Looking for a lightweight paddle board?
Stand-up paddleboards typically come in two main types: rigid boards and inflatable SUPs, with weights that vary by design and construction.
While choosing the lightest board isn’t always the best option for performance, there are times when weight becomes the deciding factor, especially when portability, transport, or ease of handling matter most.
The Benefits of Lightweight Paddle Boards
Transportation is often the biggest reason paddlers look for a lightweight board. Today’s inflatable SUPs commonly come with backpack-style carry systems, making them ideal for adventurers who hike into remote lakes, rivers, or mountain destinations before paddling.
In situations like these, board weight becomes a crucial factor when deciding which SUP to buy. Lighter boards are also a great choice for kids and smaller paddlers, as they’re much easier to carry from storage to the shoreline.
Below, we’ll highlight our top picks for lightweight paddleboards. Most are inflatable models, but we’ve also included a few rigid boards that deliver impressively low weight without compromising performance.
#1. ATOLL SUP

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Atoll Paddleboards is a Southern California–based company known for its simple, no-nonsense approach to board design. Their focus is clear: build one of the strongest and lightest inflatable SUPs on the market. The result is an impressive board that weighs just 19 pounds.
So why is the Atoll Army Green SUP a great choice for beginners? First, it’s inflatable, which makes it far more forgiving than a hard board. Bumping into a dock, boat, another paddler, or even a swimmer won’t cause injuries or damage, something beginners can truly appreciate.
It’s also a reasonably priced, all-in-one package, meaning you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started. Everything you need to paddle is included.
The Atoll SUP performs well across a wide range of conditions, from calm flatwater and touring to rivers and small waves. Durability is another major highlight. Beginners don’t need to worry about being rough on it—Atoll boards are famously tough. In fact, the company has demonstrated that you can drive an SUV over a fully inflated board without causing damage.
The Atoll iSUP package includes a dual-action pump that inflates on both the upstroke and downstroke, cutting inflation time nearly in half. You’ll also get a coiled leash, removable center fin, and a heavy-duty nylon backpack that’s large enough to store the board, pump, and all accessories with ease.
This setup is ideal for adventurous paddlers who enjoy hiking to remote lakes or hard-to-reach waterways and want a lightweight SUP they can easily carry and explore with.
The package includes a fiberglass paddle, but paddlers looking to reduce weight even further can upgrade to a 100% carbon fiber paddle for an additional cost.
At PaddleboardSurf, we’re always impressed by strong warranties—it shows confidence in the product. Atoll backs their boards with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty, which makes sense given their exceptional build quality and rugged design.
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The Nautical by iRocker is their entry level paddleboard, which allows you to get on the water quickly, easily, and affordably, which is great for beginners. The Nautical is also one of the lightest SUP currently on our list.
When you're just getting started with the sport of SUP, there's no need to break the bank with an expensive board. That's one of the reasons why the Nautical is a great choice for a beginner, quality ride, without the expensive price tag.
But don't worry, the Nautical is still constructed in the same manner as all of iRocker's high quality products and comes with a 1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty on all workmanship and materials.
For one low price you get iRocker's quality inflatable that is built very tough and won't dent or get damaged from normal use. The Nautical has nice control, great design, awesome price, lightweight and is easily transportable.
The difference between the Nautical line and the more upscale lines from iRocker is that doesn't have carbon fiber in the paddle shaft (carbon fiber is expensive), the pump that is included has a single chamber instead of a dual chamber, and the backpack doesn't have wheels.
This is all reasonable because iRocker wanted to make a quality, yet affordable SUP. To learn more about the differences in the iRocker brands, check out this interesting infographic they made on their brand comparison page.
Overall this is a really solid "entry level" package for a SUP. With the Nautical you'll get a fun board that everyone can use, has room enough to attach a cooler, and is even dog friendly!
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ROC SUP Co. truly stands out with this impressive all-in-one paddleboard package. Weighing just 17.5 pounds, it ranks among the lightest inflatable SUPs available today.
Despite its ultra-lightweight design, durability is not compromised. Living up to the brand’s motto, “Rugged, quality, affordable, FUN”, this board delivers strength, reliability, and enjoyment in one complete setup. Everything you need to hit the water is included right out of the box.
The ROC inflatable SUP is also a top seller, currently ranking #2 among paddleboards on Amazon, an impressive achievement in such a competitive market.
Designed for both stability and performance, the board measures 33 inches wide and 6 inches thick, with a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds. It’s constructed from premium military-grade materials with reinforced stitching, offering an excellent balance of strength and portability.
The full package includes a collapsible aluminum paddle, manual air pump, removable fin, safety leash, waterproof gear pouch, and a padded backpack for easy transport and storage.
All of this makes the ROC iSUP an excellent choice for beginners and casual paddlers alike. With over 4,500 five-star reviews on Amazon, it’s clear that users appreciate its quality, value, and ease of use.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, durable, and ready-to-paddle inflatable SUP that’s fun and effortless to handle, the ROC iSUP deserves a place at the top of your list.
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A true classic.
The Isle Cruiser has maintained its status as the best-selling soft-top stand-up paddleboard for more than four years, a clear sign of its proven design and broad appeal.
We’ve included the Cruiser as a top pick for paddlers who want a rigid, hard-style board that remains lightweight, manageable, and easy to enjoy. It strikes a rare balance between solid performance and everyday usability.
Its long-standing popularity comes from a smart mix of quality materials, beginner-friendly features, reasonable pricing, and a fully equipped package that’s ready for the water right out of the box.
At 32 inches wide, the Cruiser offers excellent stability. It’s built using Composite Soft Technology with textured deck padding over a lightweight foam core. This construction delivers the stiffness of a traditional hard board while being noticeably easier to carry and maneuver than standard epoxy SUPs.
The soft-top design makes the board more forgiving when it bumps into docks, boats, or curious paddlers, and it’s friendly enough for dogs to ride along. While the epoxy core ensures solid rigidity and balance, the cushioned “croc skin” deck pad adds comfort and traction for a variety of paddling conditions.
Transporting the Cruiser is effortless thanks to its pop-up center carry handle, which lies flat when not in use. Up front, a six-point bungee system provides convenient storage for dry bags, water bottles, or extra gear during longer paddles.
Everything you need is included in the package, including an adjustable carbon-fiber paddle. Seasoned paddlers will especially appreciate the lightweight paddle, which helps minimize arm fatigue on longer sessions.
For anyone searching for a complete, dependable paddleboard setup—particularly for a beach house or lake cabin where multiple riders will share one board—the Isle Cruiser Soft Top is an outstanding choice. Stable, durable, and easy for anyone to use, it’s perfectly suited for families, beginners, and relaxed recreational paddling.
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The Boardworks Versa is constructed using their patented Bombshell Veneer Technology which is a super hard epoxy. The molded composite construction uses ultra durable Kevlar and PVC materials and finished with a beautiful bamboo veneer.
The Versa is designed to be an all-around paddleboard that any skill level can jump on and start having fun. But, don't think this SUP is just for beginners, the Honey Fomb heat embossed deck pad and Extra wide nose and tail allow for excellent performance in nearly all waters.
The carry handle is integrated into the board, which is a feature that we love here at Paddleboard Surf. You bring enough supplies so you can stay out all day on the Versa because of the four D-ring tie downs with bungee cordage for storing water bottles and other gear.
While the Boardworks Versa is a beautiful board, it has a smart SUP design. Its keeled nose cuts smoothly through chop while the flat sections under the tail and standing area helps with a fluid and stable ride.
If you're looking for an epoxy SUP for paddling for the whole family, and you want a beautiful design, then check out the Boardworks Versa.
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The BOTE Flood is the perfect hard paddleboard for a laid-back beach day. The surfboard style shape hits the sweet spot for riding a wave or a relaxing cruise down the beach.
The Flood floats and glides easily and is super durable due to the Gatorshell construction. The Gatorshell construction is an innovative material that designed to handle abuse. BOTE made an excellent video explaining the details of the Gatorshell construction method that you can watch here.
Designed for fun, the Flood is at home surfing small waves or loaded up with a cooler and all the gear you need for a day of flatwater cruising. There are also plenty of accessories BOTE offers to customize this SUP, like the TravelLink carry system and Wheel Rac, but you have to purchase these separately.
If you're looking for a super stable, easy to carry and even easier platform to paddle, the BOTE Flood is going to be the perfect fit for you.
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The Pau Hana Malibu Classic is an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate paddlers who want the feel and performance of a rigid hardboard without paying a premium price. Designed to handle everyday wear and tear, it delivers dependable durability and long-lasting value.
At its core is lightweight EPS foam wrapped in a rugged ABS shell, with reinforced Kevlar rails that add extra stiffness and help the board hold up over time. This construction makes the Malibu Classic tough enough for docks, beaches, and frequent use.
On the water, the board strikes a great balance between stability and glide. Its classic longboard-inspired shape moves smoothly and efficiently, giving new paddlers confidence while still offering enough speed to keep things fun. The generous stability also makes it possible to bring along a small passenger—like a dog—without upsetting balance, making it a solid option for family outings.
The Malibu Classic comes equipped with an adjustable aluminum paddle and Pau Hana’s accessory mounting system, allowing you to add items such as cup holders, paddle clips, or bungee storage. A built-in cable-lock point adds extra peace of mind when securing your board between sessions.
For paddlers looking for a reliable, beginner-friendly SUP that’s sturdy, versatile, and enjoyable to ride, the Pau Hana Malibu Classic remains a proven favorite that’s easy to grow with.
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Final Thoughts
Lightweight stand up paddleboards can tons of fun, especially if you are using them to hike to a hard to get to area like a mountain lake. They come in a wider variety of styles from inflatables to rigid SUPs, so you'll need to find what will work best for your needs.
The boards we listed are some of our personal favorites. We don't always prefer lightweight SUP's, here at Paddleboard Surf we tend to prioritize other performance aspects of the boards than just the weight, but when light weight is the main goal, the boards we listed are our top recommendations.

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.

