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Selection of inflatable paddles: our 2025 comparison

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10 April 2025

Bruno SROKA

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Are you looking for an inflatable paddle board for the summer to sail at sea or in lakes?

Le paddle gonflable a vraiment beaucoup d’avantages et il permet vraiment de se faire plaisir avec le minimum d’encombrement, avec de bonnes performances et avec une excellente solidité et durabilité si et seulement si vous choisissez le bon paddle pour vous.

Dans cet article, nous allons vous comparer différents paddles gonflables pour débuter, pour faire de la course, du surf ou de la randonnée. Nous vous donnerons un avis sur chaque paddle et vous pourrez comparer en un coup d’œil pour faire le bon choix.

Prenez cinq minutes pour étudier le meilleur paddle gonflable du marché et choisir votre prochain achat.

Our comparison of inflatable paddle boards on the market

Pour débuter, nous vous conseillons des paddles stables avec un peu moins de longueur pour augmenter la maniabilité. La stabilité est fonction de la largeur de planche. Une planche large sera plus stable. Un paddle pour débuter sera très orienté pour la balade.

Ce qui fera la différence entre les marques c’est la construction :

Un paddle plus renforcé et donc plus durable dans le temps sera un peu plus lourd car il aura un peu plus de couches de PVC.
Un paddle très léger sera moins solide. Il y a une différence d’1kg.

Plus le paddle sera renforcé et plus il sera rigide et stable. Donc il est important de regarder le nombre de couches qui peut vous aider à différencier les constructions.

1. The Top 5 Cheap Paddle Boards

A cheap paddle board is an easy-to-use paddle board at a very reasonable price. It’s a great way to discover paddling and learn the ropes.

Generally, a cheap paddle board is a cheap paddle board. To make it more economical, we reduce the number of PVC layers, we simplify the design and construction in order to have a very attractive price. Depending on the brand, strength and stability can vary greatly.

We have made a ranking that will allow you to better understand all the models and make your choice. Our main criteria were: the construction, the quality of the materials, the width of the board for maximum stability and the price.

Which brand to choose for a quality paddle?
Note	16/20	15/20	14,8/ 20	15,1/20	12/20
Model	Ocean Walker 10’4×32	Awesafe 10x31x6	Bestway Hydro-Force	ECD Germany paddle	Caroma paddle.
Price pack and/or Unit	199 €	499 €	311,50 €	499 €	199 €
Color	White and blue	White and green	Blue and white	Blue and white	White, green and yellow
Size	10’4’x32x6	10x31x6	10x31x6	10.6x32x6	10 x 27 x 15
Weight	8	7,9	10	9,5	9,7
Type of material	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	PVC	PVC	PVC	PVC
Number of PVC deck/hull layers	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom
Number of PVC layers on rails	2	1	1	1	1
Thickness	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm
User group	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.
Suitable for	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river
Special features	Solid – very stable – best value for money / good glide	Very stable, good glide	Stable, and interesting to learn to glide.	A little less stable, but with good glide	Narrow width means less stability, may be suitable for small builders.
Where to find it	Srokacompany	Amazon	Amazon	Amazon	Amazon

2. The top 5 paddle boards to start with

To start, we recommend stable paddles with a little less length to increase manoeuvrability. Stability is a function of the board width. A wide board will be more stable. A beginner’s paddle will be very oriented for the family ride. What will make the difference between the different brands is the construction and quality of the pvc and glues used as well as the general shape of the inflatable paddle that will determine the glide. A more reinforced paddle and therefore more durable over time will be a little heavier because it will have a few more layers of PVC. A very light paddle board will be less solid. There is a difference of 1kg between the two options. The more reinforced the paddle, the stiffer and more stable it will be. So it’s important to look at the number of layers that can help you differentiate the builds. Finally, some shapes will allow you to glide better and others will be more stable. Choose according to your needs and abilities.

Which brand to choose for a quality paddle?
Note	16/20	17,5/20	14,8/ 20	15,1/20	12/20
Model	Ocean Walker 10’4×32	Easy 10	Bestway Hydro-Force	ECD Germany paddle	Caroma paddle.
Price pack and/or Unit	199 €	240 €	311,50 €	499 €	199 €
Color	White and blue	White and green	Blue and white	Blue and white	White, green and yellow
Size	10’4’x32x6	10x31x5	10x31x6	10.6x32x6	10 x 27 x 15
Weight	8	8,1	10	9,5	9,7
Type of material	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	PVC	PVC	PVC
Number of PVC deck/hull layers	1 top / bottom	1.5 top / bottom	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom	1 top / bottom
Number of PVC layers on rails	2	2	1	1	1
Thickness	15 cm	12 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm
User group	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / skilled / experienced	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.	Adults / children / resourceful.
Suitable for	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river
Special features	Solid – very stable – best value for money / good glide	The stiffest of the 5 models. More stable because lower on the water, good glide.	Stable, and interesting to learn to glide.	A little less stable, but with good glide	Narrow width means less stability, may be suitable for small builders.
Where to find it	Srokacompany	Srokacompany	Amazon	Amazon	Amazon

3. The Top 4 Racing Paddles

Un paddle de course est forcément long et étroit. Plus il sera long et étroit et plus il sera performant avec comme contrepartie d’être moins stable. Donc il faut bien maîtriser le paddle pour utiliser pleinement ce type de stand up paddle.

Un paddle de course oscille entre 12 ‘6 et 14 pieds. La largeur sera inférieure à 28 ‘de large. Encore une fois, l’une des clés de la performance c’est la rigidité, c’est pour cette raison que de nombreux compétiteurs optent pour des planches rigides. Mais de plus en plus de compétiteurs pour des raisons de simplicité utilisent des paddles gonflables.

Volontairement, nous n’avons pas mis de notes, car la course race c’est très difficile à évaluer. Il y a tellement de facteurs qui entrent en jeu qu’il est difficile d’être objectif. 80 % de la performance, c’est le compétiteur et le rameur sur la planche. Donc le cardio, la force physique, l’explosivité sont des critères tellement importants qu’ils peuvent fausser un test.

See all Paddles

Which brand to choose for a racing paddle?
Note	–	–	–	–
Model	Alpha 14 x27	Itiwit	Fun box race	14′ Elite
Price pack and/or Unit	625 €	650 €	569 €	1581 €
Color	Blue and orange	Grey and white	Blue, grey and white	White
Size	14x27x6	14x27x6	14x27x6	14x27x6
Weight	9,6	11	9,7	9,96
Type of material	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	PVC	PVC	PVC
Number of PVC deck/hull layers	2 top / bottom	1.5 top / bottom	2 top / bottom	2 top / bottom
Number of PVC layers on rails	3	2	2	2
Thickness	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm
User group	Adults / proficient to advanced. Expert	Adults / proficient to advanced. Expert	Adults / proficient to advanced. Expert	Adults / confirmed to Expert
Suitable for	Lake – river – sea – race	Lake – river – sea – race	Lake – river – sea – race	Lake – river – sea – race
Special features	Solid – very rigid with excellent glide	Good glide but a little heavy due to the plastic nose.	Good glide	Good glide but a little bulky with the metal bar.
Where to find it	Srokacompany	itiwit	redwood paddle	Red paddle

4. The Top 4 Surf Paddles

To surf an inflatable paddle, you need to choose the right one.

The shape is different, as is the thickness:

The outline of the board should be fairly round, with a narrowing at the front and back of the board to facilitate turns and prevent the nose from planking into the wave.
A thickness of 5′ (12 cm) is recommended, so that you can press down on the rails and turn the board more easily.
Similarly, the position and angle of the fins will influence the paddle’s manoeuvrability.
Finally, stiffness is a fundamental criterion to hope to make real turns. If the board is made too light, it will bounce on the water with a significant loss of energy.

So take the time to compare constructions, it’s fundamental. It’s best to invest in a good paddle for the waves.

At SROKA, we offer two models that could potentially meet paddle surf.

The Wave 9’5 is mainly aimed at paddle surf, but you can still take it for a spin.
And the second is the Malibu 10, which will be 70% touring and 30% wave-oriented.

Our main criteria to evaluate these 4 paddles were: the shape of the board (which determines the maneuverability of the board), the width, thickness, length of the board, as well as the construction of the paddles and the materials used.

Which brand to choose for a surf paddle?
Note	18,5/20	17,5/20	15/20	16/20
Model	Wave 9’5	Malibu 10	Itiwit	Funbox 9’6 Pro Wide
Price pack and/or Unit	468 €	480 €	450 €	499 €
Color	White and blue	White and green	Blue and white	White and green
Size	9’5’x31’5×5	10x31x5	10x31x3	9.6x35x5
Weight	8,5	8,7	9	8
Type of material	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	PVC	PVC
Number of PVC deck/hull layers	2 top / bottom	2 top / bottom	1.5 top / bottom	2 top / bottom
Number of PVC layers on rails	3	3	1	2
Thickness	12 cm	12 cm	10 cm	12 cm
User group	Adults / children / skilled / experienced	Adults / children / skilled / experienced	Adults / children / resourceful	Adults / children / resourceful
Suitable for	Surfing – walking	Ride – surf	Ride – surf	Ride – surf – river
Special features	Solid – very stable – perfect for surfing. 70% surfing and 30% riding	Ultra stable, ideal for a mix of 70% touring and 30% surfing	Stable, interesting for learning to ride a wave. Lacks stiffness due to its thickness and a bit long for a special board.	Very stable in terms of width, but a little less manoeuvrable on the waves. initation sup surf.
Where to find it	Srokacompany	Srokacompany	Itiwit	Redwoodpaddle

5. The top 5 touring paddle boards

Going on a paddle hike is like going on an adventure with family or friends. Technically, all paddles can do this, but :

if you want to optimize your glide and your ride, we recommend boards with pointed noses for better gliding.
If you’re looking for stability, opt for a paddle with a pointed nose and a fairly wide stern to maximize your stability.
If you’re looking to maximize glide, opt for a long, thin board with a thin tail, which will allow you to go faster. This type of board will provide excellent glide and allow you to cover more distance with less effort.

Our main criteria were the solidity, the general shape that will determine the glide and stability, the quality and quantity of the materials used, the price.

Which brand to choose for a touring paddle?
Notes	19/20	17,2/20	16/20	18/20	13/20
Model	Alpha 12’6×31	Fanatic Ray 12’6	Red paddle 12’6 MSL	Funbox pro 12’6×31	Bluefin Cruiser
Price pack and/or Unit	485 €	938 €	1546 €	599 €	693 €
Color	Green or blue	Green	Blue, white, red	Blue and white	Green, grey, white
Size	12’6x31x6	12’6x32x6	12’6x30x6	12’6x31x6	12x32x6
Weight	9	9,2	9,6	9,5	10
Type of material	Reinforced PVC (semi-rigid boat type)	PVC	PVC	PVC	PVC
Number of PVC deck/hull layers	2 top / bottom	2 top / bottom	2 top / bottom	2 top / bottom	1 top / bottom
Number of PVC layers on rails	3	2	2	2	2
Thickness	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm	15 cm
User group	Adults / adults+children / athletes – professionals	Adults / adults+children / athletes – professionals	Adults / adults+children / athletes – professionals	Adults / adults+children / athletes – professionals	Adults / adults+children / athletes – professionals
Suitable for	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea	Lake – river – sea
Special features	Ultra solid – very stable – excellent value for money / excellent glide	Solid / stable, excellent glide but expensive.	Stable, solid, excellent glide but too expensive.	Good glide, but less stable due to thinner tail.	Good stability, but width penalizes glide
Where to find itWhere to find it	Srokacompany	Amazon	Amazon	–	Amazon

What is an inflatable paddle board?

Le paddle gonflable est un sport aquatique qui se pratique en mer, en lac ou en rivière. A l’aide d’un pagaie, le paddler débout sur une planche se déplace à l’aide de sa pagaie. Paddle gonflable, stand up paddle ou SUP sont le même sport.

Le paddle désigne la planche accompagnée d’un ou plusieurs ailerons, d’une pompe, d’un leash et d’un sac de transport. Parfois les paddles sont vendus séparément (sans pagaie ni leash) et parfois c’est vendu avec. On peut encore trouver des planches rigides mais on trouve plus majoritairement des planches gonflables pour des raisons de simplicité, de facilité et de solidité.

Who can practice stand up paddleboarding?

Le paddle gonflable est destiné à un public très large et grand public. Du débutant à l’expert vous pourrez trouver votre bonheur. Il n’y a pas de limites d’âge. Ce type de pratique est particulièrement adapté aux personnes qui veulent se détendre sur l’eau et s’éloigner un peu de la foule.

Il existe différents types de paddle gonflables. La forme, la longueur, le nombre d’ailerons différent pour répondre à des besoins différents. De la même manière, la construction est très importante dans la réactivité, rigidité, stabilité de votre paddle.

Donc avant d’investir dans un paddle, analyser vos envies et besoins afin de choisir le bon modèle

En fonction de votre activité, le choix du paddle va être déterminant pour s’adapter réellement à ce que vous voulez faire sur l’eau. Si vous désirez faire de la randonnée, de la course, du paddle surf ou de l’initiation il faudra choisir un paddle différent. Le paddle pour tout faire sera qu’un compromis et fera tout mais rien de bien. Donc réfléchissez en fonction de l’endroit où vous êtes, de votre niveau, de vos envies, de votre gabarit, le choix du paddle sera différent.

Nous avons essayer de vous montrer des produits différents qui peuvent répondre à tout vos besoins. Nos critères principaux ont été: le prix du paddle, le construction du paddle, la largeur, la forme du paddle, les accessoires s’il y en a.

Si vous avez encore des questions à ce sujet, ou pour toute autre demande, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter !