“The river has great wisdom and whispers its secrets to the hearts of men.” Mark Twain is definitely on to something.
Paddling a river, whether slow-moving, whitewater, or anything in-between, is a different experience than paddling on flat water. You can point your paddle board against the current for a workout (and easily wind up right where you started at the end of the day), or you can let the river do all the work while you enjoy the sights and sounds of the riparian area. For the adrenaline junkies, whitewater paddle boarding is an absolute blast, though you will need some more specialized equipment to stay safe.
So what makes the best paddle boards for rivers? It is going to depend on the river. You can paddle large, flat, slow-moving rivers on just about any paddle board you would use on flat water – even super-skinny racing SUPs. For this list we focus on what makes a good paddle board for those faster-flowing rivers with features not found on flat water like eddies and wave trains. These rivers are classified according to the International Scale of River Difficulty. This system breaks rivers down into six classes based on technical difficulty and hazards.
For rivers up to Class II, you’ll want a board that is relatively wide (>33”) and between 10’6″ and 11’6″ long. Ideally, the board will also have a moderate amount of nose rocker (how far the nose rises from the water) and a wider outline for better stability.
For rivers Class II+, you’ll want a specialty river SUP that is wider (>34”) and shorter (<10’) with a significant amount of nose rocker, and preferably with some tail rocker as well.
Other considerations when choosing a river SUP are durability and fin selection (especially in shallow rivers).
Lastly, there are some differences in your accessories to consider when paddling on rivers.
Leashes: Leashes save lives; however, wearing an ankle or calf leash while paddling a river can become a deadly hazard. Never wear an ankle/calf leash when paddling a river. Instead, wear a quick-release leash mounted to your torso. These leashes allow you to release the leash and board if it becomes tangled or stuck.
PFDs: River paddlers, especially those on rowdier rivers, often find themselves in the water. Wearing an inherently buoyant PFD (rather than an inflatable) is particularly important for river paddlers to help keep them afloat in turbulent conditions, and it has the added benefit of heat retention and a bit of padding.
Helmets: Anyone paddling whitewater should wear a whitewater-certified helmet. Unlike bicycle helmets, whitewater helmets are designed to withstand multiple impacts and provide lasting protection in a sticky situation.
Crew: Paddling with a partner (or a whole crew) is a great time on the water, makes shuttling back to the start of your run easier, and adds a huge degree of safety.
Now that we’ve cleared up some technical and safety information, let’s get to the good stuff—our picks for the Best Paddle Boards for Rivers!
Best Paddle Boards for Rivers Comparison Chart
| section-hd | Top-Rated Paddleboards for Dogs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD | DIMENSIONS | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | PRICE | |
| Hydrus Joyride XL | Hydrus Joyride XL
| 11’6” x 34" x 6" 25.5 pounds | 400 lbs | 10 years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Price |
| Gili Meno 10’6” | Gili Meno 10’6”
| 10'6" x 35" x 6" 23 pounds | 450 lbs | 2 years, 60-day return period | Read Review Check Price |
| Thurso Max Multi-Purpose | Thurso Max Multi-Purpose
| 11’6 x 34" x 6" 29 pounds | 370 lbs | 2-years, 30-day return period | Read ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Blackfin Model X 6.0 | Blackfin Model X 6.0
| 10’6 x 35" x 6" 26.2 pounds | 450 lbs | 3 years, 45-day return period | Read Full ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Red Padle Co. 11’ Wild MSL | Red Padle Co. 11’ Wild MSL
| 11’ x 34" x 5.9" 27 pounds | 330 lbs | 5 years, 30-day return period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Hydrus Axis 98 | Hydrus Axis 98
| 9’8” x 35.5" x 6" 24 pounds | 300 lbs | 10 years, 30-day return period | Read Review Check Price |
| Badfish Rivershred | Badfish Rivershred
| 9'6" x 36" x 6" 32 pounds | 300 lbs | 3 years, 30-day return period | Review Coming SoonCheck Price |
Best Paddle Boards for Rivers Up To Class II
Hydrus Joyride XL
11’6” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada
Read Full Review Here
Use code “BOARDER” at checkout to take 12% off the Joyride XL
One of Hydrus Board Tech’s main focuses is river paddling. The Hydrus Joyride XL is an excellent all-around iSUP for flatwater and rivers. The board has a triple-layer composite construction with an aramid fiber (Kevlar) layer for industry-leading abrasion resistance. This no-stretch material, welded seams, and a 25 PSI max pressure rating make it an incredibly durable and stiff inflatable board. A little extra rocker in the nose of the board rounds out its river-ready design.
The Joyride XL has three different fin options: A long touring-style fin for deep or flat water, a 6.5” keel-style fin, and a 4.5” gummy fin perfect for shallow rivers. Because of its US Fin Box, if those fins don’t work for you there are thousands of other options available.
While the Joyride XL does not automatically include a paddle, Hydrus offers a high-quality Tough Blade carbon fiber paddle with their proprietary Armalight coating for extra durability – even on shallow river runs.
Bottom Line:The Hydrus Joyride XL is a fantastic option as a do-it-all river and flatwater iSUP.
Gili Sports 10’6” Meno
10’6” x 35” x 6”
Availability: US, International Shipping Available
The Gili Sports 10’6” Meno’s super-versatile feature set makes it a great option for river paddlers. The 35” width and wide nose and tail keep the 10’6” Meno very stable while paddling on less-than-stable waters. The myriad onboard features let you deck the 10’6” Meno out for whatever type of adventure you have in mind, and the diamond-groove tail pad gives extra grip and confidence when stepping back to lift the nose over those wave trains and smaller drops.
The 10’6” Meno has multiple fin options for the three flip-lock fin boxes, so you can easily customize the tracking and maneuverability performance.
Bottom Line:The Gili 10’6” Meno is a shorter, stable iSUP ready to bridge the gap between flatwater and river paddling.
Thurso Surf Max Multi-Purpose iSUP
11’6” x 34” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada, UK, EU
Read Full Review Here
The Thurso Surf Max is a great choice for River SUP Anglers. Its woven drop stitch and carbon fiber reinforced rails make it very stiff and durable. This keeps it responsive on the water without the need to baby it in shallower or rockier conditions.
The triple fin setup uses a US Fin Box center fin and two FCS two-tab fins for the sides. This gives you access to a huge number of fin configurations and options to really dial in the Max’s maneuverability and draft depth.
Lastly, Thurso’s carbon fiber/nylon hybrid paddle is light and stiff but also features a rubberized T-grip. This gives you more control over the paddle angle in the water and a more secure feeling in the hand.
Bottom Line: The Thurso Surf Max Multi-Purpose is ready for your fishing trips on rivers, lakes, and streams.
Blackfin Model X 6.0
10’6” x 35” x 6”
Availability: US, International Shipping Available
Read Full Review Here
The Blackfin Model X 6.0 is what happens when you cross a feature-rich fishing iSUP with a nimble shape and throw in 35” of width for great stability.
You can easily customize the triple fin setup for better tracking or maneuverability, even with shorter fins for shallow waters. The wide shape keeps the Model X incredibly stable, even as you ride those “Class Fun” rapids through your favorite stretch of river.
A dual-layer PVC shell and carbon fiber reinforced rails keep the Model X safe from damage while paddling down shallower rivers, and the woven drop stitch core keeps the board lightweight and rigid for quick maneuverability.
Bottom Line: The Blackfin Model X 6.0 is a durable, versatile, and stable iSUP for river SUP and fishing.
Red Paddle Co. 11’ Wild MSL
11’0” x 34” x 5.9”
Availability: Worldwide
Red Paddle Co. is known for their innovative technology and high-quality paddleboard designs. The 11’ Wild MSL benefits from both in a board ready for river trips.
The MSL technology keeps the Wild lightweight, while the rectangular midsection and wide nose add great stability. The triple-fin setup uses US Fin Boxes and FCS two-tab boxes for great flexibility. Additionally, the grippy embossed and diamond-groove deck pad covers the complete width of the board (even around the top of the rails) for wide, stable, and secure stances
Bottom Line: The Red Paddle Co. 11’ Wild MSL is a great choice for a high-quality construction river exploration inflatable paddleboard.
Best Paddleboards for Rivers Class II+
Hydrus Axis 98
9’8” x 35.5” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada
Use code “BOARDER” at checkout to take 12% off the Axis 98 or Axis 88
The Hydrus Axis 98 is not built just for running whitewater; it’s designed to have fun on it. The continuous rocker profile is slightly less pronounced than some other whitewater SUPs, but this keeps the Axis faster in the water and tracking better across currents, eddy lines, and through lateral waves without sacrificing its ability to navigate haystacks and holes.
The triple-layer composite PVC construction, featuring a layer of aramid fiber, produces an incredibly stiff inflatable board at all pressures. This translates to better stability and tighter control.
The quad fin setup features two US and two FCS two-tab fin boxes, and the Axis ships with a whopping 8 different fins for you to choose from, including a custom-designed low-profile fin for the FCS two-tab boxes. Just behind the fins is a hard foam rail designed to help release water from the back of the board to increase speed – especially when surfing.
The Axis comes in two different sizes for paddlers of different sizes – the 98 (9’8” x 35.5”) and the 88 (8’8” x 34.5”)- and is backed by their lifetime warranty.
Bottom Line:The Hydrus Axis 98 is an incredibly well-made and well-designed whitewater SUP that blends performance, durability, and versatility.
Badfish Rivershred
10”6” x 35” x 6”
Availability: US, Canada
Full Review Coming Soon
The first thing you’ll notice about the Badfish Rivershred is how much rocker this board has. The high, continuous rocker profile allows you to dial in exactly how high the nose is riding and how engaged your fins are just by shifting your weight forward or backward a few inches on the board (rather than stepping all the way back like you do on SUPs with kick rocker profiles). With these small changes, you can minutely control the speed of your turns, the angle of your drops, and your nose position while surfing.
The tri-fin setup uses a single US fin box and two FCS two-tab fin boxes for customization. On big water expeditions, you can use larger fins to better maintain your lines, and on technical creeks, you can use low-profile fins for better maneuverability and clearance.
Bottom Line: The Badfish Rivershred is made to give you the most control possible to shred the river!
Best Paddle Boards for Rivers FAQs
What Makes a Paddle Board Good for Rivers?
Beyond the wide, slow-moving rivers that can be paddled with just about any flatwater SUP, river-specific paddle boards have extra width (typically >34”), more rocker, especially in the nose, and constructions that prioritize durability over weight savings. River-specific SUPs focus more on maneuverability than tracking so paddlers can navigate more technical sections of fast-moving water.
Do I Need Any Specialty Equipment to Paddle Rivers?
Yes! Especially if you are paddling whitewater at any difficulty level.
First, you need an appropriate leash. The constantly flowing current of a river presents a hazard in itself, even in “calm-looking” rivers. Ankle or Calf leashes are not safe to use on the river. If they become tangled on an object, you may not be able to reach it to free yourself. Instead, use a quick-release leash attached to your torso (either with a belt or on your PFD). This way, you can easily reach and disengage your leash if needed.
PFDs and Helmets are also absolutely necessary for any whitewater paddler. An inherently buoyant PFD provides flotation on every swim – and in turbulent water you may not float as well as you think! A whitewater-specific helmet is designed to protect you even if you are in the water for a prolonged time. Bicycle helmets and helmets designed for other sports do not provide adequate protection for whitewater sports.
What Length Paddle Board is Best for Rivers?
Size your board based on your cargo and speed needs for slower rivers and rivers up to Class II whitewater. You can use a smaller paddle board if you doing day trips without much equipment. If you are loading up for a five-day trip, you’ll want a larger board with a higher capacity. As you paddle into more technical rivers (Class II+), a shorter paddleboard offers far greater maneuverability than a longer one – particularly when it has with plenty of nose and tail rocker. This lets you easily change your course and move with and across currents.
Recommended Gear for River Paddlers
While most SUP kits will have everything you need for flat water, there are a few accessories that will give you a better and safer experience on the river.
- Quick-Release Leash – A Quick-Release Leash (or a Quick Release Belt for a standard leash) is a must-have for river paddle boarders. These leashes are worn around your torso or attached to your PFD and have a quick-release mechanism to allow you to easily detach yourself from the leash/SUP in case of entanglement. The Red Paddle Co. Quick Release Belt allows you to easily convert any standard ankle/calf leash to a quick-release leash.
- Inherently Buoyant PFD – A PFD should be on your must-have list, and river paddlers should cross inflatable PFDs off their list of options. Inherently Buoyant PFDs like the Astral YTV will keep you floating on every swim (and river paddlers tend to fall more than flatwater paddlers), and they provide padding for your body if you are in shallow water.
- Dry Bag – Not everything we bring on our SUPs should get wet. Soggy sandwiches and waterlogged phones can ruin a good day out on the water. Dry bags come in various shapes and sizes to fit your needs. See our Best SUP Dry Bag reviews here.
- Electric Pumps – Using the hand pump that comes with your board is a great way to warm up for your day paddling. But now and then, it’s nice to relax while getting ready. Electric SUP pumps are easy to use and let you focus on other things while inflating your board. See our Best Electric SUP Pump reviews here.
Final Thoughts – Best Paddle Boards for Rivers
Whether on the river for a casual cruise, fitness session, or whitewater expedition, having the right stand up paddle board can make a huge difference in your comfort on the water. Always paddle safe and within your skill level. Now, get out there and enjoy the adventures the river brings.
Good, and timely article. Just had a buddy ask about a SUP for running rivers. I gave him some advice, then found this article which mirrored most of what I told him. FYI, under the best paddleboards for class 2+ the Hala Atcha picture is actually a Gili. And the more detailed description for the Badfish Rivershred the size is listed at 10’6″x35. Actual, and what is listed above is 9’6″x36. Also, I think the Badfish Monarch would make a good addition to the under class 2 boards.
Thanks for the catch on the Atcha and the sizing. Something must have gotten messed up when transferring from my notes to the site! I’ll get that fixed asap. The Monarch is a good all-around board as well.