What is an inflatable Paddle Board?

By: James | Last update: 28 December 2022

Now that Stand Up Paddle Boarding is becoming more known, more variants of the Paddle Boards are appearing. In the past you only had hardboards. These boards were not inflatable and could only be carried under your arm or on the roof of your car. But nowadays there are also inflatable Paddle boards. But what exactly is an inflatable SUP Board (ISUP)? The name says it all, an inflatable SUP is inflatable. But what exactly does that mean, an inflatable Stand Up Paddle board? We explain it below.

As mentioned earlier, an inflatable paddle board is a paddle board you can inflate and deflate. The ideal thing about such a Stand Up Paddle Board is that it is easy to carry. When the board is not inflated you can easily fold it. When the board is folded, you simply put it in the (usually) supplied bag and put the bag in the trunk of your car or on your back. Thanks to this simplicity you can take your paddle board with you everywhere, who wouldn’t want that!

Types of inflatable paddle boards

Just like with hardboards, there are also various types of inflatable ISUPS. We will list all types below:

• All-round: these boards can be used for almost any application. All-round sups are also ideal for beginners thanks to their stability
• Touring: touring boards are, as the name suggests, ideal for touring. Touring SUPs are extra long, have a pointy nose and are nice and stable
• Surf: you may not think so, but there are even special sup boards for surfing. These boards are generally short and wide. This ensures a stable and manoeuvrable board that you can easily turn on the waves
• Windsurf: there are not only surf SUPS but also special windsurf SUPS. These boards have a special mast insert where you can insert the mast
• Race: race boards are mainly used for competitions. But the advanced paddlers also want to use these boards as touring SUPs. Thanks to their long length, pointed nose and narrow center base, these boards cut through the water
• Yoga & Pilates: yoga and pilates on the sup is no exception. Yoga and pilates boards are extra wide, have a high volume and contain multiple attachment points. This makes the sups extra stable and suitable for connecting to a yoga platform
• Children: Stand Up Paddle Boarding is not only for adults but also for children. Kids SUP boards are light, short and wide, making them manoeuvrable and stable
• River: the river boards are extra wide, sturdy and short, making you stable and manoeuvrable on the river
• Wild water: also called white water SUPs. These boards are, just like the river boards, extra wide, short and sturdy. This makes them stable, manoeuvrable and resistant to impact
• Multi person: if you go paddle boarding with several people, a multi person SUP is ideal. Multi-person boards, as the name suggests, can carry several people. This is ideal for when you want to have fun with your boyfriend, girlfriend, family or friends!

Advantages inflatable Paddle Board

As you can see, there is an inflatable Paddle Board for every application. But what exactly are the advantages of an inflatable Paddle Board? View all the benefits of an inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board below:

1. Stable: because the sups are full of air, they are very stable
2. Strong: you might not expect it, but the technologies used in production today make them very strong
3. Easy to repair: if an infatable SUP leaks, it is generally easy to repair with a repair kit
4. Cheaper: in many cases an inflatable paddle board is cheaper than a non-inflatable paddle board
5. Easy to transport: because the board is inflatable, you can easily transport it in the included backpack
6. Package: in contrast to hardboards, there are many packages of these sups. This is ideal since you no longer have to buy a paddle and any other necessary accessories separately

Interested in an inflatable SUP Board after reading this blog? Then take a look at our research into the best Allround SUP board.