I review a lot of different inflatable stand up paddle boards and consequently get to try out a ton of different makes and models.

Some boards are better than others but each has their own pros and cons.

I enjoy reviewing every single board and hopefully you find my reviews and insight helpful in finding the right board that suits your needs, budget and experience level best.

After reviewing all these inflatable SUP’s I find that there are a select few that I favour and love to use for my personal use.

The list below contains my personal faves.  These boards are each awesome in their own unique way.

2022 is a great year to get into paddle boarding!  With everything going on in the world right now, a little social distancing out on the water breathing in fresh air, away from the crowds can be a wonderful thing.

2022 TOP 5 INFLATABLE SUP’S

Check out the inflatable SUP’s below.  I use these paddle boards often, they are all great quality and fun boards to use.

HERO SUP CRUSADER

ALL-AROUND VERSATILITY & BEST LENGTH TO WIDTH RATIO

The Hero SUP Crusader is a board that anyone could love.  It has a really nice length to width ratio (11’2″L x 31″W) that provides decent stability without compromising the glide or performance.

We have had a lot of fun with this board and find it ideal for traveling especially with the rolling backpack – It has come on several vacations with us.

It handles well in many different situations.  It cruises nicely on flat water and is easy to handle when dealing with wake or chop from boats and wind.

It is the perfect board for paddling with your dog(s) as there is decent room up front and at the back for the dog to sit and good stability.

Check out the quick one minute video below of me cruising with my dog crew on the Crusader at Harrison Lake in BC, Canada.

Sometimes adding extra weight on your board (such as with a dog, kid or extra gear) can really make it feel slow and hard to paddle, this is especially true when the board is 32″ wide or wider.

We find the 31″ width of the Crusader along with the 11’2″ length to be a really nice balance without compromising performance.

The Crusader has good glide for an all-around design and we have found it to power through some pretty tough conditions really well even when loaded right up.

It comes in a few great colour options, standard blue or a very cool camo design in blue, green or purple.

Taking into account the all-around great performance and functionality of this ISUP, as well as the durable Air Fusion construction and 2-year warranty, it’s simply an awesome paddle board.

It comes with a really nice accessories package including a great backpack with wheels, 10′ coiled SUP leash, dual action hand pump, 3 removable quick lock fins, 10L dry bag and repair kit.

This board is a winner and it will not disappoint!

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE HERO SUP CRUSADER.

ATOLL 11’

BEGINNER FRIENDLY & LIGHTWEIGHT

This Atoll board has a lot of things going for it. It’s more basic in design and it isn’t fancy but it is solid, very light weight, and easy to paddle.

At 11′ long and 32″ wide it is quite stable and great to use in all types of water.

The tapered nose helps with glide and although this isn’t the fastest board in the water it’s ideal for cruising, bringing out the family and exploring different waterways.

I never feel unhappy on these paddle boards, they are comfy and secure yet fun and reliable.

I find these boards great for sharing with family and friends as most anyone can feel comfortable on it.

Although the tracking isn’t as straight as a leaner model the Atoll SUP is a lot of fun to use.

One of the nice things about the Atoll board is the cheaper price tag. It isn’t overpriced for what you get, which I’m sure you would agree is always nice.

It comes with a normal backpack, no wheels so it has to be carried on your back. However it only weighs 19 lbs so it is very easy to lug around and the backpack is fairly comfortable.

Atoll is a great company with nice people that are super helpful. They have one board that comes in several different colours.

I don’t find the Atoll ISUP to be as efficient as some of the other touring boards but it has it’s own strong points and is ideal for a day of fun on the water.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REIVEW OF THE ATOLL 11′ ISUP.

THURSO SURF WATERWALKER 132

ULTRA STABLE EASY RIDE

	WW 120	WW 126	WW 132
L x W x T	10' x 30" x 6"	10'6" x 31" x 6"	11' x 32" x 6"
WEIGHT	25 LBS.	28 LBS.	30 LBS.
MAX LOAD	260 LBS.	300 LBS.	330 LBS.
STABILITY
PERFORMANCE
FINS	3 REMOVABLE	3 REMOVABLE	3 REMOVABLE
WARRANTY	2 YEARS	2 YEARS	2 YEARS
PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

The Waterwalker can go anywhere and be paddled by just about anyone of any skill level. Although the WaterWalker comes in three different size options, it is the WW132 that is the most stable with the 32” width and it can hold a ton of weight.

This board is well priced for what you get and is definitely an easy ride for beginners.  If you’re new to paddle boarding, you’ll feel comfortable fast on the Waterwalker 132.

This ISUP feels great to paddle on all types of water be it calm lakes, rivers or tackling some ocean wake. The Thurso Surf boards are built strong but are also quite a bit heavier than many other inflatable SUP’s on the market.

Included in their package is everything you need to get you on the water including a 3-piece carbon paddle, backpack with wheels, board leash, dual action hand pump and 3 easy clip-in fins.

For my regular SUP outings I tend to prefer a faster board but really the biggest reason I don’t take it out more often is the weight.

The heavier weight makes it feel very solid in the water but also takes more effort to carry and paddle.

Although it does come with a great rolling backpack so it is easy to transport to the water.

The 11’ Waterwalker weighs 30 lbs., which is a good 6 lbs. or more heavier than other ISUP’s of similar size.

Even with the heavier weight this board has a lot of great features and is still one of my go-to boards that I use.

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE THURSO SURF WATERWALKER.

SEA EAGLE NEEDLENOSE

EFFICIENT GLIDE & FAST TOURING

L x W x T	12'6" x 30" x 6"	14' x 30" x 6"
WEIGHT	30 LBS	34 LBS
MAX LOAD	225 LBS	275 LBS
STABILITY
PERFORMANCE
PRICE	DEAL ALERT: BIG SALE HAPPENING NOW - CHECK PRICE	THE 14' NN IS ALSO ON SALE! - CHECK PRICE

I have always loved the Needlenose. I have used it for years and just recently reviewed the latest 2020 model.

With other new boards coming out on the market I don’t find that I use it as often as I used to but I still get it out on the water several times a year.

The Needlenose is very unique because it has a hard tip nose that cuts through the water better than any other inflatable SUP design.

Consequently it feels really nice to paddle! Some beginners do find the Needlenose to feel a little less stable when first starting out but it doesn’t take long to get your SUP legs and feel more secure.

This board comes in three size options, 11’6”, 12’6” or 14′ long. I used to always use the 11’6” Neeldenose but this past year I find that I much prefer paddling the longer 12’6” board.

For one I find the 12’6” NN to be more stable, which is helpful since my dogs are usually out with me. However I also find the 12’6” model to move a little faster, glide a little smoother and overall feel a little more solid.

I love paddling this board, once it is out on the water it feels fantastic to use.

There are two things that stop me from using this ISUP more often. For one the backpack included in the package is fairly basic and does not come with wheels.  I find it heavy to carry on my back and a little harder to lug around.

The 12’6″ model weighs 26 lbs., which is quite heavy for a sleeker touring model.

That weight makes it feel very solid in the water but it’s a bulky package to carry around.

The second reason is that the hard tip nose that makes this board so special also makes for a bulkier package when deflated.

Quite simply it isn’t as easy to transport and carry, which isn’t the end of the world. Once it gets on the water, it is awesome!

Once more positive worth noting is that this board comes with a 3-year warranty whereas all the other inflatable SUP’s on this list come with a 2-year warranty.  Sea Eagle has been around a long time and are known for their good warranty policy.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY FULL REVIEW OF THE SEA EAGLE NEEDLENOSE TOURING SUP.

NIXY HUNTINGTON G3

COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT FOR BACKPACKING

L x W x T	9'6" x 32" x 6"
WEIGHT	18.75 LBS.
MAX LOAD	250 LBS.
STABILITY
PERFORMANCE
PRICE	CHECK PRICE

The Nixy Huntington G3 is a really cool ISUP.  It is SO compact and lightweight and rolls up into a very small package.

In fact the backpack that comes with this board is quite a bit smaller than other ISUP backpacks and very easy to carry.

If you want to hike and backpack with your paddle board to some beautiful yet remote mountain lakes this board is a fantastic option to bring along.

My boyfriend actually loves to take the Huntington out on his adventure motorbike.  It easily straps down on the back of his bike and he is able to ride it up mountains to some very cool destinations.

Even though this is a smaller board it is surprisingly sturdy and very fun to paddle.  Although it isn’t as stable in choppy water it is very responsive and quick to turn.  It takes very little effort to propel forward.

The Nixy boards in general are also very well made and come with a great 2-year warranty.

If you need small, compact and easy to carry the Huntington H3 is the way to go.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW OF THE NIXY HUNTINGTON G3.

LIGHTEST INFLATABLE SUP’S

Looking for the best super light weight SUP’s? We’ve tried multiple different paddle boards and narrowed it down to 5 favourite awesome inflatable SUP’s that are light weight and ultra portable.

Choosing The Right Board

You’ve made the first step and decided you need a paddle board or possibly want to upgrade to a new one. Excellent choice!

I often joke that paddle boarding keeps me sane. I call it my outdoor therapy. When I get on the water my mind clears, my body relaxes and all those wonderful happy endorphins flood my system.

It can truly be a rewarding and awesome experience for any person of any age!

It is well known that stand up paddling helps improve your balance physically but in my experience I find it equally as effective and important in improving my emotional and mental balance as well.

Doing Your Research

The next step involves doing your research to find the board that suits your needs best.

You may have noticed that there are a TON of options out there now and a lot more SUP companies than there were even just a few years ago.  New boards are continually flooding the market. The competition is stiff and there are a lot of great options to choose from.

Price ranges can vary as can quality, performance and features.

With over a decade in experience testing inflatable stand up paddle boards, paddling on countless different bodies of water around the world and even doing the odd race here and there… At this point we truly know our stuff.

By sharing our reviews and expertise, we hope to help you make an informed choice.

If you are still trying to decide if an inflatable SUP is right for you then you might want to start here: Benefits of An Inflatable SUP.

Otherwise continue on to find your perfect ride!

• • Find All-Around Versatile Inflatable SUP’s.
  • Find Faster Touring Inflatable SUP’s.

Get Social With Us #ISUPWORLD

If you haven’t already noticed you will likely find while out on your SUP adventures that paddle boarders in general are awesome people. 😁

We’re a happy lot, doing the things we love, appreciating nature and the beauty that surrounds us, keeping fit and having a fantastic time while we’re at it.

We love connecting with other paddle boarders and seeing your photos on Instagram and Facebook. You guys continually inspire us!

Tag us @isupworld so we can connect and share photos!