Best Paddle Boards for Beginners, 2025

If you’ve found your way to our list of Best SUPs for Beginners, the first thing we want to say to you is: Welcome. Welcome to SUP’ing, welcome to the water sports community, and welcome to SUPBoardGuide – we hope you’ll stick around! Paddle boarding opens up a lifetime of fun and adventure on the water.

Now, the second thing we’re going to say to you is: choosing your first stand up paddle board is an absolutely overwhelming task when you’re brand new to the sport. There are a ton of options in the stand up paddle board market for beginners – and they aren’t all the same. Choosing the right board for you might not be as dire as Indiana Jones choosing the right cup, but it can certainly make a huge difference in how quickly you learn and get comfortable on the water. And nobody wants to choose “poorly.”

In this list, we’ll lay out the best options for SUP beginners of all sizes. Every one of these boards has been extensively tested by the SUPBoardGuide team… and a couple of willing newbies we dragged out to the lake with us. Each SUP in the list below was ranked with stability at the forefront of our priority list, as this is usually the biggest hurdle for paddlers who are just getting their sea legs.

We also considered price and construction to ensure that we were recommending boards that wouldn’t put too big of a dent in your bank account, but they’ll also last for more than a few seasons as you develop your skills.

It’s also worth noting that this list is going to have a lot of crossover with our list of Best Cheap Inflatable SUPs, so definitely check out both if you’re looking to broaden your options. Also, if you want to dive into all the details as to why we rank these boards as our best SUPs for beginners, then scroll towards the bottom of the page.

You can also see our list of best inflatable SUPs here, which includes a list of best sups for paddlers of various skill levels.

Best Beginner SUPs

(scroll to the right to see all our top rated, best beginner sups for 2025)

Board	Blackfin Model X 6.0	Sea Gods Elemental Wave CX	Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132	Glide O2 Retro 3.0	Hydrus Joyride	iRocker Cruiser Ultra 2.0	Sea Gods Skylla CX	BŌTE Wulf Aero	Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6/10’8	Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8
	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review	Full Review
Rating out of 10	9.7/10	9.5/10	9.5/10	9.2/10	9.5/10	9.8/10	9.6/10	8.9/10	9.6/10	9.2/10
Pricing	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price	See Best Price
Best For :	Larger paddlers, families, beginners, anglers, and anyone who wants extra stability and capacity	Lightweight and agile all-around paddleboard with beautiful artwork and high quality kit	Smooth gliding all-around board that’s stable and agile with a high-value accessory kit	A versatile and easy-paddling all-around with a full-length deck pad, and kayak seat included	Ultra-durable, high performance board built for everything from cruising to your first whitewater trip	Compact, lightweight, travel-friendly SUP kit with excellent stability and tracking; includes an electric pump	A true crossover design that blends cruiser-like stability and touring-style efficiency	Bright and showy color options with a lightweight and stable build	Time-tested all-around performance with excellent balance of performance, stability, and great construction	Dual-chamber design for extra rigidity, and a high-value kit with loads of included accessories
Specs	Model X	Elemental Wave CX	Waterwalker 132	O2 Retro 3.0	Joyride	Cruiser Ultra 2.0	Skylla CX	Wulf Aero	Ride 10’6	Cruise Carbon 10’8
Length	10'6	10’6	11'	10' 6	11'	10’6	11'	10'4"	10'6"	10'8"
Width	35"	32"	32"	33.5"	32"	33”	33"	34"	32"	32"
Thickness	6"	6"	6"	6"	6"	6”	6"	6"	4.7"	6"
Weight	27 lbs	18 lbs	26 lbs	22 lbs	24 lbs	21 lbs	19.5 lbs	20 lbs	20 lbs	32 lbs
Capacity	450 lbs	250 lbs	330 lbs	400 lbs	350 lbs	300 lbs	350 lbs	250 lbs	220 lbs	300 lbs

Note: It’s important to reiterate that at SupBoardGuide, we judge boards based on their category, performance, and value level. For example, with our 2025 Best Paddle Boards for Beginners, we compared all-around and cruiser style SUPs at various price points and focused on those with higher stability and easier paddling feel on the water. You can see what we think overall about each paddle board listed here by looking at their overall score and rating. You may also notice a few other beginner SUPs not making an appearance on our list. Last year several companies ceased their affiliate programs, and while this doesn’t change our view (or reviews) of their products, if you find our testing and reviewing helpful, we ask that you consider supporting brands on this list that continue to support us, first.

Keep that in mind, and let us know if you have any questions!

• Blackfin Model X
• Sea Gods Elemental Wave CX
• Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132
• Glide O2 Retro 3.0
• Hydrus Joyride XL
• iRocker Cruiser Ultra 2.0
• Sea Gods Skylla CX
• Bote Wulf Aero
• RPC 10’6 / 10’8 Ride MSL
• Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8

1. Blackfin Model X

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Blackfin Model X 6.0Check Latest Price

There are two reasons why we listed the Blackfin Model X 6.0 at the top of our Best Beginner SUPs list – stability and versatility.

At 35” wide, the Model X is the widest SUP on our list, and is among the widest “solo” iSUPs on the market (though there are some 35-36” boards out there). This, along with its rigid construction and wide shape, make it ridiculously stable. If you can stand on the ground, you can stand on the Model X. There are some tradeoffs with the extra width though, so if you are a shorter paddler (under 5’6”) you’ll have a harder time reaching over the side to paddle which can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to paddle straight.

iRocker designed the Blackfin Model X to do basically everything you can on a SUP short of racing. There are huge cargo areas, passenger handles, D-rings, threaded accessory mounts, Scotty mounts, and a spacious deck pad so you can use your Model X for cruising, fishing, yoga, camping, and paddling with a friend or pet.

Add in iRocker’s reliable construction, high-quality accessories, and 3-year warranty, and you can see why the Model X 6.0 is topping our list.

2. Sea Gods Elemental Wave CX

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Sea Gods Elemental Wave CXCheck Latest Price

If you haven’t heard of Sea Gods paddle boards you are in for a treat! I could go on and on about the technical details that make these iSUPs a great choice (cross-woven dropstitch, fusion PVC, welded rails…), but let’s not ignore the most obvious thing here…

The Elemental Wave CX is absolutely gorgeous! All of Sea Gods’ boards feature artwork commissioned by Sea Gods from actual artists around the world. Because of that, all of their boards are also limited editions – once they are sold out, they are gone (but that also means new artwork is around the corner).

But why is this a great choice for beginners? Well, that’s easy. It’s not only durable and reliable thanks to the great construction, but it’s an amazing performer on the water. The classing “longboard” shape is stable and supports paddlers up to about 220 pounds. It’s agile and easy to paddle, and has plenty of cargo room and accessory support for your SUP adventures. It also comes with a fantastic accessory kit including a carbon fiber/nylon paddle, triple action hand pump, and a 12’ microfiber cloth landing mat to help keep your board clean and protected off the water.

5. Thurso Surf Waterwalker 132

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Thurso Waterwalker 132Check Latest Price

The Thurso Waterwalker 132 has been a long-time staple on our Best Beginner SUPs list. The classic shape is versatile in use and easily fits most paddlers (up to about 250 pounds). The Waterwalker 132 has been updated year after year with the latest technology, and this year is no different. The new 2025 Waterwalker 132 is made with cross-woven drop stitching, fusion PVC, and heat-welded rails for improved rigidity and durability while still keeping weight to a minimum.

The rounded nose and medium tail give the Waterwalker 132 great stability and enough capacity for an adult paddler to easily share with a child or pet. Out of the box, the Waterwalker 132 has a great balance of agility, speed, stability, and tracking, but its fin setup uses all standard fin boxes to let you easily adjust the tracking and maneuvering performance for your own needs.

This year Thurso is also offering their accessory package as a build-your-own kit so you can choose whether to get a hand pump or electric pump, upgrade your paddle right away, and choose if you want a roller bag or just a compression strap to store your board. The Waterwalker has always been available in three sizes, but this year there are two new choices as well. The Waterwalker 132 and 126 are also available in a 4.7” thickness. We’re still testing these new boards, so check back for our full review soon!

4. Glide O2 Retro 3.0

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Glide O2 Retro 3.0Check Latest Price

The Glide O2 Retro 3.0 splits the difference between a wide cruiser and a traditional all-around board. It’s 33.5” wide at its maximum, but doesn’t feel or paddle like a board that wide. It’s incredibly stable, and tracks straight with almost no effort.

Aside from its performance on the water, the Retro sports some clean, fun looks, a full-length deck pad (perfect for kids, pets, and napping – I mean yoga). While the two cargo areas don’t look impressive, the extra 10 D-rings around the middle of the board make it easy to load up with gear, tie down a cooler, or attach the included inflatable kayak seat.

To top things off, Glide’s “3.0” construction features the latest and greatest in iSUP materials and construction technology, and is backed with a 5-year warranty for worry-free paddling.

5. Hydrus Joyride

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Hydrus JoyrideCheck Latest Price

Hydrus is a smaller company based out of Boise, Idaho, but has been shaping surf and paddle boards for nearly 20 years. Their design experience has guided their company ethos of “function-first designs” and it absolutely shows.

On paper, the Joyride seems like a pretty typical all-around iSUP – 11’ long, 32” wide, 6” thick. But that’s where “typical” ends. The shape of the board has been fine-tuned to maximize paddling performance on the water. This means excellent stability, great tracking and agility balance, and the ability to put down some serious speed.

In addition to performance, the Joyride is built seriously tough, but manages to keep weight low. Cross-woven drop stitching, fusion PVC reinforced with aramid (aka Kevlar) fibers, carbon fiber fabric stringers, and welded rails make the Joyride incredibly stiff (even at less than max pressure) and durable enough for those adventures types who may want to try tackling some entry-level whitewater in the future!

6. iROCKER Cruiser Ultra 2.0

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iRocker Cruiser Ultra 2.0Check Latest Price

Taking the top spot on our best SUPs for beginners 2024 is the iROCKER Cruiser Ultra.This is a no-brainer on this list. It serves as a stable, compact option for beginners that prioritize the portability and traveling ease that comes with inflatables.

With its specified width of 33”, the Cruiser Ultra is plenty stable for most beginners. Though it is important to note that this board is rigid and responsive, so it will come with a slight learning curve, the performance benefits are worth it once you’re past the initial adjustment period. At 10’6, this SUP is fun and maneuverable, and weighs just 21 lbs, making it easy to bring up to a reasonable speed and keep up with a group of friends.

The most notable characteristic of the Cruiser Ultra is that it folds down to half of the size of standard, non-compact paddleboards. iROCKER has split the deck pad on this SUP to enable you to fold it up the middle (hot-dog style) before rolling it up to pack away. They’ve also included a new compact backpack that is super comfortable to carry.

Along with great overall construction, iROCKER’s Ultra series also comes with an upgraded kit that is one of the best values we’ve ever seen. They’ve included their 12V electric pump, which has held a spot on our list of Best Electric Pumps for 3 consecutive years. We also love the compact backpack as we mentioned earlier, as well as the newly shaped twin fin setup as they’ve significantly improved the SUP’s tracking.

In short, the Cruiser Ultra is a great travel friendly and portable option for beginners who still value stability, but want to get a bit more performance out of their all-around SUP.

7. Sea Gods Skylla CX Cross Touring

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Sea Gods Skylla CXCheck Latest Price

The Sea Gods Skylla is another higher end SUP on this list that showcases advanced construction and exceptional performance on the water. This SUP strikes a balance between a highly stable all-around and a more speed-focused touring SUP, and has become one of our favorite crossover models.

Being 33” wide, this SUP is stable enough to accommodate most novice paddlers and easily takes on child or pet passengers, or a load of camping gear. Though its shape has been carefully designed so that its nose is pointed to cut down on drag from the extra surface area that a rounded nose would cause, while its squared-off tail releases water quickly but is still wide enough to maintain a high level of stability.

Sea Gods made the Skyla so light and rigid by using a cross-woven drop stitch core, which creates a stiffer board using fewer materials, and a special fusion PVC outer shell to eliminate the weight from glue.

As is standard with Sea Gods, the Skylla comes stocked with a high-quality package of accessories, including a carbon fiber paddle and a roomy SUP backpack that is delivered in recyclable packaging.

The bottom line is that the Skylla is within a higher price range, but the construction quality and performance of this board are unmatched on this list. It’d make a good fit for a beginner paddler who wants the speed of a touring board but isn’t ready to lose some of that all-around type of stability and maneuverability.

8. BŌTE Wulf Aero 10’4

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BŌTE Wulf AeroCheck Latest Price

The BŌTE Wulf is an entry-level iSUP package from one of the biggest names in SUP. BŌTE caught on to the benefits of inflatable paddle boards early and has been developing their lineup ever since.

The Wulf is an affordable way to get onto a beautiful board built for beginners. The wide outline and large square tail give the Wulf heaps of stability while the lightweight construction makes it easy to transport and paddle. While not as feature-laden as some of BŌTE’s other iSUPs, the Wulf’s large cargo area, Magnepod accessory mount, and spacious deck pad let you outfit your board for all sorts of different activities.

The BŌTE Wulf is the most affordable iSUP from the company, making it a great choice for new paddlers who don’t want to spend too much upfront, but still want to get an iSUP from a well-respected brand.

9. Red Paddle Co 10’6 Ride MSL

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Red Paddle Co 10'6 Ride MSLCheck Latest Price

The Red Paddle Co. 10’6 Ride MSL is one of the best known all-around boards from one of the best known SUP companies in the world. This classic all-around board was one of – if not the – first inflatable boards that brought inflatable SUPs into the mainstream.

Red’s paddle boards are made with not just high-quality materials, but literally industry-leading as Red spends so much time with research and design to find the next better materials and constructions. This reputation for quality has skyrocketed them to the forefront of the SUP world.

The 10’6 Ride features a classic shape that blends stability, maneuverability, efficiency, and, thanks to its 4.7” rails and twin-fin design, surfability. All of these features are perfectly balanced on the Red 10’6 Ride. But there are two drawbacks to consider. First is size. That 4.7” thickness means there is less volume and rigidity for heavier paddlers. But, not to fear, Red’s 10’8 Ride MSL offers the same characteristics in a slightly larger (10’8 x 34” x 4.7”) package. The second drawback is the price. Red’s commitment to quality doesn’t come cheap, but we find that if you are able to budget for a Red Paddle Co SUP, it’s a buy-it-for-life purchase that truly keeps up.

10. Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8

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Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8Check Latest Price

The Bluefin Cruise Carbon is one of our top choices for new paddlers in the UK and EU. It’s also a great choice for paddlers in North America, however over the last year it has not stayed consistently in stock for North American paddlers.

The Cruise Carbon uses Bluefin’s ESL dual-layer fusion PVC construction, dual-air chambers, high-density drop stitching, and carbon fiber fabric reinforced rails to make an incredibly durable and rigid paddle board. That’s a lot of tech terms, but basically this thing is tough. The downside is it is the heaviest board on our list tipping the scales at 32 pounds.

Bluefin prioritizes the durability of their board over its weight, and stands behind it with a whopping 5-year warranty. When you add that to the large kit of accessories included with the Cruise Carbon 10’8 and its midrange price, it offers a huge value to new paddlers.

What to Look for in a Beginner’s SUP

Honestly, a great beginner SUP is one that is simply stable, built well, and priced reasonably enough for new paddlers to enter the sport. Of course, there are also fringe details that can make beginner SUPs better (or not as good) for different paddlers.

The main indicator of stability is the width of your SUP (length is important too, but nearly all paddlers are comfortable on a SUP 10’6 – 11’ long). If lengths are the same, a wider board is ALWAYS going to be more stable than a narrower board. This is because a wider board has more surface area in contact with the water, and better resists tipping from side to side as a paddler shifts their weight – which is especially important for beginners who are a little shaky in the legs. As a general rule of thumb, most beginners will feel comfortable on boards that are 32” wide, though larger/taller paddlers and those who want more stability would benefit from the 33”-35” wide range.

Next on the priority list for most beginners is price. On this list, we have a fairly wide range of prices but tried to keep the majority of them relatively reasonable. Towards the end of this list, we’ve listed our more performance-focused beginner SUPs that utilize more advanced construction techniques. These are boards that would be a good choice for paddlers who want an entry-level board to stick with them as they develop their skills.

Other details to consider once you’ve determined your budget and have a general idea of your ideal board width, are features and included accessories. If you know that you’ll end up wanting to haul some gear or maybe partake in a little SUP fishing, lean towards boards with cargo areas and action or scotty mounts. Whereas if you’re wanting a solo board, some of those extras may not be necessary. And as far as accessories go, all of the boards on this list come with nearly all of the necessities to get you out paddling, with the exception of a PFD. Though if you’re looking into other brands, it’s always good to double-check that your kit includes a paddle, leash, and appropriate fins (unless you’re planning on purchasing any of these separately).

Summary of Best SUPs for Beginners

As we’ve demonstrated in this list, there are a lot of options available for beginner paddlers. However, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want a SUP that best suits your individual needs. For some, that’s a stability level that eliminates a learning curve, while others prefer a challenge that they can grow into. Some people prefer feature-rich SUPs with loads of versatility and others like a clean, minimalistic look. There is really no ‘one size fits all’ in the world of stand-up paddleboarding, and that’s never going to change no matter how your skills develop.

As a beginner, it’s best to base your search around a board that you’ll simply be able to stand up on. This is the key to enjoying your board and being able to further develop in the sport. From there, you can get a little more specific and identify your priorities such as overall performance, construction quality, included accessories, and the total price. For now, though, rest assured that any SUP on this list would make a great beginner board or even a great addition to any paddler’s arsenal.

For a wider range of options, check out our list of Best Inflatable SUPs of 2025, as most of those boards are also beginner friendly, and for help getting started once your board hits your doorstep, head over to our YouTube video on How to Stand-up Paddleboard.

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SupBoardGuide

Heyo! At SupBoardGuide.com we are a team who love the water, the outdoors, and are more than grateful that our full-time job allows us to review stand up paddle boards. We paddle year round (it helps that we are just about 2 hours outside of Las Vegas), and we bring in a wide range of paddlers with the goal of providing our readers with the best, most in-depth, and accurate stand up paddle board reviews.

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