In the early days of inflatable paddle boards most SUPs were built with a single layer of PVC and would bend like crazy for heavier paddlers. Unfortunately, this made the market pretty inaccessible and made these paddlers reliant on hard boards, which can be difficult to transport and store, and tend to be more expensive (especially for larger sizes).
However, as construction has advanced over the years, inflatable boards have become more and more rigid, and better able to support higher weight capacities. Today, the market is pretty wide open in terms of paddler size ranges that can be accommodated, though it can be hard for a larger paddler to identify which SUP would be best for your skill set and individual preferences.
Have no fear! On this page, we’ll walk you through our top recommendations for larger paddlers and help you understand why each SUP on this list is a stand-out. We didn’t want this page to be just a list of large, heavy SUPs, but rather wanted to present an array of options, with some focused on stability, others showcasing lightweight construction, and some geared towards speed, while they all have one thing in common: exceptional performance for larger paddlers.
What Makes a SUP Great for Larger Paddlers?
Essentially, choosing a SUP for a larger paddler comes down to 3 main things: size and shape, stability, and rigidity.
Size and Shape
It makes sense why size would be at the top of our criteria – a larger board should be able to support a larger paddler. But specifications on paper don’t always give you the whole story. The shape of the board is just as important as its overall size. You can have two SUPs the same length and width feel very different on the water depending on how that board is shaped in different areas. Size and shape also determine volume and buoyancy, and they impact stability and rigidity as well as what type of paddling the board is designed for.
Stability
Stability is affected by size, shape, buoyancy, and rigidity. But to simplify things, width and shape are considered the primary factors for determining stability. For example, a big 14’ x 27” race SUP is going to be much less stable than a 10’6 x 35” all-around, despite the race SUP being ‘larger’. We generally recommend SUPs that are at least 33” wide to larger paddlers who are new to the sport, but there are options up to 36” for paddlers wanting to maximize their stability on the water.
Rigidity
There are some wider SUPs that should have enough volume for larger paddlers, but their construction enables them to bend so much that they become unstable for heavier paddlers. It’s also not something that new paddlers generally consider, and I’ve seen many times where this lack of rigidity has spoiled a new SUPer’s first time on the water. Generally, we steer heavier paddlers towards SUPs that have dual-layer or cross-woven drop stitch construction and can handle higher PSI ratings (we like boards in the 15-20 PSI range), though there are some boards with lightweight constructions that still have excellent rigidity.
Every SUP on this list has been thoroughly tested by our team, and we made sure that each of the boards listed below meets the criteria above. So, without further ado, here is our list of Best SUPs for Larger Paddlers:
Best SUPs for Larger Paddlers
(scroll to the right to see all our top rated, Best SUPs for Large Paddlers for 2025)
| Board | Glide O2 Angler 3.0 | Blackfin Model XL 6.0 | Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 CX | Hydrus Joyride XL | Thurso Max Multipurpose | Nixy Monterey Expedition | BŌTE Lowrider 11’6 | Red Paddle Co Ride 10’8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Rating out of 10 | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 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 |
| Best For : | Ultra stable, high capacity paddle board with a turnkey SUP fishing kit and inflatable seat | High Capacity, high performance all-around that can be rigged for fishing, or camping; includes electric pump | Eye-catching artwork meets quality cruising performance and top notch construction and accessories | High capacity, high performance board built for everything from cruising to your first whitewater trip | Stable, sleek shape with a full-length deck pad, fishing mounts, universal fin boxes; includes electric pump | Lightweight construction for improved performance while still capable of supporting high capaciteis | Two sizes of extra-wide SUP that comes with a complete kayak kit (seats and paddles) for one or two users | Stable and agile shape with a 4.7” thickness for improved stability and surfability |
| Specs | Angler 3.0 | Model XL | Diatom Ten6 CX | Joyride XL | Max Multipurpose | Monetery Expedition | LowRider 11’6 | Ride 10’8 MSL |
| Length | 11' | 11'6 | 10’6 | 11'6 | 11'6 | 10’6 | 10'8" | 10'6" |
| Width | 36" | 34" | 34" | 34" | 34" | 33” | 32" | 32" |
| Thickness | 6" | 6" | 6" | 6" | 6" | 6” | 6" | 4.7" |
| Weight | 24 lbs | 29 lbs | 24 lbs | 25.5 lbs | 31 lbs | 21.5 lbs | 25 lbs | 23 lbs |
| Capacity | 500 lbs | 485 lbs | 340 lbs | 400 lbs | 300 lbs Rider | 400 lbs | 500 lbs | 265 lbs Rider |
Note: It’s important to reiterate that at SupBoardGuide, we judge boards based on their category and price level (i.e., how much the average consumer wants to spend). For example, with our Best SUPs for Larger Paddlers list, we compared wider paddle board kits for rigidity, performance, and overall value. 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 highly-rated SUPs not making an appearance on our list. Last year several companies ceased their affiliate programs, and while this doesn’t change our views or reviews of their products, if you find our testing and reviewing helpful, we ask that you consider supporting brands that continue to support us, first.
Keep that in mind, and let us know if you have any questions!
- Glide O2 Angler
- Blackfin Model XL 6.0
- Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 CX
- Hydrus Joyride XL
- Thurso Surf Max Multipurpose
- Nixy Monterey Expedition
- BOTE LowRider
- Red Paddle Co Ride 10’8 MSL
1. Glide O2 Angler 3.0
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Glide Angler 3.0Check Latest Price
Leading our list of the Best SUPs for larger paddlers is the Glide Angler 3.0. At 11’ long and 36” wide, the Angler is one of the most stable paddle boards we’ve tested, and is rated for 500 pounds total capacity. The extra wide square tail and wide bullet-like nose keep the board very wide through most of its length to keep it from tipping or rolling whether you are standing in the middle, back or front of the board.
But, the Angler 3.0 is no slouch on the water, either. It’s still an easy-paddling board great for larger paddlers, loading up with equipment, or even sharing with a friend, family member, or pet.
The Angler also has the benefit of coming as a complete solution for, and no surprise here, SUP anglers! Along with the board and its “usual” kit, you also get an inflatable kayak seat, Scotty mount feet connectors for a tackle rack, and two fully-adjustable fishing rod holders that mount to the front of the board.
Glide’s “3.0” construction is top-notch with cross-woven dropstitching, dual-layer fusion PVC, and new triple-layer, heat-welded rails. All of this makes the Angler light, rigid, and durable – and is backed by Glide’s 5-year warranty.
- Ultra-stable size and shape for paddlers of all sizes
- Light and durable construction built to last
- Great paddling performance on the water
- Full kit of fishing accessories along with an inflatable kayak seat, composite paddle, and roller bag
- Universal Standard center fin and quick-release side fins
- 5-year warranty
- The Angler is designed for fishing, so if that’s not on your radar, the extra accessories may not be a great value
- The included paddle is a bit soft feeling for stronger paddlers
2. Blackfin Model XL 6.0
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Blackfin Model XLCheck Latest Price
The Blackfin Model XL has been iRocker’s flagship iSUP for quite a while, and for good reason. The Model XL is one of the most performance-oriented iSUPs on our list, but at 34” wide with the rigidity to match its 485 pound weight rating, it still offers excellent stability for larger paddlers.
The elongated, almost torpedo-like, shape cuts through the water for near-effortless gliding and a high speed when you want it. At the same time, the fin system is designed well to balance straight-line paddling and quick maneuverability.
The Model XL is also fully decked out for anything you can throw at it. Over a dozen D-rings, 8 threaded mounts, two scotty mounts, two sets of passenger handles, and dual-kayak seat compatibility let you load up for a camping trip, gear out for SUP fishing, or just hit the water for a casual cruise. It also comes with a new duffel-style roller bag and an electric pump to make it easy to get on the water anywhere you go.
- Rigid and tough construction
- 34” wide for great stability, but shaped for efficient paddling
- Near infinite ways to rig for your own SUP adventures
- Clean, bold colorways with subtle design elements
- High quality accessory kit includes an electric pump and carbon fiber/nylon paddle
- There is a lot going on on the deck, especially toward the rear, so you may need to watch where to put your feet
3. Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 CX
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Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 CXCheck Latest Price
The Sea Gods Diatom CX 10’6’’ is one of the most eye catching boards you could hope for! The limited edition artwork is as bold as its stability and comfort for larger paddlers. It’s a lightweight cruiser-style board at 24 lbs, and its high volume dimensions (10’6 x 34″ x 6″) and rigid build quality allow the Diatom to support up to 340 lbs.
The almond-like outline gives it great agility on the water and the Universal Standard fin box means you can swap out the fins to adjust how well it tracks (though we like the balance offered by the included 9” touring style fin). It’s a great choice for occasional yoga or even surfing, and the Diatom is compatible with kayak seats, cup holders/fishing rod holders, and has plenty of cargo space for a dry bag or two.
We’re very impressed with the included accessories as well. Sea Gods works hard to make sure that your entire paddling experience is fantastic, and that includes examining everything from the packaging your board arrives in (now 100% recyclable), to the tweaks and changes to improve the pump, paddle, and even the handles on their new lightweight roller bag.
Oh, and did we mention that the artwork is amazing!!?
- Possibly the best-looking board on this list. Nah, I’ll call it. It’s definitely the best looking board on this list!
- Extra-stable at 34″ wide w/ a lot of weight support
- Rigid but lightweight construction at just 24lbs
- High-quality construction: woven drop stitch + welded rails for durability
- Versatility focused features that don’t crowd the deck pad and a great set of accessories
- Delivered in compostable and recyclable packaging
- The Diatom is great for casual cruising and even some light surfing, but isn’t ideal for longer trips where tracking performance is more important
4. Hydrus Joyride XL
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Hydrus Joyride XLCheck Latest Price
The classic lines of the Joyride XL always remind me of a tuxedo for some reason, but don’t let that fool you. This board can get rowdy.
The Hydrus Joyride XL (11’6 x 34”) is incredibly rigid thanks to its aramid fiber reinforced PVC shell, carbon fiber stringers, and high-pressure cross-woven drop stitch. The parallel midsection of the board carries the 34” width and makes the Joyride XL wicked stable. Combine the two and you have a board that performs with gusto on the water and is great for larger paddlers (or even two people) with an easy 400 lb capacity.
Don’t forget, Hydrus’s roots are in the river, and the Joyride XL is built and shaped to tackle not just flat water, and not just moving water, but makes a great board to dip your toes (or, more realistically, your whole body) into the world of whitewater SUP. Trust me, it’s fun.
- High quality, durable construction
- Extra-stable outline and high weight capacity
- Attention to detail, from the kick pad to the placement of the carry handles showcase how this SUP was designed by paddlers for paddlers
- Great look and design, and we like how they made the rails more gray than black for reduced heat retention and increased durability
- US fin box and three different fins included for versatility and high performance
- Lifetime warranty
- Only one color-way, so if this isn’t the look your going for then you are out of luck
- Paddle sold separately, but available discounted when bundled with the board, and you can take another 12% off your total with code: SUPBOARDGUIDE
5. Thurso Surf Max Multipurpose
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Thurso Max MultipurposeCheck Latest Price
Thurso Surf’s Max Multipurpose really lives up to its name. This 11’6 x 34” iSUP boasts extra stability thanks to its wider square tail, but is still easy to paddle and can put out some speed when you want it to. Don’t let the listed 300 pound weight capacity fool you, either – that’s just the recommended single rider weight! This board is more in line with the Blackfin Model XL and Hydrus Joyride XL for a total capacity in the 400’s.
The Max has tons of cargo room, multiple threaded accessory points, and two sets of fixed passenger handles at the front and back of the board. But one of my favorite things about the Max is its full-length deck pad. The entire top of the board is covered with a soft and grippy EVA foam pad that lets you use the full length of the board for passengers, pets, and secure gear storage (not to mention moving around, laying down, yoga, and more). Other nice touches like velcro paddle holders and a built-in fish ruler help the Max stand out from the crowd.
Thurso has also given the max a Universal Standard center fin box and two FCS-style two-tab side fin boxes for the most versatile fin system you could ask for. There are kayak seat compatible D-rings on the middle of the board and the Thurso paddle is not only convertible to use as a double-blade kayak paddle, but it’s also the only kit paddle that can readily upgrade to a full carbon fiber blade!
- Durable and rigid construction
- High stability for its size due to the wider tail shape
- Full-length deck pad for sharing with other paddlers, pets, or taking a quick nap!
- Classic design elements for a timeless look
- Great accessory kit, including an electric pump
- The Max is a heavier board at 31 pounds, which can make it a little harder to accelerate on the water and move from place to place on land
6. Nixy Monterey Expedition
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Nixy Monterey ExpeditionCheck Latest Price
Nixy’s Monterey Expedition paddle board shows us that you can create a SUP designed for larger paddlers while still keeping it lightweight and beautiful. The Monterey is, like many other boards on this list, 11’6 x 34”, but only weighs 21.5 pounds. We were a little worried about how this would affect its rigidity and performance for heavier paddlers, but were pleased to see how well it works on the water with our larger testers.
The Monterey is a little more sporty than some of the other boards with a slightly more torpedo-like shape and narrower tail, but still maintains plenty of stability for new and larger paddlers. The eye-catching design is matched with a robust, but not over-crowded set of onboard features that make it easy to use the Monterey for everything from cruising to fishing to, well, Expeditions!
The Monterey also comes with a fantastic kit of accessories including one of our favorite kit paddles – the Nixy Carbon Hybrid.
- Extremely lightweight at just 21.5 lbs but remains rigid and stable for larger paddlers
- Multiple vibrant colors to choose from
- Great paddling performance on the water
- Excellent accessory kit including a high-performance carbon/hybrid paddle
- Universal Standard fin box for versatile performance
- Currently the accessory kit requires you to select your items and is included for free, but don’t forget all of the necessary items
7. BOTE LowRider
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BOTE LowRiderCheck Latest Price
Depending on how you look at it, the LowRider is actually multiple different watercraft in one. First, there are two sizes of the LowRider, the 10’6 and 11’6. Both are 36” wide and extremely stable. However, both sizes of LowRider also come with a complete kayak kit with an inflatable seat and extra paddle blade. The LowRider 11’6 takes this one step further. It’s designed as a tandem SUP/Kayak Hybrid with not just space for two paddlers, and not just a full-length deck pad, but with two kayak seats and two paddles as well.
The LowRider definitely gives you options, and with tons of space and volume, The LowRider 11’6 can easily support two adults up to about 500 pounds total. Even though it’s designed to work with two paddlers, you can still paddle the Lowrider 11’6 as a SUP or kayak when by yourself.
That’s quite a bit of versatility in a single package!
- Lightweight construction makes this tandem-capable SUP easy to store and transport
- Large size makes it stable for standing or seated paddling
- Includes a full kayak conversion kit (and the 11’6 comes with two full conversion kits)
- Magnepod accessory points for cups/tumblers, speakers and more
- Bright and bold styling that Bote is known for
- Not the most rigid construction, but the overall size and shape help make up for this on the water
8. Red Paddle Co 10’8 Ride”
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Red Paddle Co 10'8 RideCheck Latest Price
The Red Paddle Co Ride 10’8 MSL is the bigger-brother SUP to the much-venerated Ride 10’6. Though it is only two inches longer, the Ride 10’8 is also two inches wider (34”). Combine that with Red’s excellent construction and 4.7” profile and you have a ton of stability. That thinner board shape helps lower your center of gravity and gives you a more connected feeling on the water. It also helps improve the surfability of the board for those who want to give SUP surfing a try.
The downside is that the thinner board is not quite as rigid as many of its 6” thick counterparts above and has a lower total volume, so the overall weight limit is still lower, but acceptable for paddlers up to about 265 pounds.
- High performance and more stable on the water thanks to 4.7” thickness
- Fantastic all-around. Great for beginners and experts alike.
- Lightweight and nimble on the water, but still stable even for beginners
- Hybrid RED deck pad. Grippy, yet also cushy so you can paddle longer yet with better balance.
- High performing fins that you don’t have to remove, store, and worry about
- RPC has some of the lowest return rates in the world. 5-year warranty if something does go wrong.
- Lower rigidity than many of the 6” thick boards on our list, but doesn’t have a “floppy” feeling on the water
- Does not include a paddle in the base price, however it is often available as a bundle with a paddle of your choice.
How We Chose Our Best Stand Up Paddle Boards for Larger / Heavier Paddlers for 2025
Our criteria for this list was simple. These boards consistently were the most stable and held the most weight while still being easy to paddle and enjoy. We wanted the boards on our list to handle extremely well and move the water with a good deal of efficiency, not just “float.” As mentioned this list is not just based on the manufacturers rating, but rather, our experience when it comes to “overloading” them. Most of these boards have been paddled successfully with two reviewers on it at once (approximately 400 lbs). While they weren’t as nimble as they were with a single, lighter person on board, they did not significantly impact the paddling experience.
Besides the obvious we also looked at a board’s construction quality and material usage. There are no budget boards here as we are selecting boards with a specific purpose in mind. This is probably one of the few instances where you will see us steer beginners away from the low cost budget choices, and instead guide them to a board that satisfies a very specific need. While there are price fluctuations on this list, buying a board with this purpose in mind is not a time to save money on a less capable choice.
From a more personal standpoint I have helped dozens of larger individuals successfully paddle for the first time. What was critical to me (and them), at the time, was ensuring that they were on a board that could not only support their weight but inspire a level of confidence good for new paddlers. Hopefully their positive experience led them to really get interested in the sport of stand up paddling. I can’t stress enough that board choice was key in all of those situations. Knowing what the end user needed was important but also was having the right equipment. So with that being said please look at these boards closely when making your choice. They are hand picked to be the best for the task at hand.
SupBoardGuide
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