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Best Stand Up Paddle Boards 2023 Reviews

May 20, 2020 last updated

There are so many different water-based activities these days that there really is something for everyone. In the past few years, one of the fastest growing aquatic activities is stand up paddleboarding. A SUP board (or “Stand Up Paddle board”) is similar to a surfboard in appearance but you stand on it and paddle similar to how you would a canoe or kayak.

While most people just cruise around peacefully, some people use their stand up boards to do yoga or to race.

Our tip
Looking for INFLATABLE paddle boards instead?

Best Stand Up Paddle Boards 2020 Reviews

Here are some of the best stand up paddle boards available right now, if you want to give this exciting sport a try.

  Sun Dolphin Seaquest 10-Foot CBC 10’6” Classic Foam Three Brothers Boards Wood, Double Up
  Sun Dolphin Seaquest 10-Foot Stand Up Paddleboard CBC 10’6” Classic Foam Paddle Board Three Brothers Boards Wood Paddle Board, Double Up, 14'
  BUDGET OPTION EDITOR’S PICK BEST OF BEST
PROs
  • affordable
  • great stability
  • storage compartment
  • paddle is convertible from single to double blade
  • good tracking
  • very durable
  • attractive design
  • comes with great extras like camera mount, roof rack, and leash
  • lightweight
  • especially for a non-performance board, you can get great speed
  • great value
  • beautiful craftsmanship
  • high weight limit and huge surface size
  • extremely stable
  • excellent tracking
  • can get decently fast, for a cruising board
CONs
  • it looks a bit cheap
  • not very fast
  • long delivery time
  • quite heavy for one person to carry
  • roof rack could be better
  • lack of non-slip grip on board
  • expensive
  • paddle is not included
  • heavy
  • might be too big for some solo paddlers
PRICE Dollar coin iconDollar coin icon Dollar coin iconDollar coin iconDollar coin icon Dollar coin iconDollar coin iconDollar coin iconDollar coin iconDollar coin icon
BOTTOM LINE functional and durable
(looks a bit cheap though)
great value and look beautifully crafted
  GO TO STORE GO TO STORE GO TO STORE

BUDGET OPTION Sun Dolphin Seaquest 10-Foot Stand Up Paddleboard

Sun Dolphin is a well-known brand that makes all things water-based, including pedal boats, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards. This Seaquest 10-foot board one of the best paddle boards for beginners. It’s reasonably priced, quite stable, and offers superior tracking thanks to its fin.

There is even a recessed cooler storage compartment on the board, allowing you to keep a cold drink or two with you. You can also use this compartment to keep things dry while out on the water. The deck is non-slip and there are three convenient handles to make carrying it easy. The board itself is made of a hard plastic material that can handle getting beat up a bit.

Features:

  • Dimensions: 10′ x 33″ x 10″
  • Weight: 50 lbs
  • Max Weight Capacity: 230 lbs
  • Material: High Density Polyethylene
Buyer rating
As of this writing, the Seaquest has a 3.9-star average on Amazon. Buyers particularly rave about the low price. Several reviewers say that the board is good for beginners. Other things buyers are happy with include the storage compartment and the convertible paddle. A major complaint from many reviewers is the long shipping time. While many buyers talk about the rugged toughness of the board, a few buyers do report having problems with cracks.  Click here to see the customer reviews for yourself
Pros
  • affordable
  • great stability
  • storage compartment
  • paddle is convertible from single to double blade
  • good tracking
  • very durable
Cons
  • it looks a bit cheap
  • not very fast
  • long delivery time
  • quite heavy for one person to carry

Bottom Line

Compared to other SUP boards, the Sun Dolphin Seaquest 10-Foot Stand Up Paddleboard looks a bit cheap but it offers great stability, good tracking, and rugged durability.

EDITOR’S PICK CBC 10’6” Classic Foam Paddle Board

Made from a high-density foam core with laminated wood on the exterior, this board is lightweight and very reasonably priced. This package includes everything you need for fun on the water, including the board, a fin, a bungee, a paddle, a leash with ankle strap, a camera mount, and even a roof rack.

The design is far from boring and one you’ll be proud to be seen with. It’s also easy to carry around, even by yourself, as the foam core is quite lightweight. The best SUP boards are good for both beginners and more experienced users and this board definitely fits the bill.

Features:

  • Dimensions: 10’6” x 30″ x 5″
  • Weight: 24 lbs
  • Max Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
  • Material: High Density EPS Foam core, Multi-Layered Laminated Wood Stringers with waterproof resin
Buyer rating
“A great board for the price” is a common thread among reviews from buyers. Amazon reviewers have given this SUP board a 4.1-star average, as of this writing. Buyers report that it offers great buoyancy and it’s good for beginners while also letting more advanced paddlers achieve good speed. Many reviewers commented on the nice looking design of the board and also praised how lightweight it is. One complaint a few buyers point out is that the board surface can be a bit slick without the use of wax. Another common complaint is that the roof rack straps tend to leave indentations in the board and that the roof rack could just be better all around. Click here to see the customer reviews for yourself
Pros
  • attractive design
  • comes with great extras like camera mount, roof rack, and leash
  • lightweight
  • especially for a non-performance board, you can get great speed
  • great value
Cons
  • roof rack could be better
  • lack of non-slip grip on board

Bottom Line

The BC 10’6” Classic Foam Paddle Board is a great value and it’s a great looking board that is good for experienced paddlers as well as SUP beginners.

BEST OF BEST Three Brothers Boards Wood Paddle Board, Double Up, 14′

This board often is often nicknamed the family board. Why? Because it’s big enough for three people and it has a huge weight limit of 600 lbs. You can even use this board with two paddlers, one on each side.

These boards are hand-cut by a small family company. The craftsmanship is superb and the wood finish is just beautiful. This board is perfect for cruising but it offers the speed and smoothness of a racing board.

Features:

  • Dimensions: 14′ x 36″ x 6.13″
  • Weight: 60 lbs
  • Max Weight Capacity: 600 lbs
  • Material: wood veneer, 3D diamond cut EVA deck pad
Buyer rating
This is one of the newest boards from Three Brothers Boards so there aren’t many reviews for it yet. A quick glance at reviews elsewhere on the internet for other Three Brothers Boards, though, shows you that every board this company makes is very well received. There’s no reason to think this board will be any different.
Pros
  • beautiful craftsmanship
  • high weight limit and huge surface size
  • extremely stable
  • excellent tracking
  • can get decently fast, for a cruising board
Cons
  • expensive
  • paddle is not included
  • heavy
  • might be too big for some solo paddlers

Bottom Line

The Three Brothers Boards Double Up 14′ Wood Paddle Board is a beautiful stand up paddle board that is ideal for those who like to paddle with a friend or two.

Worthy Alternatives

If the three boards above don’t seem like the right SUP board for you, consider one of the following options.

PEAK 10’5 Escape Soft Top Aqua Stand Up Paddle Board

The PEAK 10’5 Escape Soft Top Aqua Stand Up Paddle Board is lightweight, durable, has an attractive blue design, and it has a comfortable soft deck.

ISLE Versa Epoxy 10’5 Standup Paddle Board

The ISLE Versa Epoxy 10’5 Standup Paddle Board is a reasonably priced board suitable for beginner to intermediate paddlers that is available in a few different colors.

Our tip
Looking for INFLATABLE paddle boards instead?

Conclusion

There’s nothing quite like cruising around on the water atop a stand up board. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced paddler, the above options are some of the best stand up paddle boards out there. Which one do you have your eye on?

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Article author

Peter Lloyd
Peter Lloyd

Author and editor with LeisureRate.com since 2017.

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