If you want to go exploring with your SUP board, a touring board is exactly the right choice. The boards are ideal for covering long distances or even touring for several days.
The right touring SUP board:
Our Checklist shows everything there is to know about touring SUP boards at a glance. In our guide, you can find out which criteria are decisive for choosing the right touring SUP. We present the best models 2024 in our recommendations.
Contents:
- Top picks: The best touring SUP boards 2024 reviewed.
- Checklist: These features are important in the test.
- BestsellersOverview of the most popular SUP touring boards.
- Guide: All information about touring SUP boards.
- FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about SUP touring boards.
The best touring SUP boards 2024 reviewed
1. best budget touring SUP board for beginners
This board measures 350.5 x 78.7 x 15 cm, has a volume of 299 liters and weighs just under 8 kilograms. It is supplied with a transport backpack, fin and air pump.
- Lubricity
- Good customer service
- Single Fin only
Why we like it: The high-quality, lightweight carbon paddle supplied makes it easier to drive and steer. An integrated cover net offers fastening options for luggage. The center fin can be removed without tools and a carrying handle makes it easier to transport the board into the water.
Recommended for: The Fanatic Ray Air is suitable for both beginners and advanced riders who weigh a maximum of 130 kilograms. Unfortunately, the board is quite heavy at just under 15kg. If you are looking for a lighter touring board with premium quality, you should go for the Cala SUP. This weighs just under 9.5 kg.
2. best high quality touring SUP board
The Cala Kanaloa SUP board is an excellent touring board that impresses with its speed and stability. The first-class workmanship and high quality of the board speak for themselves and guarantee a long service life.
- Lies well in the water
- Processing
- Full carbon paddle
- Luggage stowage only possible at the front
Why we like it:
Our experience with the Cala Kanaloa SUP board was consistently positive. In the test, the board impressed with its fast and stable ride, which benefits both beginners and experienced paddlers. The first-class workmanship and first-class accessories, such as the practical sup paddle board bag and the carbon paddle, clearly set it apart from the competition.
Another advantage was the low weight, which made transportation much easier. Even in choppier waters, the board showed remarkable performance and stability thanks to the slightly upturned nose.
Recommended for: We recommend the Cala Kanaloa SUP board to anyone who values quality. The board is equally suitable for beginners and advanced riders and offers outstanding performance on tours as well as for relaxed cruising. The slightly upturned nose also makes it suitable for rougher waters, making it a versatile and reliable choice for a wide range of water conditions.
Detailed test report: ” to the SUP Kanaloa test report
3. best lightweight touring SUP board
The SUP has a length of 350 cm, is 81 cm wide and 15 cm thick. It weighs 10.7 kilograms and has a volume of 315 liters. The delivery includes leash, pump, repair kit, transport bag and fin.
- Weight
- Stability
- Two transportation networks
- Missing accessories
Why we like it: With its comparatively low weight, the Stemax Touring Kingfisher is a particularly lightweight touring SUP. This makes it easy to transport even when inflated. With two luggage nets, it also offers plenty of storage space for longer trips on the water.
Recommended for: The board has a load capacity of 180 kilograms. Thanks to its good tipping stability, it is also ideal for parents who want to take their child with them on the SUP. It can be used on rivers, lakes and also on the sea.
4. best cheap touring paddle board set
This large set comes with aluminum paddle, kayak seat, fin, camera holder, waterproof cell phone bag, bottle holder, transport backpack, pump, leash and repair kit. When inflated, it has dimensions of 320 x 81 x 15 cm with a volume of 318 liters and a weight of around 15 kilograms.
- Price-performance ratio
- Lots of accessories
- Stable
- Instructions
- Quality of the paddle
Why we like it: The board has a luggage net on the front of the SUP, which provides storage space while riding. The surface is non-slip and ensures a good grip. It can be used immediately thanks to the wide range of accessories.
Recommended for: The SUP can be used by both paddle boards for beginners and advanced riders. The included seat means it can also be used as a kayak.
5. best narrow touring SUP board
The SUP measures 427 x 71 x 15 cm and weighs just under 18 kilograms. The set includes fin, air pump, leash, transport backpack and paddle. The drop stitch technology makes it particularly stable.
- Straight run
- Speed
- Processing
- Difficult to transport due to length
Why we like it: The Touring SUP from Bluefin impresses with a very good price-performance ratio. It has a very high-quality finish and is particularly robust and durable. For a comparatively low price, it offers a comprehensive accessory package that leaves nothing to be desired. Bluefin plants a tree for every product sold.
Recommended for: The SUP is suitable for advanced riders, as it is rather narrow and therefore requires good balance. Nevertheless, it is large enough to take a child or dog with you.
6. best touring SUP board with bag
The set consists of an aluminum paddle, pump, leash, waterproof bag and detachable fin. It is 327 cm long, 77 cm wide, 16 cm thick and weighs 12 kilograms.
- Price-performance ratio
- Stable
- Fast assembly
- Backpack not very high quality
Why we like it: The board is slightly longer and wider than other models and is therefore stable on the water. The included GoPro mount can be used to attach the action cam to record the tour. With the air pump, the SUP is inflated within a few minutes.
Recommended for: The board is suitable for beginners due to its good stability, but is also fun for advanced riders due to its good gliding properties.
7. best value for money touring SUP board
The board measures 350 x 83 x 15 cm and weighs just under 8 kilograms. In addition to an aluminum paddle, the scope of delivery includes a transport backpack, a waterproof cell phone cover, a leash, air pump and 3 fins.
- Quick inflation
- Stable
- Price
- Backpack not very high quality
- Finns go into the holder with difficulty
Why we like it: The FunWater SUP board is the ideal touring SUP for anyone who doesn’t want to dig too deep into their wallet. It comes with all the necessary accessories and is well made. It is easy to transport thanks to its low weight and the backpack supplied.
Recommended for: The SUP is suitable for beginners and is also interesting for advanced paddlers. Thanks to its good stability, it can be used for touring, yoga and Pilates.
Even more interesting recommendations and guides:
- Inflatable paddle boards
- All-round SUP boards
- Hardboard SUP
- Race SUP Boards
- Surf SUP Boards
- SUP board with dog
- Touring SUP Boards
- Yoga SUP Boards
- WindSUP Boards
- SUP Board comparison
Touring SUP Board Checklist: These features are important in the test
- Length: Touring SUP boards are between 11 feet (3.35 m) and 14 feet (4.27 m) long. Long SUP boards run better in a straight line, which is particularly important when touring.
- Width: The width of the board has a direct effect on its riding characteristics. The wider the board, the more stable it is. SUP touring boards are usually between 28 inches (71 cm) and 32 inches (82 cm) wide.
- Nose and tail: The tip and tail of the board are called the nose and tail. Touring boards have an elongated shape, the nose is more pointed and narrower than on all round paddle boards. The more pointed the nose, the less stable the board is.
- Displacement hull: The underside of the board is curved downwards, which gives the board stability. The hull plows through the water, allowing the board to be paddled quickly and with less effort. This shape is used for most touring SUP boards.
- Fins: A long center fin is sufficient for most boards. It helps with straight-line riding and improves stability. In choppy water, we recommend a large center fin in combination with two small side fins. Short fins are the best choice in shallow waters.
- Volume/maximum load capacity: The volume of a board has a direct effect on its maximum load capacity. This indicates how much weight a SUP board can be loaded with. The maximum load capacity can be found in the manufacturer’s specifications. When buying, it is important to bear in mind that the weight of the equipment must be added to your body weight.
- Hard vs. inflatable touring SUP: The decision here is between performance and comfort. Hard SUP boards have the best riding characteristics, while inflatable boards are easier to transport and store.
- Robustness: A good touring SUP board is robust and durable. Inflatable paddle boards should be reinforced in sensitive areas such as the rail. High-quality materials should be used for hard SUP boards
- Features: There are also features and accessories that can be useful for SUP tours. These include: Handles, luggage nets, fins, deck pad, leash and brackets.
Also interesting: The most popular inflatable SUP boards 2024.
Bestsellers: The most popular touring SUP boards on Amazon
(**Last update 2024-09-16)
Buy a touring SUP board:
How to make the right decision
Here we show which factors play a role in touring SUP boards and how they affect the board’s performance.
Length
Touring SUP boards are between 11 and 14 feet (3.35 and 4.27 m) long. The most popular length is 12’6” (3.81 m). More length means that the board runs better in a straight line, but at the same time maneuverability is reduced.
When paddling, it is noticeable that touring SUP boards feel a little sluggish at the start. However, once you get going, the boards glide incredibly well over the water.
Width
In addition to the length, the width is a decisive factor for touring SUP boards. Wide and narrow boards differ in their riding characteristics.
Thin SUP touring boards:
They are faster and run better in a straight line, but they are much less stable. Narrow SUP touring boards are therefore best suited for advanced paddlers.
Wide SUP touring boards:
They are somewhat slower, but much more stable. These boards are suitable for paddle boards for beginners and advanced paddlers.
Nose and tail
The nose is the tip of the board and the tail is the back end. Touring boards have an elongated shape where the nose can be more or less pointed.
For touring beginners, we recommend a board with a pointed nose and a rounded tail. This ensures sufficient stability while the board still runs straight.
Displacement hull
- Concave, downward curved shape
- Stable
- But less maneuverable
- Low effort required for paddling
With the displacement hull, the underside of the board is curved outwards. This gives the hull a large surface area, which improves the stability of the board. Touring SUP boards with displacement hulls have a pointed nose and run straight.
The shape ensures that the board can be paddled with less effort. However, boards with displacement hulls are somewhat more difficult to maneuver.
Finns
A long center fin is sufficient for most touring SUP boards. The fins make it possible to ride straight ahead in the first place, without them the board would simply spin in circles.
- In calm water: a long center fin is the best choice.
- In choppy water: Two small side fins should be added to the center fin to improve stability.
- In shallow waters: If the bottom is not far away, the fins must be adjusted accordingly. Short fins prevent them from grazing the ground or getting stuck.
Find out more about paddle board fins here: SUP paddle board fins
Volume and maximum load capacity
The volume affects the maximum load capacity and stability of the touring SUP board. The higher the volume, the more stable the board is, but at the same time it becomes less maneuverable.
The maximum load capacity indicates how much weight the board can carry. It is important to note that the weight of the equipment must be added to your body weight. If you want to go on longer SUP tours, you should make sure that the board has a sufficient load capacity to carry enough luggage for several days.
Hard vs. inflatable touring SUP board
Or performance vs. convenience. All the advantages and disadvantages of inflatable and hard SUP boards at a glance.
Inflatable touring SUP boards:
- Space-saving
- Easy transportation and storage
- Perfect for traveling
- Less performance
- Must be inflated before use
Inflatable paddle boards have been continuously developed and improved over the last few years. Nevertheless, they still don’t quite match the performance of hard SUP boards.
However, they can be stored and transported easily and space-savingly when deflated. To do this, the board is rolled up and stowed in the backpack provided. Inflatable SUP boards are therefore the ideal companion, especially when traveling.
Hard (composite) touring SUP boards
- Best performance
- Stiffness
- Cumbersome transportation and storage
- Susceptible to damage
When it comes to performance, hard SUP boards clearly have the edge. They are stiffer and have better gliding properties than inflatable boards. However, they are more susceptible to damage, the so-called dings.
However, it is much more complicated to transport the hard boards. A car is needed to transport the boards, which are over three meters long, just a few kilometers away, and they take up a lot of space in storage.
Hard SUP boards consist of a foam core surrounded by a sheath made of fiberglass, wood or carbon.
Robustness
Whether it’s a hard or inflatable SUP board, it’s always important to ensure good quality and high-quality workmanship. Cheap boards may seem attractive at first glance, but the fun with them will be short-lived.
Features
Further features are:
- Non-slip surface: The surface of the board must be covered with a non-slip material, as a firm footing is the basis for proper paddling.
- Luggage net: The equipment is secured in the luggage net. Most touring boards have at least one luggage net. A second net makes perfect sense for long tours.
- Handles: A carrying handle in the middle of the board is an absolute must. Some boards are fitted with several handles to make it easier to carry them ashore.
- Mounts: Mounts for GoPro or a GPS watch/device.
And these accessories are available:
- Paddle: Paddling is used to move and steer the SUP board.
- Leash: The leash is attached to the ankle and connects the paddler to the SUP board. In the event of a fall from the board, it cannot simply float away, but remains nearby.
- Air pump: An air pump is required for inflatable SUP boards.
- Transport backpack: For transporting inflatable SUP boards. To do this, let the air out of the board, then roll it up and put it in the rucksack.
How does a SUP tour work?
No two SUP tours are the same, because there is so much to discover. This video shows what a SUP tour can look like:
FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about touring SUP boards
What is a touring SUP board?
Which is the best touring SUP board?
Which is better: a SUP touring or all-round board?
What is the best length for a touring SUP?
How expensive is a good touring SUP board?
Can I also buy a used touring SUP board?
What is the difference between a touring and race SUP board?
Are there also touring paddle boards for children?
What alternatives are there to touring SUP boards?
Is there a test from Consumer Reports or Which? on touring SUP boards?
*Price includes VAT, plus shipping. Customer reviews, prices, delivery times and costs may change in the meantime. By linking to selected online shops and partners, we may receive a small affiliate commission. There are no additional costs for you.
Add comment