Looking For A New ISUP? (Stand Up Paddle Board)
Don't Buy Before Reading This
Paul Humphreys
Paul grew up in Brighton, East Sussex, surfing on the ocean since childhood. When Paul is free, he is always researching for the latest trends and innovations about SUP Board.
- paul@quality-reviewer.com
Writer’s note : If you’re looking for a cheap option, that will bring you negative experience when every surfing, paddling, racing on sea. Then this article is not for you.
What is the principle of surfing?
It is actually to make the waves as the driving force to move forward, and then surfer take advantage of superb skills to keep balance, so as to satisfy the fighting in the waves.
One of the biggest problems for surfers is that they have to find the right wave to catch. Nature is beyond our control, so choosing a suitable surfboard become crucial. Having a good surfboard that help your surfing experience feeling. It will make you fall in love with the activity, otherwise you might hate it for the rest of your life and never want to give it a second chance .
There are many types of surfboards, such as Long Board, Fish Board, Hybrid Board, Stand Up Paddling Board (SUP), Short Board, Gun Board. SUP or stand up paddle boarding is one of the newest additions to the surfboarding world. Normally ranging from 10 to 12 feet and providing you with great width for better balance, the SUP lets you surf both big and small waves with the use of a paddle. Due to its design and addition of a paddle it also offers you the ability to cruise around lakes, canals or in the sea when the surf is flat. This type of board belongs to the foam board , also known as the soft board. Since the soft board is made of relatively elastic material, it can provide the best safety guarantee for novice surfers and surrounding surfers.Even if an accident occurs, it will not cause serious injury. Compared with other boards, the inflatable board is easier to carry and more convenient to carry. Easy to store. Therefore, inflatable paddle boards are a very good choice for beginners.
For beginners, we highly recommend choosing an inflatable paddle board. Here’s why:
Better control of balance;
Reduction the chance of injury;
Easier to catch waves;
Better control of balance;
Easy to carry and store;
Durable and long-lasting;
When choosing a paddle, you need to consider many factors such as the skill level and preference of the paddler, the weight, volume, size of the paddle, and of course price.
Ask yourself three questions.
How much do you think choosing an good SUP can influence on your surfing?
When choosing an inflatable stand up paddle board, what do you expect?
What do you think the best inflatable paddle board should be?
Almost everyone i ask these questions, ends up realizing that their troubles come from using a low quality surfboard. But don’t get me wrong, a high price doesn’t always equate to high quality. The best paddle board is the one that allows new surfers to catch smaller, messier waves close to the shore without forking out a heap of cash to experience the thrill. Generally the bigger the board, the better as longer and wider boards offer beginners more stability in the water. The material composition of the board is another important factor to consider. A good surfboard has high buoyancy so that errors and mistakes made by surfers while catching the balance are easily “forgiven” or tolerated.
This is why I’ve spent the last 6 months, testing over 60 boards, in order to find the surfboard that gives you the best bang for your buck in 2022!
We’ve Rated The Stand Up Paddle Board On 7 Criterias:
Material
Volume （the higher the value, the greater the buoyancy of board）
Capacity
Speed
Stability （which is perceived as the most important thing for beginners）
Better control of balance;
Value For Money
Going into this, I already had a hunch that there would be a specific type of SUP Board that would outperform the rest by far.
What To Look For
Which has a second layer of reinforced PVC fabric bonded to the main layer, it can improve performance in more demanding paddling conditions.
Which requires that inflatable board can be rolled up into compact package for easy transport and storage. And due to different parts of materials such as EVA, PVE, and ALUMINUM, no need to worry about damaging your board when banging against debris while on the water.
Which is easy for beginners to stand up and keep balance. The triple bottom balance SUP fins and the paddle board sporty shape also allow for a fast tracking easy steering experience which is similar to a rigid surfboard.
Which improved stability and safety while standing. It can be long time sup paddling kayaking.
What To Avoid
Which is calculated based on its longitude, the width and thickness of each model. It´s measured in liters. The more volume you have, the more stability. And why is that? More volume, the more it floats. Factor that will help you catch more waves when initiating.
Which is what tethers you to your board. As a beginner this is vitally important as you will be falling off your board (a lot!). It will keep your board close to you when you wipe out preventing loss or damage to the board as well as minimising potential danger to other surfers from a loose board. Equally, keeping your board close to you when you fall off provides you with extra buoyancy to keep you afloat.
Which make you loose balance when trying to stand on surfboard. If not enough space, it will be hard to balance surfer’s weight.
THE 5 BEST SUP BOARD IN 2022
In the past six months, we tested many brands of inflatable paddle board, such as: SUPWAVE, BOTE, ATOLL, GILI, etc., and then we selected the most suitable boards from them, and gave them corresponding scores.
1. SUPWAVE
RATING
A
TOTAL GRADE
TOTAL GRADE
Material
9.7/10
Volume
8.8/10
Capacity
9.1/10
Speed
9.4/10
Stability
9.4/10
Value For Money
9.95/10
PROS
- Can be customized to meet your need
- Best Value For Your Money
- Premium all-around/touring hybrid(not only suit for beginner but also for expert
- Stable
- Lightweight
- Best manual pump and saving time in pumping up
- Best price of 5 boards but great performance
- 5-year warranty
- Great customer service support
CONS
- Bungee straps don’t seem to be as strong as regular bungee cords
- Often in short supply
- Take 1-2 month to get it (after all, it is customized )
Main Category | All-Around, Inflatable |
Board Dimensions | 10’6” x 32” x 6” |
Inflation / Max PSI | 10-15 PSI |
Listed Max Capacity | 170kg |
Volume | 300 liters |
Materials | Double PVC – Ensure Air Tightenss |
Price Range | Middle |
Warranty | 5-YEAR WARRANTY |
Price | $ 299 |
Review
It is is an all-around/touring hybrid, providing excellent tracking while also providing plenty of stability and good maneuverability as well. This paddle board is great for taking out kids or a pet on, while also being lightweight and easy to carry for younger and shorter paddlers.
Who Should Buy This Stand Up Paddle Board:
- Beginner to intermediate paddlers who want a very stable, easy to handle SUP.
- Expert paddlers who want a premium paddleboard with exceptional performance.
- Paddlers who looks for a board with best value for money.
- Paddlers who want a premium SUP that comes with top of the line accessories as well.
All-around paddle boards tend to prioritize stability. This paddle board will be stable enough to not only support a large solo paddler, but support their kids, pet, or a lighter second adult paddler as well.
Due to the high quality of the deck pad though, this is also a great paddleboard for yoga, or for cruising with friends or family if you want to paddle with others on deck. The overall nimbleness and agility make this a fun option for having casual races with friends, and if you’re skilled enough you can take it into some rivers or surf some waves with it as well.
Overall, it is a very nice SUP for beginners, but it should still satisfy intermediate and even expert paddlers looking for a touring/all-around combination.
The most distinctive and attractive point is that SUPWAVE merchants accept customization. You can print your favorite logo, text and others on the board. Click on their link, enter the logo you want, and place your order. SUPWAVE will be customized according to your needs, and then shipped.
I stumbled across this brand and it gave me a great experience，I mean, who can say no to this gorgerous appearance with customized logo but the lowest price with great performance SUP? It’s absoulutely the leading role of my today’s review.
2. BLACKFIN MODEL V
RATING
B
TOTAL GRADE
TOTAL GRADE
Material
7.6/10
HEAT & SPEED SETTINGS
8.6/10
Capacity
8.0/10
Speed
9.0/10
Stability
8.4/10
Value For Money
7.6/10
PROS
- PVC construction, supplemented by carbon fiber rails
- 1-YEAR WARRANTY for ACCESSORIES
- Outstanding Weight Capacity
CONS
- Poor-quality travel bag, with poor designed and poor manufacture
- Rear action mounts can’t be integrated into the side handles
- High price
- Poor maneuverability
Main Category | Touring, Inflatable |
Board Dimensions | 12’6” x 32” x 6” |
Inflation / Max PSI | 15-18 PSI |
Listed Max Capacity | 220 kg |
Volume | 280 liters |
Materials | Triple layer composite PVC, carbon-fiber reinforced rails, high density drop stitch inner core |
Price Range | High |
Warranty | 2-YEAR WARRANTY for BOARD and 1-YEAR WARRANTY for ACCESSORIES |
Price | $ 1199 |
Review
In our opinion the board is well built from nose to tail. It seems that the materials to be of a grade commensurate with more expensive boards. It’s overall weight of approximately 30lbs, so maybe a little more difficult for one who is not strong enough to lug around, but it reinforces the well built feel of the board overall.
Its speed is fast but comes poor maneuverability. Well, not always but they do seem to work counter to each other. Simply put, the attributes of a SUP that breeds speed are the same ones that make a board more difficult to turn. This is true with all touring SUPs, and the Blackfin is no exception.
Besides, there is some troubles: the grip pad has already started to curl up around the edges after 2 uses. And when you come back home, you need to unpack it and leave it out to dry for a long time. Otherwise, it may result in a musty smell.
BLACKFIN MODEL V is suit for these water conditions/situations:
Flat water paddling (lakes, bays, marinas, etc.)
Recreational paddling (beginners, just paddling around flat water with friends and kids)
Anyway, you can’t deny this is also a great standing board, however it also the most expensive of all my test models. For this reason, I will rather to choose Supwave instead!
3.Bluefin SUP Board
RATING
B-
TOTAL GRADE
TOTAL GRADE
Material
7.4/10
Volume
7.8/10
Capacity
8.0/10
Speed
8.5/10
Stability
7.9/10
Value For Money
7.6/10
PROS
- Has Temperature Control
- Light Weight
- Has 3 Attachments
CONS
- No Negative Ions
- Noisy (78db)
- No Delayed Shutdown System
- Very Pricey
Main Category | All-Around, Inflatable |
Board Dimensions | 15’ x 36” x 6.3” |
Inflation / Max PSI | Max 15 PSI (Recommended 12 PSI). |
Listed Max Capacity | 160 kg |
Volume | 340 liters |
Materials | Surface Laminate PVC w/drop-stitch technology |
Price Range | High |
Warranty | 5-YEAR WARRANTY |
Price | $ 1099 |
Review
Heat-welded bonds give the Bluefin Cruise Carbon 15’ an aerodynamic finish for smooth gliding. The good traction through water and stability make this board ideal for beginner paddle boarders and cruising through calm waters, touring, or even kayaking.
You probably already know (and if you don’t, keep on reading) that wider SUP boards provide paddlers with the best stability. Bluefin Cruise isn’t an exception. With 36 inches, it’s as stable as any board designed to withstand 350 pounds of weight can get.
The Cruise with the length of 15 inches is equipped with a grid crocodile pad. This is very nice to stand on, to step back on, while you go on longer excursions. It is built for long distances and adventures. It is a stable and ideal board with exceptional tracking. This board is more suitable for quick-learners and ambitious paddlers.
In some places we can see light residues of glue on the board, but this can be twisted. The fin has an influence on the handling of the board through small changes in shape, surface and length, so that you need to fine-tune the board.
Beside, there is point need to pay attention: their customer service is not as good as others.
4. Flood Aero
RATING
C
TOTAL GRADE
TOTAL GRADE
Material
7.5/10
Volume
6.2/10
Capacity
7.2/10
Speed
8.2/10
Stability
8.0/10
Value For Money
8.5/10
PROS
- Well-constructed and well-quality Board
- Suit for beginners due to the good stability
- Beautiful design
- High quality bag
CONS
- Take more time to pump up the Board
- Limited speed, less than 3 mph
- Aero Tackle Rack mounts are made out of hard edged plastic
- Kit doesn’t come with a leash
Main Category | All-Around, Inflatable |
Board Dimensions | 11’ x 32” x 6” |
Inflation / Max PSI | 10-15 PSI |
Listed Max Capacity | 125 kg |
Volume | 320 liters |
Materials | Aero BOTE inflatable technology |
Price Range | Mid to High |
Warranty | 2-YEAR WARRANTY, 30-DAY AERO GUARANTEE |
Price | $849 |
Review
That’s quite a lot of included features for such a modestly priced iSUP . In terms of stability, BOTE Flood Aero does better. It’s a pretty big board, 11 feet long, This lends itself to being very stable and a good choice for beginners of most weight ranges. The Flood Aero in particular is a fantastic all around board for beginner or intermediate paddlers. As for the included accessories, it is slightly inferior.
Despite it’s long 11’ water line this board was certainly not one of the fastest we have paddled. Like the rest of the BOTE fleet we think these boards are fine tuned for a set cruising speed. When surfing, this paddle board isn’t very fast. It is around 3 mph. But to do any better required a tremendous amount of additional energy. It’s not very light compared to other boards, but that’s okay, it’s very sturdy.
5. NIXY Newport
RATING
C-
TOTAL GRADE
TOTAL GRADE
Material
8.5/10
Volume
7.2/10
Capacity
7.0/10
Speed
6.9/10
Stability
7.2/10
Value For Money
7.8/10
PROS
- Lightweight
- Great Kit backpack
- Nice carbon fiber paddle
CONS
- Low tracking ability if paddler is over 80kg
- Middle fin is only compatible with standard US fins
- Uncomfortable paddle holder
- Small nose cargo area
- Low Capacity
Main Category | All-Around, Inflatable |
Board Dimensions | 12’6” x 32” x 6” |
Inflation / Max PSI | 15-18 PSI |
Listed Max Capacity | 113 kg |
Volume | 300 liters |
Materials | Dual layer PVC with reinforced carbon fiber side rails |
Price Range | High |
Warranty | 2 year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee |
Price | $ 825 |
Review
The Nixy Newport is a great choice for those looking for a smaller, lighter-weight iSUP. They make an excellent choice for travel.
It is stable but isn’t quite as stable as other board as mentioned other boards. We saw usability with even our heaviest testers. 225 lb testers did fine but they could only take some basic items along with them.
This board landed about mid pack in our overall speed tests. We feel that is more to do with its general shape than anything else. One of our reviewers described it as a short cruiser and we are inclined to agree. While that’s great for stability, it does this paddle board no favors in the overall speed segment. Though it’s lightweight characteristics did aid in a speedy acceleration, once up to speed that advantage falls away as you try to maintain a maximum pace.
Nixy Newport has a single centre fin. The single center fin did it’s job as well as it could, but as you will see that 2 fins is better than one in this case. This results to low overall speed score. This is such a shortcoming that most any heavy strokes to either side will start to shift your direction.
As for the material and construction, they use a dual layer woven drop stitch technology (as they do with the rest of their boards) with carbon fiber reinforced rails. In our opinion these are some of the best built boards on the market.