The 9 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

SereneLife Stand-up Paddle Board

$396 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

SereneLife’s stand-up paddle board comes with everything you need to start paddle boarding on a lake, river, or ocean, whether you’re new to the water sport or a seasoned paddler. The board is 10.5 feet long, and it includes an ankle leash, an adjustable aluminum paddle, one plastic fin, a manual air pump, a repair kit, and a nylon carrying bag. While it took about 10 minutes to inflate the paddle board, once it was ready to go, we were thoroughly impressed with how lightweight and easy it was to carry nearly a half mile down a dirt trail to get to the river. It weighs a mere 13.9 pounds, making it the lightest board we tested, and it proved to have superior portability. Despite its lightweight build, the PVC material has noticeably sturdy drop-stitch seams, and it’s clear how durable the board is after we used it during a four-day river camping trip. The PVC material sustained a few scuffs after over a dozen trips to the river and lake, but overall, it had no issues being left in the dirt, contending with gravel, or going over rocks in a river.

Beginner and advanced paddlers alike tried the board and were shocked by how stable it felt. Even with an angsty dog running around the board and falling in the water several times, we never lost our footing or felt unstable. While we truly love this paddle board, the only inconvenience we found is that the carrying bag is slightly smaller than we liked, so it’s a tight fit to get everything in. It’s not super difficult, but we recommend rolling up the deflated board as tightly as you can for an optimal fit.

The Details: Fiberglass, elasticized fabric | 126 x 32 x 6 inches | 13.9 pounds | 275-pound capacity

Best Overall, Runner-up

ROC Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard Pack

$215 at Amazon $225 at Walmart View on Rocpaddleboards.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Quality
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

No matter your experience level, the ROC Inflatable Stand-up Paddle Board is one of your best options thanks to all of the included accessories for the price. The paddle board has several stand-out features like the inclusion of a dry bag for keeping your phone or keys safe on the water, and there are bungee straps on either end of the board to secure life jackets and towels. If you’re more comfortable sitting instead of standing, the adjustable paddle can be converted into a kayak paddle to make it easier to maneuver the board — an ideal feature for beginners that are still getting the hang of standing up. With a 32-inch width and 6-inch loft, the paddle board offers an abundance of stability, and we liked that it was easy to catch speed while gliding through the water.

Similar to our top pick, the only downside is that it was slightly difficult to fit the deflated paddle board and accessories into the carrying bag. It took a little jostling to get everything in and not bulge out of the bag, but once we secured everything, the case was comfortable to carry and the contents felt lightweight enough to transport without any complaints. The PVC material feels durable and well-made, leading us to believe that this board won’t damage easily with prolonged use.

The Details: PVC | 126 x 32 x 6 inches | 18 pounds | 350-pound capacity

Best Budget

FunWater Stand-up Paddle Board

$240 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Quality
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Budget-friendly shoppers won’t have to sacrifice price for quality with the durable and sturdy FunWater Stand-up Paddle Board. Like other paddle boards we tested, this one is also made with multi-layered PVC and has a leak-proof air valve that can support 12 to 15 PSI to make the board stable while riding on it. It took around three minutes to inflate the board with the manual pump included, and although it was slightly difficult to read the pressure gauge, we felt like we were still able to get the board inflated enough to be sufficiently sturdy. There was a slight learning curve with placing the fin on the bottom, but after we did it once, it was much easier moving forward. The board provides plenty of stability and it maneuvers decently, and we particularly loved how easy it was to carry either inflated or in the carrying bag. For less than the market average, we think this is a solid pick for beginner or intermediate paddle boarders.

The Details: PVC | 126 x 33 x 6 inches | 19 pounds | 330-pound capacity

Best Stability

Atoll Stand Up Paddle Board

$428 at Amazon

One of the longest paddle boards we tested, the Atoll 11-foot Inflatable Stand-up Paddle Board has ideal stability for paddling long distances or doing yoga on the board. We were thoroughly impressed. It also felt easy to get back on the board even if you're in the middle of the water. We used this paddle board in still water, and when the weather conditions were windy, the board remained stable. While longer paddle boards can sometimes be difficult to maneuver, that wasn’t the case with this one. We had no issues controlling the direction of the board or turning with the paddle. We liked how the Atoll board was fairly easy to transport around, but we wish there were handles on either end so two people could easily carry it if needed. Still, the carrying bag was comfortable to use thanks to its padded shoulder straps, and the board as well as the accessories can fit into it without any issues.

The Details: PVC | 132 x 32 x 6 inches | 21 pounds | 315-pound capacity

Best Splurge

Hala Gear Straight-Up Inflatable SUP Kit

View on Halagear.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Value
  3.5/5

Made out of durable PVC material with glued and welded seams, the Hala Gear Straight-up Inflatable stand-up paddle board convinced us it will last for a longtime, even with consistent use. The high-quality materials and standard 10-foot length made this paddle board truly a gem to paddle on both still water and in swift river waters. The board thoroughly impressed us by gracefully gliding through the different water conditions and turning effortlessly with the adjustable carbon paddle included. And when you’re done paddling, the rolling backpack is spacious enough to fit the deflated paddle board and is comfortable to wear as a backpack or roll on the two wheels. We especially liked that the manual pump has single and double inflation settings to speed up the assembly process. While this paddle board is pricier than other options, the premium features included make it well worth the cost for outdoor enthusiasts with a higher budget.

The Details: PVC | 120 x 33 x 6 inches | 23 pounds

Best Design

ISLE Stand-up Paddle Board

View on Islesurfandsup.com View on Bespokepost.com

We love the simple designs on the Isle Pioneer 2.0 paddle boards boasting earth-toned colors or a subtle palm tree leaves pattern. Besides having superior style, the paddle board impressed us by being incredibly easy to set up and deflate. It’s easy to unpack, inflate, and get on the water, and we love the oversized bag where you can easily fit the board, pump, and accessories with no problem. Once you’re out on the water, the board has exceptional maneuverability and plenty of stability, especially in choppy waters, thanks to its sturdy 6-inch loft and 34-inch width. The only downside is that the board itself weighs 24 pounds, which can feel noticeably heavy when it’s being carried. However, we appreciate that the board comes with a durable carrying bag that makes it incredibly easy to pack everything up after you’re done paddling. Whether you’re looking for a board for beginners or consider yourself an advanced paddler, the Isle Pioneer 2.0 is ideal for all types of use — and it doesn’t hurt that it’ll look nice in photos, too.

The Details: PVC | 126 x 34 x 6 inches | 24 pounds | 285-pound capacity

Best for Beginners

Gili Air Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

$400 at Amazon View on Gilisports.com

This board is perfect for anyone looking to jump into the world of paddle boarding. It's made with durable, high-quality PVC and is easy to maneuver. It only takes about four minutes to set up using the hand pump, but you may need a helping hand to attach all of the fins. We like the wide base of this board, which feels solid (almost like a regular paddle board), making it feel very stable while gliding over the water. While it may be pretty heavy when folded up inside the bag, the carrying case is high-quality with heavy duty straps and plenty of zippered pockets to store fins and other gear. We really appreciate that the main compartment zippers almost all the way around, so it's super easy to get the board back inside at the end of a long day. We also really like the look and feel of this board — it feels more high end for this price-point and comes in four different colors.

The Details: PVC | 126 x 32 x 6 inches | 19 pounds | 280-pound capacity

Best Hybrid

Isle Pioneer Pro Kayak Hybrid

View on Islesurfandsup.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Performance
  4/5
• Portability
  3.5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Isle’s new Pioneer Pro paddle board comes with a kayak conversion kit so you get a two-in-one paddle board and kayak. The kit comes with one seat, a foot rest, and extra parts to turn the regular paddle into one designed for kayaking with double-sided paddles. It can be a bit overwhelming at first to set up the paddle board with all of the kayak accessories, so you’ll want to allot extra time for learning to hooking in the seat. We used both an electric and manual pump to inflate the board, and while the electric pump was, of course, the fastest option, it wasn’t too cumbersome to pump it up by hand. 

After testing the board as a kayak in a lake, river, and ocean, it definitely won’t replace the sturdiness and maneuverability of a regular kayak, but it’s a great option for leisurely paddling or activities like fishing or yoga. The board itself is quite large, but, thankfully, it comes with a sturdy bag with backpack straps and wheels, which makes it easy to pack the deflated board and accessories. Another thing to note is that the board can be difficult to roll up. We found the easiest method is to roll it with the bottom facing upwards. 

The Details: PVC | 126 x 34 x 6 inches | 23 pounds | 300-pound capacity

Best Portability

Bote Breeze Aero Inflatable Paddle Board

$420 at Amazon View on Boteboard.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Bote’s Breeze Aero paddle board was super easy to bring on a long road trip thanks to its compact carrying case that could fit in the trunk of a small car without any issues. When we carried it from the car down the river to be inflated, the padded backpack straps, hip belt, and adjustable chest strap were game-changing for comfort and support. It took under 15 minutes to inflate the paddle board by hand with the included manual pump, and then we were out on the water. The board comes with a paddle that is simple to adjust out on the water and a removable fin that adds lots of stability on the lake and ocean with larger waves. We do wish it came with an ankle strap or a few other accessories — especially with the new magnetic “magnepod” feature to attach accessories — instead of Bote selling everything separately. It’s on the heavier side at 20 pounds, but when it’s inflated or deflated, we didn’t find it too cumbersome to carry. Best of all, after summer is over, the compact carrying case and board are small enough to fit in a storage closet or under the bed for even easier storage for next season. 

The Details: PVC | 128 x 33 x 6 | 20 pounds | 250-pound capacity