Key specs – Total weight: 14.5kg; Length: 10ft 6in; Width: 31.5in; Height: 4.5in; Volume: 185L; Max load: 80kg+; Accessories: Buyer will have to provide a paddle and a leash Whether the Paddle Boards will be small sports equipment or large sports equipment will depend on the type of board and obviously the airline you are flying with.

If your SUP weighs more than 20kg it will be classed as Large Sports Equipment and incurs an additional fee. Choosing the best inflatable paddle board is a highly personal experience. You’ll need to think carefully about the kind of features that you need to ensure so you can confidently dive into your new hobby and get the most out of your time on the water.

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Best pizza oven 2023: top outdoor and indoor pizza ovens for your patio, garden, balcony or kitchen Heading to the beach? Don’t forget your SUP. The ideal socially distanced sport, stand up paddle boarding has taken the nation by storm – thankfully not literally as calm waters are just what you need for a successful ride. Your skill level could also determine the type of board you buy. Inflatable paddle boards are ideal for beginners and often come in wider designs, which newbies prefer. Size matters when it comes to water-based board sports – there’s a reason you learn to surf on a huge foamboard with more float than the door at the end of Titanic – and the same goes for stand up paddleboards. More buoyancy means more stability, and more stability means more time on the board having fun, and less time in the water getting cold.

For beginners and general leisure paddling, inflatable paddle boards offer a few benefits over the narrower hard SUP boards.This is a great all-round, amazing quality board from Red - an exclusively ISUP (Inflatable stand-up paddle board) brand that were the first to revolutionise the market compatible model. When the board is rolled up and stored in its bag it is half the size of all other ISUPS. It's great on flat water and on the sea with small waves.

Whether you’re looking for an inflatable SUP board for beginners, the best all-rounder or something to rival a surfboard, we’ve rounded up the best boards for every skill level. On the water we assessed stability, manoeuvrability, and how easy each inflatable paddleboard was to get up to speed and maintain it. We rated the paddles, pumps and carry bags of every paddleboard we tested. As someone who has been a big fan of the sport since 2008 I can confirm that paddle boarding is one of the best activities you can get into. We live within 5 minutes of the sea and within 5 minutes of a Marine Lake which is perfect for beginners to practice kayaking or to take out their SUP’s.

The best paddle boards for beginners to buy

Swimming shorts and swim trunks at the ready, for no matter how cloudy the UK insists upon being, it's still a very balmy 20 degrees in many bodies of water out there right now: warm enough to jump from your SUP without a wetsuit, and even sans changing robe. Key specs – Total weight: 7.8kg; Length: 10ft; Width: 33in; Height: 4.75in; Air pressure: 15psi; Volume: 300L; Max load: 120kg; Accessories: Includes adjustable paddle, pump, leash, fin, and carrying bag. Kayak conversion kit sold separately. 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.

Key specs – Total weight: 17kg; Length: 265cm; Width: 75cm; Height: 10cm; Air pressure: 18psi; Volume: 161L; How much can it carry: 95kg; Accessories: Pump, bag, leash and fins. This green-hued model (in Turquoise Green / Caribbean Blue) from Itiwit is easy on the eyes and the budget. The inflatable board is robust enough to take touring for up to half a day, while being stable and supportive enough for beginners to brave. The board can take a single passenger weighing in the region of 60kg to 80kg, and can be used to cruise and to traverse small waves. We found one stand-out paddleboard that everyone agreed was the best. The best inflatable paddleboards The Portofino has a D-ring on the front which provides a perfect attachment point for the coil leash. An additional tow hitch can also be found on the reverse of the SUP. Both can be used to attach a rope, so you can tow the SUP behind a boat or pull it across a sandy beach.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. They also hurt less if you fall on them and while hard boards are known for offering better performance and speed, an inflatable board has numerous advantages - including cost.