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The best stand-up paddle boards you can buy

The best overall

The best stand-up paddle boards you can buy

The best soft board

The best soft board
Liquid Shredder's 10'6" standard soft board is incredibly durable and a lot of fun to paddle in when you're on open water or in small to medium surf.

In the decade and a half since founder Scott McClain began selling his "slick skin" surfboards from a Charleston garage, Liquid Shredder has refined its manufacturing process to a high degree. Liquid Shredder's 10'6" standard soft board is a feather-light 26 pounds and a very stable 32 inches wide and four inches thick.

Liquid Shredder uses a patented construction process. The company begins with a core of extruded polystyrene (EPS) foam that won't absorb water even if the board is punctured. The core is then reinforced with lightweight aluminum I-beam stringers to keep it from flexing or breaking amidst the waves. It is then literally shrinkwrapped inside a padded foam and seemingly bulletproof vinyl skin.

The rails (sides) of the board are then further wrapped all the way around in another protective layer of PVC. The board's ride is stabilized with a set of three soft, flexible fins with smaller 'sidebite' fins that help it track straight and stop it from sliding sideways in steeper waves.

We really liked thoughtful touches like an offset center hand grip which ensures that the short and long-armed can carry the board comfortably, a patch kit in case you should somehow manage to scrape a hole in the board's coating and a small Gore-Tex vent that purges air from inside the board in case you leave it out in the hot sun and the gasses inside it expand.

It also features a small plug near the tail to drain water should any ever intrude and a soft and grippy foot patch that extends over most of the deck.

I've owned my first Liquid Shredder for more than 10 years and it's still going strong. Treat this SUP with a little bit of TLC and it will last a very long time. The one-year warranty though, adds a nice peace of mind.

Pros: Lightweight, kid-friendly, durable, surfs well for a soft board, one-year warranty

Cons: Because the board is so lightweight, it can be a handful in windy conditions, which want to turn it sideways to the wind. We would also love to have some tie downs to secure gear to the deck.

Buy the 10'6" Liquid Shredder SUP from Amazon for $799 (also available in 10' and 11'6")

The best inflatable board

The best inflatable board
The Tower Adventurer inflatable is a durable, sturdy, and easy-to-use inflatable stand-up paddleboard.

Back in 2012, standup paddleboarder Stephen Aarstol appeared on NBC's Shark Tank and convinced billionaire Mark Cuban to take a $150,000 chance on his small paddleboard company. Since that time, Tower has exploded in sales from $100,000 to better than $25 million. The company's formula is quality gear at an affordable price coupled with solid customer service, and it sure works. That's why its inflatable SUP is our favorite.

For a lot of folks, an inflatable SUP makes perfect sense. They're easy to transport, safe for kids and beginners, and with modern composite materials — like military-grade outer skins — incredibly durable. So much so that inflatables are the board of choice for SUP'ers on rock-strewn rivers.

Boards like the Tower Adventurer are made rigid when blown up, thanks to a nifty bit of technology that uses tens of thousands of gossamer threads that join the upper and lower decks. When inflated, the threads act like a network of tiny support columns. At 6 inches, the Adventurer is thicker than many inexpensive inflatable boards, giving it the rigidity of a hard, epoxy-built board. Its seams are also glued with a super strong epoxy. You'd have a very, very hard time splitting it.

The Adventurer features a mildly flexible and easily removable center fin and a pair of permanently affixed 'side bite' fins to help keep the board straight in wind and waves. It comes with a hand pump and gauge and inflates to its full 11 PSI pressure in a few minutes. Note that you will exert yourself blowing it up, and you might be happier with one of the brand's 12-volt electric pumps.

Out on the water, the Adventurer tracks straight and surfs surprisingly well on even medium waves and its soft construction is a confidence booster for any beginner. At 24 pounds, it's also surprisingly light. We've even tested a Tower amidst the waves and sharp coral of Fiji. It glided across the waves and even took the occasional scrape across the reef without puncturing. The three-piece paddle is not as light as high-performance models, but proved durable and perfectly serviceable.

We also really like Tower's inclusion of a carrying strap and its two-year warranty. Some of the company's most oft-cited online praise cites its prompt and attentive customer service. If the board should lead you to spend more time on the water than you think you should, Tower also includes a copy of Stephen Aarstol's book, "The Five Hour Workday" as part of the package — to help you justify your newfound addiction.

Amazon buyers are exceptionally pleased. More than 500 reviews earned the board a 4.5-star average, and 77% of reviewers gave it 5 stars.

If there are downsides to the board, it's in the fact that, like any other lightweight rounded nose board, it's pretty susceptible to being blown sideways in a stiff breeze. Like essentially every other inflatable, too, you can't really turn this board and hold it in line against the wave using its side edges, or 'rails'. They're simply too big and rounded.

When surfing, you have to turn this board by weighting the back. We would love to see D-Rings on this model to attach gear up front, but for just over $500, you can't have everything.

Pros: Lightweight, very stiff, tracks nicely on waves and even amidst mild chop

Cons: Flimsy pump, doesn't do very well in wind and could use D-rings up front. We'd like it even more if it came with a bag and leash.

Buy the Tower Adventurer Inflatable SUP from Amazon for $779 Buy the BPS Storm leash from Amazon for $14.97 Buy the Tower iSUP Backpack from Amazon for $59.95 Buy the Tower Premium iSUP 12-volt electric pump from Amazon for $139.00

The best for surfing

The best for surfing
Naish has been making surfboards since the late 1970s, and the 9'5" Mana GTW may be far from the best paddler, but it's a great surfboard.

If you want a board that can perform in the surf, you'll want to be sure it incorporates something called rocker, which is the front-to-back concave of a board's hull that allows it to sit more comfortably on a wave's face, where a straighter, flatter board (which is great for touring and steady tracking) would be more difficult to maneuver. You'll also want a wider board — at least while you're starting out — for stability.

But whether you're a beginner or not, this is a great board for anyone, especially those planning to ride smaller waves (i.e., most of us). At 9-feet, 5-inches, it's still short enough for sportier spirits to surf a little more aggressively, thanks to the V-rocker and the rockered tail, which really lets you walk back and pivot into a turn with relative ease.

This board will also float most people with its 163-liter volume and 4.75-inch thickness, which grants it the ability to float 210 pounds of human and gear or dog, or pretty much whatever you're willing to strap or try to balance atop its deck.

But just because it can float a lot of weight does not mean it's stable. Maneuverability almost always comes at the cost of stability, and being only 10 feet long this board does not track well, so don't bother trying to take it touring, and if you want a more hybrid-style paddle board, consider our main pick, Adventure Paddleboarding's All Rounder instead.

Outdoor Gear Lab reviewed the previous model of the Naish Mana GTW (which was just seven inches longer and a half-inch thinner) calling it a "great choice for surfing" but complained about it being too slow to track and compete with their other boards, which were all tested for touring, and not so much surfing. Beginners complained that the board felt a little unstable, that is until they found their footing. Again, if you're really set on specifically surfing, this could be a good SUP for you. If not, look for something a little more hybridized.

Pros: Shaped ideally for small to moderate surf, solid construction, exceptionally buoyant

Cons: Too short to perform as a touring paddle board, somewhat unstable, requires deft footing (but this will teach you quickly where to stand and when)

Buy the 9'5" Naish Mana GTW from Liquid Surf and Sail for $1,669 (originally $1,849)

The best for fishing

The best for fishing
The Bōte Rackham AeroBōte makes fishing from a SUP, which is otherwise designated for the most nimble and deft-footed, easy enough for just about anyone.

Fishing from a stand-up paddle board (or SUP) can be highly productive: You're stealthier, you don't draw nearly as much water as you would in a skiff or even most kayaks, which means you're able to work your way into skinnier water, and you're kept high and dry, as opposed to wading.

But then, it can also be something of a challenge: Wind and swell are often keeping your balance in check, anchoring or sitting still is a chore that either requires a lot of paddling or an actual anchor and something to fix it to, and then there's all your gear, which, at any moment, could end up in the drink.

I've always been cautious when heading out fishing on a SUP. I only bring one fishing rod, a small box of flies, a knife that I keep strapped to me, and maybe I'll bring a water bottle, but only if there's mesh or bungee netting to hold it in place. Otherwise, Keeping tabs on both a water bottle and a fly rod or balancing them while trying to paddle gets beyond cumbersome.

There are DIY/jury-rigging solutions to all of this. A pair of bungee cords linked together can make a strap or two, but you have to wrap them around the underside of the board, which creates drag and costs you speed. It's also not the sturdiest thing in the world. You could drill holes into your board, too, but that takes a degree of expertise (and a time commitment) that many of us don't have. It can also get messy and ugly.

But Bōte's Rackham AeroBōte is different.

First of all, at a lengthy 12 feet and 4 inches, this SUP really is bordering on a boat, and it's nearly as stable as one. The only way I fell off was by trying to navigate around the lean post, which was a stupid thing to do, frankly.

Accessorizing the Rackham ends only with your imagination. There are D-rings, bungees, and Velcro galore. Conveniently placed handles make portages and dragging it up the beach a breeze, while an airplane-ready storage bag cinches the whole thing down so you can take it just about anywhere.

The non-slip deck is a no-brainer, but I must add that it feels notably pleasant under bare feet, and the optional lean post makes for a surprisingly comfortable full day on the water. The Rackham is also cooler- or bucket-ready, so you can take a seat, too. I opted to leave mine on the beach for no good reason at all, other than that I thought I'd want the open deck space. In the end, there was plenty, and it would have not only been nice to have a seat but a place to stash and keep a few drinks and snacks chilled.

The lean post is also a nice addition to have underway. It stores fishing rods, and, again, helps you take a little load off while you're paddling or poling along.

The Rackham comes with an adjustable three-piece paddle, which is lightweight and quickly stores in a paddle sheath near the bow for getting your hands free quickly, which I loved when spotting a fish. I don't know how many times I've bent down or turned around to drop my paddle only to spook the fish I was stalking with the loud clank of it hitting the rails of a kayak or the deck of a SUP. This feature should not go overlooked.

Nor should the push pole, which boaters in shallow water use to push along in lieu of a paddle. The brand calls it a "Sandspear" (though keep in mind that it's not included). I'd never thought that a push pole would make all that much sense with a paddleboard, but cruising the sand and grass flats made it pretty clear that I could cover twice as much water with far more stealth than with a paddle, which makes a good deal more noise. You can also add on a little sheath for the push pole, which you can use to anchor in the shallows.

So much of the above rings up a cringe-worthy price tag, I know. But keep in mind that boats are still far more expensive, and if you want a functional, portable, and comfortable fishing SUP, it's going to cost you one way or another, especially if you're not building it yourself. The advantage here is that it's still the fraction of a flats boat, and you can kit it out as you go along, when and where your budget allows. Stripped down, it's still a fun and fishable board, and you'll enjoy the little improvements you make along the way all that much more.

Sure, a full-sized skiff can accommodate more than one person, and the Rackham AeroBōte isn't cheap, but if you like to fish, and you live anywhere near a good, calm fishing hole, fresh or salt, there's nothing better for your adventuring. And, if you want to step it up a bit further, Bōte also offers the Rover Aero Classic, a stouter, micro-skiff-stand-up-paddle-board hybrid that's outboard-engine-ready.

If I ever end up with my beach- or marsh-front dream house, the Rackham, if not the Rover Aero Classic will be my very first purchase. And, if I manage to scrape up some extra dough beforehand, it might just save me a small fortune on charter and rental boat fees every time I fly somewhere to fish.

There aren't many (if any) solid reviews of the Rackham AeroBōte around the world wide web, but you can watch people catching big fish (a kingfish, or king mackerel, outside the surf), bigger fish (a tarpon), and even very big fish (a five- or six-foot blacktip shark) atop similar models on YouTube. You can read my full review here. — Owen Burke

Pros: Stable, maneuverable, and the most customizable, comfortable fishing SUP I've ever tried; comes in camo for hunting

Cons: Expensive; paddle, push pole, lean post, and all other accessories sold separately; not exactly fit for surfing

Buy the Bōte Rackham AeroBōte Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board on Amazon for $1,699 Buy the Bõte Sand Spear 8-foot Pole from West Marine for $120 Buy the Bōte Tackle Rac Paddleboard attachment from REI for $200 Shop all Bōte stand-up paddle boards and accessories at REI, Moosejaw, or Amazon

Check out our other outdoors-related buying guides

Check out our other outdoors-related buying guides
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Mineral sunscreens are highly effective, and far less toxic to small aquatic creatures that can metabolize chemical-based sunscreens, but they usually leave a streaky white mess. We'll never stop searching for the perfect solution, but Thinksport's SPF 50+ Sunscreen is the best trusty, eco-friendly, and almost-sheer option. For the face, Raw Elements' Tinted Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 is on the greasier side, but it blends in better than any others we've tried. Here are all of our picks:

The best sun shirts you can buy

While sunscreen helps keep sunburn and cancerous skin cells from forming, the best prevention is to wear clothes. But even lightweight cotton and linen shirts still allow a good deal of the sun's harmful rays to pass through to your precious epidermis. Do yourself a favor and reach for sun protection clothing, even if you're already wearing sunscreen. Our favorite sun shirt is the Hurley Icon QuickDry Shirt because it's lightweight, protective, and fast to dry.

The best stylish women's sun protection clothing with UPF

Let's face it: sometimes sunscreen isn't enough, especially since dangerous UV rays can penetrate your clothing. Instead of risking it, avoid future sun damage by wearing stylish garments with UPF 50 protection.

To help you find the most stylish sun-smart offerings on the market, we've rounded up five fashionable brands that sell clothing with a minimum of UPF 50.

Here are the best sun protection clothing brands:

The best board shorts you can buy

We've tested nearly a dozen board shorts, and researched many more. After wearing them both in and out of the water, Patagonia's Stretch Planing Board Shorts win our praise for being lightweight, unrestrictive yet sleek, affordable, and the quickest drying pair we tested.

The best sunscreen you can buy

Daily use of a good sunscreen like the Coppertone Ultraguard SPF 70 or theGoddess Garden Organics' Everyday SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen will fend off sunburns today, and help prevent the skin damage that leads to aged, wrinkled, blotchy skin later on in life. Here are the Insider Picks:

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