Inflatable Paddle Board Review
Paddle boarding is a great water activity for all ages and skill levels. For years we resisted buying a paddle board because they take up a lot of space. However, after much research and testing we became convinced that an inflatable paddle board is the way to go. This is an overview of our inflatable paddle board experience.
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Overview
UPDATE: July 2020. The COVID-19 situation has meant many people are seeking out water sports as a way to get out on their own. Paddle boards and other water sports equipment is widely sold out or only available at inflated prices. We will update this post as things get back to normal.
Personally, I was very skeptical of the idea of an inflatable paddle board. We have had all types of trouble with inflatable products. We have gone through many mattresses, pool toys and even an inflatable sofa.
It took many reviews and seeing these boards in action to become convinced. Inflatable paddle boards are all the rage now in San Diego and in 2020 we finally got on board.
An inflatable paddle board is incredibly sturdy. With an electric pump in can be inflated in 10 minutes and deflated in about 3 minutes. This is less time than it takes to strap a board to your car.
Best of all it takes up very little space in storage. It can not only be brought on car trips, but even carried on a plane as luggage (ours can even fit as carry-on).
ROC Paddle Board
In early 2020, after much research and several years of hemming and hawing we took the plunge and bought a ROC inflatable paddle board. The main reason we decided on this particular product was a combination of solid reviews and most importantly a great price.
Be sure and check out our full overview and guide to San Diego paddle boarding for more information.
We paid $400 for our ROC paddle board. This included a paddle, a backpack, safety leash, hand pump and waterproof bag.Other boards we were considering were in the $700 plus range. The idea was that if we liked the board, we would buy two.
After six months we definitely love our ROC paddle board. However, the COVID-19 crisis means that paddle boards are in short supply. So, we will wait to buy our second paddle board.
The backpack was awesome, way beyond expectations. It is sturdy and has solid straps if you want to go hiking to a remote location.
When we bought our paddle board, we also bought an electric pump. The ROC, like most paddle boards, comes with a hand pump. The hand pumps works, but it can be tiring (or so I hear). Personally, I knew that if I had to pump by hand it would have my paddle boarding activity going from several times a week to several times a month or year.
Key considerations of picking the ROC board included:
- Price to Quality: We got a price of $400 which I think may have been via a sale. Similar paddle boards we were looking at were going for $600+. Reviews for the ROC on Amazon and other sites were overwhelmingly positive with 5 stars and over 1,500 reviews.
- Good All-Around Beginner Board: We are not planning to race our paddle board or take it into rough water. This is a board designed more for families and beginners. Comparative reviews stressed its lightweight and ease of use. On the downside it is not as stable in rough conditions.
- Ease of Use: Comparative reviews we looked at talked about how much easier the ROC was to carry and inflate. The paddle board weighs 17 pounds when inflated with most competing boards over 20 pounds.
- Weight Limit: Our ROC has a suggested weight limit of 300 pounds. This is below premium boards that carry 400 pounds or more but above many low-end boards. Even many expensive boards are designed for only one person. We have taken it out in calm water with a combined weight of 350 pounds.
- Included Accessories: The ROC included a highly rated backpack. The fin also attaches via a tab versus many boards where the fin is attached via a screw that is easy to lose. There was also a waterproof pack thrown in.
As mentioned, most of the other boards we looked at were $600+ with the high-end performance boards at $1,000+.
Our ROC board is 10 feet long and 32 inches wide. When inflated it is 6 inches thick. This is fairly standard but slightly shorter than many boards. 11 feet seems to be more common.
The weight limit for our ROC paddle board is 300 pounds. Once again this is less than the 400 pounds or more for a premium board. However, we have taken our board out with as much as 350 pounds (two adults) with no problem.
The ROC comes with a bungee tie down and D-ring straps for adding an optional seat. There is a D-ring at the tail for attaching the included leash.
Like most paddle boards, the ROC comes with a manual pump. We noted that some of the more premium paddle boards come with a dual-action manual pump. We had no intention of using the manual pump, so we did not want to pay extra for an upgrade.
In my opinion a 12-volt electric pump is essential. We ordered ours at the same time as our SUP. This will pump the board in about 10 minutes. On a recent paddle boarding trip, I parked next to two ladies who were using a manual pump. By the time I was finished they were still going so I helped them with my electric pump. After 15 minutes they were at a PSI of 5, out of a desired 13.
Many paddle board companies also sale electric air pumps. However, it is usually cheaper to buy the pump separately. At the same time we bought our paddle board we got a pump for $76. Paddle board manufacturers were charging $125 for a similar pump. See the review of our pump here.
As mentioned, we plan to buy another ROC if we can get a similar price ($400). If after a few years we are really into paddle boarding we may upgrade to a premium inflatable paddle board.
If we did upgrade we would probably still focus on an all-around board. There are specialty paddle boards for surfing, whitewater, touring, racing and stability (good for yoga). If you are looking for one of those specific activities you may need to do some more research.
Other Paddle Board Brands
Note that there are many cheap knockoff boards on the market. I only bought a ROC because it had excellent reviews both on Amazon and comparative sites ranking it as a top beginner board. In my research, I came across several brands that stood out from the pack. Most of these brands have a comparable entry level board but will also have more high-end boards.
Prices change and sales occur so it is worth looking at several brands and doing some research.
iRocker and Blackfin
I was originally set on an iRocker Nautical. It had excellent reviews. However, at the time it was $200 more expensive. I also noted it was only rated for 240 pounds versus our ROC at 300 pounds. Overall iRocker has a well-respected line of inflatable paddle boards in all ranges. Blackfin is a more upscale brand owned by iRocker. The comparable Blackfin paddle board was $900, more than twice what we paid. Clearly this was a great board, but I could not justify it at twice the price.
Bluefin
Bluefin has a solid reputation and over the summer of 2020 they had a good deal ($550) that includes a kayak conversion kit, aka a seat and convertible paddle. I might have gone for this package if it was available when I bought my paddle board.
Isle
Isle paddle boards were highly rated. Once again it came down to price. The comparable Isle Pioneer was $700 ($300 more) while the longer Explorer was $800
Some of the premium brands we came across include Red Paddle and Earth River. These companies have highly rated specialty boards, but prices generally start at $1,000. Red Paddle has a good article on why you should spend more money for a premium paddle board.
Be sure and check out our full overview and guide to San Diego paddle boarding for more information.
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