The best stand-up paddle boards to float into spring on

Pros: Affordable | Plenty of accessories
Cons: You can pay a little more for boards that support more weight

• Length: 10ft
• Max user weight: 120kg
• Accessories: Yes

You'll have an eminently balanced experience with the Portofino inflatable SUP, which is 10ft of inflatable excellence. Suitable for beginners as well as a satisfying ride for more experienced paddle boarders, you'll get a pump, bungee cord and paddle for your buck, as well the option of choosing a kayak conversion kit for even more of a diverse out on the waterways of Britain. At 7.8kg, it's one of the lighter choices on our list, too.

Pros: Very fast | Perfect for experienced users
Cons: Expensive

• Length: 12ft
• Max user weight: 110kg
• Accessories: No

A SUP on the higher end of many budgets out there, Red Equipment's paddle board more than delivers on the grand you'll spend on it. At 12ft long, it's designed for smaller paddlers, and has been rigorously quality controlled by the team of paddle boarders behind the Red International Development Centre. A premium pick, this is a streamlined model designed to go fast and therefore perfect for those more experienced in the sport. The biggest reason to go for this board? A patented RSS system makes it stiffer and better at performing in lower pressures.

Pros: Stable | Good all-rounder board
Cons: Very expensive

• Length: 10ft
• Max user weight: 118kg
• Accessories: Yes

Another brand with paddle boards at its core, you can bet on iRocker to have your summer board sorted… if you’re willing to shell out for it, that is. While the price of one of these stable 10 footers might make your eyes pop at first glance, know that one of these inflatable bad boys comes highly recommended by the people who head out on the lakes and seas of Britain every day. Another bonus: fins, electric pump, paddle, backpack and coil leash are all included.

Pros: Lightweight | Super-stiff
Cons: Expensive for beginners

• Length: 10.6ft
• Max user weight: 140kg
• Accessories: Yes

Aqua Marina specialises in all-round advanced boards that are well-suited to waves and flat water alike. Coming as a full package with slide-in centre fin, adjustable paddle, double-action pump and coil, this has everything you need to inflate and go. And, as it’ll cater to weights up to 110kg, it’ll easily accommodate family tandems too.

Pros: Good-looking | Ergonomic | Quick
Cons: Large | Expensive

• Length: 10’6” or 12’
• Max user weight: 143kg
• Accessories: Yes, but costs extra

If space isn’t an issue and paddle boarding is your life, Bote could be your new favourite outlet. It boasts a wide collection of inflatable and non-inflatable boards, of which this beautiful cypress wood design is the latter. Ergonomic, grippy and virtually indestructible, the Bote HD has truly thought of everything, with hidey holes and convenient paddle rests aplenty. In the market for a SUP splurge? This is your best bet.

Pros: Stiff construction | Designed for maximum glide
Cons: Pricier than most

• Length: 13ft
• Max user weight: Info N/A
• Accessories: Yes

Better suited to long-distance, intermediate paddleboarders, this slightly longer board boasts a pointed nose common among touring boards. This shape will tend to offer more speed for SUP racing and is a little more difficult to find your feet on as a beginner. That said, if you want to eke out more performance from your board, this shape is supremely more efficient and looks all the cooler, too. On your marks...

Pros: Good-looking | Reasonably-priced
Cons: Slower than some niftier boards

• Length: 11’6”
• Max user weight: 193.kg
• Accessories: Yes

If you’ll be paddling for leisure as well as taking to the water for yoga or sport, you might want to prick your ears up and listen to this: Isle’s solid and handsome SUP includes a high back, elevated seat that can be added at will. All of your usual accessories are included, too, with a footrest also thrown in. At over 11 feet it’s one of the longer boards on our list, and in several subtle shades of pastel, it’s also one of the best-looking.

Pros: Accessories include kayak conversion seat | Tree planted for every purchase
Cons: You might not need some of the extra accessories

• Length: 10.8ft
• Max user weight: Info N/A
• Accessories: Yes

One of the most comprehensive all-inclusive SUP packages we’ve come across, Bluefin’s own 1000 Denier Exo Surface Laminate PVC & Pro Weave Drop Stitch make its boards some of the most rigid on the market. Coming with a super-lightweight fibreglass paddle that weighs nearly half as much as standard SUP paddles, one of its biggest selling points is the ease with which it can be converted into a kayak, with an additional kayak paddle end and a padded seat that attaches to the board’s D-rings. It’s easy to paddle, easy to prep and easy to pack – what more could you want?

Pros: Extremely stable | Ideal for leisure paddles
Cons: Large | Accessories cost extra

• Length: 11’6”
• Max user weight: 135kg
• Accessories: Yes, but costs extra

Another large model built for accommodating pets or kids alongside your own body weight, the Thurso Max is as multi-purpose as its name suggests. While you won’t be winning any races on this 11’6” inflatable, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that — as with many other bigger boards — you’ll be supported through yoga sessions, fishing trips or even simple water-based pootling.

Pros: Slick colour options | Designed for an easy ride
Cons: Bright colours may be divisive

• Length: 10/11ft
• Max user weight: Info N/A
• Accessories: Yes

Wave Spas is better known for that more relaxed watersport – lounging in a hot tub. But as well as foam and inflatable garden bubbles, Wave Spas' paddleboards are some of the most affordable on the market, and its Wave Tourer is a best-seller for very obvious reasons. It's made from sturdy PVC, is 11ft long (so easy for beginners) and comes with an adjustable paddle that can often add an extra £50-£100 to the price tag. With a waterproof case that's easy to factor into overseas travel, this is an excellent choice for those looking to dabble in the trend.

Pros: Sleek design | Plenty of accessories
Cons: A little pricier than some similarly-specced rivals

• Length: 10.6ft
• Max user weight: 120kg
• Accessories: Yes

This all-rounder board will take flat water, rivers and surf in its stride thanks to a neat balance of glide speed, manoeuvrability and stability. It can be adjusted to your setting care of changeable fin set-ups (two small, fixed fins and two detachable) and boasts the durability to take the bashing of a few Yorkshire coast ten-footers, made from high-density triple-layer coated PVC. That means you can start your day peacefully with some inflatable stand-up paddle board yoga on a peaceful lake and up the ante on the open water in the afternoon.

Pros: Relatively affordable | Minimalist design
Cons: Experienced users will want more

• Length: 10ft
• Max user weight: Info N/A
• Accessories: Yes

Even more affordable than its tourer, Wave Spas' classic SUP is perfect for getting to grips with balance thanks to large traction footpads. The full package, complete with board, fin, safety line, repair kit, backpack, pump and paddle, it's well suited to local lakes and canals or even calm seas in place of a foam surfboard if you're looking to get to grips with some (very small) waves.

Pros: Affordable | Max user weight higher than most
Cons:

• Length: 10’6”
• Max user weight: 145kg
• Accessories: Yes

An all-rounder and inexpensive choice, the Surfstar is another Amazon favourite, mostly due to its compatibility with most paddling activities. Leisurely touring and watertop yoga are particularly optimised by this board, which is wide and grippy enough to accommodate an adventurous dog should you be holidaying with pets. And for any vloggers or obsessive holiday filmers out there: this board features a mount for your action camera as well.

Pros: Standout design | Maneuverable
Cons: Max user weight isn’t particularly high

• Length: 10’6”
• Max user weight: 113kg
• Accessories: Yes

The psychedelic fashionings of Sea Gods’ board won’t be for everyone, but those who revel in the majesty of acid trip graphic design will no doubt be salivating over this artistic example of a SUP. The benefits don’t stop at fetching design, either. The Sea Gods SUP gets an OK gesture of approval from the boarding community, who like these inflatable examples of the tool for, in particular, their eminent manoeuvrability.

Pros: Lightweight | Stiff for increased stability
Cons: Slightly cheaper options are available for beginners

• Length: 10.7ft
• Max user weight: Info N/A
• Accessories: Yes

Some 25 per cent lighter than standard boards and 30 per cent stiffer thanks to its double-layer coating, this Gul paddleboard almost resembles a surfboard and, fittingly, will serve you well in catching small waves, too. Its lightness also makes it one of the best paddleboards for manoeuvrability, easily carried in its Gul backpack alongside the included extras of a coil leash, three-piece paddle, double-action pump and repair kit. At this price, it’s excellent value for a quality board.

Pros: Reasonably priced | Accessories included
Cons: Max user weight is lower than most

• Length: 10.6ft
• Max user weight: 105kg
• Accessories: Yes

An Amazon bestseller, Aquaplanet’s Pace SUP has a need... a need for speed. Perfectly appropriate for beginners, the pointed shape of this board means you can cut into waves all the easier, while the tough drop-stitch and traction pads for grip will keep you stable in tidal waters. The addition of triple fins to its larger central one add to its quickness, making this perfect for racing. Paris 2024, here you come.

Pros: Lightweight | Great for beginners
Cons: Experienced users may want more speed

• Length: 10ft
• Max user weight: 150kg
• Accessories: Yes

Coming with all the necessary add-ons as standard, this Goosehill paddleboard is one of the best budget options we’ve found online. Best suited to flat, calm waters, Goosehill even provides a special customisation service that’ll better express your personality as you paddle, with a three-year warranty protecting you from any after-sale issues.