, tides because it can be calm and gorgeous in the morning and turn to windy and choppy by the afternoon.

Depending on where you will ocean paddleboarding, weather, and laws, it might be necessary for you to wear a wet suit and a life jacket.

If ocean paddle boarding is still challenging for you, bays are still a great alternative because they are calmer with no big waves.

• LAKE PADDLE BOARDING

Lake paddling boarding is easier than ocean paddleboarding because it’s predictable, with no tides or currents to take you off the path.

Lakes are typically calm in the morning and in the evening, with a slight breeze in the afternoon.

Sometimes these slight breeze in the afternoon becomes strong winds. To avoid that, just monitor the weather.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PADDLE BOARD FOR LAKES

LENGTH

• SHORT PADDLEBOARDS (~8’): These boards are good for kids on lakes. They are more maneuverable, but slower and don’t stay in a straight line when paddling.
• MEDIUM PADDLEBOARDS (10’ to 12’): Boards of this size are versatile, which makes them good for beginners paddlers. They do everything well, but not fast as a touring SUP or maneuverable as a surf SUP. If you are an adult on the smaller side, a board with a length between 10’6 and 11’ will be good for you.
• LONG PADDLEBOARDS (≥12’): These boards are excellent for racing and touring in lakes because they are fast and they track straighter, but hard to make quick turns.

WIDTH

Because lakes are usually calm, a board that is 30 to 34’ wide is considered good.

• NARROWER BOARDS (<32″): They are good for small and experienced paddlers that want something faster and maneuverable on lakes.
• WIDER BOARDS (32″ to 36″): They are good for big paddlers and beginners because they help them feel more secure and stable. Wider boards mean more storage space, making them good for long tours.
• EXTREME WIDE BOARDS (>36″): This will force your paddle to be away from the centreline of the board, and instead of moving forward with each stroke, it will make the board turn a little.

THICKNESS

More thickness equals more rigidity and weight capacity, and less flex.

Because lakes are usually calm, a board that is 5″ to 6″ thick will be good.

INFLATABLE OR HARD SUP

INFLATABLE BOARDS

Because lakes have tree stumps and logs around the shore, inflatables are the best because it can withstand any hard knocks and has many advantages over hard SUP boards.

PROS:

• Fit is small cars, making transport easier.
• Greater stability and weight capacity than similar shaped hard SUP boards
• Less expensive than similar-shaped hard paddleboards.
• Fit in tight space in small apartments, making storage easier.
• Can be accepted as luggage.
• Weigh less than similarly shaped hard SUPs.
• Impact-resistant materials make them durable and very difficult to puncture.

CONS:

• Inflation takes time and effort (electric pumps make this less of a problem).
• Inflatables float on water instead of cutting through it makes them glide less.
• Needs to be fully dry after use to prevent mold when it’s stored.
• Compared to expensive hard SUPs, they have less glide and less overall performance.
• If it flexes, it will need more effort.

HARD BOARDS

I recommend hard SUP boards for lakes only if you are a performance-focused paddler.

PROS:

• The true displacement hulls make them cut through the water instead of floating.
• Perform better in light chop.
• Help you paddle longer with better tracking and speed.
• Less setup time and does not require you to bring a pump with you.
• Carbon or bamboo hard boards are lightweight and durable.

CONS:

• Carbon or bamboo hard boards are very expensive.
• Durable and cheap plastic hard SUPs are incredibly heavy.
• Fiberglass hard paddleboards ding and scratch easily.

DISPLACEMENT VS PLANING HULL FOR LAKES PADDLEBOARD

The hull shape depends on where you will paddle.

DISPLACEMENT HULL

Paddleboards with displacement hulls have a “V” shaped front end with a more pointy nose that slices through the water, displacing it around the nose to the sides.

This shape helps the SUP tracks straighter, glide smoothly, and be faster but less maneuverable than planing hulls and less stable, which is not beginner-friendly.

I recommend you paddleboards with displacement hulls if you want to paddle longer distances at faster speeds in a lake.

PLANING HULL

SUP boards with a planing hull have a front that is wide and flat, with a smooth bottom.

This shape makes the board skims on top of the water, easily maneuverable and balanced to handle small waves, which helps beginners to feel less tippy.

They are good for surfing, recreational paddling, and whitewater but not for touring or racing because they don’t track straight.

FINS

Fins are one of the factors that make a paddleboard stable and stays in a straight line. Larger fins are better in what I already said, but smaller ones have more maneuvrability.

SUP boards come in multiple fin setups:

• Single fin: Boards with a single fin are good for lakes because they make the board stay straighter and have minimal drag.
• 2+1 setup: This setup is usually found on surf SUPs, it has small two side fins and a larger one in the center.
• 3-fin setup: Boards that have this setup offer a nice control that makes them good for surfing.

OTHER LAKE SUP FEATURES

• PADDLE

Even tough paddleboards usually come with a paddle, most of the time it’s not the best one on the market. This is why when you for some experience and you want to upgrade, the paddle is amongst the firsts.

The best paddle is one that is lighter like a carbon composite in order to paddle further before tiring your body, comfortable in your hand because you will be touching most of the time, and around 4 to 7 inches taller than you. Adjustable ones are better.

For the paddle blade, tapered ones are better for flat water like in lakes, and the shorter and wider ones are good for chop because your strokes should be quick and short.

What I recommend you are Werner Trance 95 Performance if you want something lightweight, and offer high performance, but pricey or Werner Vibe LeverLock  if you want something affordable, cuts cleanly through water, and durable but heavy.

• BUNGEE STRAPS

The straps that stretch often are on the front of the board are necessary because its what you will use to secure your gear like cloth, dry bags, or a cooler.

• ATTACHMENT POINTS

Attachment points or mounts are what let you mount a camera, fishing rods, or a seat. More mounts mean more things to do with your board.

• LEASH

The leash is what keeps your SUP close to you in case you fall from it. Like that, you will not only avoid losing your board but you will also avoid losing your life because your floating SUP can help to stay afloat.

LAKE PADDLEBOARD ADD-ONS

• ELECTRIC PUMP

Electric pumps are the first upgrade you should think of if you have an inflatable SUP. Its cuts the inflation time and require no effort from you.

When most electric pumps need to rest after inflating two SUPs, OutdoorMaster Shark II SUP Electric Air Pump can inflate three SUPs in a row.

• PFD (PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE)

In countries like the U.S or Canada, paddling outside the swimming areas requires you to wear a PFD or you will be fined by the coast guards.

Inflatable PFDs that can be worn around your waist are a good choice for SUP paddlers. They are less bulky than vest-style PFDs.

• LIFE JACKET

The same thing with the life jacket, it’s required by law in the U.S and Canada, and its important even if you plan to go for a quick paddle.

• CLOTHING

If the weather is not very cold, wear something that moves with you and dries quickly.

If it’s very cold, get yourself a dry suit or a wetsuit to avoid hypothermia.

REI has some good clothing options for paddling.

• CAR SUP RACK

Unless you have an inflatable SUP, you need a car rack in order to transport your SUP boards from and to your home.

WHAT TO WEAR PADDLEBOARDING IN LAKES

• SUN PROTECTION

When you are paddling on lakes, the UV rays reflect from the water back to you making it more intense. This is why applying sunscreen like Thinksport is a good thing to do.

• WATER SHOES AND SANDALS

If the water type where you will paddle have things like sharp rocks or just if you want to have an extra grip, paddleboard shoes are what you want.

I recommend you Quiksilver 1.0 Prologue Round Toe Reef Surf Boots if you want something affordable or NRS Freestyle Water Shoes if you want something durable.

• QUICK DRY PACK TOWELS

These are good if you want something that packs down small and dries quickly after use, which means less heavy or stinky.

I recommend PackTowl Personal Towel because it balances weight, size, absorbency, and folds into its own pouch.

FAQ

WHAT IS THE BEST STANDUP PADDLEBOARD FOR LAKES?

For all-around use around lakes, my best standup paddleboard for lakes is iRocker Cruiser because it’s super tough, lightweight tracks well, and is stable making it the best for beginners. One thing that may bother you with the iRocker Cruiser is that it’s not the fastest SUP.

For touring around the lake, I recommend you the Bluefin Sprint Carbon 14’ due to its durability, unbeatable performance, and kick pad that makes it maneuverable. But it’s not that stable, making it best only for experienced paddlers.

IS IT LEGAL TO PADDLE BOARD ON LAKES?

I can’t answer this question because I don’t know the laws of every lake, but what I can say to you is that if swimming is forbidden then it’s clear that also paddleboarding will be illegal.

It’s best to ask the locals or guards if they are available if you are unsure.

WHAT LAKES IN UTAH ARE BEST FOR PADDLE BOARD?

• Utah Lake: offers great mountain views.
• Mirror Lake: Sits at 10,400 feet in the Uinta Mountains
• Silver Lake Flat Reservoir: This is a secluded beautiful and peaceful place to paddleboard in Utah.
• The Great Salt Lake: The additional buoyancy makes it best for beginner paddlers.
• Lake Powell: This lake on the border of Arizona and Utah has a beautiful shoreline and endless slot canyons.

WHAT LAKES IN NORTH AMERICA ARE BEST FOR PADDLE BOARD?

• Lake Mead (Nevada): This is a man-made lake that was formed after the construction of the Hoover Dam.

• Lake Tahoe (California): What makes paddleboarding a good thing to do in Lake Tahoe is the water that is extremely clear and the locals that work hard to keep it unpolluted. It’s also good for people looking for quiet paddle boarding sessions.

• Lost Lake (Colorado):

• Jenny Lake (Wyoming)

Updated on December 6, 2021 by Ben