Best Non-Inflatable Standup Paddle Boards 2020

After personally paddling, weighing, and thoroughly testing 175+ boards, our expert staff has selected the best non-inflatable stand up paddle board 2020 models. These are designated by the "A" grade and organized by categories (inflatable, all-around, touring, etc). The Supconnect team traveled across 3 states and spent 8 months individually assessing each one of the inflatable SUP boards below, counting a total of 23 metrics per board and consistently applying them across all products. The end result: simply the most comprehensive, consumer-friendly, value-added review platform in the standup paddle world. Click through each one of the reviews and find a consistent, in-depth assessment of each product listed.

Quick Answer:

The Best Non-Inflatable SUPs 2020

• SIC Maui RS
• Rogue Parlay
• Surftech Chameleon
• NSP Hit
• Rogue All In
• Surftech Aleka
• Rogue Jackpot

 A Comparison

The Best Non-Inflatable Paddle Boards 2020

Picture	Board	Weight	Price	Use	Skill	Build	Width
	SIC Maui RS	23.4 lbs	$2,499	Race	Advanced	Non-Inflatable	23 in.
	Rogue Parlay	25.7 lbs	$2,699	Race	Advanced	Non-Inflatable	23 in.
	Surftech Chameleon	22.14 lbs	$1,050	All Around / Touring	Beginner	Non-Inflatable	31 in.
	NSP Hit	27.4 lbs	$789	All Around / Rental	Beginner	Non-Inflatable	32 in.
	Rogue All In	24.12 lbs	$2,699	Race	Advanced	Non-Inflatable	24 in.
	Surftech Aleka	22.11 lbs	$1,349	All Around	Beginner / Intermediate	Non-Inflatable	29 in.
	Rogue Jackpot	27.5 lbs	$2,899	Race	Advanced	Non-Inflatable	25.5 in

Non-Inflatable Paddle Boards 101

3 Things to Consider to Find the Best Non-Inflatable SUP

1. BUILD

Non-inflatable paddle boards come in various constructions, with most of them falling into three broad categories, plastic, epoxy, and carbon, each with its own pro’s and con’s.

Plastic: SUP boards made of plastic tend to be highly durable and affordable, but lacking in performance and in looks. Nearly all plastic stand up paddle boards can take quite a beating and withstand lots of abuse, whether it’s exposure to weather or misuse by owner. And most of them price under $1,000 (USD). On the down side, they normally are quite heavier than their counterparts, weighing 30+ lbs (13.60+ kg). Some of the higher-price point plastic boards can be lighter but much like almost all plastic paddle boards their looks are quite bland, with simple color schemes and graphics.

Epoxy: Paddle boards generally have three main components, a foam core, resin, and fiberglass. The most widely used resin is epoxy, which now has proven to work quite effectively with multiple foam cores and tends to yield the lightest-weight boards. Epoxy boards can have countless layers and variations of foam core and fiberglass, so the fact that a paddle board is made of epoxy, it does not necessarily make it a more premium board. There are plenty of subpar epoxy boards in the market, which are very heavy (35+ lbs) without the benefit of increased durability. But as a rule of thumb, an epoxy paddle board weighing 25-30+ lbs (11-33 to 13.60+ kg) will likely perform better than plastic but still not quite as well as carbon sup boards.

Carbon/Wood/Other: Carbon paddle boards tend to be the highest-performing boards in the market. They are lightweight and more easily display the desired flex patterns. Their main objective, though, is not durability. In fact, carbon sup boards should be treated quite carefully, as delicate and premium gear. The goal of a carbon board is performance: better glide in the case of race and maneuverability in the case of surf, for instance. By adding carbon, there is less use of resin and fiberglass, typically making the sup board more light-weight. Carbon, however, tends to be the most expensive sup board in the market. Alternatives to carbon, which also reduce weight and boost performance, are wood inlays, like bamboo and others. These composite constructions normally deliver the highest quality boards but also with the higher price-tags.

2. USE

The beauty of stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is that there are so many ways and situations where you can participate. Here at Supconnect we break down the different uses of a paddle board into 7 categories: All Around, Touring, Yoga, Fishing, Race, Surf and River. Each category has their own specific purpose and thus, a different shape/design is necessary for each. There are boards that fit into multiple SUP disciplines and can be used in a variety of ways. A brief breakdown of each category is as follows:

• All Around: For multiple purposes but primarily for recreation
• Touring: For cruising paddles beyond the shoreline and for expedition paddling
• Yoga: For optimal stability as a floating yoga mat
• Fishing: For stability to cast the line, with plenty of accessories
• Race: For speed, coming with lightweight build
• Surf: For maneuverability and wave handling
• River: For rapids, river eddies and river wave riding

3. ADD ON'S

Add-on’s are accessories for a paddle board that add to your experience on/off the water. The quality of the bag/backpack and the air pump tend to be directly related to the board’s price points. Aside from your paddle, bags and pumps are the most important add-on’s to your board and can drastically improve your overall experience with the board, such as helping you more easily carry the board and/or pump it up more quickly. Other popular add on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal. Other add on’s could be upgraded handles like the Liftsup & EZgrab and paddle holders for when you aren’t using your paddle.

Best Non-Inflatable Paddle Board Reviews

SIC MAUI RS

If you’re on the market for a premium race paddle board look no further. The RS by SIC Maui is short for ‘Rocket Ship’ and the name suits the board perfectly. This race board is fast and lightweight and is offered in multiple length and width combos, for both adult and youth paddlers. The RS is best for intermediate and advanced racers looking for a board that excels on flatwater but can also handle some chop. Starting at $2,599, the RS sits in the high price point tier but is a premium choice that is worth every penny.

See our full review HERE.

ROGUE PARLAY

If you’re looking for a flatwater race board, check out the Parlay from Rogue. The Parlay is a non-inflatable standup paddle board that excels in flatwater and is designed for the sprint racers. The board is best suited for highly advanced paddlers as it is very narrow, making it pretty unstable for the average paddler. The board comes in at an average weight of 25.7lbs but considering that it’s a 14’ board, it’s not too heavy and relatively easy to carry around. At $2,699, the Parlay is in the high-price point but comes with the best that the brand has to offer.

See our full review HERE.

SURFTECH CHAMELEON

If you’re on the market for an affordable, non-inflatable paddle board that works well as both an all around board and a touring board then check out the updated Chameleon from Surftech. The 2020 edition of this board has received some big updates from previous versions and looks great. The Chameleon is an all-around/touring hybrid board that can be used by everyone with recreational paddling in mind. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid-range distance paddling, up to 3-5 miles max. The board is quite light and weighs just 22 pounds, thus making it pretty easy to carry around. Starting at $1,050, the Chameleon is a stunning board that is versatile in use at an affordable price. Definitely check this one out.

See our full review HERE.

NSP HIT

The Surftech Promenade is almost a category of its own. This board has the durability of most rental boards in the marketplace, but is actually fairly lightweight for how much volume it packs. The bottomline is, if you’re looking for a price point board with incredible durability that can handle cruising, touring, going the distance, and maybe even racing, and is also incredibly stable, this is it. It’s a rental board that is proving to be more of a touring board, capable of going long distances. The Surftech Promenade is truly a beater that can go the distance.

See our full review HERE.

ROGUE ALL IN

The Rogue All In is a great all around board for racing, downwinders and perhaps even catch a few waves with. It’s not going to be your flatwater-specific board but is something that is highly versatile that you can take out in a variety of conditions and elements. The board has a bit more of a rocker than a regular 14’ board and can definitely handle the chop when it needs to. The bottom is a bit more rolled which should help you go through the bumps more easily. The board is incredibly lightweight and doesn’t sacrifice too much on durability. If you’re looking for an advanced racing board that you can throw in the surf sometimes and still use for touring, check out the All In.

See our full review HERE.

SURFTECH ALEKA

If you’re looking for a board that is designed for women that is a stable, all around board to paddle short to mid-range distances then the Surftech Aleka is something to consider. This standup paddle board (SUP) retails starting at $1,349 and is offered in two different sizes: 10’4” and 11’2”. The Aleka uses Surftech’s Tuflite V-tech construction which makes the board strong and durable. At 29 and 30 inches wide the board is pretty stable and easy to carry, weighing just over 22 lbs. The Aleka is a hybrid all around / touring shape so it can be used in a wide variety of conditions whether you’re looking to go for a quick paddle around the shoreline, catch a few waves, or go on a mid-range paddle the Aleka was designed to do it all.

See our full review HERE.

ROGUE JACKPOT

If you’re looking for a premium race-specific paddle board, check out the Jackpot from Rogue. This non-inflatable paddle board is best for the expert paddlers who can handle the instability that comes with the narrow width. Weighing in at just over 27lbs, the Jackpot is at an average weight for a similar board of it’s size and doesn’t offer much difficulty when carrying it. This board is a great option for someone looking for that flatwater raceboard that can also work in bumps and a bit rougher conditions if need be.

See our full review HERE.

To look through the 175+ boards reviewed for 2020 click HERE.

Photo Gallery

A Look at Imagery from our SUP Reviews

More Resources

• Best Paddle Boards 2020
  
• Best All Around Paddle Boards 2020
  
• Best Inflatable Paddle Boards 2020
• Best Beginner Paddle Boards 2020

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