Updated August 21st, 2023
Stand up paddleboards or SUP’s are great fun that can be enjoyed by anyone. You don’t have to be super fit or in shape to enjoy stand up paddleboarding. If you are a larger person, you need to find the right paddle board to make paddle boarding fun. If you weigh 300 lbs, there is no reason you can’t paddle board. You can’t use a paddle board meant for a 150 lb person. You need a stiff board with a lot of flotation.
See our top picks below along with our paddleboard guide to help you find the best board for you.
The 8 Best SUP For Big Guys Of 2023
- BEST OVERALL: Nixy Monterey G4
- TOP PICK: Blackfin Model X & XL
- BEST VALUE: THURSO SURF Max
- BOTE HD Aero 11′6″
- iRocker All Around 11
- ISLE Sportsman
- Gili Meno 10’6″
- Red Paddle Co 12’6″ x 32″ Voyager
1 – Nixy Monterey G4 Expedition
☆ Best Overall ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very stiff rigid lightweight construction
- Dual air chambers for more stiffness and safety
- Big stable fast board that handles well on the water
- Lots of load carrying capacity
- Very good for larger size paddlers
- Overall high quality feel to board and accessories
- The best roller travel bag and carbon paddle in any package
What we didn’t like:
- Board is difficult to get back in the bag with the pump
- Not as fast as a narrower touring board
- It takes some effort to paddle it into wind and chop due to it’s size
Summary
The Nixy Monterey G4 Expedition is the absolute best board available for 275-325 lb paddlers. It has a published weight capacity of 400 lbs. It is a large board at 11’6″ x 32″. It’s made from 2 layer woven PVC construction with dual air chambers making it very stiff. The second air chamber adds an extra measure of safety when paddling away from shore. The dual air chambers give this board extra stiffness where a heavier paddler stands. 300 lb paddlers won’t sink into this board.
On the water, the Monterey handles larger paddlers very well. It has decent speed thanks to its length and narrow nose and tail. Beginners love it because of its stability. It’s so easy to stand up on for any size paddler.
The board comes with high quality NIXY G4 accessories. The best combination we have seen from any inflatable SUP package. The carbon paddle looks and feels stiff and efficient. The double barrel pump is fast to inflate and can deflate too. The 3 wheeled backpack is sturdy and looks ready to take on an expedition.
Review
See our review of the NIXY Monterey G4 to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11′6″ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 400 lbs
- Board Weight – 26 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer woven with carbon reinforced rails
- D-Rings – 20
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon fiber
- Pump – Triple action double barrel
2 – Blackfin Model X & Model XL
☆ Best Overall ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very stiff 3 layer construction with carbon reinforcements
- Ala carte shopping menu that lets you customize your package
- Very stable wide board great for dogs, beginners, or larger paddlers
- Good tracking
- Fin tethers to keep you from losing a fin
- Lots of D-Rings and accessory mounts
- Available accessories such as fishing racks
What we didn’t like:
- Not the fastest board especially in choppy water
- Higher cost
Summary
iRocker makes 2 very similar inflatable paddle boards. The Blackfin Model X and Blackfin Model XL. They have similar construction and accessories. The Model X is 10’6 x 35″ and the Model XL is 11’6″ x 34″. Both are very stable boards that can handle a lot of weight.
The Blackfin Model X and XL have a new upgraded design for 2023 with improvements to the construction after last year’s recall. It still has 3 layer construction with carbon reinforced rails. They enlarged the seems a bit and changed the location of some of the D-Rings. The fins now have tethers in addition to flip locks to help prevent fin loss.
The Model X is the shortest and widest of the Blackfin Model X, XL, and V boards. The V is one of our favorite inflatable touring boards. The XL is great for larger paddlers. The Model X is a standard 10’6″ all around board that is extra wide at 35 inches. It can still hold a lot of weight with a capacity up to 450 lbs. The Model X is great for people that want a very stable and easy to turn board and aren’t that concerned with speed.
The Model X is perfect heavier paddlers that don’t want a long hard to turn board. If you want a nice relaxing paddleboard that carries a lot of weight then the Model X is a great choice. For people that a little bigger board, the Model XL at 11’6″ is a good choice as well.
The Blackfin Model X is available with a wide range of accessories. iRocker now lets you choose your package so you can pick any pump, bag, or paddle to go with the board or just get a bare board by itself. The downside to this flexibility is that the package cost is now more expensive.
The Model X is not going to win any races with it’s speed and glide. It will carry a lot of weight and it is a perfect beginner board thanks to it’s width and stability. The X is perfect for people that aren’t that comfortable standing on other less stable boards. It gives you that extra bit of comfort. The 3 fin design does track decently well making it easy to paddle.
The extra width of the board does mean you will have to work a little harder in choppy water to push the board through the chop. It’s a great board for calm days when you want to enjoy a paddle with your dog.
Review
See our review of the Blackfin Model X to learn more.
Specifications Model X
- Size – 10′ 6″ x 35″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 450 lbs
- Board Weight – 23 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer with carbon rails
- D-Rings – 18
- Paddle – Optional
- Pump – Optional
Specifications Model XL
- Size – 11′ 6″ x 34″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 485 lbs
- Board Weight – 23 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer with carbon rails
- D-Rings – 18
- Paddle – Optional
- Pump – Optional
Nautical Go SUP starting at $199 at iRocker
3 – THURSO SURF Max
☆ Best Value ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very large and stable board
- Good platform to do things like paddle with a dog, fish, or yoga
- Removable handles to make a more clear deck
- Full length deck pad that covers the entire board
- Easy to use fin system that uses standard US Fin Box for center fin
- Carbon paddle with quick release clamp for lower connection
- Fast triple action hand pump
- Bag with wheels
- Paddle holders on both sides of the board
What we didn’t like:
- Bag has no padding where it’s worn as a backpack
- No second side handle on the bag
- Not as many action mounts as other fishing SUPs and no Scotty mounts
Summary
The THURSO SURF Max is the SUV of paddleboards. It’s big and can hold a lot of weight. It has a lot of features like handles, action mounts, and paddle holders. It has a ruler printed on the deck pad for fishing. It’s got a GoPro mount built into the nose to capture all your adventures. It’s built with 2 layer woven construction with carbon fiber reinforcements in the rails. This board is designed to handle any adventure you want to go on.
Accessories
Thurso packaged the Max with a triple action, double chamber hand pump, carbon paddle, leash, repair kit, and roller backpack. The paddle is one of the better carbon fiber SUP package paddles. It’s stiff and feels good on the water. The double barrel pump makes inflating it by hand easier. The roller backpack has enough handles and pockets to handle your accessory gear.
On the water
The Max is a long wider board. It is very stable. It would work well for larger beginner paddlers. It’s long enough to have good glide and tracking on flat water. It will handle waves and chop well thanks to its stability. It will take some effort to push through the chop.
Review
See our review of the Thurso Surf Max to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11′ 6″ x 34″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 31 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer Woven with Carbon Rails
- D-Rings – 17
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – Triple action, double chamber
2 – BOTE HD Aero 11′6″
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very stable board that anyone can stand on
- Heavy feeling stiff construction
- Many accessory mounts and D-Rings
- Included paddle holder and fishing rack mounts
- Good looking board with wood deck appearance
- Full length deck pad that is good for dogs or other passengers
What we didn’t like:
- No wheels or third handle on the bag
- No leash included
- Side bite fins are not removable
- Board feels a little bouncy on the water
Summary
The BOTE HD Aero is a big versatile board. It can carry large amounts of weight and has one of the widest selections of available accessories. You can customize the board to make it perfect for almost any activity from fishing to river expeditions. The HD Aero is a larger wider board at 11′ x 34″ giving it good glide and stability on flat water and chop. It is a perfect beginner board for heavier paddlers. BOTE boards use 2 layer PVC construction and come with composite paddles. If you want to do so something special with your board, check out the full range of optional accessories.
Review
See our review of the BOTE HD Aero Full Trax 11’6″ to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11′6″ x 34″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 30 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer
- D-Rings – 16
- Paddle – 3 piece composite
- Pump – double action hand pump
5 – iRocker All Around 11
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Deck pad covers all but the front bungee area of the board
- Very stable board
- Good glide and speed
- Stiff and durable 3 layer construction
- Lots of D-rings, action mounts and bungees for storage
- Carbon paddle
What we didn’t like:
- Board can be difficult to get back into it’s bag
- The tripe action pump can’t deflate
- Durability of the bag material
Summary
The iRocker All Around 11 is a great paddle board for medium to larger paddlers. It’s 11′ length and 32″ width make it a very stable board that still glides well. We have used it with paddlers above 250 lbs and it shows no signs of flex or bending in the middle. It is one of the most fun and easy to paddle boards out there. It is the favorite demo board amount our paddleboarding meetup.
The All Around 11 uses traditional 3 layer PVC construction which gives it extra stiffness and durability. The deckpad extends from the front bungee back to the rear of the board.
It uses 3 fins for stability. Many paddlers with good technique will find that the performance is better using just the center fin.
The package comes with a carbon 3 piece paddle that can be converted into a kayak paddle with an optional accessory blade. The triple action pump works well for inflation. It lacks the ability to deflate.
Review
See our review of the iRocker All Around 11 to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11′ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 435 lbs
- Board Weight – 26 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer
- D-Rings – 22
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – triple action hand pump
Nautical Go SUP starting at $199 at iRocker
6 – ISLE Sportsman
What we liked:
- Longer wide board is very stable
- Lots of weight capacity for big paddlers and lots of gear
- Carbon shaft paddle and nice roller backpack
- Lots of stability for fishing, yoga or paddling with a large dog
- Stiff 2 layer construction
- Lots of D-Rings and webbing loops for attaching accessories
- Has a couple Scotty mounts for fishing rod holders
What we didn’t like:
- Not as fast as a narrower board
- Takes some effort to push through chop and waves
Summary
The ISLE Sportsman is designed to be the ultimate adventure board. It is 11’6″ x 36″ with a weight limit of 350 lbs. This makes it a really solid platform for larger paddlers or those wanting to fish. The ISLE is made for carrying a lot of load. It has a lot of accessory mounts including 11 D-Rings and 4 webbing loops for mounting seats. The Sportsman won’t be the fastest board out there. It can carry a lot more than a narrow touring board.
Accessories
The board comes with a carbon paddle, roller bag, ankle leash, repair kit, and double action hand pump. The package includes a double action hand pump. At this price, we would like to see a triple action pump. To make up for it they do include an electric pump. Everything else is high quality and looks like it belongs on this level of SUP package.
On the water performance
The Sportsman glides okay on flat water thanks to its 11’6″ length but not as good as a narrower 32″ wide board. Its extra wide width means that it will take some work to push it through chop and waves. It will be a really stable platform for standing and moving around. If you want to fish or do yoga this is a great board. If you want something stable for a large dog this is also a great choice.
Specifications
- Size – 11′6″ x 36″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 350 lbs
- Board Weight – 27.6 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer
- D-Rings – 11 + 4 webbing loops
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – Double action hand pump
7 – GILI MENO 10′6″
What we liked:
- Very wide stable board with a huge weight capacity
- Still construction with carbon reinforced rails
- Lots of D-Rings and action mounts
- Includes 3 center fins to tune performance for distance, river, or speed
- Roller backpack with molle loops and pockets
- Lightweight (23-24 lbs) for it’s size
- Available in 2 sizes 10’6″ and 11’6″
What we didn’t like:
- Triple action pump can’t deflate
- Very wide board is stable but not that fast
Summary
The GILI MENO is a very wide stable board with a huge weight 450 lb capacity and tons of accessory mounts. It is available in both a 10’6″ and 11’6″ XL version. It is ready to handle large paddlers and tons of gear. It is extra wide at 35 inches and is perfect for larger beginner paddlers or thoses who want extra stability for taking pets or passengers. It uses 2 layer construction with carbon reinforced rails. It comes with 3 center fins so you can tune the performance for your needs.
The MENO is not the fastest board. It’s one of the easiest to use and most versatile boards out there. GILI offers a wide range of accessories to help you make the most of the MENO. GILI donates a portion of every board sold to ocean charities.
Specifications
- Size – 10′6″ x 35″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 450 lbs
- Board Weight – 30 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer with carbon rails
- D-Rings – 18
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – triple action hand pump
A portion of every GILI Paddleboard goes to charities that support ocean reefs and endangered sea animals
8 – Red Paddle Co 12’6″ x 32″ Voyager
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 for those who want the very best. It is designed to carry a lot of weight and move efficiently through the water. As with all touring boards, it is not as stable as an all around board. It has a 330 lb max weight capacity and can probably handle a lot more. It has a unique V-Hull that helps it glide and move through chop. It uses the Red Paddle Co RSS Batten system for extra stiffness. It uses Red’s MSL construction for a light stiff board. It comes with a great padded roller bag and Titan 2 Pump. It doesn’t come with a paddle or SUP leash.
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 – 29 lbs
- Construction – MSL with RSS battens
- D-Rings – 13
- Paddle – not included
- Pump – Double action, double chamber
Paddle Board For Big Guys 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
