After personally paddling, weighing, and thoroughly testing 110+ boards, our expert staff has selected the best stand up paddle board 2018 models. These are designated by the "A" grade and organized by categories (inflatable, all-around, touring, etc).
After another grueling year yet again on the Graveyard course at the Quiksilver Waterman Carolina Cup new champions were crowned among a record field of elite competitors in an exciting race that didn’t disappoint.
In a check-up interview with North Carolina Press Release, Anderson provides an update on her recovery and reveals an in-depth analysis including her predictions for 2018’s grueling 13-mile Graveyard Race.
| Price: $949 | Build: Inflatable |
| Skill: Beginner | Use: All-Around |
| Weight: 20.1lbs | Sizes: 10' |
About the board: The Shubu Kraken is the inflatable version of the Supconnect award-winning Boardworks Kraken. This one is on the top of the charts when it comes to inflatable paddle boards. As far as graphics go it’s just gorgeous. It's a very lightweight board weighing in at about 20lbs making it incredibly easy to carry for both men and women. At a price point under $1,000 you couldn’t go wrong with this board. It’s super fun to paddle, has a great glide, and is really stable without compromising the glide feeling. One of the best inflatables that we’ve paddled all year so definitely check this one out. Read more HERE.
| Price: $1,799 | Build: Non-Inflatable |
| Skill: Intermediate | Use: Touring |
| Weight: 34.3 lbs | Sizes: 14' |
About the board:If you’re looking for a board that you can do long distance paddling whether it is for race or touring, the Great Bear is a great option. It has lots of bungee cords up on the nose and tail with some really good looking graphics. The board has a beautiful layout of wood on the top of the deck, and the traction pad and graphics of the board work together beautifully overall. The board comes with the LiftSUP handle making it very easy to carry. The Great Bear glides incredibly well, ideally being used in a long distance race and also for expeditions. So for those looking to go that extra mile you should take a close look at this board. Definitely an A grade. Read more HERE.
The 32nd Annual Santa Cruz Paddlefest was one for the books as stand up paddle surfers and racers took to the waters in Santa Cruz, California. The 10k Pro Elite race for both the men and women were the talk of the weekend as the results had everyone buzzing.
The sun is starting to shine, ice is melting and spring is starting to peek it’s head around the corner. With temperatures rising and waterways defrosting into lakes and rivers again, it’s time to start getting geared up and ready to get back on the water and out of the winter hibernation. Here, we’ve put together a list of SUP gear, accessories, and of course boards for everyone from a beginner to the advanced SUP'er for the 2018 Spring paddle boarding season, so there's sure to be something in this guide for everyone!
| Price: $599 | Build: Inflatable |
| Skill: Beginner | Use: All-Around |
| Weight: 21.2 lbs | Sizes: 10'6" |
About the board: The Boardworks Shubu Riptide is a solid option for beginner paddlers looking for an affordable, easy-to-carry, inflatable board to paddle short to mid distances. At just $599, the Riptide is a great all-around and stable board for beginners and paddlers that want a simple, lightweight board for occasional use. A great entry level inflatable board. Read more HERE.
| Price: $749 | Build: Inflatable |
| Skill: Beginner | Use: All-Around |
| Weight: 22.3 lbs | Sizes: 10'6" |
About the board: If you’re looking for an affordable, inflatable paddle board that is designed for beginners then check out the Shubu Solr from Boardworks. Lightweight, affordable and fun the Shubu Solr is a super stable board that’s designed for all around paddling and works best paddling in short distances, usually around the beach or dock. At $749 the board sits in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability. Read more HERE.
| Price: $1,499 | Build: Non-Inflatable |
| Skill: Intermediate | Use: Touring |
| Weight: 29.04 lbs | Sizes: 12'6" |
About the board: If you’re an intermediate paddler looking for a quality non-inflatable touring paddle board then check out the Boardworks Chinook. The Chinook is a fairly stable board meant for intermediate paddlers who are looking to paddle mid to long range distances up to 10 miles or more. The Chinook is also a board that’s solid and durable but it is somewhat difficult to carry. The board however is pretty affordable and sits at the higher end of the the popular mid-tier market. Read more HERE.
| Price: $1,399 | Build: Non-inflatable |
| Skill: Intermediate | Use: Race |
| Weight: 29.1 lbs | Sizes: 11' |
Who is this for: If you’re looking for a stable, non-inflatable board to paddle long-range distances then the Verve from Boardworks is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Carbon Vector Net construction which is meant to be lightweight and durable. The Verve has both positives and negatives to note. Due to its width of 28 inches the board is stable but is not intended for beginner paddlers. Its construction comes in at an average weight of 2.65 lbs per foot, weighing a total of 29.1 lbs. Its shape makes the Verve great for touring or race training that can be used by intermediate paddlers for both recreation and competitive paddling. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for long-range distances from 3 to 10 miles plus. Retailing at $1,399, the board is among the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability. Read more HERE
Southern Californian brothers Gavin (14) and Trevor (10) Mencinsky recently took a family trip across the border to Southern Baja to enjoy some sweet swell at Cerritos Beach. As participation in SUP continues to rise, it is awesome to see youth paddlers contributing to this growth and developing a passion for the sport.