Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards have always been known for their easy storage and transportation thanks to their ability to deflate and low weight. In recent years, several brands have fully embraced the idea of portability by creating some seriously compact iSUPs that travel even easier than “regular” iSUPs. With the advancement of materials and construction, these compact iSUPs are light and small enough to go anywhere with you (literally anywhere, even as carry-on luggage!) without sacrificing their performance characteristics.
We’ve tested and compared the top compact and lightweight iSUPs available today and compiled this list of our favorites for the paddler on the go. Keep reading to see which compact travel iSUP is right for you!
Best Compact & Travel iSUPs Comparison Chart
| section-hd | Top Compact & Travel iSUPs |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD | DIMENSIONS | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | PRICE | |
| Honu Byron 10’6 | Honu Byron 10’6
| 10'6" x 31.5" x 4.7" 17.6 pounds | 240 lbs | 4 years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Price |
| iRocker CX Ultra 3.0 | iRocker CX Ultra 3.0
| 11’0” x 33" x 6" 19.8 pounds | 320 lbs | 3 years, 45-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Price |
| Red Paddle Co. Compact 11’ | Red Paddle Co. Compact 11’
| 11’0” x 32" x 4.7" 19.3 pounds | 240 lbs | 5 years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Best Price |
| iRocker Cruiser Ultra 3.0 | iRocker Cruiser Ultra 3.0
| 10'6" x 34" x 6" 19.8 pounds | 300 lbs | 3-years, 45-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Nixy Huntington G5 | Nixy Huntington G5 | 9'6" x 32" x 6" 14.6 pounds | 250 lbs | 3-years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’ | Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’
| 12’0” x 32" x 4.7" 22.4 pounds | 265 lbs | 5 years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Price |
| Kokopelli Chasm-Lite | Kokopelli Chasm-Lite
| 10’0" x 30" x 6" 12.9 pounds | 250 lbs | Lifetime, 30-day return period | Read Review Check Price |
Honu Byron 10’6
10’6” x 31.5” x 4.7” | 17.6 lbs
Bag Size: Standard | Kit Weight: 26.0 lbs
Read Full Review Here
The Honu Byron 10’6 makes a fantastic travel SUP for several reasons – It’s very lightweight, rolls into a small cylinder, has excellent construction quality and fantastic performance. All of which are why I chose the Honu Byron to accompany my wife and I on a recent trip to Hawaii!
The Byron is a fantastic all-around iSUP on its own thanks to Honu’s excellent design and construction, and is even one of the most surf-capable all-around iSUPs on the market (though we picked a terrible time of year to for surfing as you can see in the pictures!). While the Byron isn’t designed to fold in half like a “true” compact iSUP, it’s lightweight and small packed size makes it easy to travel with – and there’s room in the bag for a few days worth of clothes and other items without going over airline weight restrictions.
Bottom Line:The Honu Byron is a high-performance all-around, and surfing-capable, iSUP in a lightweight and easy-to-travel package.
iRocker CX Ultra
11’0” x 33” x 6” | 19.8 lbs
Bag Size: Compact | Kit Weight: 32 lbs
Read Full Review Here
The iRocker CX Ultra 3.0 is iRocker’s latest and most versatile compact iSUP yet. Since the Ultra series debut in 2023, iRocker has been updating and improving their design year after year. The new CX Ultra 3.0 is a new model that blends the design of the previous Blackfin CX Ultra and All Around Ultra 11 into a wonderful all-around platform in a small package.
The new Ultra 3.0 iSUPs also feature a new lightweight construction that keeps the CX Ultra under 20lbs for the board, new heat-welded rails for improved durability, and a new rechargeable electric pump for true off-grid use. The new Ultra 3.0 iSUPs also have new magnetic accessory mounts along with threaded mounts and removable cargo bungee cords to meet whatever SUP adventure you are planning.
Bottom Line:The iRocker CX Ultra 3.0 is a highly versatile compact iSUP ideal for beginners on the go.
Red Paddle Co. Compact 11’ MSL 1000
11’0” x 32” x 4.7” | 19.3 lbs
Bag Size: Compact | Kit Weight: 32 lbs
Read Full Review Here
The Red Paddle Co Compact 11’ iSUP is one of the most advanced and best-paddling compact iSUPs available. The new MSL 1000 construction makes the Compact 11’ feel impossibly lightweight, while the quad stringer system helps keep the 4.7” thick board efficient on the water.
The Compact 11’ features an adjustable cargo management system, threaded accessory mount, built-in water bottle holder, extremely high quality deck pad system, and a twin FCS/two-tab fin system that lets you adjust the tracking and maneuverability of the board by swapping out for alternate fin shapes (though the included fins offer a great balance of both features).
The Compact 11’ comes with Red Paddle Co’s Titan II hand pump. This is the best hand-pump on the market, but it is quite large and heavy (6.5 pounds!). We’d love to see Red offer this with a lighter electric pump (or sold without a pump) to help make it an even smaller and lighter setup for easier travel.
Bottom Line: The Red Paddle Co Compact 11’ MSL 1000 is among the best-built iSUPs in the world, compact or not, and offers excellent performance versatility.
iRocker Cruiser Ultra 3.0
10’6” x 34” x 6” | 19.8 lbs
Bag Size: Compact | Kit Weight: 32 lbs
Read Full Review Here
The iRocker Cruiser Ultra 3.0 takes the idea of a compact SUP needing to be small and low capacity and throws it out the window. At 34” wide with an extra wide tail and nose, you’d have no clue this is a compact iSUP without seeing it in the bag first.
That extra size and wide shape make the Cruiser Ultra 3.0 ideal for larger paddlers and beginners who want an extremely stable cruiser-style iSUP for their travels. Like the CX Ultra, the Cruiser Ultra is also decked out with ample cargo space, multiple magnetic and threaded accessory mounting points, and a tool-less twin-fin system. All of that packing into a half-size bag along with a five-piece paddle and rechargeable electric pump!
Bottom Line: The iRocker Cruiser Ultra 3.0 is an extremely comfortable and stable iSUP that fits into a compact package.
Nixy Huntington G5
9’6” x 32” x 6” | 14.6 lbs
Bag Size: Standard | Kit Weight: 30 lbs
Read Full Review Here
The Nixy Huntington G5 is incredibly lightweight while still boasting a full-length deck pad, 32” width, and impressive stability for a board that is so light.
While it’s not a true compact in that it folds in half to fit in a smaller bag, you can’t deny the size and weight of this board for easy transportation, even with a full-size double-chamber pump and 3-piece carbon fiber paddle in the kit.
The updated shape of the G5 Huntington helps improve this smaller board’s stability without taking away its playful feel, and multiple adjustable cargo areas, threaded mounts, and D-rings make it quite versatile.
Bottom Line: The Nixy Huntington G5 is a great choice for smaller paddlers, especially smaller SUP Yogis, who want an ultralight board with a full-length deck pad.
Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’
12’0” x 32” x 4.7” | 22.4 lbs
Bag Size: Compact | Kit Weight: 34 lbs
Read Full Review Here
Red Paddle Co. is known for their innovative designs, excellent construction quality, and high performance on the water. The Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’ takes advantage of all these to be the Best Compact iSUP for Touring.
There’s so much to say about the Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’ that I can’t fit it all here. The Compact 12’ is the longest board on our list and is the only one designed for long-distance, multi-day trips. The MSL Fusion construction with full-length stringers is lightweight and stiff, and the 4.7” thickness lowers your center of gravity for improved stability. The twin click-fins are easy to use (and customize with other fins as desired), and the included Titan II is one of the best hand pumps for speed, efficiency, and durability.
Bottom Line: If you need a compact travel iSUP and plan to get away from it all for a few days at a time, the Red Paddle Co. Compact 12’ is the ticket.
Kokopelli Chasm-Lite: Most Compact and Best for Hiking
10’0” x 30” x 6” | 12.9 lbs
Bag Size: 22” x 14” x 10.5” | Kit Weight: 20.2 lbs
Read Full Review Here
Think of a compact iSUP. Now, think smaller and lighter. Now you have the Kokopelli Chasm-Lite. The Chasm-Lite is the lightest, most compact iSUP available today and is the best choice for hiking to those picturesque mountain lakes.
The Kokopelli Chasm-Lite draws from a long pedigree of high-performance packrafts and blends it with modern lightweight drop stitch materials to create the near-impossibly light (12.9 lbs) iSUP. The Chasm-Lite is the smallest board on our list at 10’ long and 31” wide, but it is still surprisingly stable.
The included drybag backpack not only easily packs the board, 4-piece paddle, mini pump, and other accessories but also has plenty of room for water, lunch, jacket, and all your other day-hiking needs. The Chasm-Lite kit is so small that it can be carried on many airlines as carry-on luggage.
Bottom Line: The Kokopelli Chasm-Lite is the smallest, most packable iSUP around, and it is the obvious choice for hikers chasing the blue lines.
Compact and Travel Inflatable Stand UP Paddle Board FAQs
What is a Compact iSUP?
Compact iSUPs aren’t measured by their inflated size but rather by the overall size and weight of the kit when deflated and packed into its transportation bag. They typically fold in half along the centerline before folding, allowing them to fit into a backpack-style bag that is around half the size of a traditional iSUP bag. Compact iSUPs are also made with higher-end, lighter-weight materials to help reduce the weight of the board. Accessories are also modified to best fit in these smaller bags.
What to look for when choosing a Compact iSUP?
Choosing a Compact iSUP starts just like selecting a “regular” iSUP. You want to match the size, shape, and features to your size and style of paddling. Once you know what size and features you need, you can select a Compact iSUP based on its weight and packed size to meet your travel needs. Compact iSUPs are quite easy to fit into cars and other ground transportation. However, most compact iSUPs still need to be checked luggage on flights.
What accessories work with Compact iSUPs?
Compact iSUPs will work with accessories that work with “regular” iSUPs. All of the compact boards on this list have a standard Halkey-Roberts valve (fits most hand and electric pumps), threaded mounts use a standard M8 bolt, and the fin boxes are the same as the “regular” size iSUPs available from the same brands. These compact paddleboards do include compact paddles. Rather than shrinking the paddle, it is made of 4 or 5 sections (instead of the regular 3 sections) so it can pack easily into the smaller bags.
Recommended Gear for Compact Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards
While the compact iSUPs on our list come as kits with almost everything you need to be on the water, a few extra things can make your paddling safer and more comfortable.
- PFD – A PFD (Personal Flotation Device), sometimes called a life jacket or buoyancy aid, is a critical piece of safety equipment while on your SUP and may be required by local law. There are thousands of options for PFDs, and it is important to choose one that fits you well and is designed for paddling. For Compact iSUPs, I like to use an inflatable belt-pack PFDinflatable belt-pack PFD that is lightweight and small enough to pack with your board.
- Dry Bag – Not everything we bring on our SUPs should get wet. Soggy sandwiches and waterlogged phones can ruin a good day out on the water. A small dry bag to fit your phone, keys, and other small personal items is an easy addition to your compact iSUP. See ourBest SUP Dry Bag reviews here.
Final Thoughts – Best Compact iSUPs
Just like any “regular” iSUP, the Best Compact SUP will depend on your exact needs, and just like any “regular” iSUP, compact SUPs will vary greatly depending on size, shape, material, construction, etc. While this list isn’t exhaustive of all compact iSUPs available, we think it represents the best quality, best performing compact inflatable stand up paddleboards from the best brands around. So now the only question is – where will you take your Compact iSUP first?
Editor’s Note
After seeing our list above, you may be asking yourself “what about XYZ brand or model?” First and foremost, we will only review and recommend products we have personally tested. You won’t find spec-only reviews and blind recommendations here. You may notice a few highly rated boards in our reviews are not on this list. While we stand by our reviews and ratings of those boards, last year several companies ceased their affiliate programs. This prevents us from being compensated for the hours, days, and weeks we spend with these products for testing and reviewing (though they still receive the benefit of our content). If you enjoy our content or find it helpful, we ask that you help support Inflatable Boarder by considering brands that continue to support us first. You can read more about how we make money and the reviewing industry as a whole in our recent blog post.
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