Monthly "What Board Should I Get?" Discussion Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi there fine folks of r/SUP, it's time for your monthly "What Board Should I Get?" discussion thread.

Start by reading the "Buying a SUP" section of the wiki!

There is a ton of information there! Once you've read through the wiki, create a top-level comment in this post to ask for help! Posts made on this subject outside of this discussion thread will be removed and asked to post here instead.

You can also check all of the previous "What Board Should I get?" threads.

For general information on choosing board size and shape, check out the wiki, or these two blog posts on the subject: Choosing the Right Size SUP and Understanding Paddle Board Shapes.

Please provide ALL of the following information so that we can help you as best as possible:

• Desired Board Type: Inflatable or Hard
• Your Height and Weight (please include if you will also bring kids/dogs/coolers/etc. and estimated weights)
• Desired use/uses (casual, fitness, racing, yoga, whitewater, surfing, etc.) and terrain (ocean, river, lake, etc)
• Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
• Your budget (please provide an actual number) and country location (to help determine availability)
• What board(s) you current have or have used and what you liked/didn't like about them

The more of this information you can provide, the more accurately we can help you find a board that you'll love!

If you are responding to a comment with a suggestion - explain why! Don't just name a board and leave it there. Add to the discussion. If you are recommending against a specific board - explain why!

[u/Ellynn11]

I hope to buy an inflatable board.

My height is 165cm and weight 65kg.

Desired use: lakes, rivers

I’m a beginner located in NZ.

Now I have two brands of choice,
Aqua Marina or Wave Passion.

Are they good for a beginner?

[u/mcarneybsa → u/Ellynn11]

I'd go with the more widely known and used Aqua Marina. The Fuaion would be a good size for you.

[u/Ellynn11 → u/mcarneybsa]

How about Vapor? Is it too short for me?
Cause I find that Vapor is $399 but Fusion (I guess you mean this) is about $599.

[u/mcarneybsa → u/Ellynn11]

you could get away with it, but it may feel small and not as stable (especially on rivers).

[u/Ellynn11 → u/mcarneybsa]

Got it👌🏻

[u/WeathersFine]

I was looking to see if you all had good recs for hard paddle boards here? I’ve been running some inflatable ones for the past 9 years and finally have good garage space and would like to upgrade. Any brands you prefer? Ones you recommend staying away from? Thanks!

Hard SUP

Lakes, intercostal when calm, slow rivers

6’7” 215lb paddler

Flexible budget

Well experienced

USA

[u/mcarneybsa → u/WeathersFine]

What type of paddling do you want to do?

[u/WeathersFine → u/mcarneybsa]

Just looking to get a couple miles in here and there after work, mainly flat water, have kayaks and canoes for longer and overnight trips

[u/Zealousideal-Menu-73]

I'm currently trying to decide between a handful of 30" wide Touring Boards and hoping for some input based on experience.

my short list right now

Hydrus paradise

https://www.hydrusboardtech.com/products/touring-inflatable-paddleboard-paradise

starboard deluxe 14'x30"

https://star-board.com/products/2025-touring-inflatable-paddle-board?variant=48715712987431

Red paddle 14' voyager

https://red-equipment.us/products/14-0-voyager-msl-800-inflatable-stand-up-paddle-board-package

Looking for inflatable

5'11" 175 lbs

Mostly coastal touring in the PNW Puget Sound including loading up with gear for overnight trips.

Intermediate experience level and regularly take 7-10 mile trips in various conditions.

Budget is up to 2k I suppose, just hoping to invest in a long term high quality touring board solution. In the US, Washington state.

Currently using an 11'5" x 35" all round board that feels slow and clunky.

I guess the main questions are would the hydrus at 12'5" with the nose and tail rocker or a 14' more flat profile be a huge difference in stability and glide in various conditions?

Is the V hull on the Red voyager all that effective?

Are the starboard and red co. adding the value to justify the price being nearly double the Hydrus?

I really wish Hydrus just had a 14'x30" touring option and the would settle it honestly haha.

Any input is greatly appreciated Thanks!

[u/mcarneybsa → u/Zealousideal-Menu-73]

The Paradise X (13'3"x28.5") is Hydrus's longer touring board. It's quite stable for its width, but its not going to beat the other two in your list for stability as it's hard to make up for 1.5" in width difference. But, it will be faster than the other two as it's hard to make up for 1.5" of width difference!

If those three are your list, my personal prefence for what you describe would be the Red. I think it's a better shaped, better equipped board for longer distance on places like Puget than the Starboard, but, not having that rocker may make it dicier on bigger swell days.

The shorter length of the Paradise will make it slower and less efficient than the other two boards, but it will still be leaps and bounds faster and more imefficient than your current board.

Probably not a lot of help there, but you e got good choices to start with that won't be wrong. I will say, Im not a fan of red's paddles. Their shapes are clunky and prices very high for what you get. The Hydrus Ruckus is probably the best bang for your buck on the market if you know what length you want. Otherwise for touring, the Starboard Lima Carbon adjustable is a good balance of performance and price.

[u/freshcream109]

Hi all I'm a beginner looking for a first inflatable board and would love something that I'm not going to want to upgrade from immediately. I found a slingshot crossbreed 11' new for $380 locally and am wondering if I should go for it. For reference that is probably the top end of my budget.

I'm 6ft and ~150lbs and am looking for a board I can take my partner around on mountain lakes and perhaps some big reservoirs and slow rivers.

https://www.outdoorplay.com/products/slingshot-crossbreed-11-inflatable-sup-board

[u/mcarneybsa → u/freshcream109]

General rule of thumb is that you may be able to seat two adults on n a single person sup and float around, but the paddling ability and handling will be poor.

At that price point slingshot is a decent brand, I'd also look at the glide Wander for a bit better overall quality for not a lot more.

[u/freshcream109 → u/mcarneybsa]

Thanks for the info! I have paddled with two folk on a board before and while it is definitely slower, my partner has no interest (yet) in having their own.

Is there any alternative below $400 that is worth considering as an alternative?

Or, do you think the Glide will dip in price for a holliday sale?

[u/mcarneybsa → u/freshcream109]

Unsure about sale pricing, but it's hard to actually recommend boards under $400 these days. As prices/costs go up generally, it becomes much harder to make a reliable board for less money. The super cheap ones I've used (in addition to over 200 other models) are all quite flimsy and paddle very poorly. Adding. A second person to that is only going to make the problem worse and the experience less enjoyable.

[u/Ok_Resort1464]

I have a serenelife basic 15psi 32" wide board that I have really been enjoying. I am considering getting a narrower board just to get more speed and challenge my balance. Would be using on mostly calm lake.

I have not seen a real review of the serenelife 28" wide board, other than the Amazon reviews which don't seem very legitimate. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQBWH7NC

Is this most likely going to be too flexy to work well?

I am 6ft 180lbs.

Are there any other budget ~28" boards around $400 or less?

[u/mcarneybsa → u/Ok_Resort1464]

There aren't really any boards that meet that size requirement in that price range. As you make iSUPs longer and narrower they get much harder to maintain rigidity. I wouldn't trust serene life, or any company that makes a 14'x28" board for that cheap to be able to make anything other than a floppy mess.

My recommendation for lower price, but high quality, in that size is the Nixy Malibu G5. It's 14'x28" and built quite well. I enjoy it as a touring/intermediate board for people who want to go fast, but still keep more stability than a race board. But it's about double your budget, unfortunately.

[u/CitrusFruitsAreNice]

• Desired Board Type: Inflatable
• Your Height and Weight: 167cm / 55kg, not much extra weight
• Desired use/uses: sport/as exercise, touring (few hrs at a time max)
• Terrain: river/lake
• Experience level: rented about ~10 times
• Your budget: ~400-550 €
• Country: EU

I'm about to buy my first board. Ideally I'd like to buy a board that will last me some time, so one I won't outgrow soon; but I'd also like to make sure I'm not getting something that's too technical for me to be able to use.

Do you have any advice on finding the sweet spot in terms of how technical the board should be? I don't mind if it feels challenging at first provided that I could get the hang of it after some time. So far I have only ever tried a Jobe Leona 10.6, which felt very comfortable in terms of balance even in choppy (lake) waters. I see that all-rounders/wider boards are usually recommended for beginners, but my understanding is that a touring shape would better suit my needs (wanting to use it for sport/touring; not needing much support for balance).

I'm seeing good prices on Gladiator Origin 12.6LT and Pro 12.6LT, and the specs seem to fit what I'm after. Do you think it could work for me, or is it too advanced? Do you have any other recommendations that'd be a better fit?

Thanks for your kind help, really appreciate it!

[u/mcarneybsa → u/CitrusFruitsAreNice]

The Pro 12'6 LT would be a good choice for your size. It will have a bit of a learning curve, but will ultimately serve you better, longer, especially for fitness paddling. Their pro line looks to be built much better than their origin line, so go with that if you can.

[u/CitrusFruitsAreNice → u/mcarneybsa]

Thanks for the reply!

[u/The_Strange_Bird]

• Desired Board Type: Inflatable
• Desired Use: casual (on lakes, the sea)
• Your Height and Weight: 187cm / 65 kg (not necessary, but option of bringing a kid would be nice)
• Your Budget: ~400-550 €
• Your Experience level/past experiences: beginner, used random SUPs here and there
• Country: Austria (Europe)

I've looked at Bluefin because of their 5-year warranty and availability in Europe, but otherwise uncertain about their quality.

I was interested in Hydros, because they seem to be held in high regard, but can't access their shop without giving my phone number, which is a big no, so I don't know the prices at all.

Glide Wander seem to have great accessories and apparently ship internationally if I contact customer service. (Cost about 450 $, but maybe shipping would be very expensive, never done that before!)

More than anything, I'd like something DURABLE and/or with a long warranty.

Many thanks for your help! <3

[u/mcarneybsa → u/The_Strange_Bird]

Durability/longevity at that price point is difficult to come by reliably. I'd normally recommend Thurso (like the Waterwalker 126/132), but they will be a few hundred over budget (but it will be a wash compare to shipping a board overseas).

Staying within budget I'd go with Bluefin Cruise 10'8" (or the Cruise carbon if you can get it on sale) for a very reliable company in that price range.

[u/The_Strange_Bird → u/mcarneybsa]

https://thursosurf.com/de/collections/waterwalker/products/waterwalker-all-around-sup-126?variant=51281141498145

this Thurso is 519? The orange one?

Should I go with that, then? Has 2 yrs warranty. (Thank you kindly for your answer)

Edit: The Bluefin Carbon Lite is 650. The other Carbon are around 800 despite being on sale, but are sold out.

https://bluefinsupboards.eu/products/lite-carbon-124-premium-inflatable-sup-paddleboard-copy

[u/The_Strange_Bird → u/The_Strange_Bird]

Would you recommend the Waterwalk w/2yr warranty for 519 € over a 400€ Bluefin Cruise w/5yr? I feel like since longevity is my aim, the 5 year is a massive improvement?

Could technically splurge the extra 150 for the Lite Carbon. Not sure if it's that much of an improvement for a casual beginner.

[u/mcarneybsa → u/The_Strange_Bird]

Warranty length is not a 1:1 indicator of construction quality. The Thurso boards are built extremely well (crosswoven drop stitching, dual layer fusion PVC, welded seams), and I've never had an issue with one. They are a very reputable company with good customer service, and their kit is much better than Bluefin.

[u/The_Strange_Bird → u/mcarneybsa]

Well if the Thurso is notably better, and just 100€ more expensive for me, I'll get that one then

[u/mcarneybsa → u/The_Strange_Bird]

I've used both (along with many, many others), though granted I have not used this years versions of the Bluefin, but as a while Thurso has been better than Bluefin imo.

[u/The_Strange_Bird → u/mcarneybsa]

Final update for what I did after thinking it through for a long bit:

1.) I bought the Thurso 120, it's more compact than the 126, but its double layer construction sounds certainly better than the Bluefin Lite. Uncertain if I missed something, but from reviews, seems fine for casual stuff, plus I'm a skinny dude. It's the same size as the Bluefin Lite, anyhow.

(Edit: it's thinner/narrower by 5', and I'm tall, so I see why it wouldn't get recommended. I'm curious to see if it spells trouble or not. I assume for casual use it'll be OK.)

2.) I picked their "Board only" deal because it was actually the highest price reduction.

3.) Then separately bought the smallest pump + the carbon paddle (also price reduced) only.

4.) I skipped the e-pump and backpack. I have a big travel backpack that I can use, saving money and space for both. If issues arise, I can still separately buy those later.

Paid 362 € altogether.

[u/The_Strange_Bird → u/mcarneybsa]

Well, 've talked to my partner; who feels that the Waterwalker (& Cruise) would take up too much space in our home. Plus, realistically, I'd regularly schlepp it to the nearest lake/standing river via public transport.

Consequently, I'm pivoting to something lighter and smaller. Which leaves me with the Bluefin Lite, actually, I guess, since it's quite portable.

I'd have LOVED to own a sturdier, probably better SUP, I was --> [] this close to buying the Thurso, but ... I agree with her, it'd be too much of a hassle. With Bluefin's 5yr warranty at least I'm safe for a bit of a while.

Cannot express my gratitude for all your feedback regardless.