Best Touring Standup Paddle Boards 2019

After personally paddling, weighing, and thoroughly testing 150+ boards, our expert staff has selected the best touring stand up paddle board 2019 models. These are designated by the "A" grade and organized by categories (inflatable, all-around, touring, etc). The Supconnect team traveled across 3 states and spent 8 months individually assessing each one of the inflatable SUP boards below, counting a total of 23 metrics per board and consistently applying them across all products. The end result: simply the most comprehensive, consumer-friendly, value-added review platform in the standup paddle world. Click through each one of the reviews and find a consistent, in-depth assessment of each product listed.

Quick Answer:

The Best Touring SUP Boards 2019

• Red Paddle Co Voyager
• SIC Maui Okeanos
• Surftech Promenade

 A Comparison

The Best Touring Paddle Boards 2019

Picture	Board	Weight	Price	Use	Skill	Build	Width
	Red Paddle Co Voyager	25.3 lbs	$1,599	Touring	Intermediate	Inflatable	30 in.
	SIC Maui Okeanos	31 lbs	$1,499	Touring	Intermediate	Non-Inflatable	28 in.
	Surftech Promenade	34.7 lbs	$999	Touring	Beginner	Non-Inflatable	31.5 in.

Touring Paddle Boards 101

3 Things to Consider to Find the Best Touring SUP

1. USE

A touring SUP is meant to be used and should perform well in a variety of conditions ranging from long distance paddles to expeditions and more. Touring boards can be used for multiple purposes but are primarily intended for long distance paddling and expeditions. Generally, touring boards are built to sustain added weight that comes with hauling gear and have multiple attachment points on the board to hold down and secure that gear. Touring paddle boards are usually 28 inches and wider with anything less being more geared for racing. As a standard, the narrower the board the faster it will go but the less gear it will be able to hold. The wider the board the more stable it will be. So, if you’re primarily using the board for a long, off-the-grid expedition you would want to choose a board with more width, around 30 inches+. If you’re going out for the day and want to explore and won’t need too much extra gear a narrower board might be the better option.

2. ADD-ON'S

Add-on’s are accessories for a paddle board that add to your experience on/off the water. The quality of the bag/backpack and the air pump tend to be directly related to the board’s price points. Aside from your paddle, bags and pumps are the most important add-on’s to your board and can drastically improve your overall experience with the board, such as helping you more easily carry the board and/or pump it up more quickly. Other popular add on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal. Other add on’s could be upgraded handles like the Liftsup & EZgrab and paddle holders for when you aren’t using your paddle. Add-on’s are really helpful when touring to hold down the added gear and supplies so in theory, the more add ons the better.

3. BUILD

Touring sup boards come in various constructions. First, decide whether you should have an inflatable or non-inflatable board. Inflatable boards are easy to store and very lightweight, making them perfect if you don’t want the board to take too much space. Most inflatables come with a backpack to hold them and can be thrown in car trunks and checked in at airports without any oversize fee. Inflatables are the go-to option when you’re going on a multi-day expedition where traveling the board and hauling your gear are involved. Inflatables, though, normally have less glide and less overall performance when compared to non-inflatable boards. Moreover, non-inflatables often times score higher on durability. Non-inflatable boards with carbon or bamboo tend to be lightweight and durable while plastic constructions tend to be durable but incredibly heavy. Fiberglass/epoxy builds fall in between these two and are the most common non-inflatable constructions. Non-inflatable SUPs are the better option when you’re only going out for the day and won’t be hauling the board in and out of the water with all your gear.

Best Touring Paddle Board Reviews

RED PADDLE CO VOYAGER

The Voyager from Red Paddle Co is an inflatable touring board best suited for intermediate paddlers. At 25.3 lbs, the Voyager is lightweight and relatively easy to carry, despite its size. The Voyager is offered in three sizes (12’6”, 13’2”, 15’), giving paddlers a nice range to choose from. The board also utilizes Red Paddle Co’s MSL technology which makes the boards very rigid and durable, ideal for an inflatable SUP. Starting at $1,599, the Voyager does sit in the premium-tier market in terms of affordability but does offer free shipping and a 2-year warranty.

See our full review HERE.

SIC MAUI OKEANOS 

If you’re looking for a non-inflatable touring board that looks and feels good under your feet, check out the Okeanos from SIC Maui. Starting at $1,499, the Okeanos sits in the mid-tier price point and is a solid board for its price. The board is 29 in. wide and is best for intermediate-level paddlers looking for mid-range to long-distance paddling. The board is offered in four sizes (11’, 12’6” x 27”, 12’6” x 29”, 14’) and has two different color variations to choose from.

See our full review HERE.

SURFTECH PROMENADE

The Surftech Promenade is almost a category of its own. This board has the durability of most rental boards in the marketplace, but is actually fairly lightweight for how much volume it packs. The bottomline is, if you’re looking for a price point board with incredible durability that can handle cruising, touring, going the distance, and maybe even racing, and is also incredibly stable, this is it. It’s a rental board that is proving to be more of a touring board, capable of going long distances. The Surftech Promenade is truly a beater that can go the distance.

See our full review HERE.

Photo Gallery

A Look at Imagery from our SUP Reviews

More Resources

• Best Standup Paddle Boards 2019
• Best Beginner Standup Paddle Boards 2019
• Best All Around Standup Paddle Boards 2019
  
• Best Non-Inflatable Standup Paddle Boards 2019
• Best Inflatable Standup Paddle Boards 2019

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