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Construction is a key consideration, but usually an easily resolved one. The days of stand-up paddle boards being mainly solid fibreglass or expanded foam have long gone. If you have a campervan or live next to the water, then a solid construction will make sense, as these are almost indestructible and perform much better in the water. But if that's not the case (which it won't be for most), then you'll want one of the new breeds of inflatable SUPs. However, don’t let this put you off, there are plenty of boards that cost double what the Wave Tourer does that would perform in the same way. One final factor to consider is price. As with anything, you get what you pay for, and in our ranking, we've chosen beginner's paddle boards that range from the downright bargainous through to the spendy-but-tempting. Bear in mind that good quality, desirable beginner boards are always popular in the second-hand market, so buying well will pay dividends later in cash as well as enjoyment. How we test the best the best stand-up paddle boards for beginners In smooth, flat water, I found the board to be super stable. However once I hit some oncoming and side chop, the board felt a little bit unsure of itself and this is where the single-layer construction and relatively low pressure meant the board did wobble a bit like a bouncy castle, even with the max recommended 15 PSI.
Single-layer isn’t all bad, it means the board is really lightweight and rolls up to a compact size, making it super portable and easy to carry. However, a single layer is of course not as durable as a doubled lined or reinforced board. It also means the board can’t inflate to a high PSI, which does affect its overall stiffness and performance on the water. If you want something to get into touring that glides really well, their 12’6 Cruiseair is a great option that I’d still put within the ‘budget paddle boards’ category. With an emphasis on quality, function, and performance, this stylish all weather iSUP paddle board is ready to take on multiple environments. Catering for skilled paddlers, the Woody offers a good mix of durability, solid performance, and ergonomic handling. This stable, well-constructed, rounded, paddleboard, is guaranteed to offer hours of fun on the water.
On the flip side JP knows that beginners need something durable that’s easy to use and easy on the wallet. So along with their performance boards, they have produced some gear for beginners that is actually some of the cheapest on the market.
So, if you’re looking for a budget paddle board that you want to last for a very long, then the Tahe is 100% for you. Remember if you want to compromise on price, there will also be some compromise on quality and performance. However, the boards seem very well made and lightweight enough to easily carry. The construction features drop stitch, reinforced rails and a double stringer, but this is pretty much the minimum you would expect for any inflatable board worth its salt. More expensive boards like Red Paddle have a high-density drop stitch construction, which means the board can be inflated to a higher PSI to stay rigid. We tested the 11ft Tourer, which would be a perfect 1st time beginner board for most people. As we say in our full review, although it’s called ‘Tourer’, it’s not a touring board by design and its shape is suited for a beginner looking for an all rounder to get started on. The construction of this board is what you’d expect for something in this price range. The high density drop stitch construction will help give the board rigidity at high pressure, and the double layered rail protection is a good idea – we have a lot of sharp stones and shells on many of our UK beaches. Their Cruise SUP is a great all round board, ideal for beginners and those who want to enjoy paddle boarding without spending money on all the accessories.It’s not really a negative and most boards in this price range have some flex, but with the Vapor make sure you pump it up to max PSI every time to make it as rigid as possible.
With an emphasis on function and quality, this tough, well constructed, all-rounder, iSUP paddle board is suitable for multiple environments. Great on water, the Wave Tourer is the most durable, stable board, that’s pretty much perfect for everyone, with its new generation shape, offering the manoeuvrability of an all-round inflatable paddleboard and the performance of a touring board.From the pump, to paddle and installing the fin, everything was super simple to use, even if you have never paddle boarded before. It's stable, beginner-friendly and comes with everything you need to get on the water, and its neat cargo system means that it's easy to take all your stuff with you too. The only real downside (apart from the steep price) is that while it's a delight in the water, it's a lot less fun to manoeuvre on dry land; however, Red has done all it can to make this as painless as possible. If tandem paddling feels like your thing, this is definitely the way to do it. When doing research for this article, the warranty was probably the biggest factor in adding a board to the list or not. There are some great looking budget paddle boards out there, but if the manufacturer doesn’t offer any warranty then please avoid them! Why on Earth beginner inflatable paddleboards have a thruster type tri-fin setup is beyond me. This is a surf-style fin configuration for conditions these paddleboards will never go in. Plus it probably costs more money to manufacture and is more likely to go wrong.
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