Inflatable paddle boards are incredibly convenient and offer a lot of advantages when it comes to portability, but finding one that performs well in the surf can be a challenge…
When it comes to surfing, traditional hard boards typically outperform inflatable stand up paddle boards, but that gap continues to narrow as inflatable technology and construction techniques continue to advance.
In this post, we’re going to share our top picks for this year’s best inflatable surf SUP. If you’re willing to sacrifice some surf performance in return for the many advantages offered by an iSUP, this post will hopefully help you find a board that’s right for you…
Best Inflatable Paddle Board for Surfing – 2019 Top Picks
| BOARD | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Paddle 8’10” Whip
| 8’10”x29″x3.93″ | 16 lbs | 210 lbs | 2-year | Check Price | |
Hala Carbon Playa
| 10’11”x30″x4.75″ | 27 lbs | 350 lbs | 3-year | Check Price | |
Badfish Surf Traveler
| 10’2″x31″x5″ | 25 lbs | 230 lbs | 3-year | Check Price | |
Earth River SUP 9’6″ V3
| 9’6″x31″x5″ | 22 lbs | 220 lbs | 2-year, 30-day money back | Check Price | |
Fanatic Stubby Air
| 8’6″x29.5″x4.5″ | 18 lbs | 220 lbs | 1-year | Check Price |
Red Paddle Co 8'10" Whip
The super durable Red Paddle Co 8’10” Whip is an outstanding inflatable surfing SUP that you can throw in a backpack and take all over the world. Featuring a narrow tail and a removable single FCS Connect SUP fin, the Whip is the perfect choice for wave riding.
The Whip includes advanced design and construction techniques which eliminate hand gluing errors, reduce weight, and increase overall board rigidity. Red Paddle Co’s RSS Rocker Stiffening System improves board stiffness by up to 50%.
Hala Gear Carbon Playa
Measuring 10’11” x 30″ x 4.75″, the Hala Carbon Playa is a longboard/gun hybrid inflatable SUP that is fast and maneuverable. The board has a 2+1 fin configuration, with two removable 4: side bite fins and a center removable fin in an unbreakable fin box.
Hala Gear is known for their cutting edge designs and super high build quality, and the Playa is a great example of exactly how they got that reputation. The Playa is built with the most durable drop-stitch material on the market, and it’s backed by a solid 3-year warranty. To learn more, be sure to check out our full Hala Playa review.
Badfish SUP Surf Traveler
A brand new inflatable surfing SUP for 2019, the Badfish SUP Surf Traveler is a versatile board that’s equally fun in flat water and surf.
Featuring a classic surfing shape, this board measures 10’2″ x 31″ x 5″ and it weighs in at 25 pounds. The Surf Traveler is designed for serious use and covered by Badfish SUP’s rock-solid 3-year warranty for extra peace of mind.
Included with this iSUP is a travel bag, 3-piece paddle, pump, leash, and repair kit.
Earth River SUP 9'6" V3
The 2019 Earth River SUP 9’6″ V3 is another versatile paddle board that can be used in the surf and for general all-around paddling. This model measures 9’6″ x 31″ x 5″ and it features ERS’ V3 Core Construction and Enhanced Dynamic Rail for maximum durability and performance.
The ERS 9’6″ V3 also includes a premium EVA traction pad with a raised rail bar and kick tail for improved grip and control when performing bottom turns and cutbacks.
Fanatic 8'6" Stubby Air
The shortest inflatable SUP on our list, the Fanatic 8’6″ Stubby Air is modeled after the company’s Stubby LTD Composite SUP and is designed with maximum maneuverability in mind.
At only 18 pounds, the Stubby Air is extremely lightweight and the wide, blunt nose design and double diamond tail make it easy to perform turns.
Included with the board is a premium wheeled iSUP backpack, HP2 Power Pump HP2, and repair kit.
Greetings. I own and have surfed ocean waves on both Sea Eagle Hybrid 96 and Longboard 11. I very much like both iSUPs for their verstatility on lakes, rivers, and ocean. Sea Eagle provides good products and customer service. The Longboard 11 can catch waves and paddle easier, but the Hybrid 96 maneuvers better on waves. Both surf like a traditional longboard but best on smaller waves. Between the two i surf the Longboard 11 more than the Hybrid 96. Both iSUPs work okay, but a hard SUP will outperform either.
Is Sea Eagle longboard 11 better than 9’6″ hybrid to surf?
Hi Bruno, it depends on the conditions you’ll be surfing in.