Waves lapping against the shore, children laughing, seagulls calling overhead, and the deafening expulsion of air as a paddleboard is deflated – these are set to be the sounds of a 2025 British beach holiday.
All joking aside, the popularity of paddleboards continues to soar. And as more brands look to get in on the action, prices are being driven down, meaning you can now pick up an inflatable paddleboard for a pretty reasonable fee. But that doesn’t mean you should splash your cash on the first, or cheapest, option you find.
If you’re new to this trendy pastime, stability is key for building confidence, so you’ll want a shorter, wider board that has lots of volume and sits higher on the water. Seasoned paddleboarders, on the other hand, may be chasing a speedier ride. For this, look for less volume, more length and a thinner deck, as this shape lends itself to travelling at significant speeds.
No matter how experienced you are, some attributes should be common to every SUP (stand-up paddleboard, for the uninitiated). They need to be quick to inflate and deflate, with practically placed handles for portability. A non-slip deck that’s comfortable to stand on is a non-negotiable, as well as cargo areas (in the form of bungee straps) to transport everything you want to take with you.
If you want to know which SUP to buy, filter through the list below to see which boards have got us pumped this year.
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