Best 4 Kids Paddle Boards | Our 2021 Buying Guide

In this buyer’s guide, we’ll list our 2021 top picks for the best paddle board for kids. As the sport of paddle boarding continues to grow, it’s exciting to see so many youths getting involved, and there are some really nice kids SUP boards available…

When it comes to buying a youth SUP board, it should come as no surprise that we recommend iSUPs. Inflatable paddle boards are much more convenient and far easier to transport than hard boards, and they’re more forgiving if a child falls on the board or gets bumped by it. As parents, the last thing we want is an injured child and inflatables are a safer alternative to traditional hard stand-up paddle boards.

In this buyer’s guide, we’re including kids paddle boards in a wide variety of price points so you’ll be able to find the best inflatable SUP for your child, regardless of budget. Also, all of the boards we’ve listed are durable, lightweight, and come with a full warranty.

So without further ado, let’s get to it…

Best Kids’ Paddle Boards for 2021

	BOARD	DIMENSIONS	CAPACITY	WARRANTY	PRICE
thurso-prodigy	THURSO Prodigy 7'6"	7'6" x 30" x 4" 19 lbs	80 lbs	2-year warranty, 30-day money back returns	Check Price
bluefin-cruise-jr	Bluefin Cruise Junior	8' x 29" x 5" 22 lbs	265 lbs	5-year warranty, 60-day money back returns	Check Price
honu-airlie	HONU Arlie	8'6" x 27" x 5" 12 lbs	135 lbs	2 years warranty + 4 years free accident repairs, 30-day money back returns	Check Price
nixy-huntington	NIXY Huntington	9'6" x 32" x 6" 19 lbs	250 lbs	2-year warranty, 30-day money back returns	Check Price

THURSO SURF Prodigy 7’6″

7’6″ x 30″ x 4″
Availability: US, Canada, UK, Europe

The 7’6″ THURSO Prodigy is an unbelievably cool-looking board that is well-built and includes a great package of accessories. Measuring 7’6″ x 30″ x 4″ and weighing in at 19 pounds, this board is capable of supporting a max weight of 80 pounds. Freshly updated for 2021, THURSO Prodigy now comes in three colors — Azure, Magenta, and Emerald — which makes this board stand out from the pack.

The THURSO Prodigy includes a nice SUP backpack, 3-piece carbon hybrid travel paddle, and 8 foot coiled safety leash. Note that the Prodigy does NOT come with a pump this season as they assume most families already have a pump (one can be bought as an optional add-on).

The Prodigy has a 30-day return guarantee and a 2-year warranty.

Bluefin SUP Cruise Junior 8′

8′ x 29″ x 5″
Availability: US, UK, Europe

Another one of this year’s best youth SUP boards is the Bluefin SUP Cruise Junior 8‘. Measuring 8’ x 29″ x 5″, the Bluefin Cruise Jr. inflatable paddle board comes with an incredibly nice bundle of accessories which includes an adjustable paddle, travel backpack, kayak seat conversion kit, safety leash, dual-action hand pump, and repair kit. At the nose of the board is a D-ring for towing, a GoPro action camera mount, and a bungee cord storage area. The Cruise Junior also features front and rear grab handles for easier handling and multiple D-rings along the rails. While it’s higher priced than THURSO’s Prodigy, you get some extra features, a better accessory bundle, and a 5-year warranty. 

Overall, this is a very high-quality kids’ paddle board that comes with everything your child needs to get out on the water.

Honu Airlie 8’6″

8’6″ x 27″ x 5″
Availability: US, Australia

A new high-quality kids paddle board option the US this year and the only one on our list available in Australia is the Airlie kids paddle board from Honu. Hailing from Australia — where it’s made paddle boards for nearly 20 years — Honu just arrived in the US for the 2021 summer season. Like all of Honu’s SUPs, the Airlie kids features high-quality woven and fused drop-stitch construction making the board both ultralight and stiff.

The Airlie measures 8’6″ long by 27″ wide and 4.7″ thick and weighs only 12 pounds. Honu recommends the Airlie for kids weighing 80-135 pounds. It comes well outfitted with Honu’s standard roller bag, an HP7 dual-action pump, 10′ coiled safety leash, repair kit and tool-less lever-lock center fin.

Unlike most brands, Honu does not include the paddle in their SUP accessories, instead allowing you to select from their range of paddles — or save your money if you already have a favorite paddle. If you do buy a paddle with a new Airlie, they recommend the Element Jr. and they’ll give you a 20% discount on the bundle.

Finally, The Airlie comes with Honu’s standout 2+2 warranty. That’s two years of warranty replacement plus an additional two years of free accidental damage repairs — one of the best coverages we’ve seen in the industry. Handy when it comes to a kids board!

NIXY Huntington G4

9’6″ x 32″ x 6″
Availability: US, Canada

While not specifically designed to be a paddle board for kids, the NIXY Huntington’s smaller form factor and ultra-lightweight design make it an ideal choice for children. The Huntington G4 measures 9’6″ x 32″ x 6″ and weighs in at only 18.75 pounds. This board is feature rich with action mounts, adjustable/removable front and rear bungee storage areas, and d-rings for attaching an optional kayak seat.

In addition to a 2-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee, you also get a top-notch set of accessories including a three-stage pump, carbon-hybrid paddle, heavy-duty roller bag, and 10 foot coiled leash, and repair kit.

For more details on this iSUP, be sure to read our in-depth NIXY Huntington review.