The 8 Best Paddleboard Brands to Buy 2021

The stand-up paddleboard (SUP) has become popular in the past decade or so, as more people are taking to the water on boards in lakes and rivers. Stand-up paddleboarding does not need waves or current or anything else. All you need is a board and a paddle. But what kind of board should you choose?

Here are 8 top brands in different price ranges to help you choose:

• iRocker: Our personal choice for riding
• Bluefin: Growing quickly worldwide
• Nixy: Beach goers cult favorite
• Connelly: in business for decades
• Decathlon: A leading UK brand
• Gili: An up and coming brand
• SereneLife: The best inexpensive boards

As a paddleboarder, you have a wide variety of paddleboard brands to explore. There are dozens of brands on the market. So, choosing the best brand for you depends on what type of paddling you will be doing. We’ll explore the top brands and how they’re best used below.

Choosing the Right Board for You

Whether you are a new paddleboarder or a seasoned expert, it can be difficult to decide on a brand of board to choose from. With so many choices on the market and so many varieties of boards, you may have a hard time figuring out what to get. We want to help you out. 

This post covers some of the best overall brands. But if you’d like to read about getting started in paddle boarding at a lower price, be sure to check out “Are Cheaper Paddle Boards Worth It” from Carlo. Good advice and a few recommendations in that post.

The Different Types of Paddleboards

There are also two different types of paddleboards: solid core boards and inflatable boards. 

• The solid core board is typically a foam core covered with carbon fibers, fiberglass, or wood veneer. Epoxy resin may also be used on top for a stronger board. 
• Inflatable boards are built from a core of thousands of threads covered with strong layers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 

In addition, there are various styles of paddleboards depending on the sport you are into. Some variations of board types include:

• Flat water paddling
• Whitewater paddling
• Touring
• Yoga
• Paddle surfing
• Racing
• Wind surfing

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Best Premium Stand-Up Paddleboard Brands

Because there are so many brands and styles on the market, it can be difficult to decide which board is right for you. We are going to look at the top eight best paddleboard brands on the market to help save you time. 

The first four are premium boards that offer more quality:

iRocker Paddleboards

iRocker inflatable paddleboards come in four different styles and several different sizes. They range in price from just under $500 to just over $1,000. Each one comes with these accessories: 

• 10-foot ankle leash with a key pocket 
• D-Rings
• Hand pump 
• Air hose
• Carbon ultralight paddle 
• Backpack

iRocker Nautical: Their most affordable paddle board

The Nautical line of boards (on Amazon) is great for beginners. I bought the 10’ 6” version from iRocker site as my first board. It is great for beginners. It is a dual-use inflatable board that comes in two sizes with the following features:

Size	10-feet 6-inches	11-feet 6-inches
Width	32 inches	32 inches
Thickness	Six inches	Six inches
Tail width	16 inches	16 inches
Board weight	20 pounds	22 pounds
Weight in the bag	29 pounds	31 pounds
Volume	221 L	221 L

iRocker Blackfin: Top of the iRocker line

The Blackfin paddleboard lineup has three different models that come in different sizes. Carlo briefly owned the XL model, and wrote about it here. It is wider for more stability and great for bigger riders or yoga enthusiasts. Their features include the following:

Model	Blackfin Model X	Blackfin Model XL	Blackfin Model V
Size	10 feet six inches	11 feet six inches	12 feet six inches
Width	35 inches	34 inches	32 inches
Thickness	Six inches	Six inches	Six inches
Tail width	19 inches	18 inches	17 inches
Board weight	27 pounds	29 pounds	30 pounds
Weight in the bag	37 pounds	39 pounds	40 pounds
Volume	237 L	259 L	259 L

iRocker All Around paddle boards

The iRocker 11’ All Around paddleboard (iRocker) is my top choice from this brand. It also has the widest range of color schemes. I bought the gray color scheme (directly from iRocker summer 2020) as my primary board.

It will accommodate a wide range of rider size and abilities. The 10’ All-Around board is the smallest iRocker makes. It is best for riders under 5’10”. Both have the following features:

Size	10 foot	11 foot
Width	32 inches	32 inches
Thickness	Six inches	Six inches
Tail width	16 inches	16 inches
Board weight	24 pounds	26 pounds
Weight in the bag	36 pounds	36 pounds
Volume	221 L	246 L

iRocker Cruiser paddle boards

There are two other iRocker paddleboards, which include the Cruiser and the Sport. The iRocker Cruise was Carlo’s choice, which he purchased and wrote about previously, is the Cruiser (read his comments here.)

iRocker Sport paddle boards

The Sport is excellent in any type of water and best for those who already have some SUP experience. The Cruiser has an extra wide tail for better stability and is perfect for beginners. They have the following features:

Model	Cruiser	Sport
Size	10 feet six inches	11 feet
Width	33 inches	31 inches
Thickness	Six inches	Six inches
Tail width	22 inches	12 inches
Board weight	25 pounds	25 pounds
Weight in the bag	35 pounds	35 pounds
Volume	234 L	231 L

Read Carlo’s Full Report on iRocker boards and his comments on the two iRocker boards he tested in his post about whether heavy riders can paddle board.

Bluefin SUP

The Bluefin name in paddleboards is known worldwide for its precision and stability. They also have a nice variety of boards including six different models to choose from. All of their paddleboards come with several accessories such as:

• Triple action pump
• Double paddle
• Coiled ankle leash
• D-Rings
• Air hose
• Kayak seat
• Extra fin
• Backpack

The following Bluefin Amazon link offers 3 models, including the cheaper 11’ and 12’ Cruise models, at $599 and $699 in limited supply.

Also, these paddleboards come with conversion kits so you can change your SUP into a kayak. Carlo named the Bluefin Aura Fit as one of his top paddle boards for yoga in this post. Carlo wrote about Bluefin here. Here are some of the main features of all the Bluefin models.

Model	Cruise/Cruise Carbon	Cruise Junior	Sprint	Aura Fit	Voyage	Mammoth
Length	10 feet 8 inches	8 feet	14 feet	10 feet 8 inches	10 feet 10 inches	18 feet
Width	32.3 inches	29.1 inches	30.3 inches	35.8 inches	38 inches	60 inches
Thickness	6.3 inches	5.1 inches	6.3 inches	5.9 inches	6 inches	8 inches
Weight	26 pounds	24 pounds	27 pounds	24.2 pounds	25.3 pounds	59.5 pounds
Volume	111 L	111 L	111 L	111 L	111 L	111 L

Nixy Sports

Nixy is a family-owned company that makes one thing – paddleboards. They do one thing and they do it well. And their customer service is awesome too. Even though these are listed in the premium section, the prices are all under $1,000. All Nixy paddleboards come with a variety of accessories, including:

• Coiled ankle leash
• Adjustable fiberglass paddle
• Triple action double chamber pump
• Air hose
• Premium wheeled backpack
• Repair kit

Nixy Sports has five models to choose from. They each come in several colors and are warrantied for two years. Here are the features for each of these paddleboards. All of the following Nixy board links will open a new page on Amazon except for the Mammoth.

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Model	Newport G3 All Around	Monterey Expedition	Huntington G3 Compact	Venice G3 Cruiser	Manhattan G3 Touring	Mammoth
Length	10 feet 6 inches	11 feet 6 inch	9 feet 6 inches	10 feet 6 inches	12 feet 6 inches	18 feet
Width	33 inches	34 inches	32 inches	34 inches	30 inches	60 inches
Thickness	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	8 inches
Weight	23 pounds	25 pounds	17 pounds	23 pounds	22 pounds	59.5 pounds
Volume	300 L	300 L	250 L	350 L	335 L	111 L

Best Economy Stand-Up Paddleboard Brands 

You do not have to spend a ton of money to get out on the water. Some of the paddleboards we found cost as little as $250 and they do not scrimp on the quality either. They even come with the same or similar accessory packages. There is a paddleboard for every budget. 

Here are four of the top economy stand-up paddleboard brands:

Connelly

Connelly has been crafting stand up paddleboards for more than 50 years and are known for their economic prices as well as their quality. They have both inflatable and solid SUPs to choose from in 10 different models. The prices for Connelly boards range from about $600 to over $1,000. The Connelly Nava is one of three top paddle boards for yoga as covered in Carlo’s paddle board yoga article.

The Connelly 2021 Tahoe 11’ 6” SUP is available from Redshift Watersports. The 2021 Tahoe 10’ 6” board is also sometimes in stock there.

Redshift also carries the Connelly 10’ Drifter and the 10’ 6” Connelly Dakota in limited stock.

The Connelly Odyssey 2.0 SUP can be ordered online from Dick’s Sporting Goods. And finally, the Connelly Classic 11’ 6” foam hard board can be found at Overton’s.

I have used Redshift and Overton’s for years for my watersports equipment purchases, from ropes to inflatables, to boat repair supplies and more. Both have great online service, which is now more important than ever.

Here is the full lineup:

Model	Rocket Solid Core	ClassicSolid Core	HighlineSolid Core	Echo Solid Core	Softy 3D Solid Core	Denali Inflatable	Tahoe Inflatable	Dakota Inflatable	Drifter Inflatable	Nava Inflatable
Length	11 feet 6 inches	11 feet 6 inches	11 feet 6 inches	10 feet 6 inches	11 feet 6 inches	12 feet 6 inches	10 feet 6 inches	10 feet 6 inches	10 feet	9 feet 6 inches
Width	29.5 inches	33 inches	33 inches	32 inches	33 inches	32 inches	32 inches	33.5 inches	30 inches	35.5 inches
Thickness	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches
Weight	31 pounds	30.5 pounds	32.5 pounds	34 pounds	30 pounds	23 pounds	21.4 pounds	18 pounds	16 pounds	20 pounds
Volume	255 L	220 L	240 L	190 L	250 L	330 L	290 L	265 L	185 L	355 L

Decathlon

With just four boards to choose from, this economical company may not have the most variety, but you can definitely find something that you can afford. From under $250 to under $850, there is something for every budget at Decathlon. And each board comes with a backpack and pump. Here are some of the specs for the Decathlon SUPs:

Model	Touring	Touring 10	Touring 11	Touring X500 Tandem
Length	9 feet	10 feet	11 feet	15 feet
Width	29 inches	32 inches	36 inches	35 inches
Thickness	5 inches	5 inches	6 inches	6 inches
Weight	15.5 pounds	19.8 pounds	23.1 pounds	33 pounds
Volume	197 L	244 L	335 L	449 L

Serene Life (Amazon Store)

Serene Life is another economical choice for inflatable paddleboards. For around $400, you can get one of their two styles of paddleboards. These are high-quality boards for a nice price, and they come with all the accessories you need to get in the water right away. They both include:

• An ankle leash
• Pump
• Air hose
• Adjustable paddle
• Extra fins
• Backpack
• Repair kit

These are the only boards in this article sold on Amazon. Both are available in multiple color schemes. Each of the two models of inflatable paddleboards from Serene Life has its own set of specs:

Model	Thunder Wave	Free-Flow
Length	10 feet	10 feet 5 inches
Width	30 inches	30 inches
Thickness	6 inches	6 inches
Weight	19.6 pounds	20.4 pounds
Volume	150 L	150 L

Gili Sports

For less than you would think, Gili can put anyone in the paddleboard of their dreams. And what is even better is that part of every purchase goes to saving endangered species, reefs, and sea creatures. All of their boards are made with premium PVC material for strength and have an accessory package that includes:

• 10-foot coiled ankle leash
• Aluminum travel paddle
• Two-stage hand pump
• Snap-in center fin
• A high quality backpack 

With four models to choose from, in several different colors, you will be sure to find what you are looking for. And you’ll find it for less than $800, Here are the specs:

Model	Air Sup	Adventure SUP	Meno SUP	Komodo SUP
Length	10 feet 6 inches	11/12 feet	10/11 feet 6 inches	10 feet 6 inches
Width	31 inches	32 inches	35 inches	33 inches
Thickness	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches	6 inches
Weight	19 pounds	23/24 pounds	23/24 pounds	21 pounds
Volume	225 L	238/272 L	245/270 L	225 L

Choosing the Right Paddleboard for Your Needs

Are you a racer or a surfer? Maybe you enjoy windsurfing? Yogis enjoy paddleboards as well. Believe it or not, you can do just about anything on a paddleboard. Whether you are planning to do some fishing on the lake or hanging ten in the ocean, there is a paddleboard that is perfect for you. 

Flat Water Paddling

Any of the all-around paddleboards on the list are good for many types of paddleboarding. Fishing or paddling on flat water is easy on the all-around boards. You can take them in any type of water and since they come in many different lengths and widths, they are great for all types of paddling. The all-around paddleboards on this list include:

• The board we own is the iRocker All Around
• We also have a Bluefin Cruise paddleboard
• The Nixy Newport G3 All Around paddleboard
• Connelly Classic or Tahoe paddleboard
• Amazon top sellers Serene Life paddleboards
• Any of the Gili Sport paddleboards

Touring

For exploring, any touring paddleboard is a good choice. 

These are made with a stiffer build and enhanced stability as well as a profiled nose for high-speed cruising. If you like to glide along and go for long-distance rides, the touring paddleboard is the one you need. Some of the touring paddleboards on the list include:

• Our first board, the iRocker Nautical
• Either of the Bluefin Sprint paddleboards
• The Nixy Manhattan G3 Touring paddleboard
• The Connelly Tahoe or Denali paddleboards
• Any of the Decathlon paddleboards
• Gili Sports Adventure, Meno, or Komodo paddleboards

Surfing 

If you like to surf, you need a board that is tougher and stiffer for rough surf. Most surf paddleboards have a removable and adjustable fin, a narrow tail, and a rounded nose. Some of the best surf paddleboards on the list include:

• The iRocker Sport paddleboard
• Bluefin Voyage paddleboard
• Nixy Venice Cruiser paddleboard
• The Connelly Dakota, Drifter, or Echo paddleboard

Racing

For those who like to race or to just go fast, racing paddleboards are made with a special stiffening process as well as RSS stiffening battens to cut through the water with ease. 

They are also made lighter than other paddleboards so you can get that extra edge for racing. Here are the paddleboards on the list that are made for racing:

• Either of the iRocker Blackfin paddleboards
• The Bluefin Sprint Carbon paddleboard
• The Nixy Manhattan G3 Touring paddleboard
• The Connelly Highline paddleboard

Yoga

When you want to get out on the lake and relax, try some yoga on one of the yoga paddleboards. Stretching and posing are easier on the extra wide boards and they are thicker than other boards to help keep you dry while practicing your yoga poses. Here are some of the yoga paddleboards on the list: 

• The Bluefin Aura Fit Yoga paddleboard
• The Connelly Nava Yoga paddleboard
• Either of the Serene Life paddleboards
• Gili Sports Komodo, Meno, or Air paddleboards

Wrapping it Up

Bought a paddle board and need some tips? Read What PSI Should a Paddle Board Be, Can You Inflate a Paddle Board with an Electric Pump, or check out the entire list of paddle board articles on the site.

Whichever paddleboard you choose, make sure it is right for your paddling needs. 

Whether it is solid core or inflatable, and regardless of whether you want to surf or race, you are sure to have a blast on one of these paddleboards. 

From the premium high-dollar iRocker paddleboards to the economical Gili Sports paddleboard, there is something for everyone on this list. 

The most important this is to choose one, get out there, stay safe and have fun!