Best All Around Paddle Boards

In this review, we detail the best all around paddle boards based on our experience with our list of the top all around ISUPs we have tested. 

All of these boards have been tested for a minimum of 3 hours each going on many different adventures and water conditions. From Kootenay Lake to Nicomekl River flowing out to coastal conditions and everything in between!

We also go through the below factors we used to rate these boards. To make things simple for you we designated a label for each SUP to give you an idea of what each board is best used for. 

Think you can trust us? Alright let’s move on!

Best All Around Paddle Boards

Because we are an inflatable paddle board site all of our all-around sup picks are inflatable. These days at least 90% of the boards you see will be inflatable because of convenience factors and the fact that ISUP technology has come a long way over the last few years. 

Lo and behold, below is our list of the best all-around paddle boards that we have tested to date. 

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1. Nixy Newport G4 (Best All Around Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 10’6” x 33” x 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs
• Materials Used: Dual Layer Fusion with Carbon side rails
• Warranty: 2 Years

• On-Water Performance: 8.5
  • Stability: 8
  • Tracking: 8.5
  • Speed: 8
  • Maneuverability: 9
• SUP Construction: 9
• Board Features: 8.5
  • Deck Pad: 8.5
  • D Ring Placements: 8
  • Deck Bungee Placement: 8
  • Action Mounts 9
  • Handles: 8.5
• Accessories: 9
  • Backpack: 9
  • Paddle: 9
  • Pump: 9
  • Fins:9.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down: 9

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The Nixy Newport G4 is one of our most used boards due to its versatility. You can paddle it in tides, lakes, and large rivers, and the board adapts well to the conditions. 

We have tested this board in coastal rivers (with and against the tide), large lakes, and coastal beaches, and it never felt out of place in any of them.

“We found that ratings-wise it was the most consistent across the board from good all-around performance metrics to solid on-board features, and construction. We found that the Newport G4 blended stability, tracking speed, and maneuverability beautifully. A lot of this is down to the board’s dimensions and shape.”

– Editors Notes

On-Water Performance

The Newport G4 offers good stability for beginner to intermediate paddlers alike. It’s not the most stable board on this list but it does a good job of keeping that initial stability. Especially when you are going from knees to feet. 

The Nixy Newport is one of the better tracking boards for its 10’6” dimensions. A lot of it is down to the Newport’s hydrodynamic shape. The board’s tail is tapered which lessens drag as you are paddling through the water. This counters the 1” extra width thickness it has compared to other all around SUPs that are 32” wide. 

The Newport is also one of the quicker 33” wide boards and was able to keep up to boards that were 11’ long and 32” wide like the iRocker All Around 11 boards. The board’s lighter weight also allows you to get up to speed quicker while still gliding at a decent pace. 

In terms of maneuverability, we liked how little effort you needed to put into this board to make it turn. It did a reverse sweep stroke in 4 strokes which is pretty good. 

You can make the board even more maneuverable by removing the side fins. However, this will also take a bit out of the board’s tracking ability. 

Board Features and Design

Nixy was one of the first movers to redirect their boards to the dual-layer fusion technology that a lot of ISUPs now have. As a result, they have had more time to play around with the manufacturing of it. 

The Newport G4 also features carbon side rails that 1) further protect the board’s side rails from bumps and scratches from rocks etc. 2) gives the board that bit extra rigidity which does its small part in keeping the board stiff when people are on it. 

The Newport comes with a ton of clever features onboard such as 5 rows of bungee deck webbing to stash gear onboard, action mounts for extras like drink holders, rod holders, and action camera/ cell phone holders. There is also a free set of D rings that you can use for a kayak conversion seat or strap a cooler.

Accessories

In terms of accessories, I believe Nixy has some of the best in the business! It comes with a comfortable, well-padded backpack that has a lot of extra pockets for extra odds and ends. The bag also has wheels which makes life a lot easier when taking the package from the car to shore. 

One of the most important things I look for when it comes to paddle board bags is: Does it fit back in? Or do I have to wrangle it like Steve Irwin wrestling a crocodile? The bag is fairly baggy which makes it easy to fit back into the bag, even with a less-than-perfect fold. 

The paddle is a carbon hybrid and super lightweight for a paddle that comes included with the kit. It weighs 1.54 lbs which is lighter than what most SUP packages give you for free with their package. 

This makes paddling easier to go longer distances. You will be less tired compared to lugging a 2.5 lb aluminum paddle. Remember you do roughly 1000 strokes every hour!

You can see our full Nixy Newport 10’6″ G4 Review here.

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2. Blackfin Ultra CX (Speed/ Handling Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 10’6” x 31” x 6”
• Weight: 19.8 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 320 Lbs
• Materials Used: Dual Layer Fusion with Carbon side rails
• Warranty: 3 Years

• 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 – 8.6
  • Backpack 9.5
  • Paddle 7.5
  • Pump 9
  • Fins 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 9

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The Blackfin Ultra CX is one of the more “fun” all-around paddle boards I’ve tested. The board offers very good speed and maneuverability making it a tempting quick and agile pick. 

I would recommend this board for more intermediate paddlers who have had experience with paddle boards. Not to say a beginner can’t learn on it, because they definitely could! But you will have to have more patience with balance, specifically when waves hit the board.

The Blackfin Ultra CX also comes with many handy accessories in a compact package. Making it a great pick for apartment dwellers or people who don’t want to take up a lot of space. 

In my experience, I have also found it to be a great road trip board! I’ve been able to fit 2 of these compact ultra boards (the other is coming up in this list!) in my small sedan side by side quite easily.

On-Water Performance

Now let’s talk a bit more about what makes this a fun paddle board. First off I found the Blackfin Ultra CX SUP to be very responsive. The board felt like it could turn on a dime! When testing the board on the Nikomekl river it could do a 360 reverse sweep stroke in 3.5 strokes!

One of the things that stands out most about this board is the 2 center fin setup. How does this affect on-water performance? 

We found that the Blackfin Ultra CX has above-average speed for an all-around paddle board although the tracking is less than average at about 4 strokes a side to track in a straight course. The average is 5.8 for all around boards we have tested. 

Finally, let’s talk stability. The Blackfin Ultra CX is overall less stable compared to other all-around boards. But then again the board is 1” thinner width-wise compared to other all-around SUPs (they are usually 32” wide).

“Let me clarify, going from kneeling to standing is relatively straightforward in calm conditions. When you hit waves or even better try to surf waves (as I did in the wake boat filled Cultus Lake) things can get dicey and there could be a good chance you fall off the board. “

– Editors Notes

Board Features and Design

The thing that deserves to be talked about the most is the Blackfin Ultra CX’s Ultra Light compact design. 

The board is meant to be folded in half lengthwise and then folded widthwise as you would any other ISUP. This makes the board more compact but it is an extra step in the folding process. It can take a few times to get the fold right (The board can rarely be folded lengthwise perfectly). For those who lack space, I recommend going through the extra effort. 

The CX like the Nixy Newport is made of a fusion layering process. The board also uses cross-thread drop-stitch materials. This is essentially more reinforced strands that allow the board to use fewer strands and materials while keeping the same shape all the while shaving off weight. 

This is one of the lightest all-around boards we have tested at 19.8 lbs making it a great choice for smaller paddlers who don’t want to lug a 30 lb board to the shoreline!

The Blackfin CX also has a lot of handy onboard features including action mounts, removable deck bungees as well as an off-center handle and child handles at the front and rear. 

I did find the off-center handle to get in the way of kneeling. However, if you are a shorter paddler it makes it a heck of a lot easier to put your arm around the board and carry it to shore. 

Accessories

The two things that stood out to me the most about the Blackfin Ultra CX was the backpack and the inclusion of the iRocker electric pump. 

iRocker (parent company) was one of the first ones to bite on including an electric pump with their Ultra ISUP lines. And I have to say it is one of the accessories that makes the biggest amount of difference in terms of making your life easier. Full points to iRocker for this. 

The backpack is unique and compact and there is no other ISUP bag like it in the market. It was well-designed and felt comfortable while walking with the right amount of padding in the right places. 

The bag also will feel less awkward for those smaller folks because of the compact size and the hip straps that keep everything in place. 

In terms of the paddle, I appreciate that iRocker wants to make everything extremely compact but I feel that this needs a bit of work for future models. 

The paddle feels like it has too much play and is not sturdy enough due to the 4 attachment points as opposed to 2 attachment points you find on 3 piece paddles.  This was one of the areas where I felt Nixy surged ahead in its package. 

I also appreciate the pouch that can store the electric pump, fins, and repair kit. It helps keep everything organized and it gives you a place where you can clearly remember to put the odds and ends of the package. 

You can see our full Blackfin Ultra CX Review here.

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3. Nixy Monterey G4 (Premium Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11’6” x 34” x 6”
• Weight: 25 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 400 Lbs
• Materials Used: Dual Layer Fusion with Dual Chambers and Carbon side rails
• Warranty: 2 Years

• On-Water Performance – 8.4
  • Stability 9
  • Tracking 8.5
  • Speed 8
  • Maneuverability 8
• SUP Construction – 9.5
• Board Features – 9.2
  • Deck Pad 9.5
  • D Rings 9
  • Deck Bungees 9
  • Action Mounts: 10
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 9.1
  • Backpack 9
  • Paddle 9
  • Pump 9
  • Fins 9.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

For those who want to do some expedition paddling have we got the board for you! We found the Nixy Monterey G4 to be a fantastic board for hauling more gear while still blending some solid speed and tracking. 

It’s also a great pick for larger/ bigger paddlers who want a stable base to stand on while learning the art of stand up paddling.

Like the Nixy Newport G4, The Monterey features a lot of high-quality accessories including its comfortable backpack. The Monterey is also loaded with onboard features including more action mounts than you know what to do with! 

This also makes it an underrated Expedition Fishing vessel thanks to the Scotty Mounts located on the back of the board that you can use for fishing racks to hold extra rods and other fishing accessories needed. 

On-Water Performance

“Having tested the Newport G4 and the Nixy Monterey back to back you could feel the difference right off the bat. Even when I paddled on my knees the board felt like a tank and I would say felt at least 20% more stable than the Newport due to the board’s dimensions. 

Now that time has passed by and I’ve tested some other ISUPs of similar dimensions, this will be knocked down to the 3rd most stable SUP I’ve paddled. Being beat by the Meno 11’6” and Tower Xtreme SUPs.”

– Editors Notes

Where the Monterey had a distinct advantage was in tracking and speed. Especially going head to head against the Meno 11’6” which is a wider board. 

The Monterey maintains more of a thinner profile that can be described as an in-between of an all-around and touring paddle board. Meaning it gets less drag paddling through the water while maintaining a respectable level of stability. 

Board Features and Design

One of the things that stood out most to me right off the bat is the Monterey’s dual inflation chamber design. It definitely will take a bit more time to set up and take down but right off the bat you can feel the rigidity difference as soon as you board the SUP. 

This board does well in rigidity tests and can usually be found in the upper echelon for bend tests. 

The Monterey has similar on-board features as the Nixy Newport G4 but more of them. It offers 10 Action Mounts, 6 rows of deck bungees, 4 free D rings for kayak seats or coolers, and of course the Scotty Mounts that were mentioned. 

While I feel the board does not have the stability clout as the Meno 11’6” and Bote HD Aero on this list I still do feel like it could be a good addition for the fisherman who wants all the bells and whistles onboard to clear up deck space. 

Accessories

There is not a ton of need to go through the accessories as they are pretty much the same as the Newport G4. However I do feel because this is a more expensive package, Nixy should include an electric pump with this kit. 

I also noticed that the dual chambers do make the board a bit harder to fold. This means you need a good fold to have the board fit properly with the dual chamber pump. 

I am still impressed with the bag mind you. Roller wheels and maximum padding are important factors I look for when rating ISUP bags. 

Speaking of dual chamber pump I was at first massively impressed with it but now it’s pretty standard with ISUPs of its price range. 

If you were looking for maximum efficiency pumping up the board I would use the dual chamber pump for the inner chamber and the electric pump for the outer one. This will save you at least 5 minutes of set-up time. 

You can see our full Nixy Monterey 11’6″ Review here.

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4. Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 CX (Stability Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 10’6” x 34” x 6”
• Weight: 20 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 350 Lbs
• Materials Used: Cross Weave Drop Stitch Materials with Fusion
• Warranty: Lifetime

• On-Water Performance – 8.5
  • Stability 9
  • Tracking 8
  • Speed 8
  • Maneuverability 9
• SUP Construction – 9.5
• Board Features – 8.2
  • Deck Pad 9.5
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees 8.5
  • Action Mounts: 7
  • Handles 8
• Accessories – 8.6
  • Backpack 8.5
  • Paddle 8.5
  • Pump 8.5
  • Fins 9
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8.5

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

In one simple word… STABILITY! This is the most stable board for its 10’6” length dimensions on our list. 

This also makes it an excellent choice for those who want a 2 in 1 yoga / all-around paddle board. The deck pad is grippier than most I’ve tested and I found the board especially handy in doing more advanced paddling techniques.

 Of course, we can’t help but admire the artwork done by Jamie Locke who designed this specially-made Mandala print to put you in that meditative mood when paddling. 

On-Water Performance

“I got an opportunity to try a lot of the boards from Sea Gods lineup when I did a paddle clinic hosted by David Dreves who’s an instructor for Paddle Canada. 

The stability when doing more advanced movements such as pivot turns (stepping onto the nose of the board to allow it to turn better when doing paddle strokes) felt very stable in the water. More so than most I’ve tried this with. 

Standing up from the board from sitting is one of the easiest transitions I’ve had to make on a paddleboard. It was super easy to stand on the first go. Infact many beginners who attended were able to fully stand upright on this board a lot easier compared to some other models used.”

– Editors Notes

The maneuverability was also noteworthy on this board. It felt like one of the more responsive boards I’ve tested. 

The tracking ability was okay but like any board, anything that has good maneuverability metrics usually takes away from the tracking ability of the board. 

Board Features and Design

The Diatom Ten6 CX is one of the better-constructed and well-made boards on the list. The board uses cross-weave drop stitch material in which the drop stitch threading is reinforced in an “X” pattern.  This allows the board to be super lightweight while allowing the board to be able to be inflated to 20 + PSI. 

One of the things I like about Sea Gods is their deckpads. They are super grippy which makes moving along the board a lot easier, especially when you want to walk from the center to the tail for more aggressive turning. 

The grippyness also gives beginners ease of mind as opposed to smooth deck pads which do not provide as much traction. Especially when water comes aboard.

Accessories

Sea Gods offers a good amount of accessories and everything you need to get started paddle boarding. Included is a wheeled bag, a paddle that features a carbon shaft, and a nylon blade that is teardrop shaped to offer more power per stroke.

One of the interesting innovations Sea Gods has provided a click-fin system. Instead of messing around with a screw for a US finbox their click fin system allows you to put some pressure on the fin and it clicks in. No tools are necessary. What’s more is that the board has a US fin box allowing you to install other fins from other manufacturers. 

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5. iRocker All Around 11 Ultra (Compact Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11’ x 32” x 6”
• Weight: 21.4 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 290 Lbs
• Materials Used: Dual Layer Fusion with Carbon side rails
• Warranty: 3 years

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

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The iRocker All Around 11 Ultra is a slightly cheaper option compared to the Blackfin Ultra CX which offers the same accessories. 

Like the Blackfin Ultra CX the board folds in half lengthwise which allows you to store the bag in a more compact backpack. Making it a more travel-friendly 11’ SUP. It’s also a good amount lighter compared to the original All Around 11 paddle board. 

In my testing I found this board to be more stable for taller folks compared to the Blackin Ultra CX. It does have it’s twitchy moments though. I will also admit that it lacks the stability that its older brother, the All Around 11 Classic edition has. More on that below. 

On-Water Performance

One of the things we specifically tested, was how the All Around 11 Ultra compared to the original All Around paddle board. While in many aspects they were pretty comparable in terms of tracking, speed, and maneuverability. 

The main difference was the stability of the board. We found the original All Around 11 a better board, especially for standing and putting a heavier load onto the board.

“Where the All Around 11 Ultra shined was the responsiveness of the board. We felt (and iRocker agrees) that this board is better suited to intermediate paddlers who have at least had some previous paddle board experience. 

The board can be a bit more sensitive to external elements like winds and waves due to its lightweight design.”

– Editors Notes

Board Features, Design and Accessories

One of the things that makes this board unique (besides the compact packaging) is the fact that this board has a 2 center fin design. 

This makes the board a bit more manueverable. Although the differences are not massive between this and other All Around 2+1 fin set-up paddle boards. 

Because of the boards extra 6” length, it is a bit of a tighter fit into the compact iRocker bag and chances are it will take a few goes before you can properly fold this board up to be stashed away. For best results use the electric pump’s deflate valve to suck as much air out of the board as possible so that it’s easier to fold this board. 

You can see our full All Around 11 Ultra Review here.

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6. Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8” (Kayak Hybrid Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 10’8” x 32” x 6”
• Weight: 24 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 330 Lbs
• Materials Used: Monocoque Structural Laminate
• Warranty: 5 years

• On-Water Performance – 8.25
  • Stability: 8.5
  • Tracking: 8.5
  • Speed: 8
  • Maneuverability: 8 
• SUP Construction – 9.5
• Board Features  – 8.6
  • Deck Pad: 9
  • D Rings: 8
  • Deck Bungees: 8
  • Action Mounts: 8
  • Handles: 9.5
• Accessories – 8.1
  • Backpack: 8
  • Paddle: 8
  • Pump: 8
  • Fins: 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 7.5

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8” is a great pick mainly because of how the board is constructed. The manufacturer has attached a 5-year warranty to back that claim up, which is the best on this list! The Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8 is a great pick for those who want an all-around board that can be used for many different purposes. 

Best of all you can also choose the size of the board (10’8”, 12’ or 15’ tandem) for what you need or you can go to a more budget-friendly version of this board (The Cruise Series) which still has the 5 year warranty attached.

On-Water Performance

In my on-water testing, we found the Bluefin Cruise Carbon to be a solid all-around performer with a good stability rating. This means you can load the board up with more gear thanks to its dual bladder design making the board feel more rigid with less bend when standing. 

I found the Bluefin Cruise Carbon blended maneuverability, tracking, and speed well with the board’s setup.I found it had a slight edge on maneuverability compared to other all-around SUPs. This means the board is a bit more responsive when you want to do those tighter turns, should you need to take avoiding action. 

Board Features, Design and Accessories

The Cruse Carbon is one of the better-constructed boards which is why it made the top 10 list. The dual chamber design is well made because Bluefin has had a few years to perfect this design. So the 2nd chamber does not pop out and create an awkward platform to stand on as the Nixy Monterey does. 

Some other on-board features that stood out to me were the deck pad and the 9 handles attached to the board. The deck pad has a crocodile-like texture that helps your feet grip onto the board, even if it’s wet. 

The 9 handles allow people to grab the board in many different ways. Whether you are carrying it with another person front to back or carrying it from the middle side rails as a smaller person who may have trouble wrapping their arm around the board. 

One of the things that stood out the most to me with this package was the inclusion of the kayak blade and seat. No other packages on this list have this included which makes it a good choice for paddlers who want to sit down and paddle without worrying about back pain and the like. 

The other bits that come with this package are respectable although I did find the bag to be awkward and heavy which may be a bit much for those smaller paddlers going solo. 

I also found the bag to be too baggy as the board likes to “fall” to the opposite side of the bag while you have it on your back making it feel more awkward. 

You can see our full Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8″ Review here.

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7. Gili Meno 11’6” XL (High Capacity Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11’6” x 35” x 6”
• Weight: 24 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 485 Lbs
• Materials Used: Dual Layer Fusion PVC
• Warranty: 2 years

• On-Water Performance – 8.1
  • Stability 9.5
  • Tracking 8
  • Speed 8
  • Maneuverability 7
• 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 is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

If there is a paddle board that I believe deserves a bit better rankings it’s this one. 

“Part of the reason why this SUP has grown on me is that it has been traveling around with me to the interior of B.C. and I must say it is probably the best pick on this list to be used as a tandem paddle board.”

So for those of you who have families and want to bring the wife and kids along for a ride, this would be my suggested pick for you. 

In our on-water testing the Gili Meno 11’6” did an admiral job transporting 2 full-sized adults to the Kaslo Jazz fest music festival that is held by the water (floating concert anyone?).” 

– Editors Notes

On-Water Performance

The biggest on-water performance factor that stands out about this board is its stability. Seriously this board is built like a tank! 

So we rated it as one of our top stable paddle boards. Even with 2 full grown adults one could stand and paddle easily while the other is sitting in the front. It handled waves admirably. The paddlers onboard never felt that they were going to fall in even when one paddler was standing! 

One of the other areas that the board performed admirably on is tracking. The Meno 11’6” was able to do 9 strokes before you had to switch sides and correct the course! The average is 5.8 for all the all-around paddle boards we’ve tested so far. 

For an 11’6” board it also maneuvered surprisingly well, it even surpassed some boards that were shorter with 11 reverse sweep strokes to do a 360 which was a bit surprising to me! Typically if a board excels at tracking it takes away from the maneuverability of the board. Not in this case though!

In terms of speed, this is a slower SUP and the Nixy Monterey which has similar dimensions had it beat in a few speed runs we did. The Meno is a “fatter” SUP that bulges more in the middle. In this case, they traded speed for stability, which makes more sense for larger paddlers and families.

Board Features, Design and Accessories

The Gili package comes with an impressive amount of onboard features that can transform this SUP into almost anything you’d like. 

The board has Scotty Mounts and plenty of action mounts to turn it into a Fishing paddle board. It also has a larger deck area that makes it a solid board for larger SUP Yogis. 

On deck, there are also paddle holders that keep you from tripping over that damn paddle as you are moving around the board. 

There are also 5 rows of bungee deck webbing for those who want to bring gear such as small soft coolers, backpacks, and larger tents/ drybags along. For those who are thirsty, you can strap on a hard cooler onto the free D rings on the back of the board.  This gives you two things. I nice big chest to store your cold bevies and 2. A nice little chair to sit on.

The Accessories package that Gili provides is one of the better ones just behind Nixy and maybe Sea Gods. 

The bag is comfortable to carry and well-labeled which I appreciate from an organization perspective. I’ve also tried the carbon hybrid paddle as well as the full carbon paddle which I personally really liked paired with this package. T the carbon hybrid paddle that came with the board was more than enough for most who would use this paddle board. 

You can see our full Gili Meno 11’6″ XL Review here.

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8. BOTE HD Aero 11’6” (Fishing Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11’6” x 35” x 6”
• Weight: 30 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 315Lbs
• Materials Used: Aero BOTE Technology
• Warranty: Limited 2 years

• On-Water Performance – 8.1
  • Stability 9.5
  • Tracking  8
  • Speed 7
  • Maneuverability 8
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features  – 8.5
  • Deck Pad 8.5
  • D Rings 9
  • Deck Bungees 8.5
  • Action Mounts: 8
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 7.6
  • Backpack 7.5
  • Paddle 8
  • Pump 7.5
  • Fins 7.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

This could be jotted down as another stability pick but this board would be better suited for solo paddlers due to the lighter weight capacity. 

Standing on the board from kneeling is pretty straightforward. It’s also stable enough to move around the deck and do some casting while you are at it. This brings us the the below point..

One of the things we did like about the BOTE was some of the unique onboard innovations which transformed it into a fish-stalking specialist. More on this below…

On-Water Performance

The BOTE HD is very stable for most sized paddlers as the deck feels sturdy when standing up paddling and going from kneeling to sitting. 

“However paddling the board against the tide did expose a few weaknesses and that’s mostly, well don’t paddle against the tide! While this board is very stable the extra width does reduce speed greatly, especially with this model. 

It was more noticeable compared to boards with similar dimensions like the Monterey and Meno 11’6” XL. I had to really fight the tide when paddling against it. This makes me conclude that this board is best suited for calm water conditions.”

– Editors Notes

Board Features, Design and Accessories

The BOTE HD Aero has some unique features and innovations onboard. One of the things that fishermen will find most handy is the Slide in Scotty Mounts for a variety of different fishing racks. BOTE has the biggest variety of different-sized fishing racks including one that can hold their patented Kula coolers. 

Another unique feature for anglers is the paddle sheath holder. This is a great innovation for anglers who want a place to slide their paddle in and throw a line into the water. It saves them from bending down, stashing the paddle into the front bungees etc, etc.

You can see our full BOTE HD Aero 11”6″ Fishing SUP Review here.

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9. Atoll 11 SUP (Durability Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11” x 32” x 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 550 Lbs
• Materials Used: dual layer fusion PVC
• Warranty: Limited 2 years

• 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 is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The Atoll 11 is a great board for those who are just starting who want a good mix of affordability, stability, and durability. 

“In my unique test with the Atoll 11 SUP, I boarded it in rather cold conditions in a small lake at Salt Spring Island at the beginning of March. Needless to say, it performed admirably in conditions where the stakes were rather high!”

– Editors Notes

The Atoll 11 lost some points due to its basic accessory package. But that doesn’t mean it’s by any means a bad pick. For those who want a board that offers ample stability and a basic package that you can hike with the Atoll should be at the top of your list. 

On-Water Performance

The Atoll 11 offered good on-water performance metrics with really good stability. The board feels super solid when you are going from kneeling to standing. The board does not feel tippy at all. It is probably one of the most stable 32” wide boards I’ve been on!

My friend always likes to borrow this board from me and he frequently does Yoga and stretching exercises on it. 

In terms of tracking and maneuverability, the Atoll 11 blended these metrics well with especially impressive tracking and speed. In some tests we did we found the Atoll to track especially well in calm water conditions.

Board Features, Design and Accessories

The Atoll 11 is a great board for those who like do-it-yourself rigging. 

This SUP has the most free D rings of anything on this list which gives you a lot of possibilities for those doing multi-day camping trips or expeditions. You can also use these D rings to mount a hard cooler on the board for some beverages on the go. 

“Another thing I liked about the design of the board was that it has a bit of a touring/ hybrid shape. The board’s nose and tail tapers more. You would think that it would reduce the stability of the paddle board but somehow it works perfectly to give you equal parts stability without taking away from the speed of the SUP.”

– Editors Notes

The Accessories that come with the Atoll are pretty standard, although I do like the bag that it comes with. 

The paddle is also pretty standard as it’s a carbon-wrapped fiberglass paddle with a nylon paddle. This is the norm for many all-around packages at the Atoll’s price point. In our tests, the paddle did feel sturdy when doing more powerful strokes and it does float!

You can see our full Atoll 11 SUP Review here.

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10. Gili Air 11’6” (Budget Pick)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11’6” x 32” x 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 295 Lbs
• Materials Used: Single Layer PVC
• Warranty: 2 years

• On-Water Performance – 7.6
  • Stability 7.5
  • Tracking  7.5
  • Speed 8
  • Maneuverability 7.5
• SUP Construction – 7
• Board Features  – 7.7
  • Deck Pad 8
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees 8
  • Action Mounts: 7.5
  • Handles 7
• Accessories – 7
  • Backpack 7.5
  • Paddle 6.5
  • Pump 6.5
  • Fins 7.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why is it a Good All Around Paddle Board? 

The Gili Air is a good paddle board because it’s a budget pick for those who don’t want to spend $500 plus on an inflatable paddle board! 

What makes this board stand out from other budget SUPs is the fact that it comes with a lot of the onboard features that you would find with higher-priced boards. 

The Gili Air 11’6” is also a good pick for beginners who don’t want to drop a lot of dough down on a sport they may not be entirely sure of yet. The package also comes with good-quality accessories that usually come with more expensive paddle boards. More on that below..

On-Water Performance

The Gili Air 11’6” scored the lowest overall in on-water performance compared to the other picks. But we wanted to include it to illustrate the difference between boards that have more rigidity vs ones that don’t. 

In this case,our bounce tests found the Gili Air 11’6” to be fairly flexible when jumping up and down on the board. This directly corresponds to a loss of on-water performance.

When a board is more bouncy it has more sag in it. This will hurt the stability and the speed of the board the most. 

The stability is affected because it has more bounce and creates a slight U shape in the board which can make it feel less stable in the water. The speed is affected because of the extra drag from the board banning a slight amount. 

Mind you, the Air 11’6” was not terrible at all in terms of on-water performance. For those who just want to buy something reasonably priced and go into the water, it’s a great pick! 

For those taller/ bigger paddlers on the budget, I would choose the 11’6” Gili Air over the 10’6” which is best suited for shorter/ smaller paddlers. 

Board Features, Design and Accessories

One of the good things about this board is its on-board features. The Air 11’6” has a lot of similar placements as the Meno 11’6” XL but it just has fewer action mounts. 

You do also get a good amount of free D rings with this board where you can mount both a kayak seat as well as a cooler if you so choose. 

The accessories that come with the Gili Air 11’6” are well done for what comes with the board. Okay, so the board package does not come with the fiberglass paddle (the ones that come with the Air series are aluminum).

But the backpack is similar to the ones you get at a higher price point (like the Meno 11’6”). The main difference is, that this bag doesn’t have wheels.

The bag without wheels can be seen as a pro and a con depending on how you look at it.

• The pro is the bag is lighter and easier to carry on your back for longer excursions. 
• The con is, well you can’t wheel the bag from the car to the shoreline which many people like to do. 

You can see our full Gili Air 11’6″ Review here.

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Criteria on How We Chose the Best All Around Paddle Boards

Below are the criteria for how we ended up choosing the Best All Around Stand Up Paddle Board. We have a rating system where we rank boards based on their On-Water Performance, Board Construction, Features, Accessories, and Set-up/ Takedown time. 

We use the averages of these 5 factors to get our score. As of now, we have decided against using a weighted score because everyone has different things they look for in all-around SUPs. 

Let’s deep dive into each to show you how we got the results we got. 

On-Water Performance

Board	Stability Score	Tracking Score	Speed Score	Maneuverability Score	Total On-Water Score
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	8	8.5	9	9	8.6
Nixy Newport G4 10’6”	8	8.5	8	9	8.5
Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 10’6”	9	8	8	9	8.5
Atoll 11’	8.5	9	8	8	8.5
Nixy Monterey 11’6”	9	8.5	8	8	8.4
Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8”	8.5	8.5	8	8	8.25
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	8	8	8.5	8	8.1
Gili Meno 11’6” XL	9.5	8	8	7	8.1
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	9.5	8	7	8	8.1
Gili Air 11’6”	7	7	7.5	8	7.6

As you can see it’s the Blackfin Ultra CX that has come out by a tenth over the Nixy Newport G4. While the Blackfin Ultra CX does lack the stability of others such as the Meno 11’6” BOTE HD Aero, its handling characteristics and its speed are its greatest strength. This allowed the Blackfin Ultra CX to forge ahead in general On-Water performance. I liked how the Blackfin Ultra handled when I tested it maneuvering around boats on the Nicomekl River. 

So What does this all mean for you?

If you are a beginner you will be looking at the Stability score closely. It is also worth looking at maneuverability as you don’t want a big honking board that takes lots of effort to turn around should you need to take avoiding action. 

Those who want to do some longer-distance trekking or, want an all-around SUP with a bit more of a performance edge should be looking at tracking and speed metrics. 

These are the two most important things you need to have a board that treks for longer distances. Carbon paddles also help with this as well!

Construction

Board	Total Construction Score
Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 10’6”	9.5
Nixy Monterey 11’6”	9.5
Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8”	9.5
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	9
Nixy Newport G4 10’6”	9
Atoll 11’	9
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9
Gili Meno 11’6” XL	9
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	9
Gili Air 11’6”	7

How well is the paddle board built? 

Most of these picks are not from random manufacturers. But is rather legit paddle board companies who sell directly via their website. 

These manufacturers will have a 2-5-year warranty minimum and a 30-day return period. Many of these Amazon private brands do not come with these warranties and the quality construction that the above manufacturers chosen do. 

We ensured almost all of our All Around SUP picks had a high construction score as we want the paddle board to last you years! 

Coming out on top was Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 paddle board. Having constant contact with Sea Gods and riding a few of their boards I was very impressed with the amount of details that goes into the Diatom Ten6 CX. 

Especially the cross weave drop stitch construction which uses X patterns to reinforce the drop stitch threads to increase the board’s rigidity. 

Deceipering paddle board construction is one of the more difficult things to do because each term such as “fusion” or “military grade” can have all sorts of different meanings. 

We look for boards that have at least dual-layer fusion layering. These are boards that use heat bonding to fuse 2 layers of PVC, eliminating a lot of glue which is often the focal point of failure points. 

I also like seeing the board provide innovations to help stiffen up the board. Things like carbon side rails can slightly increase the rigidity of the board while adding a layer of protection to the board’s most valuable area, the side rails. 

Onboard Features

Board	Deck Pad Score	D-Rings Score	Deck Bungees Score	Action Mounts	Handles Score	Total Features Score
Nixy Monterey 11’6”	9.5	9	9	10	8.5	9.2
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	9	8.5	8.5	7.5	9.5	8.6
Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8”	9	8	8	8	9.5	8.6
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9	8.5	8.5	7.5	9	8.6
Nixy Newport G4 10’6”	8.5	8.5	8	9	8.5	8.5
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	8.5	9	8.5	8	8.5	8.5
Gili Meno 11’6” XL	8	8	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.3
Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 10’6”	9.5	8	8.5	7	8	8.2
Atoll 11’	8.5	9	7.5		7	8
Gili Air 11’6”	8	8	8	7.5	7	7.7

Onboard features are helpful features that are built onto the paddle board that make the paddle boarder’s life a bit easier. 

In terms of onboard accessories, we found the Monterey to be most packed with helpful features for those who want to store more on their paddle boards. Features such as extra bungee deck webbing, action mounts, D rings, and of course a comfortable deckpad. 

Of course, if you are more of a minimalist you may want to choose something with a more open space. Boards like the Atoll 11 feature a rather clutter-free onboard setup that offers a lot of D rings on the side to allow you to do your own deck rigging. 

“I always like the option of having more D rings. They are usually out of the way and they open up the paddle board to numerous possibilities such as hard coolers, kayak conversion seats, or extra bungees.“

– Editors Notes

Accessories

Board	Backpack Score	Paddle Quality Score	Pump Score	Fin Score	Total Features Score
Nixy Newport G4 10’6”	9	9	9	9.5	9.1
Nixy Monterey 11’6”	9	9	9	9.5	9.1
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	9.5	7.5	9	8.5	8.6
Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 10’6”	8.5	8.5	8.5	9	8.6
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9.5	7.5	9	8.5	8.6
Gili Meno 11’6” XL	8.5	8.5	8	9	8.5
Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8”	8	8	8	8.5	8.1
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	7.5	8	7.5	7.5	7.6
Atoll 11’	7	7	7	8	7.5
Gili Air 11’6”	7.5	6.5	6.5	7.5	7

Accessories are a very underrated factor that many people don’t pay too much attention to when picking a board. But it should be! 

The last thing you want is a board with a flimsy paddle that doesn’t even float and a cheaply-made bag that digs into your shoulders and back when carrying the package. This is one of the reasons I don’t like many of these Amazon boards is they tend to cheapen out on accessories that just scrape the bar as usable. 

We don’t accept that mediocrity on our lists! Overall we think Nixy paddle boards gives you the best accessories for a few different reasons. The bag is super comfortable to carry and can roll (often a feature for more premium boards). 

It also features a generous-sized front pocket and a main pocket that can fit most of the paddle boards they produce. I also really like their lightweight paddle. To this day it is still one of my go-to paddles to use because of its lightweight 1.5 lb build.

Something to look out for these days is the inclusion of an electric pump. Many paddle board manufacturers such as iRocker are starting to include them in their packages. To which we say “Its about time!”. 

“I will say it once and I will say it again. Electric pumps will make your life a heck of a lot easier and allow you to take time to put things away or set up your paddle board. They also save you energy for … You know the activity you sought out to do! Paddleboarding!”

– Editors Notes

Set-Up/ Take Down

Board	Set-Up/ Take-DownScore
Blackfin Ultra CX 10’6”	9
Nixy Newport G4 10’6”	9
iRocker All Around 11 Ultra	9
Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 10’6”	8.5
Nixy Monterey 11’6”	8
Atoll 11’	8
Gili Meno 11’6” XL	8
BOTE HD Aero 11’6”	8
Gili Air 11’6”	8
Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8”	7.5

The Set-Up/ Take Down score is based on how easy the paddle board is to set up to get out onto the water and how easy the board is to deflate and put back into the bag. Factors that also go into this is how easily the accessories fit into the bag when you put them away. 

In this case, Nixy and the iRocker Ultra boards proved to be the top dogs. The Nixy because everything can be safely stowed into the bag without having to wrestle the board into it. 

The Ultra boards got the nod for the packaging and how everything is organized to be portable and take up less storage room. 

An example of this would be going to my friend’s cabin. My friend had a lot of gear to bring in this one van, so I opted to bring the iRocker All Around 11 Ultra package and it fit in the van perfectly. While still allowing room for cabin essentials like booze, food, and of course chainsaws.

“Pro Tip: If you have an electric pump, use the deflate option to get all of the air out of the paddle board. This will make packing the board back into the bag so much easier!”

– Editors Notes

So What’s the Best All Around Stand Up Paddle Board?

Based on the averages of our scores based on the 5 different factors:

• On-Water Performance
• Construction
• On-Board Features
• Accessories
• Setup/ Take Down

We found the Nixy Newport G4 to be consistently in the top 5 in all of the above ratings. It’s also a board we have put a lot of miles on and still holds strong to this day! The Newport will be good for about 80% of paddlers. 

But for those who are bigger or taller, look for boards with a larger maximum weight capacity like the Nixy Monterey, Meno 11’6”, or Atoll 11 boards that can support more weight. 

Finding the best all-around paddle board is about finding one that fits what you want out of a paddle board package. Read that again… 

Take a good look at our ratings to see what’s most important to you. It’s important to look for the boards with high ratings in the areas you most value. 

Got any other suggestions? Feel free to let us know on our Social channels!