Who is this for: If you’re looking for a fast, non-inflatable, all-around race board to paddle in races with a variety of conditions then the X from SIC Maui is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Tuff Carbon Wood (TWC) construction which is durable and has its ups and downs. The X is 29.5 inches wide making it a pretty stable race board and it weighs 2.76 lbs per foot, 34.5 lbs in total, which is moderately heavy for its length of 12’6”. Its shape makes the X an all-around race board that can be used by intermediate paddlers in most racing conditions. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for sprint or long-distance racing. Retailing at $1,699, the board is in the high-tier price point but comes with some of the best that the brand has to offer.

Who is this for: If you are looking for a stable, non-inflatable board to paddle and surf on then the Boardworks Special is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Krypto-flex construction which is relatively fragile having both ups and downs. Due to its width of 30 inches, the Special is moderately stable. The board has an average weight of 2.86 lbs per foot weighing 28.05 lbs in total. Its shape makes the Special a surf-specific board that is designed to be used primarily for surfing. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for paddling out to the lineup and ripping in small to sizeable surf. Retailing at $1,249, the Special is in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.