Why are sup so expensive?
I recommend spending at least $500 for a decent inflatable paddle board and $700 for a rigid (solid) paddle board. That may sound like a lot!
So why are paddle boards so expensive?
Paddle boards incorporate advanced technology and costly materials. This makes them expensive. There’s also a big demand for paddle boards at the moment, which has pushed prices up.
Read on to find out more!
RELATED: Discover the best inflatable sup boards of 2023.
There’s no straightforward answer to this question because it depends on the board you’re looking at.
The truth is that you can get a SUP with whatever cash you have.
Stand up paddle boards cost anywhere from $200 to $3000. The super cheap ones are mainly inflatable paddle boards.
However, if you pay $200, you can’t expect much from the paddle board in terms of performance. I recommend spending at least $500 for an inflatable and $700 for a solid paddle board to get a decent all-around paddle board.
So, why do paddle boards cost so much? Let’s find out.
There are a number of factors driving the price of paddle boards at any point in time. Here are the main ones:
Stand up paddle boarding has been growing steadily in popularity over the past few years. Everyone seems to be doing it, including a number of A-list celebrities.
Social platforms are filled with photos and videos of people enjoying the sport.
Add to this the claims about the health benefits of paddle boarding. They’re not empty claims anymore because there are scientific studies to back them up.
Google searches relating to SUP have been increasing too. This can’t be said for kayaking and other watersports.
How does this affect the price of paddle boards?
Nobody wants to be left out and it seems that everyone is buying a paddle board.
Beginners want SUP boards to get started, avid paddlers want to upgrade, families want multiple SUPs. The demand is high.
There aren’t tons of reliable paddle board brands. People don’t mind paying good money if it means getting a durable product. So why would the manufacturers want to drop prices?
SUPs look deceptively simple. In actual fact, constructing a quality paddle board requires multiple design and manufacturing steps and expensive materials. Inflatable and rigid paddle boards have very different constructions, so I’ll cover them separately.
All inflatable paddle boards start with a drop-stitch core. These are two sheets, one at the top and another at the bottom, joined together by thousands of small threads. These threads give the paddle board its shape when inflated.
Without them, the inflatable paddle board would bulge like a balloon. The threads are super thin. When you deflate the SUP, the two sheets will collapse together, making it easy to roll up your inflatable board.
Since the drop-stitch fabric is not airtight, it needs to be encased in PVC. It’s what happens at this point which determines the quality, and price, of an inflatable paddle board.
Low-cost paddle boards have a layer of PVC painted onto the drop-stitch core. This is termed single-layer construction. Inflatable paddle boards made like this have the advantage of being lightweight.
However, they are not very rigid. They are prone to flexing and, in some cases, bursting. Cheap inflatable paddle boards usually feature this construction.
For extra rigidity and durability, manufacturers may wrap the board in an extra layer of PVC. This means the paddle board can be inflated to higher pressures and carry more weight.
Dual-layer boards are more expensive to construct as they use a lot more material and there are extra manufacturing steps.
The downside of dual-layer boards is that they’re heavy. Some manufacturers are phasing this technology out or only using it for specialist boards.
Fusion construction balances weight, durability, and stiffness. A reinforced PVC layer is laminated onto the drop-stitch core. This process makes for lighter, stiffer boards with no cosmetic imperfections.
This is the premium standard in modern boards. It means you can create a thinner, lighter board with a similar weight capacity to a dual-layer board.
A fusion board will give you the best performance. The downside is it’s more expensive. After all, you always pay more for the latest technology.
This technology uses a different construction for the drop-stitch core. There are fewer yarns, which reduces the weight, and the weave is less stretchy that traditional drop-stitch construction, improving the board’s stiffness.
Combined with fusion laminated PVC, this makes for exceptionally light, stiff boards. You find this construction used in top-end racing SUPs. Red Paddle uses similar technology in its compact range of boards.
Other than extra PVC layers, high-quality inflatable paddle boards feature reinforced rails. Blackfin SUPs, for instance, have carbon rails. Bluefin boards have heat-welded double side rails.
Solid paddle boards have various constructions which affects their performance, durability and cost.
Plastic paddleboards are some of the cheapest you’ll come across. They are either made from a single rotomolded piece of plastic or a foam core with a plastic shell.
Plastic is cheap, easily accessible, and easy to manufacture. Boards made with plastic are, thus, affordable. They are also super durable because they can handle impact well. The downside is that they are heavy and their paddling performance is not impressive.
Foam SUPs are lighter than plastic paddle boards and less expensive than fiberglass or wood SUPs. Wooden stringers are placed inside an EPS (expanded polystyrene core). The stringers give the board strength. High-density polyethylene foam is then laminated to the core.
The materials used to construct these boards are cheap and the manufacturing process isn’t that technical. That makes the boards pretty inexpensive. However, they don’t perform as well as fiberglass, wood, or carbon fiber paddle boards and they tend to pick up dents easily.
Wooden stand up paddle boards usually feature a hollow wooden frame with top layers of epoxy resin and fiberglass to make the SUP waterproof.
These boards have outstanding performance. However, you do need to take care of a wood paddle board as dinks can lead to water getting past the protective layer and into the wood. They’re also heavier than other types of paddle board.
Wooden paddle boards are often custom-designed and shaped by hand, rather than being mass manufactured. This makes them expensive! I wouldn’t recommend buying one if you’re a beginner, but for experienced paddle boarders, they give you a unique SUP.
Fiberglass paddle boards are the most common construction for mid-range solid paddle boards. An EPS (expanded polystyrene) core is wrapped in layers of fiberglass, resin, and wood veneer. These layers add strength, making the SUP rigid and durable.
Fiberglass paddle boards are lightweight and perform well. They cost more than plastic and foam SUPs due to the higher cost of materials and the more complicated manufacturing process. Some hand labor and painting may also be involved.
These boards have a foam core covered in layers of carbon fiber. There may be a final layer of fiberglass (to help give the board a smooth finish) and a protective layer of paint.
Manufacturing carbon fiber is an energy-intensive process that requires specialized machinery and skills. It’s highly sought after, but very expensive. You’ll only find carbon fiber used in top-end paddle boards, starting at around $2000.
Carbon fiber boards are super lightweight and their paddling performance is exceptional. They’re commonly used for racing.
Construction and material costs is one of the biggest factors separating cheap and expensive paddle boards. There’s no such thing as a top-performing cheap paddleboard.
Well-made solid boards that glide smoothly and efficiently require expensive materials and time to produce. That makes them pricey.
The same goes for blow-up paddleboards. An inflatable paddle board is a lot more than a glorified pool float. The research and development costs, plus manufacturing costs and materials all add up!
As technology develops in the future and new processes and materials are developed, the cost of today’s top-end boards may come down. For now, try to look past the marketing jargon to figure out a board’s underlying construction. That will give you an idea of what it’s truly worth.
READ MORE: Inflatable Paddle Board vs. Solid Paddle Boards: Which is Best?
People love gorgeous boards and they are willing to pay for them. Premium paddle boards may come with a real wood veneer finish, for example. You can even buy custom-designed wooden boards!
Features also add cost. That’s one reason why fishing SUPs are so expensive. They come with comfortable chairs and multiple attachment points for rods, coolers, and fishing accessories.
The deck pad can make a big difference to your comfort when paddling. A soft, cushioned pad with a kick tail costs more than a basic deck.
Paddleboards are surprisingly big. People often think of them as being like surfboards, but racing SUPs can be as long as 14 feet and all-around boards may be up to 36 inches wide.
Large boards require more materials and more work, meaning a higher production cost.
Paddleboarding is diverse and there are different SUP activities.
Some paddleboards are designed specifically for these activities. They’re more expensive due to the technology and materials used, but also because they’re less popular (so manufacturers can’t sell as many of them).
Racing paddle boards, for example, are specially engineered to offer remarkable tracking and speed. They are mainly made using carbon fiber, which is really costly. These boards cost anywhere from $1500 to $3000.
Fishing paddle boards have to be bigger for better stability. In addition to that, they come with accessories and attachment points so you don’t have to do any DIY rigging. These features, again, come at a cost.
SUP boards designed for fishing may cost anywhere from $1000.
Most paddle boards come with accessories, such as a paddle, bag, pump (for inflatable SUPs), leash, and repair kit.
The accessories are not free (although getting a SUP bundle is cheaper than buying everything separately). Part of the cost of your paddle board covers these extra items.
More expensive boards come with higher quality SUP accessories like carbon-fiber paddles. You won’t have to upgrade.
On top of the costs we have discussed, there are also marketing and distribution costs. Like many other products, SUPs go from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer. At each stage, people need to be paid and profits need to be made.
If you buy a paddle board from a local retailer, you will pay more, but you get a personalized server and are supporting a local business.
A lower-cost option is to buy a paddle board directly from the manufacturer. Many brands, such at Atoll and iRocker have online stores. You often save money as you’re cutting out the middle men.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Trying to save money by buying the cheapest option will cost you in the long run.
Buy a good paddle board and you will not regret it. A well-made SUP is reliable and it can last a lifetime.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Read our review of the iRocker All Around 11′ paddle board.
You can buy a mid-range inflatable paddle board for $500–$800 and a mid-range hard paddle board for $700–$1500.
Of course, you can buy SUPs that are cheaper than this, but I don’t recommend them. If you want a specialist SUP for touring, racing, or fishing, you may have to pay a bit more.
Find out more about how much paddle boards cost.
Paddle boards are more expensive than kayaks because the construction process is more complicated. Inflatable paddle boards incorporate drop-stitch construction to get the rigidity needed. Solid paddle boards are made from layers of expensive materials such as fiberglass, epoxy resin, and wood veneer.
Most hardshell recreational kayaks are molded from tough plastic and the manufacturing process is relatively simply. You will pay more for a high-end product, but a mid-range kayak will usually be cheaper than a mid-range epoxy paddle board.
Inflatable kayaks and paddle boards are closer in price. However, cheaper inflatable kayaks don’t have a drop-stitch floor, which is necessary for a paddle board. Cheap kayaks aren’t designed to be stood up in, so they don’t need the same level of rigidity as a paddle board.
No! Cheap paddle boards don’t perform well in the water. I want you to enjoy paddle boarding and cheap paddle boards are an exercise in frustration!
Cheap SUPs are often made from low-quality materials and aren’t particularly durable. They may not last you longer than a season.
A mid-range inflatable paddle board costs as little as $500. This should come with a minimum two-year warranty and basic accessories.
If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend you choose an entry-level board from a reputable manufacturer, such as iRocker. This won’t have the bells and whistles of a more expensive SUP, but you’ll get a reasonable board for a decent price.
FIND OUT MORE: Are Cheap Paddle Boards Any Good?
Production, marketing, and distribution – all these processes cost money and everyone involved has to make a profit! Paddleboards are not as simple as they look. Advanced construction techniques and high-quality materials make paddle boards expensive to buy.
Paddleboarding is also very popular right now and there is a high demand for boards. Other things like fancy cosmetic designs, accessories, and the size of the SUP also add to the cost.
Paddleboarding is a very fun activity, but it can be a little expensive.
The good thing about a great paddleboard is that you will have it for a very long time.
The bad news is that you will have to spend quite a bit of money to get a great paddleboard.
Paddleboards sort of came out of nowhere, and their pricing skyrocketed rather quickly.
Here are ten reasons paddleboards are so expensive.
Paddleboarding has become a very popular sport.
The time you spend paddleboarding is going to be well spent.
Not only are you going to get some great exercise, but you will be able to enjoy wonderful scenery as well.
Many people feel that paddleboarding is a great way to connect with nature and to relax.
Since paddleboards are so fun and so good for you, they are very popular.
Like anything else, as a sport gets to be more popular, the pricing is going to increase significantly.
Paddleboarding is sometimes less expensive than kayaking, and many people enjoy it more.
Paddleboarding is also a much easier and cheaper way to get out on the water than to go out on a boat.
This helps to explain the increase in popularity, but unfortunately, the price has increased as a result.
Paddleboards went from being very basic and simple to being a bit more complicated and customized.
People started to realize they could do more and more with their paddleboard, so it increased availability of features and accessories as well.
The popularity of paddleboarding is a great thing, but it certainly does not help with the pricing.
Paddleboards come in a variety of sizes.
The larger the paddleboard, the higher it is going to be in price.
This certainly makes sense, but it is a part of why paddleboards are so expensive.
You will notice that some surfboards are lower in price than paddleboards.
When you look at the construction of the paddleboard, you can see that a lot more material is used.
Stand up paddleboards are usually about ten to eleven feet in length.
The width on a standard paddleboard is going to be 33 to 34 inches wide.
The paddleboard is wider because it helps to create stability for those who are using it.
There is a complicated balance between the width of the board and the power and speed you can get out of it.
The wider board is going to be great for beginners, but as you start touring and potentially racing your paddleboard, this size will drag.
There are plenty of options for paddleboards on the market, so you can easily find something that fits your needs.
There is quite a bit of difference between the high-end paddleboards and the lower end.
You will notice that the low-end boards will probably be smaller and have more straightforward designs.
The high-end boards generally have detailed patterns to them.
One popular feature on the high-end boards is the wood veneer.
The wood veneer is just a finishing layer on the board, but it certainly gives it a very nice, finished look.
The wood veneer is going to be made with a bamboo or pine.
These two types of wood are very lightweight but equally strong.
In addition to looking great, the wood veneer works to make the board more structurally sound as well.
As great as this wood veneer is, you should make sure that the model you choose has a true wood veneer on it.
There are some cheaper versions that look like wood veneers, but it is simply a sticker or a paper that looks like wood.
Most paddleboards that have a wood veneer finish are going to be priced well over $1000 and probably closer to $1500.
If you are serious about your paddleboarding and are interested in continuing to paddleboard for years, the wood veneer is a good choice to consider.
Paddleboards use some unique materials when they are made.
A paddleboard needs to be able to stay above water, and at the same time, it needs to glide and move fast through the water.
Paddleboards need to hold the weight of a person and potentially some of their gear as well.
Of course, this material is going to be unique and relatively expensive.
Although paddleboards can be made with a variety of materials, the ones you will see most often are Polystyrene, Expanded Polystyrene, or Extruded Polystyrene.
Entry level boards for beginners are made with the standard Polystyrene.
For the higher end boards, the Expanded or Extruded Polystyrene is used.
None of these materials is going to be extremely cheap, so you will have to accept that a certain amount of cost is related to the materials used to build it.
If you do your research and purchase a great paddleboard, the materials are going to hold up for many years to come.
The major difference you are going to find between the standard polystyrene and the extruded is that the extruded is lighter and more buoyant.
This allows for carrying greater weight and versatility, allowing the paddle boarder to do more with their board.
We talked about the Polystyrene being used in most paddleboard models, but paddleboards are made of many different layers.
One of the materials that is also used in a paddleboard is fiberglass.
Fiberglass is used to help make the paddleboard a bit more rigid without it getting too heavy or stiff.
Fiberglass is a popular material that is used on boats as well.
Fiberglass is not all that expensive, but it does lead to the cost of a paddleboard going up.
The problem with fiberglass is that it is not always the highest quality material you will find in a paddleboard.
When the boards start to include materials like carbon fiber and Kevlar, they will increase significantly in price.
The carbon fiber and Kevlar make the board strong while allowing it to remain lighter in weight.
There are a few boards on the market that are made with wood.
Wood is going to make a board much more expensive.
However, some people will say that this is something they don’t mind paying for.
A quality wood paddleboard is expensive, but it will be the highest quality you can find.
If you think paddleboards are all the same, you are wrong.
The design of a paddleboard is very different from one company to the next.
Some paddleboards are built for flat water, and others are made for rougher seas.
In addition to the type of paddleboard and how it functions in the water, the actual colors and look of the paddleboard are another reason the paddleboards can increase in price.
Some boards are made by hand, but the majority of production happens on a larger, more commercial scale.
The hand designed boards are always more expensive because of the time that is put in to creating these high-end patterns and looks.
For a paddleboard company, there are some very high expenses when it comes to the design of the board.
They must work with a designer and a computer to come up with a mold.
Once the mold is designed, it must be put together, and this will cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Stand up paddleboard manufacturers can use these molds over and over again to sell thousands of boards.
Larger size boards have larger molds which cost the manufacturer more money.
Therefore, you will pay quite a bit more for the larger stand up boards than you do for the smaller ones.
There are several different types of paddleboards, and this helps to increase the cost of boards as well.
If you are purchasing a specific type of paddleboard, you may pay a bit more money.
The main types of paddleboards are as follows.
The racing paddleboards are built for moving as fast as you can on the water.
These are sometimes longer but narrower boards.
They help you get plenty of speed as you are traveling across the water.
An all-around paddleboard will work for a variety of purposes.
You can use this to go fishing, take a friend for a ride, explore, and so much more.
An all-around paddleboard is the most common type, and it is one of the best to choose if you are new to paddleboarding.
A fishing paddleboard is built for those who are serious about spending time on the water fishing.
You can leave the waters undisturbed with a fishing paddle board while the fish do not notice your fishing pole in the water.
Most fishing paddleboards need to be wider and stable so that all of the gear you need can come along for the ride.
Yoga paddleboards are a great place for you to work on relaxation.
Doing yoga on a paddleboard in the middle of a lake or a bay is about as great as it can be for your mind.
Yoga paddleboards can come in a wide range of prices.
A touring paddleboard is built for a big-time workout.
If you want to burn some calories while you paddleboard, touring is a great choice.
The touring paddleboards will give you lots of glide and efficiency as well.
As you can see, there are quite a few different models out there, and they all offer varying levels of performance.
If you want to be specific about how you will use your stand up paddleboard, you absolutely can do so.
Paddleboards have lots of different features that you can get with them.
With different paddles, storage options, and fishing attachments, you can turn the paddleboard into anything you want it to be.
Features do not mean just the type of the board you choose.
Features also take into consideration the extra accessories.
Once you pay for your initial paddleboard, you will not want to pay extra for features.
Keep these features in mind when you purchase your paddleboard so that you get something that checks off as many of your boxes as possible.
Check for features you want ahead of time and make sure the paddleboard comes equipped with everything you need.
Paddleboards are a bit expensive because they don’t always come with all the features you will need to add.
Surf shops tend to charge a lot of money for their products.
Since these surf shops are usually in beach towns close to the water, their rent is quite high.
By the time you add in rent, expenses, and knowledgeable staff, you will pay quite a bit for a paddleboard from a surf shop.
At the same time, if you are serious about paddleboarding, purchasing from one of these shops is a good idea.
You will have a resource to go back to and get more information and help for years to come.
This is a much better purchasing experience than when you get a paddleboard from a store online.
The staff at the surf shop is also going to be much better at guiding you to choose a certain paddleboard.
You will know that you are going to end up with a product that will last you for many years.
Think about where you want to purchase your paddleboard from.
Know that you will pay more at a surf shop, but you will get a much better experience.
Paddleboards come in both inflatable and non-inflatable options.
The inflatable paddle boards are generally less expensive than those that are non-inflatable.
The problem with the inflatable is that you won’t get quite as much performance out of these lightweight models.
If you are new to paddleboarding and just want a simple and easy-to-use paddleboard, the inflatable is a great choice.
If you think that paddleboarding is going to be a long-term hobby for you, then the noninflatable is probably the best choice.
There are a few ways to save money on a paddleboard.
If you are specific about your requests, you will probably not have much of a choice as to how much you pay.
If you can be flexible, you can potentially save some money.
There is also a market for used paddleboards where you can find a model that someone only used a few times and save quite a bit of money.
Look for clearance options on models that are a little older, and you will probably save a good amount of money as well.
It also makes sense to look for a shorter model if you are trying to save money.
As you can see, paddleboards are expensive for quite a few reasons.
If you learn to love this sport, you will spend lots of time on your paddleboard.
Paddleboards are much larger than surfboards. With a length of 5 to 9 feet, surfboards are much shorter, also slimmer and built more narrow. This means that much more labor and material is needed to manufacture a paddleboard, making the production process time-consuming and expensive, too.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) has become a popular leisure activity in recent years, attracting a broad audience. It has become so big that some have also become inclined to take it up as a serious sport and invest in an expensive paddle board. Whether it’s an inflatable or hard paddle board, prices can go as high as £1000+.
But when it comes down to it, you need to also consider quality – a factor that you can get at a much lower price if you do the right research before making the purchase.
Here some reasons to take note of on why you may or may not want to make that investment in an expensive paddle board:
You’d want an expensive paddle board if…
You won’t want an expensive paddle board if…
You can’t just pinpoint just one factor that influences a paddle board’s price but the reason why it can be expensive is due to the effort it takes to construct and design it to perform at its best. There needs to be an intensive amount of research and development to make sure a paddle board floats and can handle different water conditions.
But when you look online for options, you’ll see that there are low-priced paddle boards as well. The extremely cheap ones may seem sketchy but if you look further, you’ll find reasonably priced paddle boards that work just as well as the expensive ones.
In this article, we discuss some factors that can contribute to a paddle board’s price.
When it comes to getting a paddle board, construction and design would be one of the most important things to consider. Durability and performance lies in the kind of material used, method of construction, and even the size. In general, there are two types of paddle boards – either inflatable or solid. The usual solid paddle board is basically made of foam enclosed in multiple layers of fiberglass along with other materials such as carbon or wood to make the outermost layer stronger.
For inflatable paddle boards, they’re usually made of extremely durable PVC stitched together and are basically hollow inside for air. If inflated properly, preferably with a hand pump, it becomes just as strong as a solid paddle board. Deciding the type of paddle board you’ll be purchasing depends more on your needs and preference. Solid paddle boards are ideal for “grab and go” situations where the water is readily available for you to jump in. Inflatable paddle boards are more compact. These are designed to be folded and packed along with your other belongings for your trip to the Stand Up Paddle boarding venue.
The EZ Board, from EZ Shopper is made from durable, super tough PVC and has a drop stitched construction for maximum strength and stability on the water. Pump it up and off you go!
This is the most important contributing factor you’ll need to consider before you make that purchase. Cheap paddle boards might seem attractive but you’ll regret taking the bait when your paddle board suddenly malfunctions or breaks apart. Also, you’ll be risking your safety because if they suddenly incur damage while in use which may cause injury to the user. This is why manufacturers pay great attention to how their paddle boards are made. They would add in double layer side rails for protection against impact and more reliable paddle boards would be double-stitched for optimal strength and to make sure it can handle rough conditions without falling apart.
The stand up paddle board range, from EZ Shopper, is made with durable PVC, double stitched construction and double side rails, designed to protect against bumps and scrapes in the water.
Regardless of type, you need to keep in mind the kind of damage that you don’t want to happen. You don’t want your solid paddle board to fall apart and you don’t want your inflatable paddle board to fill up with water mid-use. You’ll end up spending more on repairs or even on buying a new paddle board once you’ve had enough of the sub-par quality and performance. Although you also shouldn’t go overboard and buy a super expensive one that works just as well as a more affordable paddle board. There are many reasonably priced yet quality stand up paddleboards that you won’t regret buying even if you’re not the type to go paddle boarding every weekend.
A stand up paddle board performs well depending on the activity and the design. The hull or body of the paddle board varies in width. The slimmer hull is usually used for SUP touring, fitness paddling, and racing. This type has a shape like a canoe or kayak, making it ideal for a faster and smoother ride. This does compromise stability so it would be best to use this for steady rides that doesn’t involve any extra motions.
On the other hand, you can find a paddle board that has a wider hull. This offers better stability and easier maneuvering. This type of paddle board is perfect for leisure SUP, especially for beginners who are still just learning to balance on the board. Aside from practice and fun, this is also good for whitewater where it’s a bit rougher. You’ll appreciate that extra stability when the water starts pushing against your board. This board is also perfect to try SUP yoga. It’s wider hull will give you more room to make extra movements.
Our SUP has been designed to give the best combination of stability and performance for a beginner or experienced paddle boarder. It’s sized for optimum stability and control.
One of the questions you need to ask is do you plan to resell your paddle board? If you’re not a die-hard fan who plans on really getting into SUP, then an expensive board may not be the best option for you. If you want to try it out just for the sake of it, you can always rent one out wherever it is available or you can buy a reasonably priced one then sell it at a similarly reasonable rate. But if that is the plan, you need to make sure that your paddleboard is usable and is still in good selling condition.
Regardless of the initial price of your paddleboard when you bought it new, you need to consider that the resale price will definitely be determined by wear and tear, but paddleboards do tend to hold their value exceptionally well. This year for example, many people have sold their paddle boards second hand for more than they bought them for. This is thanks to the increasing popularity of the sport and demand for the boards emptying stores!
Purchasing some additional accessories to go with your stand up paddle board can help make your excursion safer and give you a much better experience. Some standard accessories that can go with your paddle boards are a paddle, a durable lifejacket for your safety, a leash to keep your paddle board close, a paddle board backpack, a dry bag, a paddle board seat, a repair kit, and even an anchor if ever you need to keep your board stationary. Inflatable paddle boards, including the EZ Board come with a pump to easily inflate it.
Not all of the accessories are required but will be helpful depending on the activity you plan on doing on your paddle board. So, if you buy a paddle board with accessories, it can get pricey. Nevertheless, if you are really just trying things out, it can be more practical to buy accessories separately, and just the ones that you actually need. Either way, accessories can add to resale price if ever you plan on doing so by making it a package deal.
Now that you know a bit more about what factors can affect a paddle board’s price, you’ll have a better understanding of what kind you would prefer to buy. Although there are basically two types of paddle boards out there you can choose from based on construction and design – an inflatable paddle board and a hard or solid paddle board.
We have touched on their differences earlier but here’s some insight on why you may choose one or the other:
Stand up paddle boarding is a fun activity yet it can be a hassle to store and transport paddle boards. This is all based purely on preference. If you want a paddle board that you can easily grab and use, go for a hard paddle board. It requires no assembly and it’s pretty much ready to be used at all times.
But if you want a paddle board that can be folded and stored, go for an inflatable one. It may be a bit more of a hassle as it requires to be pumped well enough before it’s ready to be used. If you don’t mind pumping air into your board before actually getting into the water, then choose the latter.
You need to consider the location and environment as well when choosing the right kind of paddle board. Aside from mobility, you also need to consider the kind of water you’ll be boarding in so that you can bring a board more appropriate to the water conditions and the users’ needs.
If you will be boarding on flat water, it can be great to use a thinner board to get a smoother and faster cruise. Thicker boards will work best for rougher conditions such as whitewater. Also, the fin setup can be adjusted depending on the water conditions.
On flatwater, a solid paddle board with a single fin set up can help lessen drag, a 3-fin set up can be great for better tracking and can also be good for keeping more control for surfing. As for inflatable paddle boards, they would usually have flexible rubber fins already attached or they can come with detachable fins as well.
Stability of solid boards hangs on the board’s specifications and the user’s body type. For smaller body types, it’s better to get a smaller board. This can also be a more manageable paddle board for kids as well. For those with bigger body types, a bigger board would be a better option to support the body weight.
Why are paddle boards so expensive? It seems like everyone around you is picking up paddle boarding. They appear to be having fun so you think, why not try it yourself? You go online and you are taken aback by the prices. You don’t expect such a small vessel to cost that much.
Many people expect stand up paddle boards to be cheap—cheaper than kayaks even. But when you start looking at the prices, you will be surprised. Some paddle boards cost as much as $2500 and more.
So, what makes paddle boards so expensive? You are about to find out.
But first…
The truth is, you can get SUPs for as low as $250 or less. Cheap paddle boards are not hard to find, especially inflatable ones.
RELATED: Read our best budget paddle board reviews.
Generally, the price of standup paddle boards ranges from about $200 to $3000+.
And you know what they say, you get what you pay for. Lower prices, in many cases, show that the manufacturer sacrificed something to lower the production cost.
So I’d say, yes, quality paddleboards are costly.
In 2013, stand up paddle boarding was recorded as the sport with the most first-time participants in the USA. According to Channel Signal, SUP-related Google searches have increased exponentially. And they are expected to continue rising. Surprisingly, that wasn’t the case with other watersports at the time of this research. Their Google searches seemed to be dropping.
Standup paddleboarding is here to stay. People have come up with variations such as SUP yoga/fitness, paddle board fishing, paddle board touring, and much more. Don’t forget that paddleboarding is a fun full-body workout with tons of health benefits.
What all this means is that the demand for paddle boards is high and it will, most likely, continue to be.
When the demand for a commodity is high, the prices will probably be high as well. And if the demand exceeds supply, the prices will rise—simple economics.
While there are many paddle board manufacturers, the reputable ones are few. And not many people want a SUP that will burst when left under the sun. They are willing to pay $800+ for a good paddle board. So why would the sellers drop the prices?
Many paddleboarders are also buying multiple paddle boards. They want to paddle with their friends or families. It gets crazier during the summer when everyone wants to be outside and in or around the water.
As long as the demand is high, the prices will continue to be high. Fortunately, more manufacturers are entering the scene. The prices have been dropping over the years.
Paddle boards are not as simple as they seem—at least not all of them. A lot of work, materials, and technology go into making them.
The construction of an inflatable paddle board is different from that of a solid paddle board.
Let’s take a look at each one separately.
Quality inflatable paddle boards, on the other hand, go a step or two further. They could have four layers of Dropstitch fabric, two at the top and two at the bottom. Others include extra layers of PVC—dual-layer, triple-layer, and quad-layer.
In addition to that, the manufacturers may reinforce the rails using PVC layers, multiple rail bands, and techniques such as heat welding.
Read more about inflatable paddle board construction here.
With the extra materials, technology, and labor, the production cost goes up—and so does the price.
Although quality inflatable paddle boards are expensive, they are worth it. First, the manufacturers stand behind them 100%. Bluefin boards, for instance, come with a five-year warranty.
The inflatable paddle boards are virtually indestructible. You can find all kinds of crazy durability tests on YouTube. Here is an extreme one from Red Paddle Co (now you know why their paddle boards don’t come cheap).
Solid or rigid paddle boards typically cost more than inflatable paddle boards—but there are exceptions.
Almost all rigid paddle boards feature a foam core. It could be polyurethane (PU) or expanded polystyrene (EPS). The latter is lighter and more durable.
This foam is then wrapped using carbon fiber, fiberglass, plastic, or heat-laminated polyethylene.
Some of these materials are more expensive than others.
Plastic paddleboards can either be hollow or have a foam core. Although it is an extremely durable material, plastic is super heavy. But as far as the cost goes, paddleboards made with this material are among the cheapest. Plastic is easily accessible and the manufacturing process is not that complex.
Next, we have what you know as soft-top paddleboards. These have a foam core and then heat laminated polyethylene on top. Like plastic paddleboards, they aren’t very expensive.
When you get to fiberglass, carbon fiber, and wood paddleboards, the prices start getting serious.
Carbon fiber is super stiff. Expect a carbon-fiber paddle board to glide with remarkable speed. It is also very responsive. When it comes to performance, carbon fiber boards are unmatched. Add to this the fact that carbon fiber is expensive. The prices of these boards can range from $1500 to $3000+.
Fiberglass and wood paddleboards are also quite expensive, with some costing as much as the carbon fiber SUPs.
Read more about rigid paddleboards construction here.
So why do solid SUPs cost that much?
You see, a carbon fiber paddle board is not just foam and carbon fiber. There is a lot that goes into making a wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber SUP durable and beautiful. Yes, people care about the appearance of their paddleboards.
Besides, many people want a tough stand up paddleboard that is also lightweight.
These SUPs feature multiple layers like wood veneer, epoxy layers, finishing, and, of course, a traction pad. Paddlers may request custom designs, especially with wooden SUPs. This raises the price even more.
So the higher the quality and cost of materials used, the higher the price of the paddle board. And bigger boards cost more than smaller ones because they use more materials.
In addition to the manufacturing cost, add marketing and distribution costs.
The manufacturers have to let potential customers know about their boards. This could mean paying influencers and other marketing strategies. None of which are free.
Then there is distribution. The companies have to make a profit so they add that to the production and marketing costs. And it gets even costlier if you don’t buy directly from the manufacturer.
When a wholesaler buys from the company, they add their profit to the original price and sell to a retailer. The retailer, in turn, will add their profit to the wholesale price. All these costs add up quickly.
Luckily, you can buy straight from companies like iRocker and Atoll. Cut out the middle man and reduce the price.
There aren’t many paddleboards in circulation, compared to, say, kayaks. Most people are still enjoying their SUPs. They are valuable and you can hardly get a good used one. Many paddlers have to opt for new paddleboards. And this takes us back to the supply and demand issue.
Additionally, many manufacturers still don’t produce paddleboards in bulk. Most of these companies are small and family-operated. Producing a large number of SUPs is cheaper than producing one single paddle board or several SUPs. You can buy the raw materials in bulk at a discount and automate some of the processes. Then the price wouldn’t be very high.
A quality board is expensive. But if you are on a tight budget, there’s a way to save money.
Get rid of the middle man. Instead of buying from a retailer, why not buy straight from the manufacturer? Go to their website and find the board you want. You might get free shipping and even a discount.
Wait for sales. You can buy awesome paddleboards for half their prices during sales. Wait for Black Friday, holiday, and end-of-year sales and you save money. They sometimes have great paddleboards for less than $500.
Don’t buy during summer. That is when everyone else wants to buy a paddle board. You can get amazing discounts just after summer.
1. Supply and demand: the demand for SUPs is currently high since more people are getting into paddle boarding.
2. They are not cheap to produce: quality boards require quality materials, advanced technology, and skilled technicians. Putting all those layers together to give you a durable and rigid paddle board is expensive.
3. Accessories: SUPS that come with quality accessories will be more expensive.
4. Marketing and distribution: these processes are not free.
5. Stand up paddle boarding is still new.
Do you have any questions or comments? Please let us know below. Happy paddling!
