Stand Up Paddle boarding is an incredibly fun way to recreate on the water with your whole family. Often, we can paddle with young children with us right on the front of our all-around inflatable SUPs. But as kids get a little older, a little bigger, and a little more independent there comes a time where everyone is going to have even more fun when the kids get to graduate to their own paddle boards.
For many kids, a full-size all-around iSUP is just too big to be able to reasonably paddle. The extra length and width of these boards make them harder for kids to maneuver, harder for them to paddle straight, and harder for them to carry to the water and get inflated.
Luckily, there are a variety of iSUPs on the market that are made just for kids! These boards are not only shorter and narrower, but also thinner. This makes them easier to carry, easier to inflate, and easier to use on the water.
When choosing a kid’s paddle board, there are a few things to keep in mind. Many of the basics of choosing a paddle board are the same – you want to consider and balance sizing, construction, and cost. With a Kid’s board you also want to think about room to grow with your little one, and (as the third child myself) whether or not there are more kids coming up the line to use the board after!
Below is a list of our favorite kid’s iSUPs and why we like them. We started with the basics like size and construction, but then also considered the board’s “growability,” and of course, sought the input of younger paddlers using these boards.
Best Paddleboard for Kids Comparison Chart
| section-hd | Top-Rated Paddleboards for Kids |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD | DIMENSIONS | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | PRICE | |
| Thurso Adept | Thurso Adept
| 9’ x 28" x 4.7" 19 pounds | 120 lbs | 2 years, 30-day money back | Read Full Review Check Price |
| Nautical Kids | Nautical Kids
| 9’ x 32" x 6" 17 pounds | 220 lbs | 2 years, 60-day money back | Read Full Review Check Price |
| Sea Gods ASR | Sea Gods ASR
| 8’ x 28" x 4.5" 17 pounds | 120 lbs | Lifetime warranty, 30-day money back | Review Coming Soon Check Price |
| Gili Cuda 9’ / 8’ | Gili Cuda 9’ / 8’
| 9’ / 8’ x 30" x 4" 18 pounds | 130 lbs | 2 years, 60-day money back | Read Full Review Check Price |
| Thurso Prodigy Jr. | Thurso Prodigy Jr.
| 7’6” x 30" x 4" 19 pounds | 80 lbs | 2 years, 30-day money back | Review Coming Soon Check Price |
| Bluefin Cruise Jr. | Bluefin Cruise Jr.
| 8’ x 29" x 5" TBD pounds | 160 lbs | 5 years, 30-day money back | Review Coming SoonCheck Price |
| Bote Flow Aero | Bote Flow Aero
| 8’ x 30" x 4.5" 17 pounds | 100 lbs | 2 years, 30-day money back | Read Full Review Check Price |
| Honu Arlie | Honu Arlie
| 8’6” x 27" x 4.7" 12 pounds | 150 lbs | 4 years, 30-day money back | Review Coming SoonCheck Price |
Thurso Adept
9’ x 28” x 4.7”
Availability: US, CAN, UK, EU
Read Full Review
The Thurso Adept is our top pick for a kid-specific iSUP. The Adept uses the same excellent construction as the highly rated Water Walker series iSUPs including the carbon fiber reinforced rail and woven drop stitch fabric. At 9’ x 28” there’s plenty of stability for smaller children without being so wide that it can be difficult to paddle straight, but the 9’ length will keep working for your kids as they grow. Most importantly though, it was one of our young tester’s favorites!
Because the Adept is meant to be a “youth” paddle board, but not specifically for smaller children, it does come with a full size paddle for paddlers at least 4’ 11” tall. Smaller paddlers who need a shorter paddle may be more comfortable on the Thurso Prodigy (which comes with a kid-size paddle), or with another option below.
Check the best price for the Adept Youth iSUP by Thurso Surf
Nautical Kids
9’0” x 32” x 6”
Availability: US, CAN, UK, EU, AUS
Read Full Review
The Nautical Kids iSUP is a shortened version of the highly-rated Nautical iSUP by iRocker. The Nautical Kids SUP shares the same construction and essentially the same feature set as the full-size Nautical iSUP, but shorter at just 9’ long. It is still 32” wide, making it one of the most stable iSUPs on this list, but can make carrying the inflated board and paddling it straight more difficult for shorter children. It does have the highest weight capacity on our list (220 lbs) and its extra width does mean that it will remain stable for your growing kids as they enter their tweens and early teen years.
Bottom Line: The Nautical Kids offers a lot of room to grow and a huge set of on-board features for your kids at a wallet-friendly price.
Check the best price for the Nautical Kids iSUP by iRocker
Sea Gods ASR
8’ x 28” x 4.5”
Availability: US, CAN
Full Review Coming Soon
The Sea Gods ASR Adult Supervision Required – is a smaller kids iSUP at 8’ long and 28” wide, but has the same excellent construction as Sea God’s other iSUPs like the Diatom Ten6 ULF. The fusion PVC shell, high-density drop stitch core, and heat-molded seams let you and your little use the ASR at up to 20 PSI for ultimate stiffness and stability. While it is on the smaller side for this list, it’s ideal for kids up to 120 lbs, and comes with Sea Gods’ lifetime warranty.
Bottom Line: The Sea Gods ASR is incredibly well built and carries a lifetime warranty to keep up with your kids.
Check the best price for the ASR by Sea Gods
Gili Cuda 9’/8’
9’/8’ x 30” x 4.0”
Availability: US, International Shipping Available
Read Full Review
The Gili Sports Cuda kids iSUP shares the same construction and similar feature set to the popular Gili Air iSUP, and it comes in two different sizes. The Cuda 8’ is 8’ long, 30” wide, and 4” thick with a weight capacity of 95 lbs. The Cuda 9’ is 9’ long, 30” wide, and 4” thick with a weight capacity of 130 lbs.
The shorter version is a little more maneuverable, while the longer version tracks a little bit straighter. For most children this difference won’t be particularly noticeable until they get a bit of experience under their belt. I prefer the Cuda 9’ version for its ability to continue to work well for kids as they grow into the early teens when they may outgrow the Cuda 8’, but not yet ready for a full-size paddleboard.
Bottom Line: The Gili Cuda offers a large feature set and two sizes to best fit your kids’ needs without breaking the bank.
Check the best price for the Cuda 8′ and 9′ by Gili Sports
Thurso Prodigy Jr.
7.5’ x 30” x 4”
Availability: US, CAN, UK, EU
Full Review Coming Soon
The Thurso Prodigy Jr. is the smallest iSUP on our list at just 7.5’ long. It is 30” wide, which adds a good deal of volume and stability compared to a narrower kids’ iSUP. Because of its shorter length and lower weight capacity, the Prodigy Jr. is best for younger kids, or as a first Surf SUP for older kids.
The Prodigy Jr. also gets the same excellent materials and construction as Thurso’s full-size iSUPs, but without the carbon fiber rail reinforcements. This helps keep the cost down, but the additional stiffening is not really needed on such a short iSUP to begin with. The Prodigy Jr. SUP also comes with a right-sized paddle for kids, rather than the full-size paddle that comes with the Thurso Adept.
Bottom Line: The Thurso Prodigy Jr. is great for younger children or as a Surf SUP for tween kids.
Check the best price for the Prodigy Jr. by Thurso Surf
Bluefin Cruise Jr.
8’ x 29” x 5”
Availability: US, CAN, UK, EU, AUS
The Bluefin Cruise Jr. is a smaller version of the popular Bluefin Cruise 10’8”. It’s not only shorter, though, it’s also narrower and thinner (8’ x 29” x 5”). All of this together makes a much better fit for kids while still using the same materials and construction as the full-size version.
The thinner profile keeps kids closer to the water for improved balance, and the narrower outline, though still stable, makes it much easier for them to paddle in a straight line.
The Cruise Jr. also includes a kayak seat and kayak paddle conversion with the kit.
Bottom Line: The Bluefin Cruise Jr. is a great all-in-one kit that includes a kayak seat and paddle conversion.
Check the best price for the Cruise Jr. by Bluefin
Bote Flow Aero
8’ x 30” x 4.5”
Availability: US, CAN
Read Full Review
The Bote Flow Aero kids iSUP uses Bote’s AeroBote construction technology – the same as in their higher-end iSUPs like the HD Aero. This dual-layer PVC material is stiffer and more durable than single-layer constructions.
When paddle boards are scaled down to better fit younger paddlers, they often have reduced tracking making them harder to paddle in a straight line. The extra large center fin that comes with the Bote Flow Aero, along with its 30” width helps correct this effect and helps increase stability. The Flow also comes with a kid’s size paddle with an ABS plastic blade for maximum durability.
Bottom Line: The Bote Flow Aero is an extra-durable kids iSUP that also makes it easier for your kids to paddle straight and keep up with the family.
Check the best price for the Flow Aero by Bote
Honu Arlie
8.5’ x 27” x 4.7”
Availability: US, UK, AUS
The Honu Arlie shares the same ultralight, high-performance design and construction as the full-size Honu Byron. At 27” wide, the Arlie is the narrowest iSUP on this list, but still has excellent stability and great surf-ability as well. It’s also the only iSUP on this list to include a raised kick-pad on the tail of the board to allow your littles to work on more advanced maneuvers like pivot-turns, and gives them better control when riding the waves. The US fin box also opens up a world of performance changes for different water conditions. While it doesn’t include a paddle with the kit, Honu also offers a kid’s size paddle with a nylon blade and carbon fiber/fiberglass shaft.
Bottom Line:The Honu Arlie is the high-performance iSUP designed just for kids (but we won’t tell anyone if you hop on to catch a wave to two!).
Check the best price for the Arlie by Honu
Best Paddle Boards for Kids – FAQs
What Makes a Paddleboard Good for a Kid?
Picking a paddle board for a child has the same process and concerns for adults. You want to make sure to match the paddle board size to the rider size and make sure that it has all of the features you want and need. Durability is also a key concern with kids iSUPs as they may be more likely to drag, drop, bump, or otherwise use their new iSUP in some rather inventive ways! Lastly, consider your child’s growth. Buying a board that just barely fits them now means it’s not likely to fit next year.
What Do I Need to Paddle With My Kids?
Aside from your own regular paddle boarding gear, your kids will need their own set (SUP, Paddle, Fins, Leash) and their own, well-fitted life jacket/PFD. PFDs should be worn by all paddlers, however many locations require people under a certain age must wear a PFD while paddling by law, so make sure to check. Only use certified flotation devices. Pool toys like water wings are not life saving equipment and certain styles can actually be dangerous to wear in the water.
What Other Considerations Are There When Paddling With Kids?
Especially for younger children, plan for short trips with lots of breaks. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen as well. Make sure to check the weather forecast – including wind and tides – to make sure that conditions will be safe for kids on their own iSUPs.
Fish Tag – A Fun SUP Game for Kids and Adults
All you’ll need for this game is 6-12 “fish” made with a cut up foam pool noodle and some long tube socks or strips of old shirts. Cut the pool noodle into sections 3” wide and tie one to each end of the fabric so they float.
Pick a calm section of water and spread the “fish” out 10-15’ apart from each other. Everyone starts 10’ away from the fish, and on the count of three, everyone begins.
There are (at least) three different ways to play.
The first is to collect as many fish as you can by paddling over and picking the fish up using only your paddle and putting them on your board. Use a short timer (2-3 minutes) or go until all fish are collected.
Another way to play is to try to place as many fish onto someone else’s paddle board as possible. The person with the most fish on their board at the end of the timer is “out” and the game repeats until there is one winner. Again, you can only touch the fish with your paddle.
Finally, for older kids (and adults), you can up the ante of the previous game by throwing the fish at each other’s boards using your paddle.
Final Thoughts – Best Paddle Boards for Kids
Paddle boarding with your kids can be a wonderful and fulfilling activity for the whole family. You can also use this as a great opportunity to engage your kids in more than just splashing around! Have them help you pick a location, check the weather, pack up the equipment. Looking for wildlife, learning about your environment, and even picking up litter can all be fun activities. Letting your kids lead you on a trip of their own can be just as exciting (or more!) and help your kids build confidence and develop critical thinking and planning skills while having a great time paddling.
