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The standup paddleboard category is a crowded field, like surfing California’s Old Man’s on a Sunday. But, after extensive testing (woe is us), we managed to narrow it down to a handful of SUPs that stood out amongst the crowd. Whether you’re embracing your inner Laird Hamilton on a wave or cruising around your local lake or bay, we have what you’re looking for right here.
At a Glance
Best Inflatable Bay Tourer: Isle Pioneer Pro ($795-$995)
Most Packable: Kokopelli Chasm-Lite Inflatable SUP ($999)
Best Beginner Hardboard: Starboard GO (From $999)
Best Inflatable River SUP: Hala Atcha 86 ($1,199)
Best Standup Foil Board: KT Ginxu Dragonfly ($2,099-$2,380)
How to Choose a Paddleboard
How We Test
Meet Our Lead Tester
(Photo: Courtesy Isle)
Best Inflatable Bay Tourer
Isle Pioneer Pro
Sizes: 9’6” x 32”, 10’6” x 34”, 11’6” x 36”
Volume: 275 L, 375 L, 380L
Thickness: 6”
Weight: 20 lbs, 23 lbs, 26 lbs
Pros and Cons
⊕ Rigidity of a hard board in an inflatable
⊕ Full deck pad
⊕ Ample gear loops
⊗ Addition of carbon fiber reflected in higher price
⊗ No rails for surfing
Isle’s top-selling Pioneer SUP, available in three sizes, gets a high-performance boost for 2024 with the Pro series, which adds Infinity carbon fiber to the board’s already bomber Air-Tech construction to increase glide, rigidity, stability, and efficiency.
How it works: a six-stringer chassis (one on each rail and in the center, mirrored on the bottom) of a proprietary carbon and thermoplastic matrix gives the board, “high flexural modulus,” engineering speak for a beam’s ability to resist bending under pressure. Every time a board flexes it loses energy to the water, so this added rigidity ups the Isle Pioneer Pro’s performance, especially when combined with its six-inch drop stitch construction. But the biggest benefit: You get the glide and stiffness of a rigid board in a portable, lightweight inflatable.
Our testers took the Isle Pioneer Pro from SoCal’s Mission Bay to the salt ponds and estuaries of Rhode Island, all singing its stand-up praises. “It’s incredibly stable,” said East Coast tester Ross Singer. “I’m 200 pounds, and I was able to jump up and down on it with little deflection.”
We also tested out the Isle Pioneer Pro’s new hybrid design, letting it double as a sit-on-top kayak by attaching an inflatable seat ($125) and foot brace ($60) to its Isle-Link attachment system, which allows for endless customization. (Bonus: the breakdown paddle has an extension that turns your SUP handle into a kayak blade.) “I went over huge wakes from a 70-foot wooden yacht and stayed dry,” said tester Tim Sharp, who took it out on a choppy day on Rhode Island’s Point Judith Salt Pond. “And it tracked great in a 15-mile-per-hour wind.”
Other features include a full-coverage deck pad offering comfort and grip for the likes of yoga, pets and kids; a new better-than-bungees gear management system that lets you easily strap on gear via infinite clip-on points; and a nifty carrying handle that lays flush to the board for getting prone (as for yoga). Tech upgrade: on Mission Bay, we turned it into an e-SUP by attaching a Bixpy electric fin motor, tooling around the bay at sunset to the marvel of SoCal motorboat partiers.
(Photo: Courtesy Kokopelli )
Most Packable
Kokopelli Chasm-Lite Inflatable SUP
$999 at Campsaver $999 at Camping World
Sizes: 10’ x 30”
Volume: 290 L
Thickness: 6”
Weight: 12.9 lbs
Pros and Cons
⊕ Ultra-lightweight and packable
⊗ Less stable than other inflatable SUPs
⊗ No deck pad on the tail section
Renowned in the whitewater community for their premium packrafts, Kokopelli’s first foray into stand-up paddling is one of the lightest and most packable inflatable boards ever made. Weighing only 12.9 pounds, the board folds in half (hot-dog style) and then packs down to only 18 inches tall—roughly the size of a regular sleeping bag.
This board can be squirreled away into the tightest of spaces, used as carry-on luggage for plane travel, or hauled into the backcountry to explore remote bodies of water. It fit into a tiny nook in one tester’s Subaru Outback when it was fully loaded for a camping trip, while other inflatables didn’t stand a chance of being stuffed in.
Once pumped up, this 10-foot long, 30-inch-wide board offers a respectable paddling experience, though it makes some sacrifices in the stability department. The combination of a 10-knot wind and one-foot swell at the mouth of the Dana Point Harbor felt sketchy—plus, the lack of a deck pad on the tail did not help matters.
“This is an ideal board for an experienced user looking for a lightweight, minimalist option,” said tester Dave Shively, founding editor of SUP Magazine. “Though the minimalism comes down to the width, there’s not a lot of board.” While the board itself is spartan, Kokopelli includes everything paddlers need including a small pump, four-piece paddle, nine-inch fin, and a repair kit that easily fits inside their waterproof dry bag backpack.
(Photo: Courtesy Starboard)
Best Beginner Hardboard
Starboard GO SUP
Sizes: Available in 4 sizes from 10’2” x 29” to 12’ x 34”
Volume: 177 L to 256 L
Thickness: 4.4” to 4.8”
Weight: 23.6 lbs to 35.1 lbs
Pros and Cons
⊕ Beautiful cosmetics
⊕ Great stability
⊗ Big piece of gear to store and travel with
Just starting out? The new Go from hardshell stalwart Starboard makes a great entry level board for those wanting to paddle fast and stay dry. Available in a wide size range from the longer and faster 12-footer to the more maneuverable 10-foot-2-inch board and in a variety of layups, the Go accommodates the whole spectrum of rider weights and abilities (bigger equals wider and more stable, shorter means narrower, better tracking, and increased maneuverability).
Designed for a variety of conditions, from flat water cruising to navigating light wind and chop, its versatility comes from a classic surf shape sporting a concave bottom. A wide tail and nose provide balanced trim for efficient touring, while a deep center channel on the bottom enhances glide and stability (like a catamaran). Its steadiness is augmented by boxy rails, which also limit water flowing onto the deck, keeping feet and gear dry. And you can still step back for a quick snap turn and rely on the nose for added stability in chop. The fin box is also positioned well astern for improved tracking.
Plus, it’s easy to carry to the beach thanks to its two-in-one carry strap and paddle holder, which lets you hang the board on your shoulder and instagram your outing or sip your coffee on the way home.
Our testers took it everywhere from Michigan’s Great Lakes to Newport Beach, California, vouching for its impressive all-around performance. “Fun and stable,” said Midwest-based tester Chris Rosario, who was appreciative of its seam-welded construction that enhanced the board’s stiffness. “Great for beginners or seasoned paddlers, as well as surfers and yogis.”
Two cherries on top: First, the ASAP WS version of this board includes a windsurf-mount attachment and additional mid-fin box, so it doubles as a windsurfer with upwind control. Second, Starboard is a B-corp that buys plastic and carbon offsets for every board sold.
(Photo: Courtesy Hala)
Best Inflatable River SUP
Hala Atcha 86
$1,139 at Amazon $1,199 at Hala
Sizes: 8’6″ x 34″
Volume: 269 L
Thickness: 6”
Weight: 22.5 lbs
Pros and Cons
⊕ Great maneuverability and surf chops
⊕ Stable in waves
⊗ Not much hull speed on the flats
⊗ Hard to reflip upright
Hitting what it calls the sweet spot where “stability-meets-surf,” Hala’s re-designed Atcha line ups the ante with its new longer, spring-loaded StompBox2 fin, beefing up responsiveness and power. The nine-inch fin, made of tough TPU, is more rigid in all directions, serving up more drive in deep water and preventing you from supermanning off the board when the going gets shallow.
Tester Davide Sartoni took it on dozens of rivers throughout the country, ranging from Class II-IV and low to high water, and was impressed by its balance of skills. “It’s easy to maneuver, has great stability, rides over waves and tracks well across current, and it surfs waves that are not too steep really well,” he said. He also credits the new, longer fin for keeping him upright and in control. “It lets you ride in shallow water, which has always been a problem of river supping,” he reported.
“It’s made to keep you upright,” echoed tester Sady Carelli. “When rocking side to side, it doesn’t flip you off. You can walk up, down, and side-to-side, giving you a chance to save yourself before plunging into the drink.”
Which brings up one demerit. “If you do swim and the board is upside down, it’s hard to flip back upright,” she remarked, crediting the nuisance to its rocker. Still, for overall river running, she concluded it’s a great choice. “It’s fun for riding small wave trains thanks to its rockered nose,” she said. The retractable fin also builds your confidence. “It’s a lifesaver,” she said. “It’s stopped me from several face plants.”
(Photo: Courtesy KT)
Best Standup Foil Board
KT Ginxu Dragonfly
Sizes: Available in 7 stock sizes, from 6’6” x 18” to 8’4” x 22”
Thickness: 6.5” to 7”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Quick to get up on the foil
⊕ Great stability and glide
⊗ Expensive
⊗ Carbon construction dings easily
Shaped by company namesake Keith Teboul, the Dragonfly downwind SUP foil board—new this year from Maui’s KT—is billed as the “complete downwinder.” Built for light downwind and wing foiling, it’s a performance downwind SUP whose displacement hull makes it quick to get going. The patented Ginxu step on the bottom—an indentation that helps it plane—helps lift it off the water quickly, detaching from the water in front of the foil. It also comes with a beveled tail so you don’t touch when turning.
Who better to attest to its features in these two categories than eight-time world champion Kai and his brother Ridge Lenny, both all-around watermen born and raised on the island. “Its main strength is its stability and glide that make it extremely easy to get up onto foil,” said Kai, whose longest single run was 32 miles in five- to 10-knot winds. “Its length also makes it fantastic for paddling when not on foil.”
Calling it the “best there is out there at the moment” for the category, he appreciated its foot traction—“the deck grip is nice and comfortable, not slippery, and your feet won’t fall asleep”—and its light carbon construction, which he touted as “extremely durable.” While its narrow width can make adjusting from a traditionally wide SUP design somewhat intimidating, he adds it’s great for flatwater pop-ups, small waves, and downwind swells in light to extreme winds.
Brother Ridge, who took it on a five-mile downwinder in 25- to 30-knot winds on a “side shore with good bumps” (what he calls the board’s “ideal conditions”) also sung its praises. “It makes downwind foiling more accessible,” he said.
Want to test the waters? Try learning on a bigger size first and then tone it down a notch.
How to Choose a Paddleboard
Intended Use
First, think about what you want to do with a board, as this will determine the shape and type of board you buy. Do you want to surf? Look for a shorter length and rocker to keep the nose from diving. Cruise around lakes? You’ll want a longer board for maintaining hull speed, with width equaling stability and narrowness enhancing glide. Interested in running whitewater? (Yes, it’s a thing.) You might want an inflatable board for added durability, width for stability, and rocker to ride up and over waves. Planning to race in the ocean? You’ll want a long and narrow board for speed.
Hard Board vs. Inflatable SUP
Inflatable boards are excellent for storage, transportation, and general toughness (it is very hard to put a hole in a well-constructed inflatable board). But they do come with some performance tradeoffs, especially in the surf and race departments. They’re not as fast or rigid as hardboards, compromising speed, and harder to hold an edge on a wave.
Beginner vs. Advanced SUPs
Great beginner dimensions start around eight-foot, six-inches long and at least 30 inches wide, with six inches of thickness (for inflatables) for stability. SUPs for more advanced paddlers are often narrower (depending on intended purpose), meaning better hull speed but compromising stability.
How We Test
Number of testers: 17
Number of products tested: 31
Number of miles paddled: 103-plus (ocean and river)
Bags of chips eaten: 6
Flipflops busted: 1
Board cannonballs: 4
To test SUPs this season, we assembled a team of expert and even not-so-expert stand-up-paddlers from Florida to California, Hood River to Hawaii, and even a few from the Rockies to weigh in on how they handle all forms of water. The group consisted of outdoor reps, shop owners, competitive athletes, and regular Joe paddlers.
Our test crew also included big names like SUP experts Spencer Lacy and Mike Tavares, and Maui-based watermen and foil aficionados Kai and Ridge Lenny. In all, we tested 23 different SUPs from a variety of categories—from rec models for easy touring to high-end foil SUPs for Hawaian downwinders—looking at everything from material and shape to stability, glide, and rigidity.
Meet Our Lead Tester
Eugene Buchanan is the 14-year publisher and editor-in-chief of Paddler magazine and founder of PaddlingLife.com. Writing about the outdoors for more than 30 years, he’s a former ski patroller and raft and kayak guide whose passion for paddling has taken him to more than 30 countries on six continents. A longboarder when it comes to surf, he’s been a SUP connoisseur since the first inflatable was invented by C4 Waterman and his stance on them has never changed: they’re awesome (and regular, not goofy).
Jack Haworth is an avid stand-up paddler who lives in one of the sport’s meccas: Dana Point, California. With ample opportunities for both flatwater paddling and SUP surfing, Haworth put this year’s boards through a classic Southern California gauntlet. Haworth is a former editor of SUP Magazine.
The post The Best Standup Paddleboards for Cruising, Foiling, and River-Running (2024) appeared first on Outside Online.
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