Best Allround Paddle Board
By: James | Last update: 13 April 2022
If you are a beginner who’s looking for the best all round paddle board on the market, you’ve come to the right page. Have you started taking an interest in stand up paddleboarding? Taking the first step of investing in your own Paddle Board can seem so easy, but it’s actually more complicated than that. Why? Because your very first SUP board (short for ‘stand up paddle board’) should be able to take you paddling on all kinds of waters. It is your buddy that helps you hone your rowing skills until you’re ready to invest in another upgrade.
🥇Best inflatable choice
Red Paddle 10’6″ Ride
🥇Best hardboard choice
Aztron Jupit Bamboo Allround 10’8
🥈Best budget choice
Aqua Marina Vapor
Don’t Compromise, Choose the Best Allround Paddle Board!
You probably know this already, but we are going to say it anyway: paddle boards come in different shapes and sizes. This is because they are built to use for a specific type of water (currents and waves). A paddle board’s outline largely affects the way it glides on the water, the control or maneuvering, and the amount of balance a paddle boarder gets.
Most Common Paddle Boards
Now, the most common four types of stand up paddle boards are the following:
- Touring – This paddle board is all about comfort. Crafted mainly for flat water and open ocean paddling, these paddle boards are typically lengthier than all round paddle boards. Most downwinders use this when they are paddling from one point to another with the wind on their backs. A touring paddle board’s nose is built pointed to allow the paddle board to glide smoothly on the water. The longer the touring paddle board is, the more smoothly it slices through the water. However, stability is sacrificed.
- Surf – This is built for those who prefer surfing on the waves. Typically shorter, surf paddle boards have higher maneuverability. But, like the other boards, there’s always a trade-off. These are often slower but more stable, especially on flat water.
- Race – With almost the same shape as a touring board, race boards are typically designed for speed. These are made lengthy with pointed noses, but are narrower compared with touring boards.
- All Round – Considered the most suitable paddleboard for most people, an all round paddleboard gives the most stable feel as compared with the other boards. On a standard size, these boards are thick with a wider nose and tail. Everything about this paddle board is designed to give the most comfort and enjoyment while paddling.
A Beginner’s Fun
When it comes to allround paddle boards, they have round ends with a fuller nose and tail outline. What does this mean? It means that you get all the fun in paddling on rivers and flatwater because its design aids in stability and balance. When you’re just beginning to enjoy stand-up paddle boarding, you don’t need to do a lot of tricks or get a lot of speed. What you need is something that will help you appreciate the beauty of this sport.
The sliders below will show you what the qualities of an allround paddle board are per category:
Common Buying Traps: Why You Can’t Find the Best Allround Paddle Board
There are a lot of beginner SUP boards in the market and if you’re only after getting one quick, you’re setting yourself up for a purchasing disaster. Because your first paddle board is vital in progressing your paddling over time, you need to know the common buying mistakes that most consumers commit. We’ve listed down some that might come in handy for you:
- Not taking note of your weight – Each stand-up paddle board has a limited weight capacity. Why? Because your weight determines which paddle board with the right volume and dimensions is right for you. In simpler terms, your weight and your board’s capacity largely affect your overall paddling experience (speed, turning, and balance).
- Not considering the type of SUP board – Do you want to use an inflatable paddle board or a solid paddle board (hardboard)? Before deciding on that, you might want to consider these buying points:
- Your skills at a beginner’s level
- Durability
- The price range and your budget
These are the things that some impulsive buyers often forget to consider before purchasing a stand-up allround paddle board. Patience is a virtue. What they don’t realize is that a little research will greatly save them from purchasing the wrong product.
- Not taking note of paddle board dimensions – As we have said earlier, the shape of the paddle board largely affects the rider’s speed, stability, and control. One cannot just purchase a paddle board just because it looks cool or it’s smaller. The width gives you stability and balance while the nose and tail give you speed. When a paddle board has a narrower width, it gives you more speed, but less maneuverability. When a paddle board has a round outline, it gives you stability, but less speed.
Research Factors for the Best AllRound Paddle Board
Now that you’re highly convinced that an allround paddle board is the way to go, let’s dive into the specifics of getting to the best allround paddle board. While allround paddle boards are undoubtedly the best-selling SUP sets in the market, it’s still best to consider these things when purchasing your very first allround paddle board:
Type – Are you going to use an inflatable or solid paddle board?
Weight – Is the maximum weight capacity of the board proportional to your weight?
Quality – How far can the quality go? Is it reliable enough?
Volume – What about air volume? Is the air content enough to support weight and pressure?
User-Friendly – Is the paddle board easy to set up, use, and maintain?
Brand – Which brand offers the best allround paddle board in the market? Are there enough good reviews about the product or brand?
Location – On what water would you use your SUP board? Do you live near rivers or the sea?
Price – Does the product price suit your budget? Considering the type and brand, is it worth the purchase?
Hardboard Vs. Inflatable Paddle Board: Which is the Best Allround Paddle Board?
When looking for the best allround paddle board in the market, your choice will always go down to whether you’re buying a hardboard or an inflatable paddle board. While both types have their great features and drawbacks, we’d like to help you narrow down comparisons by listing down some specific details:
Take a short quiz and see which allround paddle board fits your lifestyle
| SUP Planet © | 🏆Hardboard | 🏆Inflatable |
| Portability | We all know that hardboard paddle boards cannot be bent or folded. When it comes to portability, you also need to consider transportation. Since hardboard paddle boards are literally long, an SUV is ideally needed to bring the board to the nearest river or sea. In terms of convenience, we honestly think this can give you a little hassle. | We’d like to be as objective as possible when it comes to our research and reviews. But we really think that inflatable SUP boards are better in terms of this feature. While hardboards are solid and need to be carried in full weight, inflatable SUP boards can be strapped in as a carry-on bag when deflated. This brings ease when traveling. Even better, whatever vehicle you have is no problem. |
| Durability | When it comes to sturdiness, it’s unquestionable that hardboard SUP boards are durable, if made with PVC hardboards. Mostly made of PVC plastic, fiberglass, and epoxy resin layers over hollow wood (or foam core materials), hardboard SUP boards might be more vulnerable to breakage and need careful maintenance. Some expensive solid boards are even made of carbon fiber, which make them lighter and sturdier. Fairly speaking, with this kind of SUP board, it’s safe to say that it can last years with proper usage. | Inflatable doesn’t mean a lack of durability, but we agree that it needs more care than solid SUP boards. Usually made by drop-stitching layers of polyester fabric, heated PVC, and air-tight coatings on surfaces, inflatable paddle boards are intricately designed to last against daily use and abuse. The only drawback is the possibility of wear and tear over time. Because this SUP board is designed to contain air volume, it is also more prone to small damages. |
And the Battle for the Best Allround Paddle Board Continues…
| Storage | Hardboard SUP boards come whole as they are. It is impossible to fold or bend them just to get extra storage space. This is one non-negotiable disadvantage, but is nonetheless not critical to the board’s performance. | One thing we like about unconventional stand-up paddle boards is their capacity to be more than what they are designed for. Because inflatable SUP boards are set up with air, you can save up storage space as these can be rolled up like backpacks. It also means ease of transporation. |
| Ease of Use | The hardboard SUP board is typically easy to use in terms of its purpose–for paddling. You drop it into the water and you’re good to go without any setup needed. But in terms of easily carrying it to the water, it might cause a little inconvenience. | We find it both objective and subjective that inflatable paddle boards are a little hassle in terms of setup. Inflating the board is a process you need to take before the actual fun. But if you’re the type who wouldn’t mind doing all these, then this SUP board is still a good choice. |
| Performance | We’re not going to lie, but hardboard paddle boards give more speed, maneuverability, and glide. It’s still the conventional SUP board that brings a great paddling experience. But for a beginner, it might take time before you actually see the difference in performance. | Inflatable paddle boards give lesser glide than solid paddle boards, but you’d be surprised to know that there is very little difference. With today’s technology, every inflatable SUP board is designed to perform at par with the conventional ones. |
Conclusion
Choosing the best allround paddle board really depends on your lifestyle and preference. Do you love traveling often? Is your vehicle an SUV or a pick-up truck where you can carry a solid SUP board anywhere? Do you live near the sea or rivers? If you feel like your lifestyle keeps you on the go, then your new paddling experience is better off with an inflatable paddle board. But if you like everything lax, old school, and slow, then go with the hardboard paddle board. Just make sure that whatever allround paddle board you buy, don’t forget that fun is the most important thing to have.
To make your search for the best allround paddle board a lot easier, we have already made a selection for you. View our selection of the best allround stand-up paddle board(s) at the top of the page.
Enjoy discovering the world of paddle boarding!