Which beginner SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) to buy? + Top 10 boards of 2024
Inflatable or Hardboard?
Almost everybody buys an inflatable SUP board (and not a hardboard) because they are portable and the performance is almost similar.
The correct size for beginner?
Beginners need a stable = WIDE enough Board. The heavier (kg) the beginner ➨ the wider (cm) the board
Bodyweight lower 80 kg ➨ Board 76 cm (30” inch) WIDE
Bodyweight between 80-100 kg ➨ Board 81 cm (32” inch) WIDE
Bodyweight over 100 kg ➨ Board 86 cm (34” inch) WIDE
Example: You are 85 kg. ? Then a board that is 81 cm (32” inch) wide is ok. Example the FIT OCEAN Magic Glide 10’8.
“My partner is lighter than me (60 kg) can he use the same 81 cm board?” – Yes, this board is also suitable for your partner. A board can never be too wide.
“My partner is heavier than me (110 kg) can he use the same 81 cm wide board?” – No. In this case, choose a board that is 86 cm wide so that it fits both.
Which category / model ?
80% buys an ALLROUND/ FAMILY / FUN for the whole family. These work on lakes, ocean and rivers. Advanced paddlers will enjoy a board in the TOURING catagory.
Price-Quality ?
- We don’t recommend buying very low priced no-name SUP Boards at the Supermarket and Outlet which are also low cost produced (bad gluing, leaking, etc.). We do not sell these.
- There are the well know brands like Red Paddle, Naish, Starboard which costs 1000+ CHF and these we do sell. These boards have higher total costs (production, sales, marketing).
- A good allround SUP of high quality production complete with paddle does not have to cost a thousand Swiss Francs. Here are some of our bestsellers:
High-quality, inflatable all-round board, manufactured under Swiss supervision. Compact, stable and very manoeuvrable. Made under Swiss supervision with welded seams and 7 years warranty.
FIT OCEAN Magic Glide 10’8 BLUE – 325x82WIDTHx15cm. IN STOCK
Top-selling: Switzerland's #1 inflatable all-round iSUP! Ideal for paddlers up to 140 kg. Max. payload: 280 kg – perfect for 2 adults or 1 adult with kids. Stable for beginners yet offers excellent glide for advanced paddlers. Pre-mounted rings for kayak seat attachment. Swiss quality, 7-year warranty! 🚀
STARDUPP all-round SUP's different widths. IN STOCK
Stable, colorful and high quality SUPs. Possibility to mount a kayak seat. Different sizes available. Good backpacks and double stroke pumps. Extended warranty to 3 years. Quality products.
Stable, colorful and high quality SUPs. Possibility to mount a kayak seat. Different sizes available. Good backpacks and double stroke pumps. Extended warranty to 3 years. Quality products.
AQUA MARINA Vapor, Fusion, Monster, Atlas, Breeze, BeasT. IN STOCK
The Aqua Marina SUP boards have great graphics, a slightly thinner skin than other SUP boards and come fully equipped with leashes. And optionally it can be equipped with a kayak seat and a dual paddle SUP/kayak.
GOOD DEALS: CHF 500-800
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Lightcorp SUP Freeride 10’6, 11’6, 12’6. IN STOCK
Top quality produced, very hard, super strong double layer Allround Boards, produced under German supervision. Best glue. Good backpack and Pump.
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Super stable SUP to learn to paddle and kayak. With kayak Seat and Dual Paddle.
PREMIUM: > CHF 800
The Red Paddle Ride's are the very first boards to hit the market. With their lightweight double layer, innovative backpack and pump, they are at the top of the class. Available in 3 different sizes and different WIDTHS.
The JOBE's are of the highest quality. Everything double layered with premium accessories. Different lengths and widths, highly recommended!
Naish Nalu. IN STOCK
Naish boards are of excellent quality, come with good accessories and the shape is fast. Comes in 2 different lengths and colors.
Related products
- Is the SUP board wide enough?
See table above what you need. - Is the board in the all-around SUP category?
It doesn't have a pointed nose. - Is everything included?
Board, pump, SUP paddle - Is the seller reliable?
The website says 2 years warranty. Reviews are ok. - SUP brand reliable?
It has good online reviews that are not from the brand itself.
Meist gestellte Fragen im Surfshop
Most asked questions in the surf shop
Why are there big price differences in inflatable SUP boards?
1. Quality and scope of delivery Firstly, one should know that all inflatable paddle boards are made in China. Yes, even the ones with the Swiss cross on them, they might be designed in Switzerland, but the only machines that can produce the boards are all in China. There are over 300 at the moment! Factories that manufacture inflatable paddleboards. The big question now is: "Who is the client for the production order and to which factory". Is the client a big supermarket chain?'' Then they probably went with the cheapest factory with cheap materials and construction to only be able to offer a few thousand boards at a low price. This can sometimes still lead to a reasonable product, but in many cases they lead to failure. The boards are starting to lose air because the skin parts are poorly glued. Once that's the case it's very difficult to fix them because the leaky seam will always be a weak point from inflating the boards so much. We also see boards with a skin thickness of 0.5mm, which causes the board to lose its shape when left in the sun. FYI, the shell or skin should be at least 1mm thick, this will also make them stiffer. Another point where manufacturers save costs is the inside of the board, the so-called drop stitch. Here you can't see anything from the outside and have to rely on given information. If the client is a surf industry brand, they probably want to maintain their reputation and choose better materials like thicker skin, better drop stitch, better construction methods like patented good glue and clean environment. A board can last up to 7+ years without falling apart. This also applies to the pump, the bag that the board comes in and the paddle. In addition to quality, it also depends on what comes with the board. Is that a backpack with padded straps and wheels, or a simple nylon bag? Is it a pump from a brand like BRAVO that makes good pumps, or a no-name pump that breaks after a few uses? Is this a plain wobbly aluminum paddle that sinks, or a paddle that floats and is stable, or maybe even a carbon paddle that's a lot lighter and a joy to use?
You buy the board from a store, bought from a dealer in your country, bought from a European importer, bought from a brand name manufacturer, bought from a Chinese factory. That's how it works. Yes, you pay a higher price, but generally you get a decent product that also retains its resale value. Of course there are the unicorns on the market, brands that AND produce in a good factory AND sell direct to the consumer, here you can get a product that will last a very long time and still be available at a reasonable price. Example: FIT OCEAN, produced in a factory with German ISO standards and sold directly through surf shops like surfdeal.
Can we also go on the paddle board with children, two adults? with a dog? Do fitness on it?
Can we mount a seat on the SUP board?
SUP paddle, aluminum or carbon? 3 pieces or 2 pieces?
What else do I need to buy?
How do I recognize good and bad quality Stand Up Paddles? What do we think of Aqua Marina, Indiana, FIT OCEAN, Decathlon, Starboard, etc.
Quick win: give us a call. We have been selling for 10 years, we do quality check in China for different Stand Up Paddle brands (all SUPboards are from China), so we know all brands in the market. As a consumer, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between good quality and poor quality.
The SUP market is overloaded, every paddle brand claims to have good quality. Overall, the best way to be on the safe side is to buy from a multi-brand surf shop (i.e. not brand-agnostic), with good service, and openly showing that they apply the statutory 2-year warranty. So if you've gotten a leaking paddleboard, they simply replace it.
Buy local in Switzerland as dealing with foreign surf shops can be a nightmare when it comes to warranty processing.
A good approach is to pay a little more than the super cheap SUP boards in the outlet stores (see also our FAQ on "Why is there such a big price difference with inflatable paddleboards")? . Paying a little more means that not only the board itself is better, but also the accessories like the pump and paddle. A branded double action pump is much easier to pump and will not break after use. You are still wondering which brand Stand Up Paddle to choose.
If you can visit a store, you can see quality details for yourself. Poor quality means that the seam (where the various PVC parts are glued) has glue residue, the seam itself is not machine cut and has wrinkles, and the rail has small bumps. Try peeling the EVA deck pad off with a finger, it should be rock solid.
If you can't visit a store, there's the usual online sleuthing. Look for reviews and forums. But be aware that online review sites with Amazon affiliate links usually only promote boards sold on Amazon.
A good indication of better quality is when a board comes with an extended warranty, e.g. B. 3 years or more. Then the brand has confidence in the product and you can expect good quality.
What do we think of brands A, B, C, etc.?
Red Paddle, Indiana, Naish, FIT OCEAN, Starboard, JOBE are Western owned brands that have a good reputation to protect, so they will strive to produce good quality. Supermarkets, outlets, Decathlon and Chinese brands like Aqua Marina will try to offer consumers the lowest price. It must be noted that even the most well-known brand can have a bad batch of SUP boards (the so-called Monday piece), so protect yourself and buy from a store that offers good service to you as a consumer. Call us toll-free for advice.
