Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Decathlon probably needs no introduction, you’ll know them as a French company who have sports stores all around Europe. They make and sell decent gear at very affordable prices, which is exactly how you could describe their main range of paddle boards. The Portofino 10ft inflatable stand-up paddle board kit is an eminently affordable, robust, easy-to-use board that works very well on calmer waters. A broad nose and wide, flat tail add stability, making the Portofino even more beginner-friendly, and a drop-stitched core gives it a uniform shape that helps it move efficiently over the water. As you'd expect, the bundle includes everything you need to get started SUPing, and you can even add a kayak conversion kit (sold separately) to make it more versatile. Light up the night (big time) and charge your devices with this massively muscular flashlight and powerbank Construction is a key consideration, but usually an easily resolved one. The days of stand-up paddle boards being mainly solid fibreglass or expanded foam have long gone. If you have a campervan or live next to the water, then a solid construction will make sense, as these are almost indestructible and perform much better in the water. But if that's not the case (which it won't be for most), then you'll want one of the new breeds of inflatable SUPs. Remember if you want to compromise on price, there will also be some compromise on quality and performance. However, the boards seem very well made and lightweight enough to easily carry. The construction features drop stitch, reinforced rails and a double stringer, but this is pretty much the minimum you would expect for any inflatable board worth its salt. More expensive boards like Red Paddle have a high-density drop stitch construction, which means the board can be inflated to a higher PSI to stay rigid.
We’re Wave, an independent water sports company born in a city by the beach called Newcastle. We’re proud of where we’re from – an area known for being tough and having a sense of fun and adventure. It’s not really a negative and most boards in this price range have some flex, but with the Vapor make sure you pump it up to max PSI every time to make it as rigid as possible. Every board comes with a 2 year warranty, which is probably all that’s needed to figure out if there are any manufacturing faults. I’ve worked at watersport centres that still use 10 year old BIC paddle boards and they work perfectly. Even though the plastic might go off colour in intense sun over the years, the board still works the same and they never have any problems. If you have always wanted to take up surfing but are worried you’ve left it too late, we are here toBest pizza oven 2023: top outdoor and indoor pizza ovens for your patio, garden, balcony or kitchen Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a budget paddleboard to get you started, the Wave Tourer might be perfect for you.
The boards can be made in all shapes, sizes and from different types of materials, which will affect durability and performance. We researched some of the best budget paddle boards this year for UK buyers looking for great value, without making a huge dent in the bank account. If you want something to get into touring that glides really well, their 12’6 Cruiseair is a great option that I’d still put within the ‘budget paddle boards’ category. Decathlon Forclaz Trek MT900 10°C Sleeping Bag review: well-designed camping cocoon for summer sleepouts Watersports Pro is managed by Ollie, who has been in the industry since 2007. A paddleboard and advanced windsurfing instructor, Ollie has travelled the world teaching these sports.
The verdict: The best inflatable stand-up paddleboards
Their Cruise SUP is a great all round board, ideal for beginners and those who want to enjoy paddle boarding without spending money on all the accessories. For the lower price, you'll need to be prepared to make a few concessions. In our review, we noted a few minor issues with the paddle – the interconnected sections twist slightly when pushing through the water, and it's a little on the heavy side – and there's a little sag underfoot that you won't find with pricier boards that can handle higher inflation pressures. Overall though, if you're looking to take to the waters without spending a fortune, the Portofino 10ft inflatable stand-up paddle board kit is well worth a look. They offer an outstanding 3 year warranty (which is amazing for the price of the board), and on many UK Facebook paddleboarding groups the comments all say they have great customer support. These are some of the most important things I look for in independent brands, because it shows they are serious about having a proper functioning business and have confidence that what they are selling is good quality.
The shape of a budget paddle board will be pretty basic but will be totally perfect for beginners and those who want to occasionally get on the water. You can’t expect a high-performance board at this price range because the brand can’t spend much time/money in research and development. Paddle boards are a great way to have fun, get fit and explore the world. However, not all paddle boards are created equal! The Tahe Beach Performer is their all round 10’6 board, with a classic longboard style shape, this board will be at home cruising around on a lake or surfing small waves. At 31.5 inches wide, it will be stable enough for beginners and intermediate to have a lot of fun on. The board will glide nicely and probably better than any inflatable, but it’s not a touring board. On the flip side JP knows that beginners need something durable that’s easy to use and easy on the wallet. So along with their performance boards, they have produced some gear for beginners that is actually some of the cheapest on the market. Another paddle board company born and bred in the UK, Aquaplanet is a well-established, well-known brand. They claim to be the UK’s no.1 top-selling paddleboard, whilst I’m not sure if that claim is true, they are certainly very popular and they could claim to be the most popular budget paddle board brand in the UK.
How we tested
verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ For a true budget inflatable paddle board, you won’t find many better than the Wave Tourer. Based up in Newcastle, Wave SUPs produce great value inflatable gear to get you on the water. The board only has a 1 year warranty, so that gives you an idea of how much confidence Aquaplant has in the board construction. I think it’s worth bearing that in mind when you’re weighing up your options. Similar to most boards on this list, the design is well-suited for beginners who just want to have fun on the water. At 32 inches wide it will be stable enough and the 300 litre volume will have enough buoyancy for the bigger adult to float and feel secure. This 10ft SUP is impressively well made for its budget-friendly price point. It feels robust, stable, grippy and a pleasure to paddle on. It's wide enough to offer beginner-friendly stability, but the narrower nose allows you to get some decent speed up.
Great Deal 
New Comment