The world of inflatable SUPs is rapidly changing and in this buyer's guide, we'll list the top SUP brands for 2020 and tell you exactly which companies have the best inflatable paddle boards when it comes to durability, features, performance, and overall value…
With each passing season, the iSUP industry continues to get more competitive as new companies come onto the scene and disrupt the status quo. Several years ago, you had to spend big money if you wanted to buy an inflatable paddle board that was well-built and capable of lasting many years, but a lot has changed since then.
Today, there are several SUP companies that are producing very high-quality boards at affordable price points, and this is really where we like to focus. Of course, there are some very nice inflatables in the +$1,000 price range, but in our opinion, you simply don't need to spend that kind of money today to get a great inflatable SUP.
In this 2020 buyer's guide, we'll focus on a handful of our favorite companies that are producing some of the best iSUPs for the money. All of these brands back their gear with rock-solid, multi-year warranties and have a history of providing outstanding customer support. Additionally, we've had the opportunity to thoroughly review the inflatable paddle boards produced by each of these companies and can vouch for their quality and toughness.
So without further ado, let's get to the brands…
Best SUP Brands — 2020 Comparison Chart
| COMPANY | LOCATION | PRICING | WARRANTY | INCLUDED | MODELS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iROCKER | Jacksonville, FL | $629-$1,145 | 2-year, 30-day money-back guarantee | Paddle, leash, pump, backpack, repair kit | 9 |
| THURSO | National City, CA | $359-$799 | 2-year | Paddle, leash, pump, backpack, repair kit | 7 |
| Bluefin | West Yorkshire, UK | $549-$1,599 | 5-year, 60-day money-back guarantee | Paddle, leash, pump, backpack, kayak seat kit, waterproof phone pouch, repair kit | 10 |
| NIXY | Irvine, CA | $795-$845 | 2-year, 30-day money-back guarantee | Paddle, leash, pump, backpack, shoulder carry strap, repair kit | 4 |
| GILI | Las Vegas, NV | $400-$645 | 2-year | Paddle, leash, pump, backpack, repair kit | 2 |
iROCKER SUP
The SUP brand that we've recommended the most over the years, Jacksonville-based iROCKER SUP is an innovative young brand that works incredibly hard year after year to improve its best-selling range of inflatable paddle boards. Since the company's official launch several seasons ago, they've firmly established themselves as one of the industry's top companies and have expanded their range to 9 models.
Why We Recommended iROCKER SUPs
iROCKER's founders always listen intently to customer feedback and they make gradual improvements to their entire range each season to give paddlers exactly what they want in an inflatable. iROCKER makes some of the most feature-rich inflatable paddle boards on the market today and the eye-catching designs, assortment of color options, and value-packed accessory bundles make them tough to beat.
What's Included with iROCKER's Boards
- Double chamber triple action pump
- Travel backpack
- Carbon fiber SUP paddle
- Coiled safety leash
- Sticker pack
- Repair kit
Warranty
All iROCKER paddle boards are covered by a rock-solid 2-year warranty that covers you in the event of a manufacturing defect. The company stands behind all of the gear they make and they also throw in a 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.
Read Our iROCKER SUP Reviews:
Watch our iROCKER Videos:
THURSO SURF
THURSO SURF is another SUP brand that's well-known for overdelivering. A super friendly company that has a sterling track record for customer service, THURSO packs an extreme amount of value into all of their inflatable paddle board packages. Since launching the brand several seasons ago with their original 11′ all-around SUP, THURSO has grown its popular lineup to 7 models.
Why We Recommend THURSO SURF Paddle Boards
We've always been huge fans of THURSO's woodgrain-look designs and the founder's background in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) means that all THURSO SUPs are optimized to achieve lower drag and greater paddling efficiency. We also love the fact that THURSO's boards are affordably priced but deliver an extreme amount of value.
What's Included with THURSO's Boards
- Carbon shaft SUP paddle
- Premium wheeled backpack
- Dual-action pump
- Coiled ankle leash
- Repair kit
Warranty
Each one of THURSO's iSUPs is covered by a 2-year manufacturer warranty. In the event of any issues, the company responds quickly and they always go the extra mile to ensure that their customers are happy.
Read Our THURSO SURF Reviews:
Watch Our THURSO Videos:
Bluefin SUP
UK-based Bluefin is a recent SUP company startup that has made serious waves in its home market and is aggressively expanding into the U.S. and Canada for 2020. Another brand that is packing an incredible amount of value into their inflatable SUP packages, Bluefin SUP is an up-and-coming company that you're going to hear a lot more about in the coming years.
Why We Recommend Bluefin SUPs
Bluefin's diverse paddle board range offers something for everyone and their iSUPs are loaded with tons of great features. Their Cruise Carbon models are especially impressive, featuring a secondary inflation chamber and carbon fiber rail reinforcements for one of the stiffest rides we've ever had on an iSUP. Lastly, with the industry's best warranty, this is a company that takes reliability and longterm durability very seriously (more on that below).
What's Included with Bluefin's Boards
- 3-piece adjustable paddle
- Kayak seat kit
- Travel backpack
- Pump
- Waterproof smartphone pouch
- Repair kit
Warranty
All Bluefin paddle boards are covered by a 5-year warranty — currently the best in the industry. In addition to that, Bluefin also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Needless to say, they're a company that stands behind all of the gear they make.
Read Our Bluefin SUP Reviews:
NIXY Sports
Another company that has made great strides over the past several seasons, NIXY Sports has a fantastic range of ultra-lightweight iSUP boards that don't skimp on features. NIXY SUPs are constructed with cutting edge fusion technology and the high-quality drop-stitch core and reinforced carbon fiber rails give them excellent rigidity.
Why We Recommend NIXY Inflatable Paddle Boards
NIXY is a friendly, family-owned business that's focused entirely on making the best iSUPs possible. NIXY's founders take customer service very seriously and they are always eager to incorporate customer suggestions and feedback into their board designs. If you're looking for an ultra-light inflatable paddle board that is well-made and extremely easy to travel with, we highly recommend NIXY's range of inflatables.
What's Included with NIXY's Boards
- Premium wheeled SUP backpack
- Double chamber triple action pump
- Adjustable shoulder carrying strap
- Adjustable fiberglass paddle
- Coiled SUP leash
- Repair kit
Warranty
NIXY's inflatable paddle boards are covered by a 2-year warranty that protects you in the event of a manufacturer defect.
Read Our NIXY SUP Reviews:
Watch Our NIXY Videos:
GILI
Another young SUP company that is rapidly growing and expanding its lineup of inflatables, GILI Sports continues to make huge strides each season and is putting out some of the nicest looking inflatables on the market. The founder's attention to detail and drive to produce the best inflatable paddle boards possible make this a brand to watch over the next several years.
Why We Recommend GILI iSUPs
We've watched GILI grow dramatically over the past few seasons and we believe 2020 is going to be a breakthrough year for them. In addition to launching several new models, they are also revamping both of their existing models with a host of improvements. Manufactured at one of the top inflatable SUP factories in the world, GILI's paddle boards are incredibly well-designed, stunning to look at, and built to take a beating.
What's Included with GILI's Boards
- Travel backpack
- 3-piece adjustable SUP paddle
- Coiled safety leash
- Dual-action pump
- Repair kit
Warranty
In addition to a great bundle of accessories, all GILI SUP boards include a 2-year warranty that covers you in the event of a manufacturer defect.
Read Our GILI SUP Reviews:
Watch Our GILI Videos:
Final Thoughts
Well, that does it for our 2020 buyer's guide of the best SUP brands. While there are far more companies producing high-quality inflatables than what we have listed here, we feel that these brands represent the best mix of top-shelf construction, premium features and accessories, warranty coverage, and price. As mentioned, we've had the opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time on the water with boards from each of these companies and can confidently recommend them to anyone who is in the market for a new inflatable paddle board.
Last but not least, if you have specific questions or feedback on the boards from any of these companies, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to us using the contact form at the bottom of this page — we love hearing from you and we'll get back to you pronto.
Happy paddling!