Best paddle board for beginners 2024: smooth sailing SUPs for novice navigators

Dipping your toes into the world of the best paddle boards for beginners? Beginner SUPs are like the minivans of the water world – stable, spacious, and forgiving. They're your floating training wheels, here to keep you upright and grinning as you navigate the waves of newfound enthusiasm.

Whether you're gliding through serene waters or mastering downward dog on the board, beginner stand-up paddleboards promise adventure, core workouts, and a solid dose of fun. So, grab your paddle (and maybe a sense of balance), and let's dive into the world of beginner SUPs – where every wobble is a victory, and every paddle stroke is a step closer to aquatic bliss.

If you're about to embark on your first paddle-boarding adventure, start by choosing a calm and flat water body to build your confidence. Don't forget to check out T3's best wetsuit guide for appropriate water apparel options.

Our current favourite beginner paddle board is Red Paddle's 9'6" Compact MSL PACT. It strikes the perfect balance between portability and fun with very few trade-offs. If you need something more affordable, the Surfstar 10'6" Advance Star should offer enough value for money for budding navigators.

Best paddle board for beginners to buy right now

Best overall

If you can swallow the hefty initial outlay, we think the Red Paddle Co 9'6" Compact MSL PACT is a fantastic beginner inflatable paddle board for those who want to explore further… or simply want something that’s super easy to carry around and tuck out of the way when not in use.

Red Paddle Co has ensured every element of the package is of fantastic quality, and the board’s on-water performance shortcomings are easily forgiven, considering how simple and convenient it is to live with. Please mind the max user weight; if you're of a heavier body type, you are better off with one of the boards listed below.

Read our full Red Paddle Co 9'6" Compact MSL PACT review.

Also consider: Red Paddle Co's Ride MSL used to top our beginner paddle board guide and is a versatile, easy-to-ride SUP with everything you need to get started included in the package. It's ideal for anyone getting into stand-up paddle boarding, although the higher asking price means it's an investment, but the quality means it's well worth it if you're keen to keep up the hobby.

Best budget

Red Paddle Co's 9'6" Compact MSL PACT is a brilliant paddle board for beginners, but its price may be off-putting for anyone just starting out. If you want to spend quite a bit less on your first SUP but without compromising on quality, we'd recommend the Surfstar 10'6" Advance Star.

It feels brilliantly stable in use and comes with everything you need to hit the water, including a paddle, pump, ankle leash, removable fin and repair kit, plus a waterproof phone case and a backpack for carrying everything in. It even has an action camera mount, which isn't something you'll usually find on cheaper boards.

Read our full Surfstar 10'6" Advance Star SUP review.

Best entry-level

The Aqua Marina Magma is a solid choice for beginners looking to enter the world of paddle boarding without breaking the bank. It comes with a comprehensive kit that includes everything you need to get started, such as a pump, fin, paddle, leash, and carry bag. This makes it convenient for newcomers to hit the water without having to worry about additional expenses.

Despite its affordability, the Magma boasts advanced features like double reinforced rails, which enhance its stability and allow for heavier payloads. This means even larger paddlers can comfortably use this board without compromising performance.

In terms of performance, the Magma offers a stable and comfortable paddling experience, making it ideal for beginners looking to build their skills. However, it may lack the agility and speed desired by more experienced paddlers, particularly for long touring sessions or in challenging surf conditions.

Overall, the Aqua Marina Magma strikes a good balance between affordability and performance, making it a great entry-level option for those looking to explore the world of paddle boarding.

Read our full Aqua Marina Magma 11’2” review.

Best touring

If you want to give SUP touring a go, the Decathlon X100 touring stand-up paddle board could be a good choice to help you get started. This 10ft inflatable SUP is impressively well made for its budget-friendly price point; it feels robust (aside from the flimsy handle), is stable, grippy and a pleasure to paddle on. It's wide enough to offer beginner-friendly stability, but the narrower nose allows you to get some decent speed up.

Setup and pack-away are super straightforward, even the first time you do it, partly because Decathlon has printed instructions on the inside of the carry bag. We wish all SUP manufacturers did this. Unlike most paddle board kits, the pump and paddle are not included, so make sure you pop those into your basket too, or you're in for a shock when you reach your SUPing destination.

Read our full Decathlon X100 stand-up paddle board review (and see if you can save on your order with our Decathlon discount codes).

Best budget kit

The Portofino 10ft inflatable stand-up paddle board kit is an eminently affordable, robust, easy-to-use board that works very well on calmer waters. A broad nose and wide, flat tail add stability, making the Portofino even more beginner-friendly, and a drop-stitched core gives it a uniform shape that helps it move efficiently over the water. As you'd expect, the bundle includes everything you need to get started SUPing, and you can even add a kayak conversion kit (sold separately) to make it more versatile. 

For the lower price, you'll need to be prepared to make a few concessions. In our review, we noted a few minor issues with the paddle – the interconnected sections twist slightly when pushing through the water, and it's a little on the heavy side – and there's a little sag underfoot that you won't find with pricier boards that can handle higher inflation pressures. Overall though, if you're looking to take to the waters without spending a fortune, the Portofino 10ft inflatable stand-up paddle board kit is well worth a look.

Read our full Portofino 10ft inflatable stand up paddle board review

Best convertible

The Bluefin Cruise SUP package 10'8" includes a lot for a pretty reasonable price. The board itself is designed to be tough, rigid and stable. The design includes neoprene handles at the nose, rear and centre for easy manoeuvring, a kick pad for quick turns, and an integrated GoPro mount on the nose to help you capture your watery voyages.

Some thought has gone into the extras, too: the 2-piece fibreglass paddle is ultra-light and floats on water, the pump has a double-action function that means you can also use it to deflate to board quickly, and the backpack is padded for extra comfort. This paddle board kit has a trick up its sleeve, too: it includes a seat and an extra specialised paddle that means you can convert it into a kayak. Full marks for versatility. 

Best for couples

If you want to go out paddle boarding with a friend but don't want to end up in the inevitable situation where one of you goes faster, and you get split up, the Red 15'0 Tandem MSL Inflatable Paddle Board is a great – if expensive – choice. It's a tandem touring board that's ideal for exploring with a partner while having a relaxed and chatty time, and it means that either of you can take a break if you get tired without the other having to slow down or stop.

It's stable, beginner-friendly and comes with everything you need to get on the water, and its neat cargo system means that it's easy to take all your stuff with you too. The only real downside (apart from the steep price) is that while it's a delight in the water, it's a lot less fun to manoeuvre on dry land; however, Red has done all it can to make this as painless as possible. If tandem paddling feels like your thing, this is definitely the way to do it.

Read our full Red 15'0 Tandem MSL Inflatable Paddle Board review

Best lightweight

We think the Bluefin Cruise Lite is a fantastic inflatable paddleboard for beginners, as it comes with everything you need to get you going on the water and is exceptionally lightweight at 12.2 kg (approx. 26.9 lbs). This is the SUP you need if you like to take water sports equipment with you when travelling or heading out on outdoor adventurers.

As well as being pretty straightforward to inflate, it's even easier to deflate; you won't have any trouble packing it away either (the key here is to roll up the paddleboard as it'll leave plenty of room to slot everything else around it). It's slightly more expensive than some boards we've reviewed, such as the Two Bare Feet's Entradia 10'10', but it is still significantly cheaper than the premium Red Paddle Co SUPs. However, it's worth the price if portability is your main criterion.

Read our full Bluefin Cruise Lite review.

Best for heavy people

The Two Bare Feet Entradia 10’ 10” stands out as a top choice for inflatable SUP boards, offering ample space, stability, and affordability. It's not just for beginners; experienced paddlers will enjoy its performance, especially in choppy waters or with kids aboard.

Crafted from durable DWF double-wall PVC, it boasts a single high-density air chamber for buoyancy. The extra length and thickness enhance stability, while the included starter kit features an adjustable aluminium paddle and a spacious backpack.

The extra few inches you get here from the more standard 10ft 6in boards makes a surprising difference – but the excellent buoyancy of these boards comes from more than the length.

The width (34in/86cm) is exactly the same as the 10’ 6” SUPs, but the 6in (15cm) thickness of the 10’ 10” board is 1¼ in/3cm bigger, and this is where the extra stability really comes from.

The starter kit comes with a standard aluminium 3-piece SUP paddle, which weighs 1080g and is easy to adjust to your preferred length, ranging from 162 to 210cm (64 to 83in), and a 90-litre backpack styled like a giant dry bag, with a fold-down top.

Read our full Two Bare Feet Entradia 10'10" Stand-up Paddleboard review

How to choose the best beginner paddle board for you

There are boards out there to suit all tastes and pockets (as you'll see in our ranking), but the key thing when choosing the best paddle board for beginners is to choose something you can stand up easily on. While staying up can be a challenge in itself, there are a bunch of factors that will influence how stable the board will be. As well as ensuring the board can support your weight (there's normally a weight limit indicator for this), you'll also want to pay attention to the width and length of the board and its shape. 

Wider boards are more stable but slower in the water; longer boards are less manoeuvrable but more buoyant. The overall shape ranges from bulbous to slim and shark-like. The slimmer and sharkier the board, the more suitable it is for racing and surf-style activities, but these are fairly advanced operations, so choose based on stability rather than flashiness, to begin with. To start out, you'll be looking for either an all-rounder or a touring-style SUP if you plan to travel longer distances, but either should be relatively stable and tractable to learn the basics on. 

One final factor to consider is price. As with anything, you get what you pay for, and in our ranking, we've chosen beginner's paddle boards that range from the downright bargainous through to the spendy-but-tempting. Bear in mind that good quality, desirable beginner boards are always popular in the second-hand market, so buying well will pay dividends later in cash as well as enjoyment. 

How we test the best the best stand-up paddle boards for beginners

We hit the waves (or lakes, if you prefer) to put these paddle boards through their paces. Think of it as a rigorous audition for the ultimate paddle board showdown!

In our reviews, we dive deep into what matters most: stability, comfort, quality, and whether all the components play nicely together. We even check if the board and pals are easy to carry – because who wants to lug around a soggy noodle?

We also spend a long time trying out additional features. Think cup holders for your smoothie or a built-in GPS for when you inevitably get lost at sea. Plus, we throw in a dash of humor because, let's face it, paddle boarding should be fun!

But wait, there's more! We crunch numbers, compare prices, and stalk other boards to see how they measure up. If we can't get our hands on a board (darn those elusive ones), we turn detective and gather intel from fellow paddle enthusiasts and internet dwellers.

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