Best Beginner Paddleboards For 2025

The best paddleboard for beginners depends a lot on personal preferences and what you hope to do with your paddleboard. Are you looking for a good beginner paddleboard for casual use with family and friends? Or do you want a higher performance paddleboard that will allow you to develop your paddling skills without requiring investment in another board as you progress?

Are you looking for a good beginner paddleboard to share with a child or pet? Will you paddle longer distances, or do you aspire to dip your toes in mellow surf waves? If you have limited storage space or plan to travel a lot with your board, the best inflatable paddleboard for beginners could also be the best fit for your needs. You may ask, What is the best paddleboard for beginners? The short answer is: It depends.

Happily, we’re here to help! Our Paddling Buyer’s Guide lists every beginner paddleboard on the market, including specs, prices, reviews and where to buy. This beginner paddleboard buying guide offers an overview of what’s available and where to find it—as well as providing answers to all your most pressing questions about finding a good beginner paddleboard.

Top picks: Best beginner paddleboards for 2025

Sea Gods Diatom Ten6

Buy from:

SEA GODS

The Diatom Ten6 Inflatable Paddle board gives you everything you want in a Paddleboard- stability, maneuverability, total accessory package, and great looks. Inspired by beauty that radiates from the inside out- because you only live this life once, why not do it beautifully? Meticulously Hand crafted for stability with premium materials and stocked with the highest grade accessories, this complete package is ready for adventure when you are.

Sea Gods Elemental Wave CX

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SEA GODS

The Elemental Wave Ten6 inflatable paddle board made with new cross weave technology is the perfect Supremely Light Weight All Around Adventure Board. Inspired by the natural flow and pull of the energy from the spirits in the water, creating a desire to be one with the waves.

Rove Board Co. The Essence 10’6″

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ROVE BOARD CO

The Essence is handcrafted with authentic bamboo inlay which makes the board lighter and stronger than a full fibreglass construction. Aside from carbon fibre, bamboo offers one of the best weight-to-strength ratios in the game. Because bamboo is an organic & more environmentally friendly material, it diminishes the need for other materials that may be less environmentally friendly, therefore reducing board’s ecological footprint.

Pelican Boracay NXT 10.4 ISUP

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PELICAN AMAZON

The Boracay NXT 10.4 inflatable paddle board is ideal for beginners who want to discover the sport this summer. The Drop Stitch construction ensures great rigidity, durability and stability. The removable 9in. fin will provide better tracking and enhance the performance of the board on the water. Comes complete with a carry bag, pump, leash, a phone dry pouch and a paddle, you’re ready to hit the water and make a few people jealous along the way.

Boardworks SHUBU Riptide

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BOARDWORKS AMAZON

The SHUBU Riptide is our brand new entry-level inflatable recreational board designed for the budget minded paddler. A light, versatile board that loves to travel. The board comes with our ultra-comfortable honey foam heat embossed deck pad and two neoprene carry handles for easy transport to and from the water. A single 9” standard SUP fin installs with an easy to use thumb screw – so no tools are needed.

ISLE 10’6″ Pioneer 3

Buy from:

ISLE AMAZON DICK’S

ISLE’s iconic, all-time best-seller maintains its user-friendly, super-stable design and adds innovative new features that elevate the experience. Featuring ISLE’s AirTech Construction and welded rails, the Pioneer 3 is only 19 lbs with improved rigidity, durability, and longevity. With the ISLE-Link™ connect system, paddlers can conveniently transition this model from SUP to a good beginner kayak in seconds. The full-length EVA foam deck pad is great for kids, pets, and lounging.

Jimmy Styks Quantum

Buy from:

JIMMY STYKS

The Quantum is an excellent choice for recreational paddling looking for a staple all-around board. The wide nose and tail create easy turn radius and smooth glide. Ideal for any age and experience range.

Beginner paddleboard buying advice

Wondering what is the best paddleboard for beginners? That simple question is often a starting point for so many more. Try before you buy is the best advice to help find the perfect paddleboard for you. Borrow friends’ beginner paddleboards to get a sense of what’s available and how different materials and designs perform on the water.

Shop at paddling and outdoor specialty stores, which offer far more expertise (and a better selection of quality paddleboards) than generic big box outlets. Lastly, favor retailers that provide the option of test paddling good beginner paddleboards before you buy.

Here are expert answers to some of the most common questions from beginner paddleboard buyers.

• What is the best style paddleboard for beginners?

  The best style of paddleboard for beginners is perhaps the greatest variable to consider in buying a good beginner paddleboard. But the answer is simple: It all depends on how you plan to use your board, now and in the future.

  Consider your aspirations: Do you want a cheap paddleboard that’s fun for the entire family? Or do you dream of developing your skills to progress to more advanced paddleboarding on waves or longer tours? It’s easy to pick up a cheap board, but you’ll want to search more carefully—and spend considerably more money—if you want a higher performance paddleboard.

  Good paddleboards for beginners fall into two main styles: all-around boards and touring boards. If you are more of a casual paddler, or hope to progress to SUP yoga or surfing small waves, an all-around board with a round nose and flat—or “planing”—bottom is likely the best fit. If you are looking for the best inflatable paddleboard for beginners, most of the boards you find will have an all-around shape.

  If you enjoy paddling quickly and aspire to longer tours on choppier waters, you’ll probably enjoy a touring paddleboard with a more V-shaped nose and bottom. Touring boards also tend to be longer and have higher capacity, making them a good choice for those who want to paddle with a large breed dog.

  Finally, it’s very important to consider the type of places you wish to paddle. Do you plan on paddling in shallow or rocky waters? If so, an all-around inflatable paddleboard will probably offer the greatest comfort, durability and stability. If deeper, open waters are your destination, a touring board that cuts through any light chop will feel faster and more stable.

• What is the easiest paddleboard to use?

  The easiest paddleboard for beginners to use will be one that is sized appropriately for their weight range. Paddleboard weight capacity depends on the volume (buoyancy) of the board, with smaller boards suitable for lighter paddlers and larger boards accommodating paddlers from 200 to 350 pounds.

  Look at the thickness of the board, as well as length and width, to determine how stable the board will feel on the water. A thicker board will feel less tippy than a thin board, with inflatable paddleboards generally being thicker than hard boards.

  This is one reason why many beginner paddleboarders prefer inflatable boards; inflatables often have a uniform thickness from side to side and nose to tail, making them considerably more stable than similarly sized hardboards. Hardboards are sculpted to reduce weight and optimize race or surfing performance, but they typically provide less stability and buoyancy for the beginner paddler.

  Another reason many new paddlers prefer inflatable boards is the soft top, which is more forgiving if (when!) you fall on the board. If you have your sights set on a beginner hardboard, look for models with a full foam deck, also known as “soft-top” boards.

Below Board: Everything You Should Know About Paddleboard Fins

• What size paddleboard for beginners?

  Beginner paddleboards range from as short as eight feet to over 14 feet, but most SUPs are between 10 and 12 feet long and 30 to 34 inches wide. Wider boards offer more stability, but narrower boards are faster on the water. Shorter length boards are primarily used for surfing, or for kids, and are more easily maneuverable.

  In addition to length and width, the board thickness is also a consideration. Thinner boards will have less volume, or buoyancy, and therefore have lower weight capacities. Thicker boards, such as inflatable paddleboards, have high buoyancy and higher weight capacity. Thicker boards are great for beginners, general paddling, touring and racing, while thinner boards are usually preferred for SUP surfing.

• Best paddleboard length for beginners

  Length is a key element in the performance and intended use of a paddleboard. Factors affecting the best length for beginners include paddler height, the range of water and wind conditions you expect to encounter, who else might be using your board, and your likelihood of having passengers on board, such as small children or pets.

  The most popular all-around paddleboard length for beginners is 10 to 12 feet. If portability and maneuverability are priorities, or if you weigh less than 150 pounds, you may want to go shorter than average and opt for a board in the 9’6” to 10-foot length range.

  If speed and straight tracking are priorities, consider a 12’6” touring board. Given the popularity of SUP touring, 12’6” should be a very popular length, but some buyers shy away from this length due to storage concerns. However, if you go with an inflatable model, the extra length does not pose a storage issue, and you can expect solid performance from a quality inflatable touring paddleboard.

• Best paddleboard width for beginners

  Most all-round paddleboards for beginners fall between 32 and 34 inches in width. However, heavier paddlers and those looking for extra stability should look for an all-around board that is 33 to 34 inches wide. While you can go even wider, you may end up with a board that feels sluggish and less fun to paddle. Touring boards typically run a bit narrower—30 to 32 inches—since their longer waterline also provides additional stability.

• Best paddleboard brands for beginners

  You’ll find countless manufacturers of beginner paddleboards. Just like any type of consumer product, some manufacturers are better than others and each will have its own characteristics. In general, you get what you pay for.

  Best SUP Brands For Touring, Surfing, Yoga & More

  There are now hundreds of inflatable SUPs available to purchase in stores and online. As the market grows and becomes saturated with mass-produced, single-layer and fusion inflatable boards, it becomes difficult to know which inflatable paddleboard is right for you at a price you can trust. Avoid the cheapest box store or Amazon inflatable boards; a poorly manufactured product equals a poor or unsafe time on the water—and a quick trip to the landfill.

• Are inflatable paddleboards good for beginners?

  Inflatable paddleboards are a great option for beginners. In addition to superior durability and impact resistance, inflatable boards often have a uniform thickness from side to side and nose to tail, making them considerably more stable than similarly sized hardboards. Hardboards are sculpted to reduce weight and optimize race and surfing performance, but they provide less stability and buoyancy for the beginner paddler.

  Another reason many new paddlers prefer inflatable boards is the soft top, which is more forgiving for unexpected tumbles—and more comfortable for passengers like kids and pets.

Feature photo: Soulaymane Benchekroun/Pexels