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Best SUP Brands | Our 2021 Inflatable Paddle Board Brand Top Picks
The world of inflatable paddle boards is rapidly changing and in this buyer’s guide, we’ll list the best SUP brands for 2021 and tell you exactly which companies have the best iSUPs 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 producing quality boards at affordable price points, and this is the sweet spot where we like to focus. Of course, there are some incredible inflatables in the +$1,000 price range, but in our opinion, most paddlers don’t need to spend that kind of money today to get an inflatable SUP that meets their needs.
In this 2021 SUP brand buyer’s guide, we’ll focus on a handful of our favorite companies that are producing some of the best inflatable paddle boards 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 hands-on 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: 2021 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 (visit website) 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 Paddle Boards
- Double chamber, triple action pump (Single chamber, double action for the Nautical)
- Travel backpack
- Carbon fiber SUP paddle
- Coiled safety leash
- Sticker pack
- Repair kit
iROCKER iSUP Warranty
All iROCKER paddle boards are covered by a rock-solid 2-year warranty (1-year warranty for the Nautical) 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
- NAUTICAL 10’6″
- NAUTICAL 11’6″
- ALL-AROUND 10′
- ALL-AROUND 11′
- CRUISER
- SPORT 11′
- BLACKFIN Model X
- BLACKFIN Model XL
- BLACKFIN Model V
iROCKER Deals and Discounts
Depending on the season, IROCKER will frequently have special sales going on. Visit the iROCKER site for current promotions, or check out our SUP sales and discounts page for a comparison of the best deals from iROCKER and all the top brands.
Learn More about iROCKER SUP
You can learn more on our in-depth iROCKER SUP reviews page including discover all the countries they ship to, explore their optional accessories, and compare their SUPs in detail.
THURSO SURF
THURSO SURF (visit website) 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:
Thurso Deals and Discounts
At times during the year, THURSO will have sales or discounts available. Visit the THURSO site for details or check out our SUP sales and discounts page for a comparison of the best deals from THURSO and all the top brands.
Learn More about THURSO Surf
You can learn more on our in-depth THURSO Surf reviews page, including exploring the countries they serve, checking out the optional accessories they offer, and comparing their SUPs in detail.
Bluefin SUP
UK-based Bluefin SUP (visit website) is a recent paddle board company startup that has made serious waves in its home market and is aggressively expanding into the U.S. in 2020 and Canada in 2021. 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 long-term 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:
Bluefin Deals and Discounts
Bluefin almost always has some sort of sale or promotion go on. Visit the Bluefin deals page for the latest or check out our SUP sales and discounts page for a comparison of the best deals from Bluefin and all the top brands.
Learn More about Bluefin SUP
You can learn more on our in-depth Bluefin SUP reviews page, including discovering the countries they serve, exploring the optional accessories they offer, and comparing all their SUPs in detail.
NIXY Sports
Another company that has made great strides over the past several seasons, NIXY Sports (visit website) 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:
NIXY Deals and Discounts
NIXY will occasionally have a sale or discount. Visit the NIXY site for the latest details or better yet, check out our SUP sales and discounts page to stay current on the best deals from NIXY and all the top brands.
Learn More about NIXY Sports
You can learn more on our in-depth NIXY SUP reviews page, including the countries they serve, the optional accessories they offer, and see all their SUPs compared in detail.
GILI Sports
Another young SUP company that is rapidly growing and expanding its lineup of inflatables, GILI Sports (visit website) 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 2021 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:
GILI Deals and Discounts
GILI will have a sale periodically throughout the year. Visit the GILI site for the latest details or better yet, check out our SUP sales and discounts page to stay current on the best deals from GILI and all the top brands.
Learn More about GILI Sports
You can learn more on our in-depth NIXY SUP reviews page, the optional accessories they offer and to see all their SUPs compared in detail.
Final Thoughts
Well, that does it so far for our 2021 buyer’s guide of the best SUP brands for inflatable paddle boards. 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!
How does Atoll match up with these companies? Is board construction and quality similar?
Atoll is a very stable all around board, and is a great choice is you prefer more natural colors that blend into your surroundings. They don’t have the action mounts for optional optional accessories that have become popular on iROCKER and other brands. Their included accessories have also not quite kept pace with the accessories arms races that has occurred in the past couple of years, sticking with a more basic fiberglass paddle and single chamber pump, for instance.
But if those details aren’t a priority to you, the Atoll SUP is well constructed and definitely worth considering. Check out our hands-on review here: https://www.inflatableboarder.com/atoll-11-inflatable-paddle-board-review/.