Are Inflatable Paddle Boards Any Good? The Hype and The Truth

Are inflatable paddle boards any good?

Inflatable paddle boards are durable and perform well in the water. Inflatable sup boards have some real advantages over hard paddle boards.

Inflatable paddle boards have real advantages

• Are portable and transport easily
• Take minimal storage space
• Are tough and durable
• Family friendly
• Perfect for yoga
• Soft impact when falling
• Good for dogs
• Roll up into the size of a large backpack when deflated

Inflatables are surprisingly rigid and solid. Inflatable paddle boards should never bend in the middle.

Paddle boarding seems to become more popular every summer. Every time you go to the beach or lake you see a paddle board.

Many of these paddle boards are inflatable. And that raises a lot of questions

How long do inflatable paddle boards last? How can a blow up SUP be durable? Do inflatable paddle boards pop? Are inflatable paddle boards any good?

You get what you pay for…a cheap inflatable will be a disappointment.

Inflatable paddle boards are more durable than hard paddle boards. Inflatables are surprisingly rigid. They perform well in the water.

True, they are not as fast or responsive as a hard paddle board. But for the average paddler inflatables perform fine.

The latest generation of inflatable paddle boards have changed the game for many SUP buyers. These inflatable paddle boards combine easy transport and storage with decent performance. Let’s take a deeper look at inflatable SUPs and see if they are really any good.

Read: Best Mid-Priced All-Around Paddle Boards

For the majority of recreational paddlers inflatable paddle boards are the best option.

Best for Transporting and Storage

ISUPs are the best choice for paddlers who want a board that is easy to transport. For many paddlers the idea of strapping a 10′ paddle board to the top of their car is a major turn off. An inflatable will roll up to the size of a large backpack. You can throw your ISUP in the trunk of a car and save yourself traveling space and the hassle of wrestling with a large hard paddle board.

Car, bus, plane or on foot. An inflatable paddle board is easier to transport.

Transporting an ISUP is a non-issue you don’t even need to think about.  If you buy a hard paddle board you need to figure out how you are going to move it around. That usually means buying a roof rack.

Hard roof racks made by companies like Thule and Yakima will cost you hundreds of dollars. A soft rack is cheaper and will only cost $30-50. With an ISUP you don’t have to think about a rack. You can travel in your car without ever thinking that your board could fly off the roof.

iSUPs are an easy worry-free, space-saving solution to transporting a paddle board. That means you can even ride a bus or a bicycle with your board in a backpack.

I use inflatable paddle boards because they are easier for me to transport.

Inflatable boards are the best and maybe the only choice if you have limited storage space.

Inflatables totally eliminate any storage problems you would have with an epoxy or carbon board. Or you may have the room but don’t want a large awkward paddle board cluttering up your garage or shed. You can store an iSUP on a shelf, in a closet, under a bed or even the trunk of your car.

Better Durability

How long do inflatable paddle boards last?

The big question many people have is how durable are inflatable paddle boards. I mean they are just filled with air right? Truth is, inflatable paddle boards are more durable than hard paddle boards.  These are not made with the same material as a rubber kiddie pool. The exterior of a good  inflatable paddle board is multiple layers of military grade pvc. These are tough durable units.

A good quality inflatable paddle board that is taken care of properly will last many many years. I have never had one leak and I use my paddle boards more than the average paddler. Of course, I only buy good paddle boards and take care of them properly. (keeping them out of the sun when not paddling, etc.)

Inflatables are more durable than hard paddle boards.

If you crash into rocks or a dock with an epoxy board it could easily get dinged. Imagine dropping an epoxy paddle board on cement. Ouch! But an inflatable has a bit more give. You can drop it on cement from a two-story building with no damage.

So you don’t have to worry about dropping it or crashing into rocks. That being said, you don’t want to drop your iSUP on a sharp object like a nail. And never drag a SUP along the ground. Use common sense when moving any SUP. Overall, iSUPs are surprisingly durable. More durable than you think they are.

Durability is one reason whitewater river SUPs are inflatable.

And by the way, a dog’s nails are fine for an inflatable paddle board. In fact and an inflatable SUP is a good option if you want to ride with your dog. The iSUP deck surface allows for a better grip for a dog than a hard/composite paddle board.

Inflatable SUP Performance

• About 7% slower than a hard paddle board
• Not as responsive as a hard board
• Not as stable in wind and chop
• Perform fine for all-around paddling and the majority of paddlers

Inflatables are slower and less responsive but perform fine for all-around paddling and the majority of paddlers

Hard paddle boards are more agile, faster and have better glide than inflatables. But for all-around paddling fun most paddlers will not notice a big difference.

Inflatables are stable enough for beginners in flat water. But when the wind picks up inflatables are harder to handle than hard boards. However in fast-moving river whitewater inflatables perform better than hard paddle boards.

If you are serious about surfing or racing you want a hard paddle board. There are some people who like a more responsive board under their feet. But for most all-around paddlers a good inflatable SUP board will perform fine.

If your friends have hard paddle boards you will have to work harder to keep up

They now make Inflatable paddle boards designed for surfing, touring, racing, yoga, fishing, kids and general cruising. You can do anything on an inflatable paddle board that you can do on a hard paddle board but they are bit slower (7%) and not as responsive as hard boards.

How long does it take to inflate a paddle board?

Most inflatable paddle boards take only 7- 10 minutes to inflate. All you do is connect your pump to the air valve on the board. Then inflate to the desired psi. Close the valve and you’re ready to go. Truth is it takes less time to get an inflatable into the water than an epoxy paddle board. When you leave for the beach or lake with an inflatable board you throw it in the back seat or trunk and you are on the way. Once you get there you pump it up and jump in the water.

When you’re hand pumping to 20 psi… the last 20-30 hand pumps can be difficult.

However, depending on the recommended psi of certain models the last 30-40 hand pumps can be difficult. It can be a bit of an arm workout. A weak person or a little kid may need help on the last 30-40 pumps. And two people can grab the pump handle and inflate it together.

Some iSUPs inflate to 15 psi. Others are inflated at 20 psi. When you’re using a manual pump to 20 psi it can get hard.

A weaker person may need help inflating a paddle board with a hand pump.

It’s important that you inflate the board to its maximum psi for good performance, so it’s worth the effort. In fact it’s not a bad idea to go a few psi above the recommended psi.

One way around this is using an electric portable air compressor that runs off a car’s cigarette lighter. These work well but actually take longer to inflate. If you’re in a hurry just inflatable it with a hand pump.

With an epoxy paddle board you need to lift it on the roof of the car and carefully strap it down. You will drive to the water slower with a 10′ board strapped to your car roof. Once you get there you still need a few minutes to get it off your roof. From start to finish a ISUP is actually quicker to get in the water.

Price & Resale Value

As quality has gone up so has the price of inflatable paddle boards.  In general, the price is about the same between inflatables and hard paddle boards, with inflatables being a bit less on average.

You can find inflatables that are very inexpensive but remember, you get what you pay for. I don’t recommend buying a cheap inflatable. Look for inflatables that have at least two layers of military grade pvc.

Resale Value

Typically the resale value on a quality inflatable paddle board is very good. After a few seasons a hard paddle board will show dings and scratches. Whereas an inflatable may still look pristine.

What are good inflatable paddle board brands?

There are a lot of good SUP brands out there. Among them are:

• Red Paddle Co.
• Starboard
• Naish
• Earth River
• iRocker
• Blackfin
• Nixy
• Atoll
• Thurso Surf
• Sea Eagle
• Bote

Summary

Inflatable paddle boards are best for those who:

• want easy transport.
• travel often.
• want compact storage.
• are first time buyers who want to keep the cost down.
• want a more durable board.
• prefer a “softer” board for kids.

Hard paddle boards are best for those who:

• surf seriously.
• race competitively.
• paddle very long distances.
• don’t want to mess with inflating a board.
• live on a lake or the ocean.
• are serious about top performance.

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