Who is this for: If you’re looking for a fast, inflatable, race/touring board to paddle mid to long-range distances then the Hala Nass T is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Carbon Fiber Composite construction which is very durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its narrow width of 26 inches the board is very unstable, however, it is fast. Its construction comes in at an average weight coming in at 32.8 lbs and has 2.34 lbs per foot, putting the board at an average weight for its size. Its shape makes the Nass T a touring and/or race board for advanced paddlers and is designed to be used in both recreational and competitive paddling. Retailing at $1,699, the board is among the high-tier price point but comes with the best that the brand has to offer.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a stable, inflatable, paddle board geared towards surfing and touring then the Hala Playa is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Fiberglass Hybrid Inflatable construction which is durable and has its ups and downs. Due to is 30 inch width, the board is fairly stable and it has 2.77 lbs per foot weighing 29.1 lbs total, making the board moderately heavy for its size. Its shape makes the Playa a hybrid between a surf and a touring board that can be used by intermediate paddlers and was designed for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for mid-range distance paddling between 3-5 miles. Retailing at $1,379, the board is among the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a fast, premium inflatable race board to paddle in SUP races then the Red Paddle Co. Race Elite is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the MSL technology from Red Paddle Co. and is highly durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its width of 26 inches the board is very unstable, however, at only 1.36 lbs per foot (19.1 lbs total) this board is very lightweight. Its shape makes the Race Elite a board for exactly that: a race board for advanced paddlers that can be used in competition. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short or long distance racing. Retailing at $1,799 the board is in the high-tier price point but comes with the best that the brand has to offer.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a stable, touring/race, inflatable board to paddle mid-range distances (3-5 miles) then the Boardworks Shubu X Rocket is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Single Chamber Dropstitch construction which is durable and has both ups and downs. Due to its width of 30 inches the board is stable and best suited for intermediate-advanced paddlers. The board has 2.24 lbs per foot weighing a total of 25.8 lbs. Its shape makes the board best suited for touring or race training and should be easy to use for paddlers with an intermediate skill-set. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for recreational paddling and is great for touring and race training. Retailing at $1,199, the board is priced in the mid-tier market in terms of affordability.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a stable, inflatable, all-around board to paddle short to mid-range distances and in the low price point of under $500 then the Thrive from Aqua Marina is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in drop stitch construction which is somewhat fragile and has its positives and negatives. With its 30 inches in width the board is stable, it has 1.75 lbs per foot, weight a total of 17.11 lbs which makes the board very lightweight but can also have an impact on the durability of the board with the construction not being as strong. Its shape makes the Thrive an all around board that can also be fun in the surf and is suited for intermediate paddlers. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short to mid-range distance paddling between 3 and 5 miles max. Retailing at $449, the board is among the most affordable ones you can find.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a board that will be very durable for you to have for yourself, your kids, friends and family that can be beaten up, thrown around and still last for a long time, this is the board for you. The Baja 100 is a perfect board for flat water paddling and touring and can withstand up to 230lbs. The board is made out of a plastic-like construction called RamXs polyethylene and is very stable and very durable however, the board has 4.7 lbs per foot and weighs 47 lbs total, making the board very heavy.  As it's typically the case with low price point boards, the Baja 100 is relatively heavier when compared to boards in higher price point tiers. You’re going to want to look at the mid-to high price-point range boards for lighter and faster boards. Retailing for $399.99, the Baja 100 is among the most affordable boards you can find.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a very stable, non-inflatable, all-around paddle board to paddle short distances, then the Flow from SIC Maui is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Full Carbon Innegra (FCI) construction, which is very durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its 34 inch width the board is very stable. Its construction is moderately heavy, coming in at 2.68 lbs per foot, weighing 28.1 lbs total. Its shape makes the Flow an all-around board that can be used by everyone and is designed primarily for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short distances, around the beach or dock. Retailing at $1,349, this board is in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a very stable, affordable, non-inflatable board to paddle short distances then the Boardworks Rukus is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the new Bombshell construction which is highly durable and has its ups and downs. Because of its 33 inch width the board is very stable but because of its construction the board is moderately heavy and somewhat difficult to carry. The board has 3.09 lbs per foot and weighs 32.4 lbs total. Its shape makes the Rukus an all-around board that can be used by anyone with any skill level. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short-distance paddling, around the beach and dock. Retailing at an affordable $999, the board fits into the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for an affordable, very stable, non-inflatable paddle board to paddle short to mid-range distances then the Boardworks Super Natural is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the EPX construction which is fairly durable and has both ups and downs. Due to its 33 inch width, the Super Natural is a very stable board but its construction makes the board heavy and difficult to carry, coming in at 3.05 lbs per foot weighing 35.15 lbs total. Its shape makes the Super Natural a classic all-around board that can be used by everyone and is designed with the recreational paddler in mind. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short-range paddling at the beach and near the dock. Retailing at $699, the board is very affordable.