Kids' Inflatable Paddle Boards

Children as young as two can learn the basics of paddle boarding! If your child can sit up on their own, then they can hang out on the front of your adult paddle board as you paddle—and maybe even practice a bit of paddling themselves.

Just make sure you do this in a safe, controlled environment on flat water, without strong currents, stay within arm's reach of your child at all times, and ensure they’re wearing a properly sized and fitted life jacket. Generally between ages 6 and 8, a child will be able to graduate to their own board, like the Weekender Nano.

The best paddle board for kids should be around eight feet long and 28 to 30 inches wide. A light overall weight is important so your child can carry their board to and from the water. Easy grab handles help with this, too. Textured deck pads, which boost grip, are a key feature, as is a durable, puncture-resistant construction (PVC is a good choice). Also, look for included accessories like bungee cord storage space, a leash, a pump, an adjustable paddle, and a carry backpack.

Like a kids’ bike, your child will size out of their kids’ paddle board eventually. By their teens, they will likely prefer to use adult paddle boards. That’s why it's important to keep costs down when purchasing a kids’ inflatable paddle board. Aim to spend between $200 and $250 on a reliable, durable kids’ paddle board. This will ensure you avoid cheap, bargain-bin quality, but also don’t shell out an arm and a leg for an item your child will eventually outgrow.

The best kids’ paddle boards are around eight feet long. This length offers the perfect blend of maneuverability, stability, and performance for most children. Children younger than age five or six are usually best off riding on the front of an adult’s board, while most teenagers will be best on an adult board, like the 10’6” Weekender.

Certainly! Anyone can paddle board in the ocean with the right experience and gear. However, ocean paddle boarding is much more difficult than flatwater paddling. Waves and currents make it harder to maintain balance, keep a steady course, and make headway.

If you have an ocean paddle boarding trip planned, give yourself and your child time to practice in a sheltered, calm body of water—such as a marina or inlet—before heading out into the open ocean. Don’t forget to use a leash and wear a life jacket!

Start by practicing on land (without fins on the board!) to familiarize your child with the board and paddle. Find a calm, shallow area of water to practice climbing on and off the board and paddling while kneeling. Once your child is comfortable kneeling, help them stand up slowly, keeping their knees bent and focusing on balance. Offer positive encouragement and gradually increase the duration and distance of paddling sessions.

Yes, of course! Even the smallest of children can hang out on the front of an adult paddle board while you paddle around. However, it’s recommended that your child be at least two years old and able to sit up on their own. Be sure they are wearing a properly sized and fitted personal floatation device (PFD) and that you’re paddling in a calm, controlled body of water, without wind, waves, or strong currents.

Laws vary from state to state, but the most common law is that one Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) is required per person on all watercraft (even kayaks and paddle boards). Although adults aren’t legally required to wear their PFD, paddlers under 13 years of age must wear one at all times. Still, PFDs only work when you wear them, we believe all paddle boarders should wear properly fitted and sized PFDs at all times.

If you’re wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket and practicing in a safe, controlled flatwater environment, it’s technically “safe” to paddle board even if you can’t swim. Standing up on a board and paddling is an entirely different activity than swimming, and a life jacket will keep you afloat when you do fall in.

However, while learning to paddle board, you will fall off the board into the water repeatedly and will have to pull yourself back on the board time and time again. There’s no way around that. For this reason, it’s best to have at least a basic level of experience swimming and treading water before you start paddle boarding, even though your life jacket will keep you safe.

Kids’ paddle board weight limits vary. Both our current-gen Weekender Nano and legacy Weekender Nanokids’ paddle boards have 140-pound capacities. If your child is older, taller, and/or heavier, consider looking at one of our adult paddle boards, most of which have weight limits of between 275 and 300 lbs.

Of course! A medium-sized adult paddle board like our 10’6” Weekender is a great choice for older children. Many kids aged 10-12 and up skip the “kids’ paddle board” stage altogether, and simply start paddling on an adult board. These longer, heavier boards may be slightly harder to power and maneuver at first, but they’ll soon grow into the board.

An inflatable paddle board is much better for kids than a solid (or “hard”) paddle board. Inflatable boards are softer and more forgiving, making them safer in case of falls. They’re also lighter and easier for children to carry and maneuver, and much more durable—resistant to dings, scrapes, punctures, and other damage.

It’s best for kids to paddle board with three fins. More fins means improved control, stability, and tracking, making it easier for your child to stay upright and steer their board. There are some advantages to single-fin paddle boards—namely low drag and increased speed—but for a kids’ paddle board, not to mention most inflatable paddle boards in general, a tri-fin configuration is the best choice.

Stand-up paddle board paddle sizing for children and adults works the same. For basic recreational paddling, add 8 to 10 inches to the paddler’s height to get the ideal paddle length. The three-piece adjustable Nano paddle that’s included with our kids’ paddle boards can adjust up to 5.5 feet, the maximum comfortable length for any child using an eight-foot paddle board.

If your child is close to five feet or taller, they’ll be more comfortable on an adult paddle board. Our adult boards come with an adjustable paddle that stretches up to 7 feet. You could also consider our Weekender iSUP 3 Piece Paddle.

Paddle boarding is generally considered easy to learn for beginners. The wide, stable boards make balancing easier, and the paddling motion is relatively intuitive. Many people are able to stand up and paddle on their first try. However, factors like wind, waves, and the type of board can make it more challenging. Starting in calm, flat water and practicing proper technique can help beginners quickly gain confidence and skill.