Best Stand Up Paddle Boards For Kids and Youth - 2023
The fun water sport of stand-up paddle boarding is one of the fastest-growing sports for both youth and adults. We did our research and compiled the best results in our top list of kids paddle boards. We hope these recommendations will help you get the best kids SUP equipment so you and your kids can be safe and enjoy the water together.
Keep in mind that kids obviously grow up and get bigger. They will eventually outgrow a smaller board and need to move to a longer and wider board. You can easily spend a thousand dollars on a new paddle board. There is no need to spend that much on a kids board. At the time of writing, all of our recommended kids stand-up paddle boards are between $200 and $550 for the package. Most packages come with a paddle board, paddle, and several accessories. See each package below and check the Info tab to see what is included with each package.
Our Top Kids Stand Up Paddle Board Picks
Kids Paddle Board Reviews & Details
#1 THURSO SURF
Prodigy Junior Kids Inflatable SUP
This paddle board is our best pick for a kids SUP. It is a great all-around board that is durable and stable. The size is only 7ft 6in long and at 30in wide, it still has a great width for extra balance. It has a flat tail which also increases stability. It is made from extremely durable material that can withstand the bangs and bumps kids will give it and it is available in two different colors (pink or blue).
The package includes an adjustable 68″ to 84″ carbon shaft paddle that is lightweight (only weighs 2 pounds) and floats. The adjustable size is great for different arm lengths and no matter what paddle you get for your kid, make sure it floats. The package also includes 3 removable fins, a leash, and a carry bag. Note, this package does not come with a pump. See the Package Info tab below for pump recommendations.
Some smaller adults have tried using this board and it doesn’t work well, maybe it would be okay if you are sitting. But even though the manufacture says the weight capacity is 165 lbs, this is still a kid’s board. The board is too short for an adult.
At the time of writing this review, this is the 2nd most expensive board on our list. Prices are always changing, but if you know your kid/s are into paddle boarding and enjoy it, this is a great board to ride on. If your kids have never tried paddle boarding and are exploring the sport, you may want to go with one of our lower-priced recommendations before investing more money in a board that may not get used very much. See #5 for our lowest-priced recommendation.
Size:
Length 7’6″ (228 cm)
Width 30″ (76 cm)
Thickness 4″ (10 cm)
Board Weight:
19 lb (8.6 kg)
Volume:
150 L
Weight Capacity:
165 lb (75 kg)
SUP Package Includes:
- 1 Thurso Surf prodigy junior kids inflatable stand up paddle board (pink or blue)
- 3-piece adjustable carbon shaft paddle
- 3 removable quick lock fins
- 10ft double swivel coiled ankle leash
- SUP storage duffle bag
- NO PUMP included in package. Thurso offers a quality pump that with inflate and deflate here. But any SUP pump with an HR valve adapter can inflate the board.
#2 DAMA
Youth Inflatable SUP
The Dama is also a great all-round paddle board for kids and teens, but at 10ft it can be a little long for some younger kids. It is available in two colors, green (we think it is more turquoise than green, but green is how the manufacture labeled it) and blue. This is also a very durable board made out of quality materials that can withstand the use from kids.
The accessories included in this package are very nice. It includes basically everything you need to get out on the water. It comes with a hand pump, 3-piece collapsible aluminum paddle that floats, ankle leash, repair kit, the large center fin is removable, 5L waterproof bag, transparent waterproof cell phone bag, and a large SUP storage backpack. Some SUP packages come with fairly cheap accessories, but this DAMA package uses quality accessories.
This is a lightweight board and holds the air really well. With the provided pump, you can pump up the board in 5 minutes.
Size:
Length 10′ (305 cm)
Width 30″ (76 cm)
Thickness 4″ (10 cm)
Board Weight:
16.5 lb (7.5 kg)
Volume:
232 L
Weight Capacity:
210 lb (95 kg)
SUP Package Includes:
- 1 Dama youth inflatable SUP (green or blue)
- 3-piece aluminum shaft paddle (floats)
- 1 removable fin
- Coiled ankle leash
- Double action pump
- 5L waterproof bag
- Waterproof cell phone bag
- SUP storage backpack
- Repair kit
#3 FREEIN
Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
At only 7 feet 8 inches long and 28 inches wide, this is an excellent sized board for kids. The performance isn’t going to be excellent, but it is a good beginner board. It is manufactured from high-quality double-wall technology that provides extra durability. The deck pad is comfortable to stand on and control balance.
This package only comes with the board and a paddle making this the package with the least amount of accessories. This isn’t a bad thing, but you’ll need to have a pump, ankle leash, and bag to make it fully functional. Also, several people commented that the paddle seemed a little heavy for kids.
One thing to note about this board, with it being slightly narrower, it can make it a little bit more difficult to stabilize on the board while standing. Also, there aren’t any bungee cords on the board. Usually, kids don’t use bungee cords to carry much, but they can be nice for holding their sandals.
Size:
Length 7′ 8′ (233 cm)
Width 28″ (71 cm)
Thickness 6″ (15 cm)
Board Weight:
9 lb (4 kg)
Volume:
248 L
Weight Capacity:
176 lb (80 kg)
#4 AIRHEAD
Popsicle Inflatable SUP
The Airhead is an excellent kids paddle board, but also the most expensive (at the time of writing this review) out of our top 5. It is a shorter board at only 7 feet long but has great width of 30 inches. The shortness and width make this board easy to balance on and control in the water. This board was not built for adults.
It has four fixed fins which will help the board stay straight on the water. It has an extremely comfortable deck pad that is easy to stand on and also has a tail kicker.
One thing to notice with this package is that it doesn’t include a paddle. So you will obviously need to get a kids paddle unless you will be towing the board around everywhere. This package does include a stainless steel towing ring, so it does give you the option to pull the board around. Kids can sit on the board and towing can be quite a fun ride. Another downside is that this board also doesn’t have any bungee cords for kids to hold their sandals or anything else they may have with them.
The accessories included in this package are very nice. It includes basically everything you need to get out on the water. It comes with a hand pump, 3-piece collapsible aluminum paddle that floats, ankle leash, repair kit, the large center fin is removable, 5L waterproof bag, transparent waterproof cell phone bag, and a large SUP storage backpack. Some SUP packages come with fairly cheap accessories, but this DAMA package uses quality accessories.
This is a lightweight board and holds the air really well. With the provided pump, you can pump up the board in 5 minutes.
Size:
Length 7′ (213 cm)
Width 30″ (76 cm)
Thickness 6″ (15 cm)
Board Weight:
19 lb (9 kg)
Volume:
243 L
Weight Capacity:
120 lb (55 kg)
SUP Package Includes:
SUP Package Includes:
- 1 AIRHEAD Popsicle 730 kids inflatable stand up paddle board (popsicle color)
- 4 fixed fins
- Stainless steel tow ring
- Hand pump
- Pressure gauge
- Valve wrench
- Board strap
- Repair kit
- NO PADDLE included in this package. AIRHEAD offers a quality adjustable paddle here.
- NO LEASH included in this package. Unigear offers a quality 10′ coiled leash here.
- 3-piece aluminum shaft paddle (floats)
- 1 removable fin
- Coiled ankle leash
- Double action pump
- 5L waterproof bag
- Waterproof cell phone bag
- SUP storage backpack
- Repair kit
#5 YASKA
Children Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
The Yasaka comes with a decent all-around package that includes everything you need to get started. the board is great, but the accessories such as pump and paddle are of lower quality. This package is a great value and a good choice for someone who is going to try out paddle boarding and see what they think without investing a large amount of money. The full package comes with all the accessories you need but they aren’t the best of quality.
This is a good beginner board for youth and kids. With an additional layer of PVC, the board rails are very durable. At 9 feet long and 30 inches wide, this paddle board provides great stability and balance. It has three bottom fins that help with steering and keeping the board straight. The board does inflate and deflate easily. However, there are several comments that the pump stopped working after several uses.
Overall, we think this is a great beginner board that will allow kids to get into the sport of stand-up paddle boarding. The accessories aren’t as quality but the board is.
Size:
Length 9′ (270 cm)
Width 30″ (76 cm)
Thickness 4″ (10 cm)
Board Weight:
9 lb (4 kg)
Volume:
248 L
Weight Capacity:
160 lb (72 kg)
SUP Package Includes:
- 1 YASAKA children’s inflatable stand up paddle board (green and yellow)
- 3-piece aluminum shaft floating paddle
- Hand pump
- 3 removable center fin
- Ankle leash
- Carry bag
- Repair kit
Kids & Youth Paddle Board Comparison Table
Scroll to see all details ->
| Product | Image | Dimensions | Weight | Volume | Capacity | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7'6" x 30" x 4" |
19 lbs |
150 L |
165 lbs |
||
|
|
10' x 30" x 4" |
16.5 lbs |
232 L |
210 lbs |
||
|
|
7'8' x 28" x 6" |
9 lbs |
248 L |
176 lbs |
||
|
|
7' x 30" x 6" |
19 lbs |
243 L |
120 lbs |
||
|
|
9' x 30" x 4" |
9 lbs |
248 L |
160 lbs |
Scroll to see all details ->
What To Look For In A Good Stand Up Paddle Board For Kids and Youth
Two of the main things to look for in a kids stand-up paddle board are the size and the weight. If the board is too long, it will be hard for a shorter and lighter paddler to control and turn. If it is too heavy, they won’t be able to carry it down and back from the water.
- A good SUP length for kids is around 8 ft or less.
- A good lightweight SUP board for kids will be around 20 lbs or less.
Also, make sure your child is using a paddle that floats. If they happen to drop their paddle in the water, it is much easier to retrieve the paddle if it is floating on the top of the water compared to sinking to the bottom.
A lighter-weight paddle will help kids keep it better under control and not get their arms tired.