The Atoll 11\u2019<\/a> <\/strong>gets the top spot for its great all-around performance. Read on to find out why I love it and which other boards I rate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in a hurry, here are our top paddle boards for lakes. Or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get into the details! Here\u2019s the lowdown on the best inflatable stand up paddle boards for flat water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love pretty much everything about the Atoll 11\u2019<\/a>, but the main reason it\u2019s top of my list is because it offers the perfect balance between stability and performance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 32 inches wide, it\u2019s at the narrow end for an 11-foot board, which gives it an edge when it comes to speed and efficiency. It glides nicely, tracks well<\/strong>, and doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019re busting a gut to move it \u2013 exactly what you want in a paddle board for lakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also deceptively stable. While it doesn\u2019t feel as rock-solid as the Blackfin X, I think the Atoll is definitely stable enough for beginners<\/strong>. It\u2019s also surprisingly easy to maneuver given its length, as it\u2019s so lightweight (21 pounds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I like the minimalist design of the Atoll 11<\/strong>. It gives you plenty of deck space and you don\u2019t have to worry about standing on mounting points or tripping over bungee cords. There\u2019s a front bungee storage area, plus D rings along the back half of the board, which you can use to secure additional gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Atoll 11\u2019 comes with an 8-inch removable fin and 2 side fins<\/strong>. Unfortunately, you can\u2019t remove the side fins, which makes it harder to roll up the board or to stack inflated boards. <\/p>\n\n\n Check Price of the Atoll 11′<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n The iRocker All Around 11<\/a> is a stable board that\u2019s similar in spec and performance to the Atoll 11\u2019. It tracks nicely, but I found it to be a little slower in the water than the Atoll 11\u2019<\/strong>. This is probably due to the weight \u2013 it\u2019s 5 pounds heavier than the Atoll 11\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n iRocker also sells a 10-foot version of this board, which it recommends for paddlers under 5\u20198\u201d. Personally, I think the All Around 11 is still easy enough for shorter people to paddle and the 435-pound weight capacity<\/strong> makes it a good option if you want to carry passengers or lots of gear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The All Around 11 beats the Atoll 11\u2019 in terms of features. It comes with seven grab handles<\/strong> and plenty of D rings for storage and towing. You also get four action mounts<\/strong>, which you can use to attach cameras, speakers, rod holders, and other items. If you want to chill out with a coffee in the morning, paddle until lunch, and then do a spot of fishing in the afternoon, the All Around 11 is a great choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n iRocker\u2019s full-carbon paddle<\/strong> weighs just 28.8 ounces and is nice and stiff. I\u2019d prefer it to be a little wider \u2013 similar to the Atoll 11\u2019s paddle \u2013 to let me put more force into each stroke. <\/p>\n\n\n Check Price of the iRocker All Around 11<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n The iRocker Cruiser<\/a> is shorter and wider than the All Around. I\u2019d recommend it as a general-purpose family or recreational paddle board<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I weigh 192 pounds, and I felt the Cruiser was a bit small for someone of my weight. It didn\u2019t sink, but it didn\u2019t glide quite as well as the similarly-sized Gili Komodo. My wife, who\u2019s smaller and lighter, found the paddle board to be very stable, fast, and maneuverable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cruiser is designed for flat water<\/strong>, so it\u2019s a great paddle board for small and medium-sized lakes. If you live near the Great Lakes or other lakes with choppy conditions, you may want a different board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its stability and 400-pound weight capacity <\/strong>make the Cruiser a great choice for families. You can paddle with several people on board, or anchor the board and let your kids go for a swim \u2013 the Cruiser has plenty of grab handles to help them get back onto the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d also recommend the Cruiser as a good beginner paddle board<\/strong>. It\u2019s very stable and good value for money, perfect if you want to try out paddle boarding without investing in an expensive board.<\/p>\n\n\n Check Price of the iRocker Cruiser<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n The Blackfin X<\/a> is the most expensive board in this round-up, but the difference in quality is noticeable. In my opinion, it\u2019s one of the best inflatable SUPs<\/strong> on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Blackfin X isn\u2019t the fastest paddle board \u2013 if speed is a priority, you\u2019ll need a thinner, longer board \u2013 but it\u2019s faster than you\u2019d think<\/strong> given it\u2019s such a wide board. The exception is if you\u2019re paddling into the wind. All inflatable stand up paddle boards struggle with a headwind, but the extra width of the Blackfin X gives even more resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Carbon fiber rails add rigidity <\/strong>to the Blackfin X and make it firmer than the lower-priced iRocker range. This improves the glide <\/strong>and makes the Blackfin X an easy and enjoyable board to paddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standout features of the Blackfin X are its stability and weight capacity. At 35 inches wide, it\u2019s one of the widest paddle boards you can buy, meaning that it\u2019s awesome for yoga<\/strong>, and I think it would also make a good platform for snorkeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The top-level construction means it also has one of the highest weight capacities \u2013 450 pounds. It\u2019s easy to carry multiple riders or large dogs<\/strong>. Load up the two cargo areas and go on a multi-day expedition around the lake!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d also recommend the Blackfin X as a fishing platform<\/strong>. In fact, it has slots to mount a fishing rack that you can use to store a cooler and rods. Eight action mounts give you plenty of options for rod holders or a GPS unit. You can also fit a sand spear to use as an anchor or push pole in shallow waters.<\/p>\n\n\n Check Price of the Blackfin X<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n The Gili Komodo<\/a> is marketed as an inflatable SUP for yoga<\/strong>, though I think it\u2019s a lot more versatile than that. The 10\u20196\u201d model is 33 inches wide, like the iRocker Cruiser, but the Komodo glides better and is easier to paddle for someone of my weight (therefore I think it would be probably better for larger or heavier paddlers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If SUP yoga is your thing, then the Komodo is a good choice. The deck pad runs the full length of the board<\/strong>, so once you\u2019ve removed the bungee cord, you have plenty of space to stretch out. The textured section at the rear lets you ground your weight into your rear foot and helps you execute sharp turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love that the Komodo has two velcro straps to secure your paddle<\/strong> when you\u2019re not using it. While this may be aimed at the yoga crowd, I can think of plenty of times when I\u2019ve wanted to stash my paddle for a few minutes while out on a lake. You can take a photo, go for a swim, or simply lie back and relax for five minutes without worrying about losing your paddle, so this makes the straps a welcome addition even if you\u2019re not putting your paddle down for a spot of SUP yoga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this wouldn\u2019t be a fair and balanced review if I didn\u2019t point out potential downsides that I\u2019ve discovered with this board. While the Komodo is still a great SUP, there are a couple of things I might change, though they are small. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For one the bungees are a little fiddly to get out of the D rings<\/strong>. To be honest, if you don\u2019t need the bungee cords for storage, I\u2019d just leave them off the board permanently. I also found the position of a couple of the attachment points a little annoying. I\u2019d rather they were further to the side, in line with the D rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also it\u2019s worth noting that, while they\u2019re perfectly acceptable, the accessories just aren\u2019t up to the same quality as the boards above. You get an entry-level fiberglass paddle with the Komodo (although there is the option to upgrade) and a single-chamber two-stage pump. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Check Price of the Gili Komodo<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n The Nautical is iRocker\u2019s entry-level board<\/a>. It\u2019s a nice board that looks good and is stable enough for confident beginners<\/strong>. My wife found it got up to speed quickly and it was easy to maneuver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personally, the board was a bit too small for me. The official weight capacity is 240 pounds, but I\u2019m just under 200 and felt that my weight affected the board\u2019s performance. In my opinion, larger paddlers would benefit from the 11\u20196\u201d version<\/strong> of the Nautical<\/a><\/strong>, though this is more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You get a lot of the same features that you get in the more expensive iRocker boards, including the three-fin system which helps the board track straight<\/strong>, one action mount, and two bungee cargo areas. There are also four additional D rings that you can use to attach a kayak seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019d expect, the accessories aren\u2019t of the same high standard as the more expensive boards, but they\u2019re still pretty decent given the price. You get a fiberglass paddle, a single-chamber pump, a leash, and a reasonably comfortable travel bag. You also have the option to upgrade and add other iRocker accessories<\/strong>, such as an electric pump or kayak conversion kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the Nautical is a notch above what you might expect for a budget board. It\u2019s a great introductory board for smaller paddlers and excellent value for money.<\/p>\n\n\nQuick Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
“Stable enough for beginners but slim enough to be fast and efficient to paddle, the Atoll 11 has a simple design, a high weight capacity, and is very durable”<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
“The iRocker All Around 11 is very similar to the Atoll 11\u2019 in terms of performance. It\u2019s slightly slower, but you get more features and a full carbon fiber paddle”<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
“A stable, high-capacity board that can carry multiple riders. It\u2019s reasonably priced and comes with premium accessories, but it\u2019s a little slower than other boards”<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
“An entry-level board that gives you a lot for your money. Durable, with plenty of attachment points and handles, the only thing that lets it down is the low weight capacity”<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe Best Inflatable Paddle Boards for Lakes in 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Atoll 11\u2019 \u2013 Best Paddle Board for Flat Water<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n2. iRocker All Around 11 \u2013 Best Value Inflatable Board for Lakes<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n3. iRocker Cruiser \u2013 Best Family SUP Board for Lakes<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n4. Blackfin X<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n5. Gili Komodo 10\u20196<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n6. iRocker Nautical \u2013 Best Budget SUP Board for Lakes<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n<\/a>\n\n\n