Best inflatable SUPs under £500 – 4 great options to try if you’re new to paddleboarding
We've previously published a guide arguing why it's ok to buy a cheaper paddleboard, and we'd class a cheap SUP as anything which you can buy for under £500. Paddleboarding is a really enjoyable sport, so it's great to have options which are more affordable and allow more people to try it out.
There are lots of options when it comes to inflatable SUPs under £500 that you can buy, and we'd definitely say that not all of them are good. But there are some great options within this price bracket, and we thought it would be useful to round up the best that we've found based on our experiences and on third-party reviews. Let's get into it:
Lamlingo - £220
The Lamlingo inflatable paddle board is the cheapest paddle board that we've tried, and as we mentioned in our other guide, we're actually really impressed with this board. It's 10 and a half feet long and weighs 8.6kg when fully inflated, which is we mentioned previously is actually quite light compared to some of the more expensive boards that we've tried. But this is actually a positive for lighter riders and for people who want a paddle board that can turn quickly. Impressively, your £220 will not only get you the board, but it'll also get you the other essential equipment including the pump, the fins, and the ankle leash. You could buy 2 of these paddle boards for under £500 and still have change over which is quite amazing really. Learn more and buy it here - amazon.co.uk
GUL Cross Inflatable SUP - £400
The GUL Cross Inflatable SUP is just under 11 foot long at 10ft 7 inches, making it perfect for cruising. But it's also quite a nimble board and is even suitable for surfing small waves. This board is also perfect for beginners or heavier riders as it has a reinforced drop stitched core which makes the board 30% stiffer compared to a board with a regular single layer construction. This board can also withstand pressures of up to 15PSI, meaning it can get really stiff and it'll give you loads of support when fully inflated. But despite how sturdy the board is, it only weighs 9kg when fully inflated which is really light and very impressive. As well as the board, you get a paddle, Double action pump, repair kit, and more, which is very impressive for a paddle board which costs less than £500. Learn more and buy it here - gul.com
Hydro Force Aqua Glider - £359
This paddle board is perfect for smaller riders - it's 10ft 6 inches in length and has a weight capacity of 120kg, but one of the most impressive aspects of the paddle board is how small it is when it's deflated and folded away. This makes the board ideal for travel and for younger riders who want to carry their own board (it weighs less than 10kg). In terms of the board itself, we love the grip which is really effective and makes it easy to stay balanced on the board. You won't be able to go too fast on this board, but for cruising it's ideal. And for £140 less than £500, you get a board plus a hand pump, a travel carry bag, and a repair kit. Learn more and buy it here - amazon.co.uk
Freespirit Dagon 9ft - £350
At 9ft long, this inflatable paddle board is the shortest we've included in this guide. This makes it much lighter and more nimble compared to the longer paddle boards. But despite the small size, this board has a weight capacity of up to 100kg, so heavier riders can still use it. If you're looking for a fast board which can turn quickly then the Freespirit Dagon is a great choice. Also, it only takes 5 minutes to inflate, meaning you can get into the water faster than with most paddle boards. There is also only 1 fin on the bottom of the board, making it really fast to setup. For £350 you get the board plus a paddle, leash, hand pump, and carry bag. Learn more and buy it here - gooutdoors.co.uk
Hopefully, this guide proves that you can buy a great inflatable paddle board for less than £500. Let us know if you've tried any of these or if you have any other suggestions for us to try! If your budget is under £500, we have a guide to the best paddle boards you can buy for under £300 and the best paddle boards you can buy for under £200.
Finn H
Finn is the editor of You Well and has been writing about travel, health, and more for over 10 years.