Once seen as a novelty, stand-up paddleboards — or SUPs for short — are now fully a part of mainstream paddlesports. And while balancing upright on choppy water may seem daunting for the uninitiated, advances in SUP construction have made stand-ups just as accessible as their traditional sit-down counterparts. 

The allure of SUPs is just as much about the unique ride as it is about portability. With a wealth of lightweight inflatable boards on the market, SUPs are easy to transport in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle. Plus, they’re easy to launch solo. And once you’re on the water, you’re free to sit, stand or even lie down and listen to the water lapping at the rails. 

SUPs aren’t just for touring though. Fishing SUPs like the SIC Mangrove 11.6 are plentiful and provide both stability and hauling capacity for a full day on the water. That’s not to mention lightweight blow-up stand up paddleboards, the pedal-drive rigs that will give you a workout like you’ve never experienced, and yoga-friendly boards that redefine “boat pose.” 

But like most things in paddlesports, finding the right boat can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best stand-up paddleboards as part of our holiday gift guide series outlining the best gifts for boaters in 2024. Read on to find the right fit for yourself, your friends or your family!

Vince’s Pick: Hobie IEclipse Pedal Board
While the P in SUP usually stands for paddleboard, the Hobie IEclipse is all about pedal power. Combine the portability of an inflatable kayak with the fun of a stand-up setup, throw in a smooth-as-butter pedal and steering system, and you have one of the most unique rigs out there. And with a two-piece removable handlebar, a high-pressure hand pump and a high-volume electric pump, everything you need to set up and start pedaling is included. Toss this Hobie stand-up pedal board in your vehicle, pump it up at your destination, and set off for a truly fun ride. Just remember to let your buddies have a turn! 

Buy Once, Cry Once: Hobie Eclipse Ace Pedal Board
Like its inflatable cousin, the Hobie Eclipse Ace is one of the most fun and uniquely designed SUPs on the market. With Hobie’s MirageDrive GT pedal propulsion system, the Eclipse Ace is built for cruising, but it’s ready to open up on the water as well. It’s also quite spacious at 11.5’ long and 36.6” wide, and the ACE-TEC construction means it’s durable for the long haul. 

Best Value: Badfish Flyweight
No need to look for stand-up paddleboards on sale, when you can get such a great value with the Badfish Flyweight. Though it’s the most affordable in our fleet of SUPs, the smaller price tag doesn’t mean it’s an inferior product. This inflatable stand-up paddleboard is among the most accessible and convenient rigs around from its super light weight (only 18 pounds!) to its high-quality construction. In fact, it’s that construction that makes the Flyweight such a strong value. Using Badfish’s AirLite drop-stitch technology, the Flyweight has excellent rigidity and durability when inflated, but it remains soft and pliable (and easy to transport) when deflated. The Flyweight measures in at 10’6” long and has plenty of features and accessories that make it outperform its price tag. Among those are a GoPro camera mount, a breakdown travel paddle, backpack board bag, 11’ ankle leash and a removable tri-fin. 

Tahe SUP-Yak 11’ Cross Tec
Looking for a SUP, but don’t want to give up your seat? Check out the Tahe Beach SUP-Yak. This is a two-in-one stand-up paddleboard kayak hybrid that’s perfect for both standing or seated ventures. Launch it as a traditional SUP with a spacious 11’ by 34” frame. Then simply attach the clip-on seat to convert it into a sit-on-top kayak when you need a breather. The Tahe SUP-Yak comes with all kinds of stand-up paddleboard accessories including everything you need for both setups: a detachable seat, footrest, ankle leash and collapsible paddle. With a capacity of 285 pounds and a price tag under $1,000, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more versatile setup for the money.

SIC Mangrove 11.6”
Love stand-up paddleboard yoga? Always wanted a fishing SUP? Or maybe you’re looking for one of the best stand-up paddleboards for dogs. The SIC Mangrove does it all. It’s big enough for solo or tandem ventures if you want to bring along the kids or pets, and it has plenty of room to secure all your gear, be it fishing, camping or whatever else you may be hauling to your destination. Its biggest advantage over other SUPs is stability, buoyed by a flat bottom and full rails that will allow you to work on your mountain pose or square up to haul in a lunker. (We love this stand-up paddleboard for fishing!) It also comes with two FCS II Fin boxes on the rail so you can maneuver through all types of water. 

In conclusion, stand-up paddleboards can get you almost anywhere their traditional sit-down counterparts can, and they’ll provide a fun, unique experience in doing so. Whether you’re an angler, an adventurer, a novice or a seasoned veteran, there’s a SUP out there for you. We hope our holiday gift guide 2024 series has shined a light on the array of SUPs available and helped provide some ideas for the best gifts for boaters in your life!