If you love paddling, you’ll eventually crave greater challenges and want to push your skills further. For longer journeys, a basic inflatable or an everyday all-around paddleboard won’t be enough, you’ll need a stronger, more reliable board built for the adventure.
This is where Touring paddle boards come in.
Touring boards are designed for those longer more adventurous hauls. Or, if you are a more athletic type, and want to push yourself in endurance and speed, Touring paddle boards will be better suited for what you’re looking for.
The Toursing SUPs are generally a bit longer, and have larger areas for storing gear for your longer jaunts.
What Makes This Paddle Board Stand Out
The Waterwalker is an outstanding option for touring paddlers. Being inflatable, it’s naturally versatile and easy to transport, qualities that make the redesigned Waterwalker our top recommendation.
Designed in the classic touring shape, the Thurso Waterwalker performs well across a variety of water conditions and paddling activities, all while delivering the comfort needed for longer excursions.
This board also stands apart from typical iSUPs thanks to its sleek, stylish design. Its faux wood finish gives it the look of a rigid paddleboard or even a surfboard, yet it retains all the practical benefits of an inflatable. A repair kit is included, adding extra peace of mind.
Comfort and stability are enhanced by EVA foam padding, making it ideal for yoga or other balance-focused activities. Thurso has also added thoughtful touches like Velcro straps along the rails to keep your paddle secure and prevent it from floating away.
For convenience and versatility, the Waterwalker comes equipped with three grab handles, front, center, and rear, a six-point bungee system at the front, a four-point bungee at the back for gear storage, and four D-rings for securing larger items like a cooler, making it perfect for extended adventures.
2. NSP – Cocoflax – Performance Touring
What Makes This Paddle Board Stand Out
Surftech incorporates its E2 Technology into this paddleboard series to enhance durability, resulting in a board that remains extremely buoyant while comfortably accommodating heavier paddlers.
The Coco Mat Technology incorporates coconut fibers into the construction, creating a lamination layer that is both lightweight and durable. The expansive traction pad, made from a smooth, corrugated material, offers excellent grip while remaining comfortable for long hours on the water.
The NSP Cocoflax Performance Touring features a long, curved, removable center fin. However, accessories are limited, meaning you’ll need to buy your paddle separately.
3. Pau Hana Endurance 12’
What Makes This Paddle Board Stand Out
The Pau Hana Endurance is a standout touring board, designed to handle moderately windy conditions with impressive stability and smooth maneuverability.
The Endurance is made for extended tours, equipped with 35 anchor points so you can strap down virtually any gear. Even with 100 lbs of cargo, it still paddles smoothly and handles well on the water.
Nearly indestructible and featuring a stunning finish, the main downside of this board is its weight. Built for durability, it’s no surprise that the platform weighs 32 lbs even before adding any gear.
4. Boardworks Kraken
What Makes This Paddle Board Stand Out
The Boardworks Kraken boasts a stylish, refined design built to tackle almost any water environment. Ideal for touring, its streamlined shape also lends itself to racing, allowing it to cut smoothly through the water with ease.
It’s clear that a great deal of skill and craftsmanship went into creating this exceptional board.
The Kraken comes in three sizes: 9’9”, 10’3”, and 11’0”. Unlike many paddleboards, it offers flexibility with fin setups, you can stick with a single center fin for smooth cruising and long-distance tours, or add side bite fins for enhanced stability in larger waves.
The hull features gentle contours, allowing smooth, effortless paddling, while the lower center of gravity enhances stability across different water conditions.
The Kraken is equipped with a vent plug that helps release heat and pressure that can build up when the board is stored in a shed or garage in hot weather.
5. Tower Xplorer Inflatable 14′
What Makes This Paddle Board Stand Out
With a thickness of 8 inches, this board is exceptionally robust, making it one of the sturdiest paddle boards on the market, inflatable or solid.
The Tower Xplorer moves through the water effortlessly, which is impressive considering its size. Its long, sleek nose features about 4 inches of rocker, helping it lift over small waves. This design also enables paddlers to glide faster and more efficiently with less effort.
The Xplorer is perfect for full-day tours. Built to support up to 800 lbs, it can handle all your gear, and yes, you can even bring your dog along. Its design ensures an extremely stable ride, and sitting 8 inches above the water keeps your feet dry, letting you paddle comfortably all day without “swamp foot.”
The Xplorer comes in at 36 lbs. While that’s on the heavier side for an inflatable, it’s larger than most boards in its category. Considering it’s built for durability, stability, and long hours of comfortable touring, the extra weight is a minor compromise.
If you’re looking for a more flexible, economical touring board, the Tower Xplorer is the one for you.
Bruce Paulson is the owner of PaddleboardSurf and an avid water sports enthusiast with a lifelong passion for all things aquatic. From stand-up paddleboarding and surfing to boating, kayaking, and canoeing, he thrives on the joy of being on the water. As an advocate for water conservation and environmental stewardship, Bruce shares his adventures and insights through his writing, inspiring others to embrace the beauty and excitement of life on the water.