Stand Up Paddle Boarding is an activity for everyone. Whether you are a serious athlete or just looking for a new way to enjoy the beach, there is a paddle board for you. And you don’t have to break the bank to start! Many fantastic budget-friendly Paddle Boards are available today, making the sport more accessible than ever.
Our List of the Best Budget Paddle Boards Under $500 includes several iSUPs regularly available at these prices and several more expensive choices that have been regularly on sale for $500 or less.
Inflatable paddle boards have improved greatly in the last decade, and advancements in technology have greatly improved the quality of iSUPs at all price levels. While there are differences in performance and variety at different price levels, it’s easier than ever to start paddle boarding with a quality product without draining the savings account.
There is still a fine line between a quality iSUP on a budget and a “cheap” paddle board that isn’t likely to last more than a single season (if even that long).
We originally made this list to showcase paddle boards we like that are under $500 MSRP. We chose this price point because it offers a variety of options and allows you to avoid the pitfalls of buying a “cheap” iSUP. We have included a few options that are just over the $500 mark as well as we think they offer both exceptional value and features not found in other sub-$500 boards.
With that in mind, here’s a list of our favorite budget-friendly iSUPs under $500. We know from first-hand experience and testing that these boards are not just low-cost but also high-quality.
Best Budget Inflatable Paddle Boards Comparison Chart
Best iSUPs under $500 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD | PRICE | DIMENSIONS | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | ||
| Glide Wander | Glide Wander
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 10'6" x 34" x 6" 23 pounds | 350 lbs | 5 years, 30-day return period |
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| Retrospec Weekender Plus | Retrospec Weekender Plus
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 10'6" x 33" x 6" 23 pounds | 240 lbs | 2 years, 50-day return period |
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| iRocker All Around 11’ 7.0 | iRocker All Around 11’ 7.0
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 11’0” x 32" x 6" 26 pounds | 400 lbs | 3 years, 45-day return period |
|
| Retrospec Weekender 10’6 | Retrospec Weekender 10’6
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 10'6" x 32" x 6" 17.8 pounds | 275 lbs | 2 years, 50-day return period |
|
| Bote Wulf | Bote Wulf
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 10'4" x 34" x 6" 20 pounds | 250 lbs | 2 years, 30-day return period |
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| Thurso Waterwalker 126 | Thurso Waterwalker 126
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 10’6”x 31" x 4.7" 19.2 pounds | 250 lbs | 3 years, 30-day return period |
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| Retrospec Weekender Tour 11’6 | Retrospec Weekender Tour 11’6
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 11'6" x 32" x 6" 24.4 pounds | 300 lbs | 2 years, 50-day return period |
|
| Glide Backwater Fishing SUP | Glide Backwater Fishing SUP
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 11'0" x 36" x 6" 26.6 pounds | 500 lbs | 5 years, 30-day return period |
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| Atoll 11’ | Atoll 11’
| Read ReviewCheck Price | 11' x 32" x 6" 21 pounds | 315 lbs | 2 years, 60-day return period |
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Glide Wander
10’6” x 33.5” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here
The Glide Wander is a new, budget-friendly, cruiser-style paddle board based on the highly-popular Glide Retro shape. At 10’6 x 34”, this iSUP is very beginner friendly, stable, and its shape makes it a great-paddling board as well.
It comes with a standard kit of accessories and has all of the features you need for a day on the water. Large cargo areas are great for dry bags, lunch boxes, and coolers, and extra D-rings make it compatible with an inflatable kayak seat (sold separately, but included with the Glide Retro kit).
The Wander uses heat-welded rails, a woven drop stitch core, and a fusion PVC shell to create a high-quality, rigid, and durable construction. All of this, right at $500 and backed with a 5-year warranty – the longest on our list of Best Budget SUPs.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a high-quality cruiser iSUP at a fantastic price, the Glide Wander is your board!
Retrospec Weekender Plus
10’6” x 33” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Our Review Here
The Retrospec Weekender Plus may be the most versatile paddleboard on our list. This board is incredibly stable with a wide outline and rigid dual-layer PVC shell, and it comes as a complete hybrid iSUP/kayak kit.
The paddle board comes with the complete kayak kit conversion, which includes a second paddle blade and a high-quality inflatable kayak seat. The inflatable seat is a huge upgrade over flat foam seats and puts you in an ergonomic and comfortable position for all-day kayaking.
In addition to the conversion kit, the Weekender Plus has plenty of cargo space, a GoPro-ready threaded action mount, and comes with a shoulder carrying strap and waterproof phone case.
Bottom Line:The Retrospec Weekender Plus is a do-it-all cruiser and kayak combo at an incredible price.
iRocker All Around 11 7.0
11’0” x 32” x 6”
Availability: Worldwide
Read Full Review Here
iRocker’s best-selling classic paddleboard is on sale and it’s a value that you don’t want to pass up!
The All Around 11 7.0 is like a Swiss Army knife. It’s shaped for excellent stability thanks to the square tail and wide shoulders, and the triangular nose and well-designed fin system help it paddle smoothly and track easily.
The large deck pad is roomy enough to do some yoga (or take a nap) or bring a passenger or pet. The cargo areas are fully adjustable and removable, and the All Around 11’ is kayak-seat ready.
Bottom Line:The iRocker 11’ All Around 7.0 offers excellent balance of performance, stability, durability and versatility for a surprisingly low price.
Retrospec Weekender 10’6
10’6” x 32” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here
Where the Retrospec Weekender Plus is a package with all the bells and whistles, the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 offers a more minimalist, but still great, set of accessories and features for paddlers on a budget.
This all-around iSUP is ultra-light and comes with everything you need for a fun day on the water (including a waterproof phone case). Its lightweight construction makes it a breeze to move around, but the Weekender 10’6’s overall size and rigidity make it a better option for more paddlers under 160 pounds.
Bottom Line:With a set of beginner-friendly accessories and a 2-year warranty, the Retrospec Weekender 10’6 is one of the most reliable ways to get on the water on a budget.
Bote Wulf
10’4” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US, AUS
Read Full Review Here
The Bote Wulf is a big board. At 34″ wide with a wide, square tail, it offers paddlers a huge amount of stability on the water. Along with that stability is a large, clean deck pad that’s great for paddling with a friend or pet or practicing a bit of paddleboard yoga.
The lightweight and compact Wulf kit is easy to transport and store. While large, it is also quite maneuverable and easy for paddlers of any size to use.
Bottom Line: The Bote Wulf is super stable with a ton of deck-side real estate.
Thurso Waterwalker 126
10’6” x 31” x 6”
Availability: Worldwide
Read Our Full Review Here
The Thurso Waterwalker series has long been among our favorite all around boards. Each size is scaled down or up to fit different paddlers for optimum performance and the new 4.7” board thickness option improves stability and lets you feel like you are walking on water more than ever!
The Waterwalker 126 is a mid-size all-around board that is built incredibly well and has a great feature set for versatile use. To be upfront, the Waterwalker 126 as a full kit doesn’t really fall into our $500 definition for a “budget” board if you are buying an entire kit with paddle, pump, bag, etc.
However, if you are looking for a second board or a replacement SUP, the Waterwalker 126 is available as a board-only option for under $500. You can choose whether you want the 4.7” version for a bit more stability and playful feel, or the 6” version for a bit more rigidity and overall capacity.
Bottom Line: The Thurso Waterwalker 126 is a very well-built board that is both beginner friendly and playful for intermediate paddlers.
Retrospec Weekender Tour 11’6
11’6” x 32” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here
You’re not seeing triple – the Weekender Tour 11’6 is the third Retrospec board on our Best Budget Paddleboards list. Retrospec’s commitment to making paddling accessible for everyone shines through.
The Weekender Tour 11’6 is a board for the paddler who wants to go farther without overspending. Its dual-layer PVC construction makes it surprisingly rigid and efficient on the water and great for fitness paddling or day touring.
With the triple fin setup, you can also change things around to make the Tour switch from a straight-paddling distance board to an easily agile all-around board for hanging out with your friends.
Bottom Line: The Retrospec Weekender Tour 11’6 is an all-around with a performance backbone, all at an amazing price point.
Glide Backwater Fishing iSUP
11’6” x 36” x 6”
Availability: US
Read Full Review Here
Like with their Wander iSUP, Glide has adapted their top-selling fishing iSUP to be more accessible at a lower price point with the new Glide Backwater, but maintain the same high-quality performance and construction standards Glide is known for.
The Backwater is a turnkey solution for SUP anglers on a budget. This extra-stable iSUP comes with both a basic set of accessories and a fully-adjustable fishing rod holder in this budget-friendly kit.
Glide’s high-quality construction includes welded rails and fusion PVC materials for high durability and excellent longevity. The Backwater is just a touch out of our price limit, but for just an extra $50, you still get an insanely good value at a relatively low cost.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a budget-friendly way to get into SUP fishing, look no further than the Glide Backwater.
Atoll 11’
11’ x 32” x 6”
Availability: US, International Shipping Available
Read Full Review Here
The dual-layer PVC construction keeps the Atoll 11′ lightweight while maintaining a stiff, stable, and durable ride. Its open floor plan and well-spaced anchor points allow you to customize it for your needs– cruising, touring, fishing, or anything else.
A single Longboard fin box and two fixed side fins keep things simple yet effective on the hull without limiting your primary fin size and shape options. There is a large 6-point cargo area up front and nine additional D-rings around the board’s perimeter. The large deck pad has a full diamond-groove traction pattern for a soft and retentive feel wherever you are on the board.
Bottom Line: The Atoll 11’ is a multi-purpose iSUP that balances its performance characteristics well.
Best Budget Paddle Board FAQs
What is a Budget Paddle Board?
We categorize inflatable paddle boards at or under the $500 price point as “budget” iSUPs and kits. However, not all paddle boards in this price range are built well or offer a good value. Through in-depth testing, we’ve found that the boards presented in this list are not only budget-friendly but also provide a higher-quality paddling experience.
What is the difference between a Budget Paddle Board and “Cheap” iSUP?
With stand up paddle boarding’s massive growth in popularity there has been an equally large explosion of super “cheap” boards sold by dubious fly-by-night brands available through mass online retailers like Amazon and AliExpress. Like with most things, you do get what you pay for. With ultra-low-cost items like these, what you give up is just as important, if not more important, as what you get. You’ll get the lowest possible quality materials, construction, and accessories. There will be no quality checks, no customer service from the brand, and no (or very limited) warranties. I’ve seen many of these devices (I hesitate to call them iSUPs) fail on their first use in ways that are either unrepairable or cost more to fix than the original cost of the board.
You will get higher quality materials, constructions, and accessories by purchasing a budget-friendly iSUP from a reputable and trusted brand like those listed above. The brands also provide quality assurance checks, customer service, and warranties. You’re also supporting SUP-first companies rather than unknown resellers looking to turn a quick buck. Companies that sell directly to you (versus through an online or brick-and-mortar retailer) can also keep costs lower for higher-quality products by removing the retailer markups.
How Durable Are Budget Paddle Boards?
With simple care and maintenance, these budget-friendly iSUPs will last many years. Like any SUP, taking care of your board is important. Keep it clean and dry when not in use. When inflating and transporting your board, don’t lean or bump it into sharp objects (like metal signposts) or drag it along the ground. When you take a short break from paddling, keep your board touching the water; let some air out of the board when taking long breaks to avoid over-pressurization. With these common-sense measures, you’ll be paddling your board for years.
How do I store my iSUP?
Always clean and dry your SUP completely before storage. Once your board is dry, roll your board just tight enough to fit into its storage bag. Rolling your board too tightly can crease it, creating weak points over time. Store your board in its bag in a dry location indoors, and avoid excessively hot or cold conditions. If you store your board around or below freezing temperatures or temps above 90° F, allow your board to warm up or cool down to room temperature before unrolling. If storing in a garage, attic, or other non-residential location, consider storing it in a hard plastic tub to deter pests.
Recommended Gear for Your Budget Paddle Board
While most iSUP kits include everything the paddle board needs to get out on the water, a few accessories will give you a better and safer experience on your new iSUP.
- 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 not only fits you well but is also designed for paddling. A quality, well-fit PFD is not noticeable when being worn.See our Best SUP PFD reviews here.
- 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. Dry bags come in various shapes and sizes to fit your needs. See our Best SUP Dry Bag reviews here.
- Coolers – Whether you are keeping your drinks cold or your catch fresh, a great cooler can make the difference after hours out in the sun. Plus, hard coolers make great seats to take a break from standing! See our Best SUP Cooler reviews here.
- Electric Pumps – Using a hand pump is a great way to warm up for your day paddling, but now and then, it’s nice to relax while getting ready. Electric SUP pumps are easy to use and let you focus on other things while inflating your board. See our Best Electric SUP Pump reviews here.
Final Thoughts – Best Budget Paddle Boards Under $500
Budget-friendly iSUPs don’t have to be low-quality or low-performing. By supporting SUP-first brands, you’ll be getting a better-quality product designed to perform better on the water than what you can get from a big-box store or mass online retailer.
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