Are you looking for an inflatable paddleboard for the summer to navigate at sea or on a lake?
The inflatable paddleboard really has many advantages and it really allows you to enjoy yourself with minimal bulk, with good performance and with excellent solidity and durability if and only if you choose the right paddle for you.
In this article, we will compare different inflatable paddles for beginners, for racing, surfing or touring. We will give you an opinion on each paddle and you will be able to compare at a glance to make the right choice.
Take five minutes to study the best inflatable paddle on the market and choose your next purchase.
Our comparison of inflatable paddles on the market
To get started, we recommend stable paddles with a little less length to increase maneuverability. Stability is a function of board width. A wide board will be more stable. A paddle for beginners will be very oriented towards cruising.
What will make the difference between brands is the construction:
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A more reinforced paddle and therefore more durable over time will be a little heavier because it will have a little more PVC layers.
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A very light paddle will be less solid. There is a 1kg difference.
The more reinforced the paddle, the more rigid and stable it will be. So it is important to look at the number of layers which can help you differentiate constructions.
1. Top 5 budget-friendly paddles
A budget-friendly paddle is an easy-to-use paddle at a very reasonable price. It will allow you to discover the paddle activity and make your first attempts.
Generally a budget-friendly paddle is a entry-level paddle. To make it more economical, the number of PVC layers is reduced, the design and construction are simplified to have a very attractive price. Depending on the brands, solidity and stability can be greatly different.
We made a ranking that will help you better understand all the models and make your choice. Our main criteria were: construction, quality of materials, board width for maximum stability and price.
| Ocean Walker 10'4 Best | Awesafe 10×31 | Bestway Hydro-Force | ECD Germany | Caroma Paddle | |
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| Rating | 16/20 | 15/20 | 14.8/20 | 15.1/20 | 12/20 |
| Price | €219 | €499 | €311.50 | €212 | €199 |
| Dimensions | 10'4 × 32 × 6 | 10 × 31 × 6 | 10 × 31 × 6 | 10.6 × 32 × 6 | 10 × 27 × 15 |
| Weight (grams) | 8 kg | 7.9 kg | 10 kg | 9.5 kg | 9.7 kg |
| Materials | Reinforced PVC | PVC | PVC | PVC | PVC |
| Deck/Hull layers | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Rail layers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Thickness | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Users | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate |
| Suitable for | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river |
| Strengths | Solid, very stable, best value for money, good glide | Very stable, good glide | Stable, for beginners | Good glide, slightly less stable | Less stable (low width), small sizes |
| Buy | SROKA Company → | Amazon → | Amazon → | Amazon → | Amazon → |
2. Top 5 paddles for beginners
To get started, we recommend stable paddles with a little less length to increase maneuverability. Stability is a function of board width. A wide board will be more stable. A paddle for beginners will be very oriented towards family cruising.
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 which will determine the glide. A more reinforced paddle and therefore more durable over time will be a little heavier because it will have a little more PVC layers. A very light paddle will be less solid. There is a 1kg difference between the two options.
The more reinforced the paddle, the more rigid and stable it will be. So it is important to look at the number of layers which can help you differentiate constructions. Finally, certain shapes will allow you to glide better and others will be more stable. Choose based on your needs and abilities.
| Easy 10 Best | Ocean Walker 10'4 Top 2 | Bestway Hydro-Force | ECD Germany | Caroma Paddle | |
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| Rating | 17.5/20 | 16/20 | 14.8/20 | 15.1/20 | 12/20 |
| Price | €249 | €219 | €311.50 | €212 | €199 |
| Dimensions | 10 × 31 × 5 | 10'4 × 32 × 6 | 10 × 31 × 6 | 10.6 × 32 × 6 | 10 × 27 × 15 |
| Weight (grams) | 8.1 kg | 8 kg | 10 kg | 9.5 kg | 9.7 kg |
| Materials | Reinforced PVC | Reinforced PVC | PVC | PVC | PVC |
| Deck/Hull layers | 1.5 / 1.5 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Rail layers | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Thickness | 12 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Users | Adults / children / Intermediate / Advanced | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate |
| Suitable for | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river |
| Strengths | The most rigid of the 5. More stable (lower on the water), excellent glide | Solid, very stable, best value for money | Stable, for learning | Good glide, slightly less stable | Less stable, small sizes |
| Buy | SROKA Company → | SROKA Company → | Amazon → | Amazon → | Amazon → |
3. Top 4 race paddles
A race paddle is necessarily long and narrow. The longer and narrower it is, the more efficient it will be with the downside of being less stable. So you need to master the paddle well to fully use this type of Stand Up Paddle.
A race paddle ranges between 12'6 and 14 feet. The width will be less than 28' wide. Once again, one of the keys to performance is rigidity, which is why many competitors opt for rigid boards. But increasingly, competitors for simplicity reasons use inflatable paddles.
Intentionally, we did not put ratings, because race racing is very difficult to evaluate. There are so many factors at play that it is difficult to be objective. 80% of performance is the competitor and the rower on the board. So cardio, physical strength, explosiveness are criteria so important that they can skew a test.
| Alpha 14×27 Best | Starboards Sprint Airline Deluxe | Red paddle race 14'0' Elite MSL 800 | Race 14' x 27' ReD wood paddle | |
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| Price | €519 | €1,251 | €1,459 | €299 |
| Dimensions | 14 × 27 × 6 | 14 × 24.5 × 6 | 14 × 27 × 6 | 14 × 26-27 × 6 |
| Weight (grams) | 9.6 kg | 10.4 kg | 9.9 kg | 10.2 kg |
| Materials | Reinforced PVC | PVC Fusion + Airline + Carbon | PVC MSL 800 + RSS | PVC MSL + dropstitch |
| Deck/Hull layers | 2 / 2 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2 |
| Rail layers | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Thickness | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Users | Intermediate → Expert | Intermediate Advanced to Expert | Advanced → Expert | Intermediate → Advanced |
| Suitable for | Lake · river · sea · race | Lake · river · sea · race | Lake · river · sea · varied conditions | Lake · river · sea formed · light Downwind |
| Strengths | Solid, very rigid, excellent glide | Ultra fast, Airline technology | Very rigid, light, high-end | Versatile and balanced |
| Buy | SROKA Company → | The SupCo | The paddle Shop | Red Wood Paddle |
4 — Top 4 Surf foil paddles
To surf on an inflatable paddle, you need to choose your paddle carefully.
The shape is different as well as its thickness:
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The outline of the board should be quite round, with a narrowing at the front and back of the board to facilitate turns and prevent the nose from diving into the wave.
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A thickness of 5' or 12 cm is recommended so you can better press on the rails and thus turn the board more easily.
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Similarly, the position and angle of the fins will influence the maneuverability of the paddle.
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Finally, rigidity is a fundamental criterion to hope to make real turns. If the board is made too lightly, it will bounce on the water with significant energy loss.
So take the time to compare constructions, it is fundamental. It is better to invest in a good paddle to go in the waves.
At SROKA, we offer you two models that could potentially meet the Surf foil paddle.
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There is the Wave 9'5 which will be mainly oriented towards Surf foil paddle but you can still cruise with it.
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And the second is the Malibu 10, which will be oriented 70% cruising and 30% waves.
Our main criteria for evaluating these 4 paddles were: the shape of the board (which determines the maneuverability of the board), the width, the thickness, the length of the board, as well as the construction of the paddles and the materials used.
| Wave 9'5 Best | Malibu 10 | SUP Decathlon Exploration | Funbox 9'6 Pro Wide | |
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| Rating | 18.5/20 | 17.5/20 | 15/20 | 16/20 |
| Price | €330 | €330 | €349 | €439 |
| Dimensions | 9'5 × 31.5 × 5 | 10 × 31 × 5 | 12'6 × 32 × 6 | 9.6 × 35 × 5 |
| Weight (grams) | 8.5 kg | 8.7 kg | 10 kg | 8 kg |
| Materials | Reinforced PVC | Reinforced PVC | PVC | PVC |
| Deck/Hull layers | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | Not specified | 2 / 2 |
| Rail layers | 3 | 3 | Not specified | 2 |
| Thickness | 12 cm | 12 cm | 15 cm | 12 cm |
| Users | Adults / children / Intermediate / Advanced | Adults / children / Intermediate / Advanced | Adults / children / Intermediate | Adults / children / Intermediate |
| Suitable for | Surf foil · cruising | Cruising · Surf foil | Cruising · Surf foil | Cruising · Surf foil · river |
| Strengths | Perfect for surfing. 70% Surf foil / 30% cruising | Ultra stable. 70% cruising / 30% Surf foil | Very stable for a Surf foil SUP thanks to its width. | Very stable (width), less maneuverable in waves |
| Buy | SROKA Company → | SROKA Company → | Decathlon → | Redwood Paddle → |
5 — Top 5 touring paddles
Going on a paddle tour is going on an adventure with family or friends. Technically all paddles allow you to do this but:
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if you want to optimize glide and your tour, we recommend taking boards with pointed noses to glide better.
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If you are looking for stability, opt for a paddle with a pointed nose and a fairly wide rear to maximize your stability.
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If you want to maximize glide, opt for a long and thin board with a thin rear. This will allow you to go faster. This type of board will provide excellent glide and allow you to travel more distance with less effort.
Our main criteria were solidity, the general shape which will determine glide and stability, the quality and quantity of materials used, the price.
| Alpha 12'6×31 Best | Funbox Pro 12'6 Top 2 | Fanatic Ray 12'6 | Red Paddle 12'6 MSL | Bluefin Cruiser | |
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| Rating | 19/20 | 16.5/20 | 17.2/20 | 16/20 | 13/20 |
| Price | €485 | €539 | €649 | €1,299 | €846 |
| Dimensions | 12'6 × 31 × 6 | 12'6 × 31.5 × 6 | 12'6 × 32 × 6 | 12'6 × 30 × 6 | 12 × 32 × 6 |
| Weight (grams) | 9 kg | 9.5 kg | 12.25 kg | 9.6 kg | 10 kg |
| Materials | Reinforced PVC | PVC | PVC | PVC | PVC |
| Deck/Hull layers | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Rail layers | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Thickness | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Users | Adults / athletes / pros | Adults all levels | Adults / Adult + child / Athletes - professionals | Adults / Adult + child / Athletes - professionals | Adults / Adult + child / Athletes - professionals |
| Suitable for | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea | Lake · river · sea |
| Strengths | Ultra solid, very stable, excellent value for money, excellent glide | Stable and well equipped with fixtures for touring. | Solid, stable, excellent glide, but expensive | Stable, solid, excellent glide, but too expensive | Good stability, width penalizes glide |
| Buy | SROKA Company → | Red Wood Paddle | Amazon → | Amazon → | Amazon → |
What is an inflatable paddle?
The inflatable paddle is a water sport practiced at sea, on a lake or in a river. Using a Paddle, the paddler standing on a board moves using his Paddle. Inflatable paddle, Stand Up Paddle or SUP are the same sport.
The paddle refers to the board accompanied by one or more fins, a Pump, a Leash and a transport bag. Sometimes paddles are sold separately (without Paddle or Leash) and sometimes it is sold with. You can still find rigid boards but you find more predominantly inflatable boards for reasons of simplicity, ease and solidity.
Who can practice Stand Up Paddle?
The inflatable paddle is intended for a very wide and mainstream audience. From beginner to expert you will find your happiness. There is no age limit. This type of practice is particularly suitable for people who want to relax on the water and get away from the crowd a bit.
There are different types of inflatable paddles. The shape, length, number of fins differ to meet different needs. Similarly, construction is very important in the responsiveness, rigidity, stability of your paddle.
So before investing in a paddle, analyze your desires and needs to choose the right model
Depending on your activity, the choice of paddle will be decisive to really adapt to what you want to do on the water. If you want to go touring, racing, paddle Surf foil or initiation you will need to choose a different paddle. The all-purpose paddle will only be a compromise and will do everything but nothing well. So think based on where you are, your level, your desires, your size, the choice of paddle will be different.
We tried to show you different products that can meet all your needs. Our main criteria were: the price of the paddle, the construction of the paddle, the width, the shape of the paddle, the accessories if any.
If you have any further questions on this subject, or for any other request, please do not hesitate to contact us!
