Inflatable SUPs are enjoying huge popularity. However, the principle of inflatables only makes sense if you have a paddle board pump with you that works reliably and is easy to transport.
What many people don’t know:
At the same time, the pump must be powerful enough to inflate the paddle board quickly and easily.
Which pumps are good?
Most paddle board pumps that are sold as a set with an iSUP are often of poor quality. This will spoil your enjoyment of sport even before you have really started.
How to find the right paddle board pump:
Content
In a hurry? Our favorite paddle board pump:
- Extremely fast inflation thanks to triple action
- When inflating, you can switch between 3 settings
- With pressure gauge
Paddle board pump Checklist
- For what? Paddle board pumps are used to inflate inflatables, preferably directly on the water.
- Which models? Paddle board pumps can be electric pumps or hand pumps.
- What features? SUP paddle board pumps should be handy and compatible with your SUP.
Also interesting: The best paddle boards for beginners (2024)?
These are the top 7 paddle board pumps in 2024
1. GRI Stand Up Paddle HP5 Triple Action
Advantages
- Extremely fast inflation thanks to triple action
- When inflating, you can switch between 3 settings
- With pressure gauge
Disadvantages
- No pumping possible
- High price
Product details
Type: Triple stroke air pump Max. Print: approx. 20 PSI
Summary
The pump is also equipped with a pressure gauge that indicates the air pressure. The tube fits all standard SUP valves.
Customer ratings
Inflation is extremely fast with this pump, so that even electric pumps cannot keep up. It is also far less strenuous than with most other hand pumps.
Around 14% are neutral about the product, while 14% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
The pressure gauge only shows the air pressure during pumping, but drops back to 0 between pumping strokes. This makes it difficult to precisely identify the current pressure in the board.
Our conclusion
If you value super-fast inflation, this is the air pump for you. Thanks to its double-chamber, double-stroke technology, SUP inflation is very quick and effortless.
2. Bluefin E-Swift SUP air pump
Advantages
- Operation via car cigarette lighter or with rechargeable battery
- Desired pressure continuously selectable from 1-20 PSI
- Robust and durable construction
- Automatic switch-off
Disadvantages
- Loud during operation
Product details
Type: Electric pump Max. Print: 16 PSI
Summary
The air pressure can be infinitely adjusted from 1 to 20 PSI. Once this pressure is reached, the pump switches off automatically. You can check the pressure reached at any time using the built-in pressure gauge. All in all, inflating a SUP board only takes 10 to 15 minutes.
The electric paddle board pump is robustly built and especially suitable for outdoor use.
Customer ratings
Charging is quick and easy. The pump is easy to operate. Customers see the automatic switch-off as a major advantage. The rechargeable battery is very practical, as it can be inflated directly on the water.
Some customers found the battery power rather weak, as it was not sufficient for more than 2 SUPs, contrary to the manufacturer’s specifications. The high noise level of the pump was also criticized. Nevertheless, it is a good product with an absolutely reasonable price considering the high quality.
Our conclusion
The pump is a practical companion for anyone traveling by car. This allows you to inflate your SUP effortlessly and effortlessly.
3. SUPwave® SUP 4 double stroke hand pump
Advantages
- Easy switching between double and single stroke mode
- Paddle board pump can inflate or deflate the SUP board
- High maximum pressure possible
- With pressure gauge in the handle
Disadvantages
- High price for hand pump
Product details
Type: Double stroke pump Max. Print: 29 PSI
Summary
The pump is made of aluminum and stands securely on a wide foot holder. A pressure gauge is integrated in the handle to indicate the pressure. Depending on where the hose is connected, the pump can both pump air into the board and suck it out again.
Customer ratings
Inflating to the desired PSI is very quick and effortless with this pump. This leaves enough energy and time for paddling. The handle is very comfortable to hold and the pump is less noisy than other hand pumps. The workmanship is of high quality.
Around 5% are neutral about the product, while 11% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
Some users complain that the pump is too short-lived. The valves in particular break relatively quickly. The product is also quite expensive for a manual pump.
Our conclusion
Inflation is quick with this pump and, thanks to the double chamber, does not require excessive effort. This leaves enough energy and time for paddling. In addition, the handle is comfortable to hold and the pump is less noisy than other hand pumps. The workmanship is of high quality and justifies the price.
4. sevylor high pressure air pump 12V
Advantages
- Automatic switch-off
- 2 hoses with different adapters
- Very reasonably priced for an electric pump
Disadvantages
- No air extraction possible
- Hoses not very hard-wearing
- Overheating possible with prolonged use
Product details
Type: Electric pump Max. Print: 15 PSI
Summary
The practical automatic switch-off prevents the possibility of overpressure. When the desired pressure is reached, the paddle board pump simply switches off automatically.
The 12V high-pressure pump is supplied with 2 hoses. One is equipped with an adapter for paddle board pump adapters, the other fits inflatable boats and air mattresses. On the illuminated display, you can select whether PSI, mbar or KPA should be used as the unit.
Customer ratings
The pump is very easy to use and inflation is quick. The two different adapters make it very versatile. The pump is also relatively small and therefore easy to transport.
Around 7% are neutral about the product, while 19% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
In contrast to the pump itself, the hoses supplied are not of high quality. Leaks or cracks often occur here. Some customers also experienced overheating at the plug, especially when more than one SUP board was inflated.
Our conclusion
Operation is simple and inflation is quick. The pump is also relatively small and therefore easy to transport. The quality of the hoses supplied could be better.
5th Jobe pump 12V
Advantages
- Electric pump for easy inflation
- Long cable and hose
- Automatic switch-off
Disadvantages
- No battery, inflation only possible on the car
- Very loud
- Additional adapters for valves other than standard SUP must be purchased separately
Product details
Type: Electric pump Max. Print: approx. 20 PSI
Summary
You can choose between two levels: Inflation with low or high pressure. If the previously set pressure in the board is reached, the pump switches off automatically. This means you don’t have to worry about accidentally over-inflating your SUP.
Customer ratings
The pump makes it easy to inflate the SUPs without any effort at all. As the compressor only switches on at a certain pressure, the pump is initially pleasantly quiet. The automatic switch-off function makes it easy to reach the desired pressure. The pump is easy to operate and has a sufficiently long cable. Inflating SUP boards only takes about 10 minutes. Even after inflating 2 SUPs, the pump did not overheat.
Around 6% are neutral about the product, while 19% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
The pump’s compressor is very loud. According to some customers, inflation took too long. As there is no rechargeable battery, inflation can only be carried out on the car. No adapters for other valves or brands are included, for example to inflate inflatable boats or kayaks.
Our conclusion
A robust electric pump that works quickly and is easy to handle. Practical for anyone traveling to the water by car.
6. outdoorMaster The Shark Electric Air Pump
Advantages
- Can be used for SUP, kayak and inflatable boat
- With switch-off function and reverse mode for extracting air
- With practical carrying bag
Disadvantages
- Strong heating when in operation
- Relatively low durability
Product details
Type: Electric pump Max. Print: 20 PSI
Summary
The SUP pump has an automatic switch-off mechanism when the desired pressure is reached, as well as an air suction function.
The scope of delivery includes a cable and a hose. You will also receive a practical carrying bag for the pump.
Customer ratings
Pumping up and down is very quick and easy with this pump. Both the pump itself and the hose and cable are of high quality and robust. The pump is also light and easy to handle.
Around 6% are neutral about the product, while 9% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
Our conclusion
The pump is light and easy to use. iSUPs can be inflated and deflated with ease. All components of the pump are of impressive quality and make a high-quality impression.
7. imtech electric paddle board pump
Advantages
- Automatic switch-off function and pressure gauge
- Pumping out air possible
- 3 adapters for various inflatable objects
Disadvantages
- High noise level during pumping
- The car engine must run for high performance
Product details
Type: Electric pump Max. Print: 20 PSI
Summary
The pump comes with three different adapters that fit SUPs, inflatable boats and air mattresses. The scope of delivery also includes a 275 cm cable and a 100 cm hose.
Customer ratings
The pump is easy to operate. Changing the precisely fitting attachments is also easy. Pumping up and down works perfectly. Overall, this pump offers very good value for money.
Around 0% are neutral about the product, while 12% rate the product as inadequate and insufficient.
The pump is very loud and takes a relatively long time to inflate a SUP board. If the car’s engine is not running, the performance of the pump suffers significantly.
Our conclusion
The paddle board pump offers good value for money, is easy to operate and pumping up and down works smoothly. However, the pump is relatively loud when reviewed against other suppliers.
Even more exciting SUP accessories:
- SUP anchor
- SUP Apps
- SUP books
- SUP Carbon Paddel
- SUP roof rack
- SUP double paddle
- SUP Drybag
- SUP electric pump
- SUP fins
- SUP helmet
- SUP glue
- SUP clothing
- SUP cooler
- SUP Leash
- SUP motor
- SUP paddle
- SUP pump
- SUP repair kit
- SUP backpack
- SUP shoes
- SUP life jacket
- SUP sail
- SUP seat
- SUP bag
- SUP straps
- SUP transport cart
- SUP drysuit
- Dry pants
Bestsellers: The most popular paddle board pumps
(**Last update 2024-09-16)
Buy paddle board pumps:
How to make the right decision
There are big differences in paddle board pumps. For example, you can choose between electric and manual pumps, single stroke and double stroke, as well as different drive types for the electrically operated models.
It gets even better:
There are a few other features (such as the maximum pressure of the pump) that you should definitely look out for when buying a paddle board pump.
Avoid buying mistakes:
So that you are not confused by these considerable differences between the various pumps, BeyondSurfing explains exactly which pumps are suitable for which users in the following buying guide.
Checklist: How to recognize the test winner?
When choosing the right paddle board pump, you should be guided by the following points:
What type of paddle board pump do you need?
Paddle board pumps can be divided into electric and manual pumps. The latter are also divided into single-stroke and double-stroke pumps.
BeyondSurfing explains the advantages and disadvantages of each of these models.
Electric paddle board pumps are convenient and easy to use
- Inflation without physical exertion
- Require power supply (usually via car cigarette lighter)
- Louder and more expensive than hand pumps
- Heavier to transport
The main advantage of electric pumps is that they are much more convenient to use than manual pumps. They require no physical effort, so you can save your energy for paddling.
On the other hand, electric pumps always require some form of drive in order to function. This means that they cannot be used everywhere and are therefore less flexible than hand pumps.
They also weigh more, which makes them more difficult to transport and therefore less flexible to use. Ultimately, electric pumps are generally much more expensive than hand pumps.
Manual paddle board pumps as a cheap and flexible alternative
- Simple and easy to transport
- Quieter and cheaper than electric paddle board pumps
- Inflation requires physical effort
As no electricity is required to operate hand pumps, they can be used anywhere and at any time. You can easily take the pump with you to the water to inflate the SUP board on site.
The disadvantage of hand pumps is the high physical effort required to use them, which makes them considerably more strenuous than electric pumps.
Double stroke pumps for higher efficiency
In contrast to single-stroke pumps, double-stroke pumps not only push air into the board when the piston is pushed down, but also when it is pulled up. This makes them faster and more efficient.
The result:
In fact, a SUP board can often be inflated just as quickly with a double stroke pump as with an electric pump.
The only disadvantage of the double-stroke mode is that the strain on the body during inflation is more intense. However, most models, also known as double-action pumps, offer the flexibility to switch between single-stroke and double-stroke operation.
In terms of price, the double-stroke pumps lie between the single-stroke and electric pumps and therefore offer a good middle ground.
Now we have to be careful:
However, this does not mean that inflating with a double stroke only takes half the time. Why?
At the end of inflation – when the board is already filled with a lot of air – the high pressure makes pumping with a double stroke much more difficult.
If the iSUP is almost completely filled with air, it is worth switching to single stroke mode until the desired pressure in the board is reached.
See also: ” Instructions on how to inflate iSUPs correctly.
Is the paddle board pump compatible with the board?
Unfortunately, not every SUP board can be inflated with just any air pump. Before buying a pump, you should therefore make sure that it fits the valve on your board.
Many SUP boards have a military or HR valve:
HR or military valves are very resistant and robust. But be careful, other valves can also be used. Therefore, before buying, check what kind of valve your board has and whether the pump is suitable for it.
Some paddle board pumps are supplied with various adapters. This means they can be used with different valves. This is particularly practical if you have several SUP boards with different valves or want to use the pump for other inflatable items, such as an air mattress or kayak.
How good is the performance of the paddle board pump?
An important indicator of the performance of a paddle board pump is the speed at which it inflates a board. Most paddle board pumps take around 5 to 10 minutes to fully inflate the board.
What many people don’t know:
In reality, the inflation process can often take longer, especially with manual pumps. How quickly a pump actually gets air into the board depends, among other things, on how much pressure a pump can build up.
Note: Only buy paddle board pumps from manufacturers who specify the maximum pressure that can be built up.
Influence of design and quality on performance?
For manual pumps:
Manual pumps are easier to operate if they are easy to hold and smooth-running. Grinding pistons, non-ergonomic handles or unclean seals, on the other hand, make pumping more difficult and thus prolong the process.
Note: Manual paddle board pumps should always be smooth-running and easy to handle.
For electric pumps:
The quality of electric pumps also has an influence on performance. The power of an electric pump is usually specified by the manufacturer.
But be careful: the more powerful an electric pump is, the louder it usually is.
How can I recognize good quality and performance?
Unfortunately, there are not yet any SUP pump tests from Consumer Reports or Which? to provide you with advice and support regarding high-quality pumps.
The good news:
The following brands, among others, have made a name for themselves as renowned manufacturers with good products:
Bravo, Aqua Marina, Fanatic, Jobe
How flexible is the paddle board pump?
An important point when choosing an inflatable SUP board is the ease of transportation. However, you will only benefit from this if the pump is at least as easy to transport. This is the only way to inflate the board on the spot.
While this is usually the case with manual pumps, the mobility of an electric pump depends on various factors:
1 How big and heavy is the pump?
Electric pumps can quickly become unwieldy, so pay particular attention to the weight: The pump should fit easily in the car together with the board.
Do you not have a car and are you transporting the SUP board and accessories by public transport?
In this case, a lighter hand pump is often the better choice as it is easier to transport.
By the way: Some electric pumps are supplied with a carrying bag to make transportation easier. At the same time, the bag protects the pump from dirt or damage.
2 How is the pump connected?
There are several options for how an electric pump draws power. The most common are:
- Connection to the car’s cigarette lighter
- Connection to the car battery
- Connection to an external battery
- Connection to a classic socket outlet
Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages.
Operation via the car
Regardless of whether the pump is connected to the cigarette lighter or the car battery, the logical consequence is:
The board can only be inflated where the car can go. In case of doubt, this is the parking lot from which the inflated board has to be carried to the beach or lake.
But pumping up at the parking lot doesn’t necessarily have to stand in the way of flexibility. Most SUP boards can be easily transported over short distances with carrying handles, even when inflated.
The advantage: the electric pump and the carrying bag can be conveniently left in the car after inflation.
Note: This type of pump is logically not suitable for stand-up paddlers without a car.
Portable batteries and sockets
Connecting to a conventional power socket is certainly the least favorable option for SUPs, as these are unlikely to be found on the water. The board would have to be inflated at home and transported in full condition, which contradicts the purpose of an inflatable.
External batteries, on the other hand, are the most flexible type of power supply. The batteries are easy to transport and can be taken anywhere. The only thing to consider is the higher price, as such batteries usually have to be purchased separately and are not usually included with an electric paddle board pump.
In any case, it is important that the hose and cable of the pump are long enough for comfortable pumping.
If you are using an electric pump, it may be worth taking a hand pump with you as a backup. If you need to pump up the water, you can leave the electric pump in the car and just take the hand pump with you.
What pressure can the paddle board pump produce?
The manufacturer specifies the ideal air pressure with which each SUP board should be filled. This pressure should not be undercut in order not to influence the performance of the board.
Each paddle board pump also has a maximum pressure that it can generate. It is important that this maximum pressure matches the required pressure of the board.
So always check how many PSI your board needs before you buy and whether the pump you have chosen can provide this.
Good to know: For SUP boards and paddle board pumps, the pressure is usually specified in the American unit PSI: Pounds per Square Inch. The ratio to the standard unit in Germany, bar, is: 1 bar = 14.5 PSI.
What additional services should the paddle board pump offer?
The previous points cover the basic requirements for a good paddle board pump. However, many models also offer other functions that are very practical for everyday SUP use.
BeyondSurfing recommends pumps with the following additional functions:
- Deflate mode: Deflating the SUP board manually is time-consuming and often exhausting. It is therefore an advantage if the pump can also pump out air.
- Pressure gauge: A display of the air pressure in the board helps to achieve the ideal PSI figure.
- Automatic switch-off: Many electric pumps switch off automatically when the previously entered air pressure is reached. This prevents the board from being pumped too full and causing damage due to overpressure.
How to use the paddle board pump correctly?
You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when inflating your SUP board. However, the right strategy can save a lot of time and energy, especially when using a double-stroke pump.
The correct posture for manual pumping:
Make sure that you get the power from your knees when pumping. To do this, keep your arms stretched and your upper body straight. The pumping movements should be short and fast. This pumping technique is easy on your back and leaves you with enough strength in your arms for paddling.
This is the best way to inflate your board with a double-stroke pump:
- Use double-stroke mode at the beginning to get as much air into the board as quickly as possible.
- After reaching an air pressure of approx. 8 to 10 PSI, switch to single stroke mode to save power.
The last PSI is always the most difficult. The air pressure in the board is already very high and therefore the resistance is very strong. You should therefore switch to single-stroke mode at this point.
Achieving the desired pressure is not a problem with electric pumps. The pump can even reach a significantly higher pressure in the board if it is not equipped with a switch-off function.
How much is the SUP board inflated?
The board should always be inflated to the PSI number recommended by the manufacturer to ensure the best performance.
SUP boards are extremely durable and can usually withstand more PSI than the ideal pressure, so this does not necessarily lead to damage. Nevertheless, the pressure specified by the manufacturer should always be adhered to wherever possible.
How to properly care for paddle board pumps?
Proper care is important to improve the service life of your paddle board pump and keep it in the best possible condition. This includes, above all, regular greasing of the pump.
With manual pumps, the correct maintenance works as follows:
- Unscrew the head/cylinder cover of the pump.
- Carefully pull the piston out of the cylinder.
- Clean the rubber seal of the piston with a dry cloth.
- Check the piston for any damage.
- Grease the pump rod in the piston cover and the rubber ring of the piston on both sides with Vaseline, white grease or bearing grease.
- Check whether there are any foreign objects (e.g. sand) in the pump body and remove them.
- Replace the piston and screw the pump back together.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about paddle board pumps
Which paddle board pump is the best?
How do I inflate a SUP correctly?
How do I repair a paddle board pump?
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