Hi All,
Beginner with a budget here.
Wanting to buy a SUP for my partner for his birthday. He's 85kg and a beginner, mainly wanting it for calm waters at areas like Hervey Bay esplanade with next to no waves. Any recommendations on decent budget iSUPs less then $400? I can't help but feel like they will break after using once and maybe they are better to avoid and look at second hand cheaper hard boards to start with? The ones I was looking at were: Kings adventure ($300), Seacliff CXF310 ($350) Bestaway HydroForce Wave Edge ($300).

Thank you !!

You get what you pay for in this life, one way or another.

To go into the pros and cons of these boards would take more time than I'm inclined to devote to these pieces of junk, but here's an example of the problems you face as a beginner buying something you know nothing about:

The dimensions of the Bestaway are given as:

Dimensions: 310 x 68 x 10 cm (L x W x H) Maximum load capacity: 100 kg

68 cms is FAR too narrow for a beginner.

100kg is suspiciously low, and since the specs don't give volume or the pressure you can pump it up to, this "board" could literally be like a pool inflatable toy for all you know.

AVOID at all costs IMO.

I can't be arsed to look in detail at the others - it fills me with despair. For instance the Seacliff also does not list the recommended pressure and says that it comes with a "Telescopic aluminium oar with ABS blade". OK, so the thing we use to PADDLE (not row) a Standup PADDLEboard is a PADDLE (not an oar) right? The clue is in the name you dimwits.

These are "landfill SUPs" destined to be used twice and then spend the next million years polluting some landfill site somewhere.

Please buy a used decent brand iSUP or hard board instead. Even better might be to buy your husband a lesson or two instead, so he can discover what kind of board is right for him, and then buy one of those. Boards are quite a personal choice.

But in general look for a board in the 10'6"-11'6" range that is between 30" and 34" wide, and is made by one of the better-known SUP/windsurf/surf brands, e.g. (in no particular order):

Fanatic, Naish, Starboard, Sunova, RRD, Jimmy Lewis, SIC, BIC, NSP, Surftech, Coreban, Gong, f-one, Quattro, Imagine, Infinity, Rogue, 401, Red Paddle Co.

Wait to get something decent if you have to. A SUP is a safety item as well as a sports item: don't take risks with water safety.

Many hire places sell
off their fleet cheaply at the end of the season.

Your local shop will be able to give you plenty of advice as to which board might suit your husband.

being on the wrong board is a miserable experience.

Buy right, buy once.

Of course, these are just my personal opinions...

Surfboard Warehouse have amazing specials at moment . Get one from there. Awesome value for money

Buy a good brand board.
1 It will be built right and strong
2 It will have good resale when you upgrade
3 Buying second hand can get you a good price and the opportunity to try it first.
4 Buy a good paddle, not a boat oar !!!!

Hi everyone, thanks for your feedback. Are honu 9 8' a decent board?
thanks

Select to expand quote

BLeighT94 said..
Hi everyone, thanks for your feedback. Are honu 9 8' a decent board?
thanks

If you are going for that brand then get the 10-6. 500 dollars sale price is a bargain for what you want IMO. The 9-8 is more of a wave board and might be a little tippy for a beginner who wants to cruise harbours etc.

10'6" x 32" is about the perfect dimensions for an all-round beginners board, if the beginner is of average weight and has respectable fitness and agility.

https://honu.com.au/stand-up-paddle/53-116-sup-deepblue.html