What are the Best Inflatable Paddle Board BRANDS?

My Viewpoint:

The Best Inflatable Paddle Board Brands

Mid-priced paddle board brands worth checking out are:

• iRocker
• Blackfin
• Thurso Surf
• Nixy
• Atoll
• Sea Eagle

There are so many options in paddle boards. How do you know what the best inflatable paddle board brands are? Naturally buyers want to make sure they are getting a quality inflatable.

The average consumer may not understand that an inflatable paddle board is super durable. Or maybe not sure that it is rigid enough to perform well. Therefore reluctant to pay $1000 for an inflatable paddle board.

There are a lot of good inflatable paddle board brands out there. Good inflatables are durable. In fact more durable than hard paddle boards. Blow up paddle boards today are surprisingly rigid and perform at a high level.

After you look at a number of paddle boards you realize that many of them are similar. Many lower to mid-range boards are obviously manufactured at the same factory in China.

However as you move up in price you see brands that are creating innovative unique paddle boards. There are clear winners in paddle board brands who have proven themselves over the years.

Among the better brands there are clear differences in quality and how a board performs in the water.

There are differences in quality and how a board performs among the many paddle board brands. Size and shape differs from board to board. The quality and strength of materials will vary among brands.

The better brands have their own unique construction methods that affect durability and performance. These brands will also add unique features to improve how a board moves through the water.

It’s the attention to detail that makes a paddle board brand stand out. For example the size, number and placement of the fins.

There are noticeable differences in the materials used in construction. You immediately see the higher quality fins, fin boxes, D-rings and deck pads in better brands.

Quality is also quickly apparent in the accessories. While cheap hand pumps are a nightmare, the best dual-action pumps are a blessing. Carry bags differ greatly among brands. A good paddle board brand will have their own unique carry bag. There are some very nice backpack style carry bags with wheels.

The bottom line is paddle board brands differ in quality and how they perform. You feel a real difference in how different boards handle, how easy they glide and how quick they maneuver. And of course the quality determines how long they are going to last.

Certain brands have proven themselves over the years with quality, high performing paddle boards. The brands in this list are my favorite brands that produce great all-around inflatable paddle boards.

Read: Best all-around inflatable paddleboards

Read: Best inflatable touring paddleboards

Read: Best inflatable paddleboards for fishing

My Viewpoint:

Best Inflatable Paddle Board Brands

Starboard

---

What makes Starboard stand out?

Top Quality and Well Constructed

There is a feel both in and out of the water to a quality paddle board that is unmistakable. When you handle enough paddle boards you know quality when you see it.

Starboard has the feel of a quality well-constructed inflatable paddle board. Many paddle board brands get the basics down right. Starboard goes beyond the basics with attention to small details.

Attention to Detail

The attention to small detail is obvious when you look at a Starboard sup. You notice the functionality and thought they put into every feature on their boards.

Starboard took the time create a center fin system that is easier to use than most.

Then there is just the right amount of nose rocker on Starboard SUPs that help cut through chop.

I also appreciate their bungee tie down systems. And a neoprene paddle holder on the tail of some boards.

The Starboard carry bags are very well designed and functional.

Double Air Chamber

On their deluxe inflatables Starboard has two air chambers instead of one. The second air chamber is on the standing area of the board. This extra air chamber in the middle of the board is surrounded by i-beams.

These i-beams provide extra stiffness on the most critical part of the board. This extra stiffness provides better handling and smoother glide performance.

Carbon Fiber Rail Bands

Adding even more stiffness are carbon fiber bands around the sides of the board. Rigidity is the key factor in inflatable paddle board performance.

High Density Drop Stitch Core

Like other high quality inflatable SUPs Starboard uses the best high density drop stitching in their core. The increased yarn density adds to the stiffness of the board.

Fusion Heat Welded Seams

Starboard uses fusion laminate technology to weld the seams of the board together. Unlike cheap paddle boards that use glue which can eventually compromise the boards exterior.

Inflates to 18 psi

Because Starboard paddle boards are well constructed with high-quality materials they can be inflatable to 18 psi instead of the typical 15 psi. That extra air pressure make a very rigid stiff iSUP that performs better in the water.

Performance

What really stands out with Starboard is their performance in the water. If you want a high performance inflatable paddleboard you cannot do better than a Starboard sup.

---

Inflatable Paddle Board Durability (video)

---

Red Paddle Co.

---

What makes Red Paddle Co. stand out?

Superior Design & Construction

Red Paddle Co. is the only paddle board brand that owns their manufacturing facility. That means they call the shots when it comes to the manufacturing process. They can try and test different construction methods and materials whenever they want to.

Red Paddle Co. took the standard paddle board design and looked at every single aspect of a paddle board and how they could improve it. Every feature of a paddle board has been tweaked and improved for performance and durability.

Red Paddle Co. paddle boards are among the best designed and constructed board in the industry. They use the best materials and have their own construction process.

Looking at their line up of great boards I have to say they make the best inflatable paddle board packages you can buy.

While I am talking about design and construction I need to mention accessories. The Titan hand air pump that comes with a Red Paddle board is one of the best you can buy.

And the same goes for the Red Paddle Co. carry bags. Their carry bags are designed for care-free functionality. It’s easy to take the rolled up board in and out of this bag. It is well constructed with nice shoulder straps and becomes a backpack. And it has wheels for traveling.

Unrivaled Rigidity & Super Durable

Red Paddle Co. Boards have a reputation for being the most rigid and durable inflatable paddle boards on the market. Their boards are bombproof and almost indestructible.

Red Paddle Co. boards are the closest an inflatable paddle board comes to the feel and performance of a hard paddle board.

High Density Reinforced Drop Stitching

One of the secrets to Red Paddle Co. boards is the thicker high-density drop stitching they use in the core. This makes for a very stiff paddle board. But it also allows their boards to have a thinner rail. Thinner rails improve maneuverability, especially in surf and moving water.

MSL Fusion

Red Paddle Co. has developed their own process for adding a second layer of pvc to their boards. It involves fusing a second layer to the dropstitch core raw fabric. This process makes the board stiffer, lighter, stronger, airtight, more durable, it helps maintain the shape and rolls up easier.

Inflates to 20-25 psi

All the added strength (resulting from their own construction process and high quality materials) allows these boards to be inflated to 25 psi. That is 10 psi higher than the typical 15 psi. The added air pressure makes a very rigid paddle board. Red Paddle Co. inflatables approach hard paddle board rigidity.

Quad Layer Rail

Besides having thinner rails for better performance, Red Paddle Co. board rails are reinforced with extra rail tape. These boards are almost indestructible.

Rocker Stiffening System

Red Paddle Co. paddle boards come with stiffening battens to add to the rails of the board. You slide these battens into pockets on the sides of the board.

I know some paddlers who don’t use them as these boards are already super stiff. But if you are a heavy rider or carry heavy cargo you can slip these battens into the side slots to make the board even stiffer.

Progressive Rocker

Red Paddle Co. has built in progressive rocker into their boards for better performance and an authentic feel. Rocker is the curve of the board from the tail to the nose. Most inflatable paddle boards have an up-turned nose and tail. But Red Paddle has a progressive rocker that start well back on the board and slowly increases as it approaches the nose. The result is improved glide and handling.

Performance

All these great features would be academic if Red Paddle Co paddleboards did not perform well in the water. Their performance is outstanding. Red Paddle Co (along with Starboard) make the best performing inflatable paddleboards on the market.

---