Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2025

In this best inflatable paddle boards review, we recommend what we think are the best boards for the most variety of people with different sizes and interests. 

We also input some of mine and other fellow paddlers personal tastes to give you a clearer idea as to what board is right for you. In our lists we not only label what the SUP is best for but also give you a detailed scoring system that we use for each of the stand up inflatable paddle boards we test and review. 

We also wrote this guide on How to Choose an Inflatable Paddle Board here.

How We Picked The Best Inflatable Sups

All of these SUP boards have been put through countless hours of testing time in different water conditions. Living in British Columbia we have a lot of different types of water scapes which allows us to test many of these boards in all types of different conditions from wavey coastal waters to calm lakes. 

“While it has been me primarily testing these boards I’ve also had a bit of help from my friends who are a variety of different shapes and sizes. Their input has greatly helped me understand paddle board behavior across different genders, sizes, and skill sets. Hence how this list was created.

The problem with picking the top inflatable SUPs is that “Best” is a relative term. Instead, you should consider what is important to you and find an option from the list that best suits what you are specifically looking for in an ISUP board”

– Editors Notes

The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards Reviews

When looking at the below reviews list, pay more attention to the labels I’ve given them as opposed to the Star Rating/ Numbers. This will help you better categorize what SUP fits your needs. It should be noted we pushed the Atoll 11 SUP up in the list to give people an affordable well-made/ priced board as an option. 

We also realize not everyone has $1300 + to spend on an inflatable paddle board. So we have included a few high quality budget conscious picks that we felt impressed us in our tests.

We also wrote about the Best All Around Paddle Boards based on our Star ratings systems here. This Article is more of a Comparison of different types of SUPs for a more broad range of paddler.

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1. Sea Gods Carta Marina CX (Best Glide)

Features:

• Dimensions: 12’ X 32” X 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 350 Lbs
• Material: Cross Weave Drop Stitch (crisscrossed layers of drop stitch that are fused from upper and lower layers) Heat Pressed Rails

Total Score: 8.9/ 10

• On-Water Performance – 8.9
  • Stability 9
  • Tracking  8
  • Speed 9.5
  • Maneuverability 9
• SUP Construction – 9.5
• Board Features  – 8.8
  • Deck Pad 9.5
  • D Rings 9
  • Deck Bungees 9
  • Action Mounts: 8
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 8.6
  • Backpack 9
  • Paddle 9.5
  • Pump 8
  • Fins 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8.5

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

The Carta Marina CX made the Best SUP’s list because it gives both beginner and intermediate paddlers accessibility to try their hand at a stable high-performing touring SUP. 

The Carta Marina will also get some looks as its deckpad is easily the best designed on the list and is extra grippy to make sure those toes dont slip. 

I’ve managed to paddle this board in both lake and ocean conditions and I was very impressed with the glide that mixes so well with the stability of the board. For paddlers who want to do some long-distance or fitness paddling don’t sleep on this pick!

On-Water Performance

The Carta Marina CX may have just been the most balanced touring SUP that we have ever tested and thats why we have it on the list. It blends stability, maneuverability, speed, and tracking all together beautifully. 

When it comes to stability and maneuverability the board feels more like an all-around board. It’s not a monumental task for a beginner to try this out as a first board. 

On the touring side of things, this board is a speed demon on the water and glides effortlessly thanks to the uplifted nose which parts the water beautifully as you take those heavier strokes. What’s more is the fact that the pointed nose can cut right through those pesky boat waves which grounds your board better into the wave rather than riding over it like many all around boards. 

The tracking is also around the touring SUP average thanks to its click-in green touring center fin. 

Board Features And Design

You can’t talk design until you see both the front and the back of the board!  The painting is done by Jenny Kirby which illustrates a giant kraken attacking a passing ship. 

Besides the eye popping designs the board also comes with some cool onboard accessories. It’s little things like the 4 rows of bungee deck webbing that are close together in the front that helps keep smaller items like water bottles, coolers and dry bags better supported. 

Action mounts as well as handles on the front and rear which makes the board easier to carry and give the little ones something to hold onto. 

The Accessories that come with the board are also well thought out. Items such as the carbon hybrid paddle with a tear drop blade made for powerful strokes. 

The bag is also a good touch as it is one of the more heavy duty ones on this list. The bag is made of a canvas material and offers wheels, multiple grab handles and a rear pocket in the back. It’s also comfortable to wear and had waist and chest traps to keep it secure to your body. 

You can Read more in the Sea Gods Carta Marina CX Review I did here.

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2. Atoll 11’ (Beginner Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 11’ x 32″ x 6″
• Weight: 21 lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 400 lbs
• Materials: Dual Layer Drop Stitch Technology

• On-Water Performance: 8.5
  • Stability: 9
  • Tracking: 8
  • Speed: 8
  • Maneuverability: 8
• SUP Construction: 9
• Board Features: 8
  • Deck Pad: 8.5
  • D Rings: 9
  • Deck Bungees: 7.5
  • Handles: 7
• Accessories: 7.5
  • Backpack: 7
  • Paddle: 7
  • Pump: 7
  • Fins: 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down: 8

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards List?

You may notice that this SUP has a lower score compared to some of the others on this list. So why is it ranked #2? In this list, I wanted at least one of the top 3 recommendations to be a true beginner-friendly and rugged board. Atoll checks off these boxes admirably. 

The main reason for the slightly lower score is the averages of the accessories that are provided. But in reality, these accessories are just what you need when it comes to portability for longer hikes. In terms of on-water performance aspects, this board really is a fantastic pick. 

On-Water Performance

One of the biggest things that stands out to me about this board is its stability. To really test this I decided to take this board out in the middle of March on Salt Spring Island. The water was chilly and the stakes were high but this board truly did an admiral job of giving me assurance that I wasn’t going to fall in.  Even when first standing my initial reaction was one of shock at how there was absolutely no wobble from the transition of me on my knees to standing. 

The Atoll 11 also blended maneuverability, tracking, and speed surprisingly well. Its 32” wide frame coupled with its 11’ length really gives it a good framework to allow the board to track without being a complete hassle to maneuver. 

The board’s tracking really surprised me as its fin set-up is a 9” center fin followed by two side bite fins. In my previous experience boards with these small side fins are usually pretty squirrely in the water. The Atolls tracking lay somewhere in between the All Around 11 Ultra and the Nixy Newport with the Newport having slightly better tracking thanks to Nixy’s 5” side fins. 

Board Features and Design 

In terms of board add-ons like Action Mounts the board does have a bit to be desired. However, it does feature 8 free D rings for coolers, kayak seats, and custom strapping you may want to do for those bigger bulkier items on overnight trips. In Atoll’s case, there’s beauty in simplicity and I don’t think they are ever going to change that aspect of the board. 

The accessories that come with the board are a bit underwhelming compared to the top paddle boards on the list. It comes with a single pump, a carbon hybrid paddle with a Nylon blade, and a lightweight bag with side pockets. If you are looking to do some hiking or backcountry paddling this could be a good thing though. 

The deck pad covers over 2/3s of the board and has a diamond-grooved texture which really helps grip your feet when you are wandering the board. My friend has done quite a bit of yoga on his and was really surprised at how much stability this board could provide compared to some other boards he’s owned in the past. 

You can Read more in the Atoll 11 Review I did here.

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3. Sea Gods Skylla CX (Drew Brophy Edition) – (Design Pick) 

Features:

• Dimensions: 11’3” X 33” X 6”
• Weight: 19.5 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 350 Lbs
• Material: Cross Weave Drop Stitch (crisscrossed layers of drop stitch that are fused from upper and lower layers) Heat Pressed Rails

Total Score: 8.9/ 10

• On-Water Performance – 8.5
  • Stability 8.5
  • Tracking 7.5 
  • Speed 8.5
  • Maneuverability 9.5
• SUP Construction – 9.5
• Board Features  – 8.8
  • Deck Pad 9.5
  • D Rings 9
  • Deck Bungees 9
  • Action Mounts: 8
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 8.6
  • Backpack 9
  • Paddle 9.5
  • Pump 8
  • Fins 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down 9

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

The Skylla CX is truly a looker with both the Drew Brophy and the Standard Skylla CX designs. You will be sure to get lots of looks and attention on the lake! This SUP isn’t just all about looks. It also checks off a lot of our categories and gives one of the highest scores on our list!

While the pointed nose may make you think this is a touring SUP in all actuality it has All Around SUP characteristics which makes it an easy board to learn on. Things such as standing, learning basic paddle strokes, and increasing your skill level with more complicated manuevers make this a great board that can last you a very long time. 

It also has some quality onboard features and accessories that come with the package, similar to the Carta Marina CX!

On-Water Performance

The Skylla CX offers a solid level of stability for almost any level of paddler to learn on thanks to its 33” width and wide tail which helps plant the board onto the water. From kneeling to standing the transition felt smooth and easy which is something more beginners will appreciate. 

Another thing that pleasantly surprised me with this board was its maneuverability. The board was extremely responsive and turned very easily, even when you just placed a paddle in the water. It also did some impressive maneuverability strokes doing 3.2 strokes for a full 360 reverse sweep stroke which is one of the better scores on our list. 

The tracking ability and the speed on this board was fair although, when we started to put harder strokes there would be some water pile up towards the nose which does increase drag. It was especially noticeable when compared to the Carta Marina CX board. 

Board Features and Design

The Skylla CX was the first board in their line-up to incorporate the cross weave drop stitching pattern onto their SUPs which helps make these boards more rigid. It does this by reinforcing the strands of drop stitching with multiple layers, making the strands stronger while requiring less material. This is part of why this SUP is so lightweight at 19.5 lbs. 

The package also comes with a bag that looks like it’s “nuke proof”. Ok, slight exaggeration here but, the bag is made of heavy-duty materials like canvas on the outside and provides big zippers that are made to be tough. It is one of the more well-thought-out SUP bags I’ve come across as it has 5 different grab handles in multiple areas making it easy to get out of the trunk. 

You can Read more in the Atoll 11 Review I did here.

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4. Blackfin Ultra CX (Maneuverability Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 31.5” X 6”
• Weight: 19.8 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 320 Lbs
• Material: Cross Threaded drop stitch with carbon rails

• On-Water Performance – 8.6
  • Stability 8
  • Tracking 8.5
  • Speed 9
  • Maneuverability 9
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features  – 8.6
  • Deck Pad 9
  • D Rings 8.5
  • Deck Bungees 8.5
  • Action Mounts: 7.5
  • Handles 9.5
• Accessories – 8.9
  • Backpack 9.5
  • Paddle 7.5
  • Pump 10
  • Fins 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 9

Why Did it Make the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards List?

Ranked #1 in our Best Portable Paddle Boards list, the Blackfin Ultra CX is a board that is honestly just a lot of fun to paddle. It is a highly portable SUP that takes up about ⅓ of my trunk space in my Hyundai sedan! Compare that to a normal SUP bag which usually takes up at least 3/4s of space means you can bring extra gear with you to make your SUP excursion even more epic. 

The accessory package is something that really stands out with this SUP. Not only do you get a roll-up bag that looks like a drybag on steroids (its not a dry bag), but you also get an electric pump! I was honestly waiting for an inflatable SUP manufacturer to include an electric pump in their package and low and behold the folks at iRocker did it.

Yes, yes I know as soon as you read a review upselling you an electric pump you roll your eyes. But in this case, this package comes with it! Making the experience of actually pumping up the board that much more pleasant. 

On-Water Performance

I personally liked the maneuverability, speed and tracking that this board offered, it blended very well! The board is super responsive meaning you can effectively turn with fewer strokes. In fact, in my testing (below) I was able to dip my paddle in the water and it just turned like that! Normally if a board is very maneuverable it means tracking and speed are compromised. However, I didn’t feel that on this board whatsoever.

Instead, I felt that the board tracked well once you put some umph in each paddle stroke. I also thought that the board was very quick, almost the exact same clip as the All Around 11 Ultra which is 6” longer!

Now one downside of this SUP is the stability. If you are a smaller individual you will probably have little problem navigating this board. But if you are over 6’0 and 180 lbs things can start to feel a little bit squirrely. The Blackfin Ultra CX lacks the original stability of its predecessors like the model X, model XL and even the model v.  However it is more than manageable if you just accept there may be a few times you fall into the drink! 

For beginner paddlers, it is a board you have to grow with and accept that there will be a learning curve to it. If stability is your primary focus there are other boards on this list that will be better for you like the Atoll 11 or All Around 11 Ultra. 

Board Features and Design

The Blackfin Ultra CX comes with some rather clever innovations when it comes to both the package and the accessory bundle. First, the Blackfin Ultra CX has dropped the weight that its Blackfin siblings have from the 27 – 30 lb range all the way to 19.8 pounds. Making it a much more accessible board for smaller paddlers who don’t want to carry a whale of a board to shore. This is done thanks to the newly developed cross-threaded drop stitch material that uses fewer materials due to a different weaving pattern. 

The Blackfin Ultra CX is a relatively easy board to set up and fold back down thanks to its design. First off the board folds in half lengthwise first and then folds normally, trying to even the tail out. The good news is that the fold with this board can be less than perfect but still fit into the bag.

Speaking of the bag, the paddle board comes with a roll-top bag that holds the board and has several compartments like a front pocket, side pockets, and loops for the folding paddle. I have mixed feelings about the paddle. On one hand, it is one of the nicer paddles from the Ultra lineup due to its finish (especially on the handle) but it also has some bend to it due to the 5 piece nature. This is fine for recreational paddling but as soon as you want more performance I’d recommend upgrading to a full carbon paddle. 

The bag also comes with a tidy pouch where you store the eclectic pump, dual 9” fins as well as the pump hose. There’s also room to fit another small item or two inside. 

You can Read more in the Blackfin Ultra CX Review I did here.

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5. Isle Pioneer Pro 10’6” (Best Constructed) 

Features:

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 34” X 6”
• Weight: 23 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs
• Material: Cross Infinity Fiber technology with welded seams and fusion layering known as Air Tech Plus

Total Score 8.7/10 

• On-Water Performance – 8.6
  • Stability 10
  • Tracking 7.5
  • Speed 7.5
  • Maneuverability 9.5
• SUP Construction – 9.8
• Board Features  – 8.6
  • Deck Pad 8.5
  • D Rings 9.5
  • Deck Bungees 9.5
  • Action Mounts 7
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 8.5
  • Backpack 8.5
  • Paddle 9.5
  • Pump 7.5
  • Fins 8.5
  • Kayak Conversion Kit – 9
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

Before even testing this board I was on a zoom call with the former product designer now part Owner Jimmy Blakely. He promised me that this was the most stable board on the market without any sort of hesitation.

Being a naturally skeptical person I thought all these fancy constructions sound nice but will the board deliver what Jimmy promised?

As soon as I stood on the board I knew exactly what he was talking about. It was rock solid, even when I jumped on it a few times. This is one of the most stable paddle boards I have paddled and I knew right away that this would be a recreational paddler’s dream board. The fact that it comes with the most customizable kayak kit and onboard features I’ve seen on an ISUP was just the cherry on top. 

On-Water Performance

The Pioneer Pro offered unparalleled stability for a board of its dimensions. The board felt super stable both when I was kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Infact I was even trying to really push the limits swaying back and forth on the board!

The actual performance metrics such as speed and tracking are generally average which is to be expected with a board of its shape. But the stability while putting in harder strokes or doing those intermediate to advanced maneuverability strokes is what sets this board apart. 

The Pioneer Pro also has fantastic maneuverability where the board was able to do 3 reverse sweep strokes (In my opinion one of the best for avoiding obstacles and turning quickly) as opposed to the All Around board average of 4.2 strokes a side

Board Features And Design

What I loved most about this board was how customizable it is thanks to the Isle Link system. This gives you thousands of possibilities as to how to mount not just your kayak seat but also the bungees that come with it. OR you can even do your own rigging system to strap things on the boards that are big and small. 

So what makes this board extremely rigid you may ask? It’s the Infinity fiber straps which add as an extra stiff layer on the top, bottom and sides of the board. Even when I jumped on the board there was very minimal bouncing compared to even the self-proclaimed “most stiff paddle boards” that many SUP manufacturers say. Isle actually delivered on that promise. 

Of course, we also have to talk about the accessories. The board comes with a comfortable finatable seat bottom, velcro seat back with straps as well as a very generously sized bag, that fits the board and all of the accessories. 

I thought that the kayak/ SUP paddle was the best out of the kayak hybrids I tested due to the blade adjustability and how lightweight it was thanks to its carbon hybrid material. 

You can Read more in the Isle Pioneer Pro 10’6″ Review I did here.

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6. iRocker All Around 11 Ultra (Portability Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 11’ X 32” X 6”
• Weight: 21.4 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 290 Lbs 
• Material: Cross Threaded drop stitch

Total Score 8.7/10

• On-Water Performance – 8.1
  • Stability: 8
  • Tracking: 8.5
  • Speed: 8.5
  • Maneuverability: 8
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features – 8.6
  • Deck Pad: 9
  • D Rings 8.5
  • Deck Bungees: 8
  • Action Mounts: 7.5
  • Handles: 9
• Accessories – 8.6
  • Backpack: 9.5
  • Paddle: 7.5
  • Pump: 10
  • Fins: 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Did it Make the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards List?

The iRocker All Around 11 Ultra, like the Blackfin Ulta CX is a compact board. Meaning the board folds in half lengthwise making it easier to travel around with. So what’s the difference between the All Around 11 Ultra and the Blackfin Ultra CX? Mainly I give the edge to the All Around 11 Ultra for stability due to the board’s longer length. 

The board is labeled “Tall Paddler Travel Pick” because a board like the Blackfin Ultra CX may be too unstable for some tall beginner paddlers. We also like the fact that the All Around 11 Ultra has an electric pump included as well as a smartly designed roll-up travel bag. 

On-Water Performance

The All Around 11 Ultra is decently stable in the water, although I have to say after doing a direct on-water comparison test with the original All Around 11 I did find that the original All Around 11 was more stable, and had a hair better tracking ability. The speed and maneuverability went to the All Around 11 Ultra. 

Overall this pick will still be steady enough for a beginner but you will just need to have a bit more patience with both you and the board as the learning curve may be a bit steep on the first few tries. 

I found the All Around 11 Ultra tackled chop and waves pretty well in ocean conditions. This is pretty good considering it’s these things that usually catch a lot of new paddle boarders out. 

Board Features and Design

So why did we go with the All Around 11 Ultra instead of the All Around 11 paddle board for this list? The answer is in the accessories as well as the design of the board. While I would give a slight edge for On-Water activities to the original, the All Around 11 Ultra has the better accessory package and a little bit of a better design. 

First off the materials put into this board are lighter and are able to take more folds. iRocker was able to achieve this by changing their drop stitch weaving pattern from single thread to cross threaded which makes a sort of X pattern. This uses up fewer materials and makes the board lighter weight and more rigid. They also used a fusion laminate process instead of the 3-layer PVC which also drastically cut down the weight from 26 lbs to 21.4 lbs. 

You can Read more in the iRocker All Around 11 Ultra Review I did here.

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7. Nixy Newport G5 All Around Paddle Board (Small- Medium Paddler Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 3” X 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs
• Material: Advanced Welded Seams, Dual Layer FusionTech, Laminated Woven Drop Stitch

Total Rating 8.5 / 10

• On-Water Performance – 8
  • Stability 7.5
  • Tracking  7
  • Speed 8.5
  • Maneuverability 9
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features  – 8.4
  • Deck Pad 8.5
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungee Placement 8.5
  • Action Mounts 9
  • Handles 8
• Accessories – 8 
  • Fins 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 9

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

The Newport G5 is a great board for those smaller – to medium-sized paddlers who want a manueverable board to best suit their paddling style. The Newport series has been bumped down from the 2nd position in 2023 because it does not come with the wonderful accessories that the G4 used to. 

Having said that the board has had some minor design changes that we feel did make it better for those who prefer more manueverable boards. The G5 now features welded seams on the sides to replace the carbon side rails which uses less glue and takes some weight off the board. 

On-Water Performance

The Newport G5 is not the most stable board on the list but it sure is a lot of fun to paddle around with! The board is very responsive and in my mind had very similar handling to the Blackfin Ultra CX board. 

I found the tracking performance was detracted from the Newport G5 as the board has lost its 5” side fins that were present on the G4. 

Finally, I did feel that the G5 was just a tad bit lighter and had faster acceleration compared to the G4 when we tested both boards out 20 minutes apart in the same conditions. 

Board Features and Design

This is a simple package that has lost the majority of the accessories that originally came with the previous generation G4 package. However, I do like that Nixy has not completely redesigned the board and kept a lot of the onboard features that made the Newport G4 so great. 

The G5 has action mounts that can accommodate a bunch of different onboard features such as rod holders, cup holders, action camera mounts, and go-pro mounts. It also has a good arrangement for its bungee deck webbing which gives more emphasis for smaller more used items that go in the front and bigger items going in the back bungee deck webbing. 

You can Read more in the Nixy Newport G5 Review I did here.

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8. Gili Meno 11’6” (Family/ High Capacity Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 11’6” X 35” X 6”
• Weight: 24 Lbs 
• Maximum Capacity: 485 Lbs
• Material: Fusion Dual Layer Technology

Total Score: 8.4 

• On-Water Performance – 8.4
  • Stability 9.5
  • Tracking 8.5
  • Speed 8
  • Maneuverability 8
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features  – 8.3
  • Deck Pad 8
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees 8.5
  • Action Mounts 8.5
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 8.5
  • Backpack 8.5
  • Paddle 8.5
  • Pump 8
  • Fins 9
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

The Gili Meno 11’6” was our top high-capacity pick on this list. This was actually one of our more heavily tested boards and it shone in many circumstances it was thrown into. The board even managed to stay stable when our tester Zia had a full-grown passenger on board paddling to the Kaslo Jazz Fest Waterfront area. It was a bit wavey that day too! But the board remained stable as Zia stood while his passenger stayed seated. 

We also found the Meno 11’6” had outstanding stability and overall impressive on-water metrics that made it a very useable board. On top of all that this bigger 11’6” board is only 24 lbs in weight which is quite the feat in its own right!

On-Water Performance

The Meno 11’6” is a perfect board for bigger/ taller paddlers as well as a family board that has add-on potential to be your personalized silent fish stalker. Any activity that requires stability the Meno 11’6” will have it handled for you. 

This board has been in many different lakes in B.C. so Zia and I have had more than a few opportunities to test it. What is surprising is the fact the board can glide quite well despite having that wider 35” length. Okay, It definitely won’t be beating the Carta Marina CX in any races but we found it to be more than manageable even when paddling against some wind and chop.

Another surprise was the board’s maneuverability metrics. Especially considering the board has side fins and a touring fin. But the Meno 11’6” offered some solid ratings due to the board’s lighter-weight construction.

Board Features and Design

The Meno 11’6” package offers a ton of value, especially for the price point that is being offered. 

The Meno 11’6” offers a nice spacious bag that can fit the board with a less-than-perfect fold. The bag is one of my favorites on this list because of the multiple pockets it offers and the amount of paddling the shoulder straps and back have sewn-on it. On top of all that the bag also has wheels so you can roll it along. 

Another thing that struck me with this board is the onboard features offered up. The board has a good amount of bungee deck room for larger items up front as well as action mounts for rod holders, action cameras or cell phone holders. 

It also has 2 Scotty Mounts at the rear for fishing racks or anything that is Scotty Mount compatible. Take a look at the Scotty Mount shop to see all the possibilities that await. 

You also get a total of 5 fins in this package! A river fin, speed fin, touring fin, and the two side fins allows you to truly customize your experience padding this SUP. 

You can Read more in the Gili Meno 11’6″ Review I did here.

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9. Bluefin Cruise 10’8” (Value Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 10’8” X 33” X 6”
• Weight: 27Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 287 Lbs 
• Material: 1000 Denier Exo Surface Laminate PVC & Pro Weave Drop Stitch

Why Did it Make the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards List?

The Bluefun Cruise series offers a wide variety of SUPs available for folks that are an array of different heights and builds. Not only does Bluefin offer the 3 sizes but they also offer the Bluefin Carbon series which has dual inflation chambers and better-reinforced materials. New for 2024 and beyond Bluefin also has a new Cruise line that weighs 7 lbs less. 

Bluefin is one of the most popular paddle boards in Europe and the UK and is starting to spread out to North America and Australia. One of the most attractive qualities of any Bluefin SUP is that it comes with a 5-year manufacturing warranty which is something that’s quite rare in the ISUP world. The regular Bluefin Cruise line is built to be an affordable introductory line

On-Water Performance

The Bluefin Cruise is a “jack of all trades” board in that it does many on-water aspects well, but won’t be the best in any particular area. One of the main strengths of the original Cruise lineup is its stability in the water. For folks 6’0 and under I would choose the 10’8 model, for those over 6’0 I would go with the 12’ version. For those who want multiple people onboard choose the 15’ SUP. 

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The board’s pointier profile glides through the water well while still offering a good amount of rigidity to make you feel like you are not paddling a banana in the water. This is also an underrated pick for those who want to bring dogs and kids on board as well. Depending on the weight or size of your cargo/ passenger, go up a size if you figure you are going to be carrying a heavier load onboard. 

Board Features and Design 

Out of the paddle boards on this list, Bluefin offers the most amount of accessories. Not only does the board come with the standard fins, bag, collapsible paddle and leash, but it also comes with a kayak seat and a kayak hybrid paddle! Which is something most manufacturers do not provide. This allows you to easily switch from kayak hybrid to paddle board in a matter of seconds. 

The Cruise comes in a nice hydrodynamic design which allows the board to track well and travel at a reasonable pace for a board of its size. What I particularly appreciated was the diamond-grooved deck pad that is prominent on much of the board. Another very handy feature that they added was a stomp pad on the rear. This stomp pad makes more advanced maneuvers like pivot turns that are much easier to achieve as you have more leverage for your foot to press down on the tail. 

You can Read more in the Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ Review I did here.

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10. BOTE HD Aero 11’6” (Onboard Features Pick)

Features:

• Dimensions: 11’6” X 34” X 6”
• Weight: 30 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 315 Lbs 
• Material: AeroBOTE Technology

Total Score 8 /10

• On-Water Performance – 8.2
  • Stability: 9
  • Tracking: 8
  • Speed: 8
  • Maneuverability: 7.5 
• SUP Construction – 8.5
• Board Features – 8
  • Deck Pad: 8
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees: 8
  • Action Mounts: 8
  • Handles: 8
• Accessories – 7.3
  • Backpack: 7
  • Paddle: 8
  • Pump: 7
  • Fins: 7
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Did it Make the Best Inflatable Paddle Boards List?

BOTE deserved to make the list of best inflatable paddle boards because their designs and features are unique to anything that’s out there. The Bote Aero HD is no different with respect to this. The HD Aero has a few features and possible add-ons up its sleeve that we will detail in the board features and design section. 

Out of all the All Around boards on this all-around list, the HD Aero makes a great fishing companion due to the board’s added width and longer frame. This helps you glide silently and stalk fish, something that inflatable paddle boards have an advantage over some of their hardshell cousins. 

On-Water Performance

The 11’6” HD Aero series offers a lot of stability thanks to the board’s dimensions. In my experience 34” wide paddle boards are usually the sweet spot for fishing as you need some of that primary stability when you are doing more jerky movements like casting and reeling in those big catches!

This board will also be adequate at tracking thanks to its 11’6” length although if you were to do some comparisons with the Nixy Monterey, it would be better suited to going further distances at a faster clip due to the Monterey being 6 lbs lighter and more pointy at the nose at the tail. 

Board Features and Design

While the accessories that come with the HD Aero 11’6” are fairly standard, the features you can add to the board is unique. The board has several add-on capabilities that make it a true fish-stalker companion. This is thanks to the Scotty Mounts that can house BOTE fishing racks, the D rings towards the reward of the board for the Bote all-in-one paddle board cooler. 

For those longer excursions, the HD Aero features paddle sheath capability, which is essentially a holder for your paddle so you can be hands-free while fishing or fiddling with something. And it also has magnepod capabilities. Magnepods are magnetic drink holds that can hold BOTE cups onboard without having to worry about them tipping over or spilling. 

For those kayak enthusiasts, you can also clip on BOTE’s Aero SUP Paddle seat which gives you an elevated seat while paddling. These are some of the more comfy kayak seats as the elevated/ angled seating position allows less strain on your back.

You can Read more in the Bote HD Aero 11’6″ Review I did here.

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11. Retrospec Weekender Plus 2

Features:

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 33” X 6”
• Weight: 23 Lbs (Board Only)
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs
• Material: AerGlide (Dual Layer Fusion PVC)

Total Score: 7.8 / 10

• On-Water Performance – 8.25
  • Stability 9
  • Tracking 8.5
  • Speed 7
  • Maneuverability 8.5
• SUP Construction – 8
• Board Features  – 7.4
  • Deck Pad 7
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees 7.5
  • Action Mounts: 7
  • Handles 7.5
• Accessories – 7.5
  • Backpack 8
  • Paddle 7.5
  • Pump 7.5
  • Fins 8
  • Kayak Conversion Kit 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Did It Make the Best Inflatable SUP’s List?

We wanted as many types of paddlers to be represented as possible in this list so I ended up with this as the budget pick because: 

1. The price tag is almost unbeatable getting a full kayak kit with the package for $379 and a SUP that isn’t cheaply constructed
2. The board’s on-water performance actually surprised me and gave some good tracking, stability, and maneuverability scores

The value of this board is undeniable and it’s definitely a board that new paddlers should look into if you want a lot of accessories to come with the package. 

On-Water Performance

The boards on-water performance was one of the biggest reasons why it made this list, I really was not expecting much before heading out but some of the scores blew me away! 

First off the stability was probably one of the strongest ratings for a 10’6” long 33” wide board. The nose and the tail are wide throughout which really helps plant the board into the water which allows less rocking for those starting out. It’s NOT the most stable board on this list but for the budget of the board, it’s certainly up there. 

I was also very surprised by the tracking and maneuverability ratings. The board managed to punch above its weight and do 7 strokes a side in tracking which is a very good overall score. To put this into context, the Blackfin XL 6.0 did the same amount and is almost $400 more! A lot of this is thanks to the two 5” slide-in fins that the board comes with which makes paddling this board a pleasant surprise. 

The only metric that was below average was speed which is understandable due to the wider nose and tail. As I started pushing the board doing harder strokes I noticed there was a good amount of drag on the nose from plowing the water.

This board is better used as a cruiser board rather than a sprint SUP. 

Board Features and Design

Let’s start with the kayak hybrid kit, shall we? This board offers a lot of value with an inflatable cushioned seat that allows you to adjust the pressure to your seated preferences (I like it at about 1.5 PSI) with a nicely constructed kayak seat back. 

The Kayak kit uses all 4 loops on the Weekender 2 Plus and is easy enough to paddle in kayak formation and paddle board formation all in one go. Just make sure the seat is towards the back of the board.

The Weekender Plus 2 Also comes with a SUP paddle with a kayak attachment which is one of the better aluminum ones in my opinion due to the finishing on it which helps grip your hands. Furthermore, the package comes with a shoulder strap to help take the weight off your hand as you are carrying the board, a pump, backpack, waterproof phone case, leash, and repair kit. 

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The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards Compared

Below are a series of graphs and charts that we use to score all the paddle boards that we test and review. 

We use a very detailed rating system that breaks down exactly each feature of the board to show you how we exactly score the board. 

We then use the averages of each section to come up with the total score of each SUP. All of these boards we have tested ourselves and have put them through many different environments from small lakes in Salt Spring to full-on coastline currents ar White Rock. 

Testing these boards in different environments allows us to get a complete perspective on how the boards handle a variety of different conditions to give you a more complete picture!

In the charts, we show the general score for each section and show you how we get to them in the tables below.

Why Are there some many darn numbers to our rankings? We wanted to give folks an easy detailed breakdown of how we score our SUPs without using confusing weighting. All of these scores are averages to make things simple. 

Does this sometimes skew the overall score? Yes, however, we feel what you should be thinking about is NOT the overall score but the things that are important to YOU the paddler. 

Because all paddlers are looking for different things in their SUPs we wanted to reflect a rating system that gives you a specific rank for things YOU the paddler are looking for in an ISUP. 

On-Water Performance

We measure On-Water Performance based on 4 main factors. Stability, Tracking, Speed, and Maneuverability are all important factors that affect the handling of your paddle board in the water. We based our ratings on a 1-10 scale.

Board	Stability Rating	Tracking Rating	Speed Rating	Maneuverability Rating	Total Scores
Sea Gods Carta Marina CX 12’	9	8	9.5	9	8.9
Isle Pioneer Pro 10’6”	10	7.5	7.5	9.5	8.6
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	8	8.5	9	9	8.6
Gili Meno 11’6”	9.5	8.5	9	8	8.5
Sea Gods Skylla CX 11’	8.5	7.5	8.5	9.5	8.5
Atoll 11’	8.5	8.5	9	8	8.3
Retrospec Weekender Plus 2 10’6”	9	8.5	7	7	8.3
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	9.5	8	7	8	8.1
Bluefin Cruise 10’8”	8	8.5	8	8	8.1
All Around 11’ Ultra	8	8	8.5	8	8.1
Nixy Newport G5	7.5	7	8.5	9	8

As you can see from an On-Water performance metric the Carta Marina CX is the top overall pick because it has 3 over 9 and over scores. To be clear the Carta Marina is weighted against other touring ISUP boards and NOT All Around boards like the rest of this list. But we felt it had an impressive performance that people of most skill levels would be able to pick up.

If stability is super important to you take a look at the Pioneer Pro, Gili Meno 11’6” and the BOTE HD Aero which all have super stable platforms that allow you to put extra weight on without compromising on-water performance.

Looking to track straight so you can maximize your strokes? Look for boards with 5” side fins such as the Gili Meno 11’6”, Bluefin Cruise, and Retrospec Weekender Plus 2. In our testing, we constantly find that boards that have these 5” side fins track 1-2 strokes better per side.

For those wanting to do some fitness paddling the touring SUP of the Carta Marina CX is our top choice for fantastic glide. You can also take a look at our Best Inflatable Touring Boards list for boards that will glide through the water with ease. 

Responsive boards are good for going in tighter waterways or paddling close to the shoreline. Our top picks for maneuverability are the Isle Pioneer Pro, Newport G5, and the surprisingly manueverable Skylla CX. Typically for more manueverable boards a shorter length is what you are looking for, hence my most of maneuverable SUPs are 11’ and under.

SUP Construction

One of the biggest factors in how long a board lasts is how well it is constructed. But how do you tell if a SUP is well constructed? We do that through in-person inspection, on-water testing, 3rd party customer research.

We wanted to make sure that all the SUPs on this list were not just put through the paces by me, but also had high customer satisfaction ratings that we researched from 3rd party sites such as Facebook groups and Reddit.

The board that stood out as the stiffest and we felt had the highest level of detail to it was the Isle Pioneer Pro. This board does not just have the fusion process down pat but it also uses Infinity Fiber technology which is a type of material NASA is looking into using for its space crafts. It is a continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic that is used to reinforce the top and bottom of the board as well as the rails. 

Sea Gods also have impressive materials with their Cross Weave drop stitching that reinforces the top and bottom of the board with reinforced strands which cuts down on material while making the board super rigid. 

When jumping/ bouncing on both models the boards felt very rigid and you could feel the distinct difference between them vs a lot of the other boards I’ve tested.

Board Features 

Why is this even a rating and why should I care? Onboard features, although perhaps not as important as on-water metrics like stability and construction it still an important feature in my mind. 

There’s nothing worse than jumping onto a bare-bone basic SUP that can barely hold anything you bring onboard which in turn limits how long you can go out for. 

Other things such as deck padding, handles, and D rings make a difference too in how long you can paddle and how much stuff you can bring with you. If you were going for a long day paddle you would be looking for something that has a good amount of deck bungees and D rings onboard to have the ability to strap extra stuff on as an example. 

Board	Deck Pad Rating	D Rings Rating	Deck Bungees Rating	Handles Rating	Action Mounts/ Other Rating	Total Features Rating
Sea Gods Skylla CX	9.5	9	9	8	8.5	8.8
Sea Gods Carta Marina CX	9.5	9	9	8	8.5	8.8
Isle Pioneer Pro	8.5	9.5	9.5	7	8.5	8.6
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9	8.5	8.5	7.5	9	8.6
Blackfin Ultra CX	9	8.5	8.5	7.5	9.5	8.6
BOTE HD Aero	8.5	9	8.5	8	8.5	8.5
Gili Meno 11’6”	9	8	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5
Nixy Newport G5	8.5	8	8.5	9	8	8.4
Atoll 11	8.5	9	7.5	N/A	7	8.0
Bluefin Cruise	9	7.5	7	8	8.5	8.0
Retrospec Weekender 2 Plus	7	8	7.5	7	7.5	7.4

Out of the bunch I tested this year Sea Gods and Isle had the most well-thought-out onboard accessories consistently across the board. While boards like the Atoll 11 were better suited to do-it-yourself types of paddlers who want to do their own kind of deck rigging. 

The boards that had the grippiest deck pads were the Sea Gods and Bluefin Cruise with their fine-edged diamond-grooved deck padding. The Gili Meno 11’6” had 2 different types of deck padding with the striped on the front/ middle of the board and the diamond grooved on the rear. 

Why is there a handles rating? Sure, when purchasing a SUP the handle is probably one of the things you don’t think about at all… Until you have to carry it for a decent amount of distance to the shoreline! We like boards that have neoprene handles as we find that is the softest material for your hands. 

Action Mounts and other gadgets aren’t necessary things to have but they can further transform your SUP to something that fits your activity preferences. If you just want to drink a drink and relax, paddle holders and a cup holder that can fit into an action mount may be a good fit. If you want to go fishing rod holders or even fishing racks installed into SUPs that have Scotty Mounts (Meno 11’6” and BOTE HD Aero) can be a fantastic addition for your silent fish stalker. 

Accessories

Accessories do 2 things to SUP packages. 

1. They give more value to the package
2. They help make life easier for you 

SUP accessories help make your life easier by things like having heavy-duty bags, electric pumps, or having a kayak kit to completely transform the SUP into a SUP/ Kayak Hybrid. 

Board	Backpack Rating	Paddle Rating	Pump Rating	FinsRating	Kayak Conversion Kit Rating	Total Accessories Rating
Sea Gods Skylla CX	9	9.5	8	8	N/A	8.6
Sea Gods Carta Marina CX	9	9.5	8	8	N/A	8.6
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9.5	7.5	9	8.5	N/A	8.6
Blackfin Ultra CX	9.5	7.5	9	8.5	N/A	8.6
Isle Pioneer Pro	8.5	9.5	7.5	8.5	9	8.5
Gili Meno 11’6”	8.5	8.5	7.5	8.5	N/A	8.5
Bluefin Cruise	8	8	7.5	9	8	8.1
BOTE HD Aero	7.5	8	7.5	7.5	N/A	7.6
Atoll 11	7	7	7	8	N/A	7.5
Retrospec Weekender 2 Plus	7	7.5	.5	7.5	8.5	7.5
Nixy Newport G5	N/A	N/A	N/A	8	N/A	N/A

Our two favorite bags from the bunch are the Ultra bags from iRocker and the Sea Gods backpacks for two very different reasons. I love the compact package that the Ultra bags give you and how everything is well compartmentalized all the while giving you more room in your trunk.  

The Sea Gods bags are just made of durable canvas material that look like they can survive an atomic bomb (probably not but you get my drift). 

In terms of paddles the ones that stood out to me the most were Sea Gods once again with their carbon hybrid shaft and tear drop-shaped blade that feel like one of the more advanced paddles you would use. 

Isle in my mind has the best kayak hybrid paddle that I’ve tested which also has a blade with 3 different adjustment settings on each side. Making sure you can paddle to your correct stride. 

Pumps are a bit more of a personal preference. My personal preference is just to get an electric pump because it saves you time and efficiency. You can set up the board while the pump does its thing for you! The Blackfin Ultra CX and the All Around 11 Ultra stood out to me the most because they came with electric pumps in their package. Which is a great sweetener for those who want everything to get started. In my experience, iRocker makes some of the better electric pumps out there. 

There were only 3 kits on this list that came with kayak conversion packages and in our minds, Isle had the best one. The package was well constructed and had the most adjustable kayak seat on the list thanks to the highly customizable Isle Link system. If you want to see more kayak Hybrids check out our Best Paddle Board Kayak Hybrids list.

Set-Up/ Take Down Time

Set-Up / Take Down refers to how long the board takes to set up and take down. If you take a glance at the instructions beforehand (I know as a man this is very hard for me to do as well!) most of these are easy to set up. 

For takedown, the biggest game changer in my experience is having a pump (electric or manual) that takes the air out of the board before folding. This saves you from having to wrestle the board like a crocodile and makes folding monumentally easier! 
The Ultra series of the iRocker All Around 11 and Blackfin CX got the nod due to the compact packaging and its ease of transport. The Newport G5 also got a good score due to the fact it’s just the board and the fins! I also like that the valve is on the Newport nose as you can start folding from the fin and set the precedent for the fold there.

Inflatable Paddle Board FAQs

Below are some common Inflatable paddle board FAQs that I get asked. 

If you have specific SUP Activities or are thinking of using your paddle board for a specific need click on the below two pictures! For Reference:

Paddle Board Activity: A specific SUP activity you have in mind ex: Paddle Board Fishing, SUP Yoga, SUP Touring etc.

Paddle Board Need: A paddle board for a specific need whether it be for body type, gender or just a general specific need you want from a SUP. Ex: Most Stable Paddle Boards, Paddle Boards for Beginners, Paddle Boards for Women.

Conclusion

We hope this list and explanation of our criteria has been helpful to you and has at least given you a better understanding into the world of ISUP boards. That’s our main goal here. 

Keep in mind this is not the be all end all of the top rated paddle boards. There are a lot of makes and models that are excellent for a wide range of people of different sizes and skill sets. And next year this list will probably look a lot different to what it looks like now. 

We hope you use this as inspiration to get out there and be present with the natural world and all of its wonders.