SUP Paddle Board with Seat

John paddle boarding with Silli in Monterey Bay, CA.

Looking for a looking for a SUP Paddle Board with Seat? Here are the 10 most important things to consider. Having spent thousands of hours paddling seated in a variety of environments, we have a lot of experience to offer so that you can have the best paddling experience possible. When looking for the best paddle board with seat, there are different criteria to consider than when you are only planning to paddle standing. Here are the top 10 things you need to know.

Top 10 most important things to look for in a SUP paddle board with seat

#1 - Type of Paddle Board

Paddle boards come in different types, like all-around, touring, and inflatable among others. Each type suits different kinds of activities and skill levels. An all-around board is a good choice for beginners and casual paddling while touring boards are designed for long distances and flatwater. In general, you don’t want to choose a small surfing type paddle board or a racing paddle board since they are typically narrow (less than 30 inches wide) and can be a bit wobbly, especially if you are just getting started.

Read more about the Best Paddle Boards with Seats to learn about the best board sizes and brands.

Julie paddling in Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

#2 - Seat Quality & Ease of Use

When looking for a SUP paddle board with seat, consider the quality and comfort of the seat as well as features that make it easy to attach and detach the seat.

Regarding quality, look for seats made from non-corrosive materials like aluminum. Also look for seats made from UV resistant materials like marine vinyl, canvas, and UV resistant mesh.

In terms of comfort, look for seats made with a quick dry material, a comfortable yet dry seat bottom and an adjustable backrest for a comfortable experience. Most inflatable paddle boards have a variety of places to attach and detach seats. This provides the flexibility to switch between standing and seated paddling in addition to the ability to change where you put the seat depending on how you plan to paddle, the gear you are bringing, and whether or not your dog or a friend may be joining you. Lastly, look for a seat with good back support so that you will be comfortable.

Many people like to use clip on Kayak seats, but we prefer seats with a metal from since they provide better back support and we find them to be way more comfortable for long paddles.

Read more about the best seats for paddle boards.

#3 - Board Size

The size of the SUP board affects its stability and how easy it is to use. Usually, longer boards are faster but harder to maneuver. Wider boards are more stable but slower. The right size also depends on your body weight and skill level.

In general, for recreational paddlers we suggest two board sizes.

If you plan to paddle alone and don’t like bringing a lot of gear we suggest a board that is 10-11 feet long, 30-31 inches wide and 6 inches thick.

However if you want to feel stable and secure in all conditions, even on ocean paddles, if you like to bring a lunch and drinks, if you like to paddle with your dog, if you weigh over 200 pounds, or if you want the option to bring friends we suggest a 11-12 foot long paddle board that is 31-33 inches wide and 6 inches thick.

#4 - Construction Material

The material of the board will influence its durability and performance. Most people will tell you that traditional hard SUPs are usually more robust and better for performance, while inflatable SUPs are easier to store, carry and more beginner friendly. That’s all true. However, when it comes to putting a seat on a paddle board, you have a lot more options with an inflatable paddle board. Why? because there usually are more tie down points to secure the seat on an inflatable board. This allows you to use a seat in multiple ways. For example, you may want to stand while your child sits in the seat. Or you may want to paddle with two people seated in seats.

In addition, since an inflatable paddle board is less rigid than a hard board, you can place a folding beach chair in the deck, sit down and have a great day. If you try the same thing on a rigid board there is a greater chance of the chair slipping off or feeling wobbly depending on the width, any foam cushioning and the curvature of the hard board.

John paddling with Julie's mother and her dog Brilla on Lemolo Lake in Oregon

#5 - Weight Capacity

Each SUP board has a weight limit that should not be exceeded. It's important to consider your weight along with that of any gear or extra passengers you intend to bring. While the weight of a paddle board seat is typically less than 5 pounds, you do want to think about whether or not you will want to paddle with two people on the paddle board or with a large dog.

Many people that paddle standing up are not interested in having extra passengers that may upset the balance of the board. But because paddling seated is so much more stable, it is really fun to bring kids, friends and even large dogs.

#6 - Ease of Setup

If you're considering an inflatable for your sup paddle board with seat, look at how easy it is to blow up and assemble. Boards that come with a high-quality pump will make setup much easier. You may also want to consider a portable or electric pump so that inflating your board will always be quick and easy.

One thing that is very important to know if you plan to paddle board sitting down is that you don’t need to inflate the board to 12-15psi like you would if you plan to paddle standing. When you are sitting, your weight is more distributed, so you only need to inflate your board to 5-7psi.

This makes inflation with a manual pump quick and easy since most pumps require much more muscle to pump once you hit 7psi. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to inflate a paddle board to 5psi

john inflating paddle boards monterey ca

John inflating our paddle boards with our electric pump in Monterey, CA.

#7 - Additional Accessories

Look for SUP paddle board with seat packages that come with a paddle, leash, pump, seat and carrying bag. Having these will save you from buying each item separately. Most entry level and recreational paddle board packages will come with these things (more and more are coming with inexpensive kayak seats).

At the same time, be prepared to upgrade the seat and paddle unless you are buying a higher end board made by a company like Bote, iRocker, Hobie or High Society. Why? If you plan to paddle both standing and sitting, you will want a convertible paddle, not just a standard stand up paddle. It is much easier to paddle while seated using a paddle with a blade on both sides. So if your package does not come with one, you will want to invest in a convertible paddle or a straight up kayak paddle that feathers.

Read about the best paddles for paddle boarding.

The seats that come with the lower end packages are typically very inexpensive kayak seats. Not only do this not have much padding or provide good back support, but you will be sitting in a puddle of water. While these seats work just fine if you are just getting started and unsure if paddle boarding is a sport you will enjoy, you will quickly want to upgrade your seat.

Read our review of the best seats for paddle boarding.

#8 - Design and Features

Some SUP paddle board with seat packages have features such as cargo nets for storage, built-in cooler tie-downs, or fishing rod holders. The design and additional features should meet your specific needs. These are all really great to have, especially if you plan to do more than paddle alone.

We find these features important since we typically bring a cooler to keep drinks and food cold as well as lots of water since we love to paddle out to interesting things to have a snack or lunch. And the kids get cranky if we don’t feed and water them! (smiles)

#9 – Price

SUP paddle board with seat can vary significantly in price. Establish your budget and try to balance your needs with how much you are willing to spend.

Typically, you can get a nice inflatable paddle board with good features to get you started for less than $500.00.
If you want one of the well-known brands expect to pay between $800 and $1,500.

Read our review of the High Society paddle board product line to get an idea of the options and pricing for a really well-made board.
If you are looking for a more economical, but comprehensive set of options read our review of the Best Paddle Boards with Seats

#10 - Reviews and Ratings

Always check for reviews and ratings of the SUP board before purchasing to understand the experiences of others and to ensure you're making a reliable choice. Our mission is to take the guess work out of the process for you since we have had personal experience with a wide range of boards in a variety of settings. Therefore, we can provide comprehensive reviews that go way beyond what you can get on Amazon or the questionable reviews you see on product websites.

We hope this has helped you narrow down your search for your perfect SUP paddle board with seat.

We hope to see you out on the water!