Updated August 21st, 2023
One of the great things about paddle boarding is checking out new places and exploring. Sometimes, while SUP touring, you need to cover some distance and all around boards just aren’t the best for that. In this case, you need a longer, faster, touring paddleboard. As always, inflatable paddleboards are so much easier to transport and store. Touring boards tend to be long and heavy so an inflatable SUP board will have an even bigger advantage.
See our top picks below along with a guide to help you find the perfect board for you.
The top 8 best inflatable touring SUPs of 2023
- BEST OVERALL: Red Paddle Co 12’6″ x 32″ Voyager
- TOP PICK: Blackfin Model V
- BEST VALUE: THURSO SURF Expedition 150
- FASTEST INFLATABLE SUP: Red Paddle Co. 12’6″ Sport
- SIC Maui 12’6″ x 31″ Okeanos Air Glide
- NIXY Manhatten Plus G4
- Bluefin SUP 14′ Sprint Carbon
- GILI MENO TOURING 12’6″
1 – Red Paddle Co 12’6″ x 32″ Voyager
☆ BEST OVERALL ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very good glide
- Efficient V-hull shape for moving through the water
- Stable enough for beginner paddlers
- Durable bag with a lot of extras such as hideable straps and transformer option
- Extra removable handles
- Enough D-Rings to mount a kayak seat or mount other accessories and gear
What we didn’t like:
- Very high cost
- Large size and weight of the Titan 2 Hand Pump
- Doesn’t turn as quick as single fin touring SUPs
Summary
The Red Paddle Co 12’6″ x 32″ Voyager is designed for efficiently carrying loads for long distances. It has a rounded nose with V-Hull to better handle chop and waves. It has a small fin at the nose to help with tracking and slicing through the water. The Red 12’6″ Sport is designed just for speed. The Voyager is designed to carry weight and move with efficiency. The board is made with Red’s MSL construction with RSS battens making it stiff and light. It has plenty of D-Rings for accessories and seats.
Accessories
The board comes with an excellent roller backpack and double chamber, double action pump. The Titan 2 hand pump is one of the best hand pumps for inflating boards to 20 psi. The travel bag has some great features like flaps to hide the backpack straps. It does not include a paddle or leash.
On the water
The V-Hull and nose fin break the surface tension of the water. This makes the board have less drag going through the water. It gives it more stability in chop and waves. The downside is that it has a little less static stability than a flat hull board. The board has 2 fins for tracking. Tracking seems just as good as a single deep fin. This was necessary because of the V-Hull shape. This is a great board for those who want to carry a lot of gear for long trips. It’s also great for those who want a fast touring board that handles waves and chop okay.
Review
See our review of the Red Paddle Co 12’6″ Voyager to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 12′ 6″ x 32″ x 5.9″
- Weight Capacity – 330 lbs
- Board Weight – 28 lbs
- Construction – MSL with RSS battens
- Paddle – Not included
- Pump – Double Action Double Barrel Hand Pump
2 – Blackfin Model V
☆ TOP PICK ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Fast friendly board that is fun to paddle
- Very stiff 3 layer carbon reinforced construction
- Plenty of D-Rings and mounts so you can customize it for any adventure
- Side bite fins can be removed for better performance
- Carbon paddle is light and stiff
- Bag has plenty of storage pockets for an electric pump and PFD
- Available accessories such as a fishing rack and rod holders
- Very large deck pad that is good for yoga, a dog, or second person.
What we didn’t like:
- Difficult to get back into its bag with the included pump
- Flip locks for attaching fins
Summary
The Blackfin Model V is a great inflatable SUP. It has excellent glide and very good stability. Novice paddlers can easily paddle the Model V. It uses 3 layer construction with carbon reinforced rails giving it very high stiffness. The deck pad is long with lots of D-Rings, accessory mounts and bungees. The Model V is ready for any adventure you want to take it on.
Accessories
New for 2023, iRocker has decided to let you pick and choose what accessories you get with the Blackfin boards. You can choose the traditional hand pump and carbon paddle or pick and electric pump and 2 piece paddle. There is also a few bag options. I like this change a lot because I rarely use the paddle or hand pump that any inflatable SUP comes with.
On the water
The Model V is a very easy and forgiving board to paddle. It is wide with good stability. Its 12’6″ length gives it very good glide. We prefer using it without the 2 side bite fins. It improves the glide and still has very good tracking.
Review
See our review of the Blackfin Model V to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 12′ 6″ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 465 lbs
- Board Weight – 30 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer w/Carbon Rails
- Paddle – Optional
- Pump – Optional
3 – THURSO SURF Expedition 150 Touring
☆ Best Value ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Fast glide with good tracking
- Feels as close to a rigid touring board as you can get with an inflatable
- At 31 inches wide it has enough stability for intermediate paddlers
- Carbon paddle with quick releases for adjusting size and to keep bottom section secure
- Triple action hand pump that can also deflate
- Single fin with a US Fin box and toolless attachment system
- Small bag for storing leash, fin, and repair kit
What we didn’t like:
- Bag has no padding where it’s worn as a backpack
- No second side handle on the bag
Summary
The THURSO SURF Expedition 150 is a fast paddleboard with good styling that built to go the distance. It doesn’t have as many mounts and extras as some other boards. THURSO put the attention where it matters to make a faster board. They used woven construction with carbon rails for stiffness. It has a kick step built into the rear of the deck pad to make kick turns easier. It has 2 bungees for storing gear. The deck isn’t cluttered with a lot of action mounts and scotty mounts. It only has a single fin with a US fin box. No unnecessary side bite fins to add drag.
Accessories
THURSO provides premium accessories to go with their boards. The carbon paddle is one of the nicer package paddles we have seen with some dihedral in the blade shape. The backpack is made of heavy feeling materials with wheels and plenty of pockets. You get a double barrel triple action pump for faster hand pumping.
On water performance
The Expedition 150 is a medium width touring board. It is not as hard to balance on as a 28-30inch width board. It’s not as stable as a 32 inch width board with a wider tail. The board only has a single fin which we prefer for touring boards. The nose only has a little rocker which will be faster on flat water. It will not go through chop as well as a board with more nose rocker. This board will be happiest in flat water with minimal waves and chop.
Review
See our review of the Thurso Surf Expedition 150 to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 12’6″ x 31″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 210 lbs
- Board Weight – 26 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer Woven w/Carbon Rails
- Paddle – 3 Piece Carbon
- Pump – Triple Action, Double Barrel Hand Pump
4 – Red Paddle Co. 12’6″ Sport Inflatable SUP
☆ Fastest Inflatable SUP ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Great speed in flat water
- Has enough nose rocker to handle small chop okay
- Lightweight for its size
- Titan pump helps inflate the board faster
- Good roller bag with heavy duty materials and good strap design
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- Not as stable as wider boards
- No paddle included
Summary
The Red Paddle Co 12’6″ Sport is a fast and fun board. Red Paddle Co produces some of the finest inflatable paddle boards in existence. The Sport line is designed for more speed than their popular Ride MSL boards. The board has a clean deck design with only 1 flat profile bungee and very few D-Rings. There is only a single fun underneath. It uses Red Paddle Co MSL construction with RSS stiffening battens. It’s clear this board is meant to go places and not meant to carry gear or a ton of accessories.
Accessories
The Red Paddle Co bag is one of the best available. It uses premium materials and has flaps built in to hide the backpack straps when rolling the bag. They include the large Titan 2 Hand Pump with this board. It helps inflate the board to higher PSI faster. It can’t deflate which is a miss. No paddle or leash are included
On the water
The board shape has a little bow rocker so it can handle some chop okay. The 30 inch width makes the board fast and stable enough for intermediate paddlers. The board uses a single 9 inch fin for good tracking and low drag. There are no extra side bite fins to slow it down. It has Red Paddle Co Speed Tail molding around the tail to help reduce drag even more.
Review
See our review of the Red Paddle Co 12’6″ Sport to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 12′ 6″ x 30″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 265 lbs
- Board Weight – 26 lbs
- Construction – MSL with RSS Battens
- Paddle – Not included
- Pump – Double Action, Double Chamber Hand Pump
5 – SIC Maui 12’6″ x 31″ Okeanos Air Glide
What we liked:
- Great speed and stability
- 3 removable fins giving you lots of fin options
- Beautiful board styling and graphics. Just the right amount of flare
- Lightweight and stiff construction
- Enough bungees and deck space for storing gear
What we didn’t like:
- No paddle included
- No nose or tail handle on the board
Summary
The Sic Maui 12’6″ x 31″Okeanos Air is the inflatable version of their popular Okeanos touring board. It was one of the first touring boards to have a long straight shape with fuller nose and tail. This gives it more stability while also giving superior tracking. The Okeanos is available in 3 sizes depending on what performance you are looking for.
The Okeanos air uses Sick Maui FST construction which utilizes the stiffest possible outer skin. This makes a very light stiff board. It also uses the latest reinforced rails and can be inflated up to 20 psi for extra stiffness.
Accessories
The Sic Maui Okeanos comes with some basic accessories. These include a roller bag and 8 foot leash. The bag is well made without many pockets or extras to keep the weight down. The pump is a basic double action single chamber pump. It gets the job done. They do not include a paddle.
On the water
The wide nose of the board and straight middle section make for a very stable board that goes where you point it. The 31 inch width 12’6″ version is a board any beginner could handle and feel confident on. The nose has enough rocker to handle chop and waves without digging in. This board handles flat water and choppy water equally well. The 3 removable fins let you fine tune the handling of the board if you want more or less tracking.
Specifications
- Size – 12′ 6″ x 31″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 265 lbs
- Board Weight – 26.8 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer PVC with Fusion Skin Technology
- Paddle – Not included
- Pump – Double Action, Single Chamber Hand Pump
6 – NIXY Manhatten Plus G4
What we liked:
- Very fast board with excellent tracking
- New wider Manhatten is more friendly for intermediate paddlers
- Stiff woven carbon reinforced construction
- Overall high quality feel to board and accessories
- No side bite fins to slow the board down
- Excellent roller bag with lots of pockets and attachment points
- Light and stiff carbon paddle
- Kick step at rear of deck pad to help with kick turns
What we didn’t like:
- Board is difficult to get back in the bag with the pump
- Not suitable for beginner first time paddle boarders
Summary
The NIXY Manhattan Plus G4 is an intermediate fast board that rewards it’s paddlers with straight line tracking and lots of glide. The Manhattan Plus was widened from the original Manhatten making it more accessible to paddlers of any skill level. It has a clean deck with kick step in the back. It 30 inches wide making giving it enough stability while still being verry fast. It is not a beginner SUP but it is not as hard to handle as the original Manhatten. It uses double layer woven PVC with carbon rail reinforcements making it a very stiff board.
Accessories
The NIXY G4 accessory package is one of the best available from any inflatable SUP brand. The carbon hybrid paddle is stiff and light. The triple action pump has good ratios and can inflate and deflate. The roller backpack has 3 wheels, a ton of mounting points and lots of pockets.
On the water
The Manhattan is the kind of board that is meant to be pushed and will reward its paddlers with lots of speed for the effort. At 30 inches wide it is stable enough for intermediate paddlers who have spent some time on a wider all around board. It’s a good step up before trying out a true racing SUP. The board tracks really well thanks to its shape and very pointed nose and tail.
Specifications
- Size – 12’6″ x 30″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 350 lbs
- Board Weight – 23 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer Woven PVC & Carbon Rails
- Paddle – 3 Piece Carbon
- Pump – Triple Action, Double Barrel
7 – Bluefin SUP 14′ Sprint Carbon
What we liked:
- Very stiff board
- Good glide and tracking while still forging for newer paddlers
- Complete packing including pump and carbon paddle
What we didn’t like:
- Board is as heavy as a hard board. It feels like you have a lot of weight to paddle under your feet
- The weight makes the board awkward to carry both in the bag and inflated.
Summary
The Bluefin SUP 14′ Carbon Sprint is a mid priced board with many advanced features. It has dual air chambers for extra rigidity and safety factor. It uses carbon fiber fabric in the rails for extra stiffness and durability. Bluefin boards are known for being among the stiffest inflatable boards made. They use a high density dropstich combined with 2 layer PVC to achieve high stiffness. Their boards tend to be on the heavier side because of this.
Accessories
The board comes as a complete package with a roller backpack, triple action hand pump, and carbon paddle. Everything you need to hit the water without anything immediately needing an upgrade. Everything is what you would expect to find at a board of this price.
On the water
The board has some nose rocker so it will handle chop well. It uses a 3 fin arrangement for easy handling and tracking. Most of the time you will want to use just the center fin. This board won’t be as fast as the Starboard Touring board on flat water but will handle chop better and be more forgiving. You will notice the weight of the board under your feet while paddling. It does feel like there is a lot down there to get moving.
Specifications
- Size – 14′ x 30″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 418 lbs
- Board Weight – 35 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer PVC with carbon rails
- Paddle – 3 Piece Carbon
- Pump – Triple Action Double Barrel Hand Pump
8 – GILI MENO TOURING 12’6″
What we liked:
- Very fast and stable board
- Gili supports ocean charities with the purchase of every board
- Good for beginners and advanced paddlers
- High weight capacity
- Kickpad at the rear of the board
- High quality accessories including carbon paddle and roller bag
- Roller bag has lots of pockets and molle loops
- Has lots of D-Rings and action mounts
- Includes 3 fins for use in different conditions
What we didn’t like:
- The D-Rings are a bit small making it hard to use the removeable bungee feature
- The hand pump can’t deflate
- Only one side of the bag has a handle
Summary
The GILI MENO Touring 12’6″ inflatable SUP is designed to be as fast and stable as possible. It is a quick board that also is stable enough for heavier paddlers and beginners. The 31 inch width means it will still be quick.
The board uses similar construction as the other GILI MENO boards. It uses 2 layer PVC with carbon reinforced rails to make a stiff board that is still light. The board uses a single fin which is preferred for touring boards. They include 3 fins so you can adjust performance for where you are using the board.
GILI makes a donation to charities that help clean the ocean and support marine life for every board they sell.
Accessories
The MENO Touring includes good accessories for it’s price. They include a 3 piece carbon paddle with nylon blade. The paddle feels stiff and solid.
The roller backpack has molle loops on the side for storage and pockets to keep the fins and other accessories. One complaint about the bag is that it doesn’t have handles on both sides. Bags with 2 side handles are a lot easier to carry up and down steps to your basement.
A triple action double barrel pump is included. It works well for inflating the board. One miss is that the pump can’t deflate. Being able to suck the last bit of air out makes these large boards a lot easier to fit into their bags.
On the water
The MENO TOURING excels at it’s goal of being fast and stable. The board has excellent glide. It’s light enough to not feel too heavy when trying to accelerate or push it into chop or wind.
The single fin design provides good tracking. The accessory river fin and racing fin allow you to tune the performance. You are set if you want to use the board in shallow water or just want to go fast.
The board feels very stable and most beginners can handle it once they have spent an hour on a shorter board. The length does make it slower to turn and not as responsive as a shorter board. The kickpad is a nice feature making quick turns easier.
Specifications
- Size – 12′ 6″ x 31″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 24 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer PVC with carbon rails
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – Triple Action, Double Chamber Hand Pump
A portion of every GILI Paddleboard goes to charities that support ocean reefs and endangered sea animals
Inflatable Touring SUP FAQ
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Doug Ryan
Co-Founder & Chief Editor
I grew up back east in Pennsylvania and learned to ski on a family trip to Killington, Vermont when I was 6. I immediately fell in love with the mountains and outdoors and have been skiing across the US and Canada ever since. I went to school for Mechanical Engineering, and have a Master’s Degree in Material Science and Reliability.
I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible.
doug@adventuregearinsider.com
