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SUP Buying Guide5 reasons to choose a hardboard and 2 deal-breakers against it

Stephan Gölnitz

 · 27.03.2026

For a river trip involving sections where you have to carry the board, inflatable boards are really the only option.
Photo: Stephan Gölnitz
Hardboard or iSUP – there’s the perfect choice of material for every purpose.
​Whether as a family toy, for short trips on your local lake or for longer excursions – the choice of board type can be crucial to your paddling experience. The two main types of SUP boards – inflatable boards and hardboards – each offer their own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we’ll look at the fundamental differences, as well as the factors to consider when choosing a board specifically for family use, all-round use and touring.

iSUP and Hardboard: A Fact Check

When comparing the two board designs, many people focus primarily on transport. However, with a bit of ingenuity, a hardboard will fit on almost any car roof, leaving you with enough space inside for passengers and luggage. Two iSUPs are usually enough to fill a standard boot. However, if there’s no storage space – whether at home or at the club – or no car available for transport, these are deal-breakers.

iSUP

Lightweight, usually only 7 to 12 kilos
Relatively inexpensive, roughly 400 to 1,000 euros
Fits into a large pack sack and in the car boot
Sturdy on round stones, in rivers and on the beach
lowest risk of injury
better than a floating lilo
requires slightly more paddling effort
doesn’t quite have the same lifespan as a hardboard
needs to be inflated; takes about 10 to 15 minutes, which can be a bit of a faff

Hardboard

Faster and easier to paddle – across all board classes
Very durable; almost everything can be repaired
Ready to go in a minute straight from the car roof
More stable against capsizing for the same width
Unrivalled for surfing in waves
Higher price, usually from 1,000 euros
Vulnerable to stones and more prone to damage during transport
Often significantly heavier; touring boards often weigh 14 to 17 kilos
Requires adequate storage space
Can only be transported by car
Not very suitable, if at all, for children

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SUP boards for the family

Inflatable SUP boards – the top choice for families

  • Advantages: Inflatable SUP boards are particularly family-friendly. They are generally lighter and softer, which means that nobody will be seriously injured in the event of an unfortunate fall. They are also easy to transport and store, as they can be packed away in compact bags.
  • Disadvantage: They may be susceptible to damage from sharp objects. Nevertheless, modern inflatable SUPs are extremely robust and suitable for use by children.

Hardboards – as a family board, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages
Because they are heavier – weighing on average between three and seven kilos – they can be difficult for children to handle. Furthermore, there is a significantly higher risk of injury if a child falls onto the board.

SUP for all-round use

Inflatable SUP boards: - win on versatility

  • Advantages: Inflatable SUP boards are extremely versatile for all-round activities and offer sufficient stability for both beginners and more experienced paddlers. Their flexibility means they can be used in a variety of water conditions, from calm lakes to gentle river currents.
  • Disadvantages: They may not offer the same level of performance or speed as hardboards, which could limit advanced paddlers.

Hardboards – usually only if you’re paddling in small waves as well

  • Advantages: These boards usually offer better glide and speed. All-round boards with a surfboard shape can also handle smaller waves
  • Disadvantages: Not suitable for children.

SUP for touring: at a leisurely pace or at a brisk pace, on a river or a lake

Inflatable SUP boards – ideal on rivers, good on lakes

  • Advantages: Inflatable boards designed for touring often have a pointed nose and a longer shape, which is optimised for long distances and allows for good speed. Thanks to their considerable thickness, any luggage carried on board sits high above the water.
  • Disadvantages: For the same width, inflatable boards are generally less stable in the water.

Hardboards – ideal for long or fast-paced trips out at sea or on a lake

  • Advantages: For experienced touring paddlers, hardboards offer unrivalled speed and efficiency on the water. They are ideal for covering long distances with less effort. The sensation of gliding is generally considered to be more enjoyable
  • Disadvantages: Transport and storage can cause problems when travelling. Not suitable for river trips with obstacles in the water or where the water is very shallow.

Conclusion

The choice between an inflatable SUP board and a hardboard depends largely on individual needs and intended use. For family outings, inflatable boards offer an excellent combination of safety, portability and ease of use. All-round paddlers may appreciate the versatility and affordability of the inflatable options. For serious touring enthusiasts, hardboards offer the performance and efficiency needed to cover longer distances effectively, although this advantage is offset by greater challenges when it comes to transport.

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Stephan Gölnitz

Stephan Gölnitz

Deputy Editor in Chief surf

Stephan Gölnitz comes from Bochum and had Holland as his home windsurfing territory for many years before moving to Munich in 1996 for the job of test editor at surf magazine. The materials engineering graduate worked as a surf instructor on the Ijsselmeer during his studies and competed for several seasons for the Essen sailing team in the Surfbundesliga and the Funboard Cup. He completed a traineeship at surf-Magazin in the test department and since then has actively accompanied almost all tests on the boom and for more than 10 years also as a photographer. Stephan has covered many thousands of test kilometers, mainly on Lake Garda and in Langebaan, but also in Egypt and Tobago. He gets his hands on over 100 new sails and boards every year as his company car. Privately, he prefers to surf with a foil on Lake Walchensee or “unfortunately far too rarely” in the waves. SUP is Stephan's second passion, which he pursued for several years at numerous SUP races. Today, he prefers to paddle on river tours with family or friends - even for several days.

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