Best Touring Paddle Board (My Nº1 Touring SUP)

BEST TOURING PADDLE BOARD COMPARISON

BEST TOURING PADDLE BOARD REVIEWS

BLACKFIN MODEL V 12’6

BEST: Touring SUP Under $1200

PROS: – Surprisingly fast and stable – Tracks very well – Glides really well – Very easy to carry – Incredible stiffness with the carbon rails – Not too hard to inflate – Can pull it up on rocks or bump into things without worrying – Plenty of room for touring long distance -Falling on is not harmful – Some can pump up the V in about 6 or 7 minutes – Very helpful customer service

CONS: – Carry bag keep hitting your legs because it sits too low on your back – Quite heavy to carry – Manufacturing defects still happen from time to time with this brand, so check your package as soon as you receive it

THURSO SURF EXPEDITION TOURING 11’6

BEST: Durable Touring SUP

PROS: – Stable on the water – Lightweight – Faster board – Rock-solid when inflated – 3 stage pump works well and has the deflate feature – Available customer service

CONS: – – More than one user has difficulties putting in the fin – Strap that goes around the board is a thin material, and it’s barely long enough – Doesn’t roll up as easily as the Thurso Surf All-Around – Still on the heavier side if you have to carry it far

SEA EAGLE NEEDLENOSE 12’6

BEST: Affordable Touring SUP

PROS: – Slice through the water smoothly with its rigid bow – Fast and stable – Carry sack is plenty big for storage – Easy to handle – Very sturdy – Can be used by a woman without any assistance – Reliable warranty

CONS: – Not as stable as the wooden SUPS (which I expected) – Take a fair bit of energy to blow it up by hand – One buyer have cracks and leaks in the rigid bow outside the warranty – Slightly bulky when deflated due to nose

BOTE TRAVELLER AERO 14

BEST: Fast Touring SUP

PROS: – Speedy and stable – Very calm in windy choppy water – Great in on both flat and small surf – Easy to handle – Little harder to control in 2 to 4-foot waves – Bungees cords in front and back to carry gear – Awesome hands-free option – Phenomenal board quality – Exceptional customer service

CONS: – Heavyweight makes lifting or carrying harder – Paint on the board is fragile and has chipped a bit if you are hard on it

NIXY MANHATTAN G4 12’6”

BEST: Touring Board SUP for Small Waves

PROS: – Fast – Stable, if you know how to paddle correctly – Tracks better – Lightweight – Super easy and fast to set up – Pretty well in ocean mild chop – Top-quality board – Impressed with not just the board, but the carrying bag and pump as well

CONS: – Unstable for beginners that don’t know how to paddle or if you are above 150 lbs

GILI ADVENTURE 12’

BEST: Ocean Touring SUP

PROS: – High quality – Lightweight, making it easy to carry – Easy to use – Tracks straight – Stable – Maneuver on land and in water, even for a small lady – Stable enough to paddle with kids – Super convenient backpack – Easy and quick to install fins – Good at doing other things beyond touring like fishing – Donates a percentage of profit to protect the ocean

CONS: – The deck pad traction could be improved

RED PADDLE CO SPORT 11’3

BEST: Inflatable Touring SUP

PROS: – Feels more stable than Bote Aero Breeze with its lower center of gravity – Tracks really well – Fast – Lightweight – Very comfortable – Very stable

CONS: – Big and heavy pump – Pressure gauge only registers on the downstroke – Pricey – No included paddle

IROCKER SPORT 11′

BEST: Budget Touring Paddle Board

PROS: – Glides super fast – Move efficiently in the water – Tracks well – Sturdy – Stable after you leave the beginner phase – Super easy to maneuver – Lighter weight – Easy to carry – Quick to inflate with the double chamber pump – Stylish – versatile – Awesome customer service

CONS: – The iRocker chevron part on the deck pad is uncovered

BOTE RACKHAM 12’

BEST: Fishing SUP for Touring

PROS: – Super stable – Very steady on the water – Cuts through the water – Durable board – Handles chop very well – Lots of deck space – Great also for SUP fishing – Top-notch customer service

CONS: – Heavy

HONU SORRENTO 12’6

BEST: Lightweight Touring SUP

PROS: – Board’s lightweight, making it so easy to carry – Easy to manoeuver – The finish feels high-end – Beautiful board – Very rigid – Pretty stable – Glides smoothly – Tracks very well – Enough room and capacity for a 140 lbs adult plus a 75 lbs dog – The flatter nose helps with speed – Excellent after-sales service is – Fast and efficient – Inflates to a state as good as a hard board – Good for covering longer distances on flat water

CONS: – One user complained that the center handle is a little sharp on the edges when carrying – A non very strong owner said that she can not pump it up with the included pump and she will buy the electric pump

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TOURING SUP

Because your best touring  SUP differs from the best one for others, it’s better to define your personal needs and look for what suits them:

1. What is your method of transport? This question will help decide the board weight and if you should get an inflatable one or not.
2. Are you going to do overnight touring? If yes, you will need a board with lots of storing features.
3. What type of water do you plan to paddle? This question helps determine many things like the board shape, dimensions, etc.

This is not all, you can think of more questions and factors to make things simpler for you, in order to get the best touring SUP for you.

TOURING PADDLE BOARD VS ALL AROUND

There is a big difference between touring and an all-around paddle board, this is what I will explain now.

TOURING PADDLE BOARDS

Touring boards are narrower and longer, this shape helps them be faster and cover more distance for the same effort.

The leaner pointier nose of touring paddleboards lets them glide through the water efficiently and smoothly, with less drag and more momentum.

Compared to an all-around, touring boards are faster and track well, without sacrificing stability and they have more carrying capacity.

The good tracking that touring boards have means more paddle strokes per side because there are fewer course corrections to do.

Touring paddleboards come in leaner or wider models, the leaner ones designed for speed, while the wider model offers more stability but is slower.

Touring SUPs are good for:

• SUP camping and multi-day expeditions
• Paddlers who want to take long day trips
• Paddlers who want something faster than all-around boards, but still stable than racing SUP

ALL-AROUND PADDLE BOARDS

All-around paddle boards have rounded noses like long surfboards, widest, and round-shaped tails. This shape makes them the most stable and also relatively maneuvrable.

What makes all-around paddleboards a good option for beginner paddleboarders is that they can be used for recreational paddling and also for paddleboard surfing, paddleboard fishing, paddleboard yoga, and paddleboard touring since they are not specialized yet.

All-around paddleboards are a jack of all trades and master of none.

All-around SUPs are good for :

• Beginners looking for a stable and easy to use SUP to start practicing
• Paddleboard in multiple water types (lake, river, and ocean use, etc)
• Paddlers who often take a kid or dog with them
• Paddlers who look for the stablest board
• Paddlers looking for a board that can be used in more than one SUP activity

Since touring paddleboards are specialized and all-around paddleboards are versatile, I recommend beginners to start with all-around boards and if they see that they need to paddle to faraway places and more speed, they can upgrade to a touring paddleboard.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TOURING SUP

LENGTH

Because touring requires speed and tracking more than maneuverability, touring paddle boards tend to be longer in order to stay straight in the water.

The best length of a touring SUP range between 11′ and 14′.

WIDTH

More board width means paddling will be forced to be away from the centreline of the board, making the board turn a little bit after each stroke instead of moving forward. This is why touring paddleboards are narrower.

The sweet spot for touring SUP board width is between 30″ and 32″.

THICKNESS

Touring boards are more likely to be thinner in order to be faster.

With inflatable paddleboards, more thickness means less flex.

DISPLACEMENT VS PLANING FOR TOURING PADDLE BOARD

When we say displacement vs planing for touring paddle board we talk about the shape of the bottom of the board, displacement hulls means a pointed nose shape and planing hulls are wider and more arched.

Displacement hulls design help them cut through the water and planing hulls design help the board to ride and float the waves.

Most touring paddleboards have displacement hulls in order to stay in a straight line, glide smoothly, and maintaining speed in the water.

INFLATABLE TOURING SUP VS HARD SUP

INFLATABLE PADDLEBOARDS

For casual paddlers that want something easy to store and transport, I recommend inflatable touring paddleboards.

PROS

• Very lightweight and have more carrying options.
• Durable due to its resistance to drops and scratches.
• Easy to transport because it does not require roof racks, and fits in small cars.
• Less expensive, compared to similar-shaped hard paddleboards.
• More stable due to the large weight capacity compared to similar shaped hard paddleboards.
• Easy storage, even for people living in small apartments.

CONS

• Require some inflation and deflation time before and after use (electronic pump makes this less of a problem).
• Less glide and overall performance.
• Needs to be fully dry before storage to prevent mold

HARD PADDLEBOARDS

For performance-focused paddlers, I recommend touring hard paddleboards.

PROS

• More rigid than inflatables.
• Better tracking, speed, and glide with its true displacement hulls that cut through the water instead of inflatables that only floats.
• Handles wind and chop better than inflatables.
• Don’t require carrying a pump with you all the time
• Easy to repair by specialists
• Does not require any setup before use

CONS

• The lightweight and durable hard SUPs (carbon or bamboo) are expensive.
• Require more storage space.
• Transport in your vehicle is not easy.

WEIGHT

The SUP weight is something that you should look at because it’s what you will be carrying yourself from shore to the water. Most SUP boards I recommend are around 25 lbs, so it’s not something to worry about.

WEIGHT CAPACITY

Paddleboard weight capacity is given based on buoyancy and is expressed in pounds.

It means the total weight that the SUP board can handle without affecting much of its performance.

If the total weight of what you will put on your SUP is close to its weight capacity, I recommend you get a bigger SUP in order to get better performance.

HOW MUCH FRONT ROCKER SHOULD A TOURING SUP HAVE?

The answer to the question of how much front rocker should a touring SUP have depends on the water and weather conditions you are likely to paddle in.

A larger front rocker, which means an elevated board nose, is best for paddling in wind, chop, and waves.

If you are paddling on flat and calm water, a small front rocker, which means flatter nose, will be good because it makes your board tracks well and moves faster.

OTHER TOURING SUP FEATURES

• PADDLE

Most touring SUPS packages include a paddle, and the majority of these included paddles are not the best ones on the market, but they are still good if you are still a beginner paddler.

When you get experienced and you want to upgrade your paddle, you have to choose one that is comfortable in your hand and around 4 to 7 inches taller than you. If it will be better if it’s adjustable to change length depending on the conditions.

Another thing that you should consider is the paddle weight, lighter ones let you paddle far before tiring yourself. Unfortunately, they are not that durable like heavier paddles that are cheaper.

The three-piece folding ability makes paddles easy to store and transport.

• STORAGE SPACE

Getting a paddleboard with multiple storage features is key, especially for touring.

Bungee cords and D-rings are also useful to strap your gear.

• TRACKING FIN

Tracking fins on the bottom of your board are what helps your touring SUP to keep straight when you are paddling.

There are multiple fins setups, single fin, 2+1 setup, and 3-fin setup. In general, more fins mean more tracking and more stability.

Most touring SUPs I know have the 2+1 setup, where you have two flexible rubber little fins on the side and a big semi-rigid removable one in the center.

• DECK PAD

The deck pad is the board top layer that is under your feet when you are paddling.

It should be grippy even when wet and comfortable on your feet because you will stand on it for long periods

OTHER ADD-ONS

• ELECTRIC PUMP

Inflating your inflatable SUP can be exhausting and takes time, which is not desirable minutes before start paddling. This is why an electric pump is the first thing to think of when you want to upgrade your SUP.

• PADDLE HOLDERS

Another great way to upgrade your SUP in order to get a better experience is to get you paddle holders if your board does not come with one. This feature allows you to secure your paddle to your board when you want to free your hands in order to take a selfie for example.

• DRY BAGS

Dry bags or waterproof duffels are not the cheapest options to waterproof your clothes and electronics but they are worth their prices.

SealLine Black Canyon dry pack that is available in 65L to 115L is what I recommend you to get.

• SUP COOLER

Paddleboard coolers are available to keep your food and drink cold. They get attached to your board using D-rings.

• PFD / LIFE JACKET

Even though I put them last thing on this list, that does not mean they are less important.

PFD or a personal flotation device is a must even if you going for a quick paddle. In the U.S, you are required to wear a PFD if you paddle beyond the swimming area limit.

The same thing with the life jacket, you are required by laws to have a USCG-approved life vest.

If the life jacket is not required by law in your area, at least strap one down when you are on the water, because it’s what makes you stay above water and visible if help is around.

WHAT IS THE BEST TOURING SUP BRAND

For me, there is no ”best touring SUP brand”, because we can found the best product and another worst one under the same brand. I believe in the product instead of the brand.

This is a list of some SUP brands that have been around long enough:

• BIC (1945): The same pen and lighter manufacturer BIC also makes water sports products like paddleboards
• NRS (1972): In 2014, this brand became 100% employee-owned
• ISLE (2004): This surf and paddleboards brand specializes in quality products
• BOTE (2009): These company founders have both always been surrounded by water
• Tower (2010): Backed by the investor Mark Cuban and one of the biggest success stories in Shark Tank history
• iRocker (2016): Known for high-quality and affordable products
• Thurso Surf (2016): Specialized in inflatable paddle boards and bodyboards

SUP TOURING TIPS AND ADVICE

• Train to not turn your board when you paddle.
• Master at least one quick turning technique, the step-back or the sweep stroke technique.
• Search online for navigable rivers and know what to expect.
• Leave your float plan to someone you can rely on and give him your expected return date.
• Use sunscreen, have a PFD, a life jacket, and a whistle.
• Have a first aid kit and know how to use it.
• Have a solar charger power bank if you will rely on electronic devices
• Attach yourself to your board with the leash in order to found something to help you stay afloat if you fall from it.
• For a long trip, having someone with you can save your life.
• Pack light even if your board can handle more weight.
• Be nice and ask locals for advice, like spots to visit or to avoid, what to look out for, etc.

FAQ

WHAT IS A TOURING PADDLE BOARD?

Touring paddleboards are steady enough paddleboards that let you move through the water in order to get back to nature and explore your surroundings in a different way.

WHAT IS SUP CAMPING?

What makes SUP camping an interesting alternative to hiking is that allows you to explore some breathtaking places that are not accessible for hikers.

WHAT PADDLE BOARD FOR TOURING AND YOGA?

If you want to have one paddle board for touring and yoga, you should look at something wide enough to be stable for yoga moves but not enough to start turning with each paddle stroke, the sweet spot is 33″ or 34″ of board width.

IS A RACE SUP GOOD FOR TOURING?

Yes, if he can store all of what you need for your trip and is stable enough for your level of experience, you can use a race SUP for touring.

Updated on January 18, 2022 by Ben