Does Paddleboard Thickness Really Matter? Yes – but maybe not how you think…

Why thickness matters

An inflatable SUP needs to be thick enough to support your weight and stay rigid. The less flex, the better it will paddle. But there’s a balance to strike. 

Go too thick, and you start to lose that connected feeling to the water – the higher you stand, the higher your centre of gravity, so the less stable you’re going to get. In choppier conditions, the board will feel even more unsettled beneath your feet. Plus, with more of the board exposed above the waterline, there’s more surface area for the wind to catch so you’ll be blown about more easily. 

That’s why thickness isn’t just another spec on a product page. It has a real-world effect on stability, control and confidence.

As George says in our video:

“Buying an inflatable paddleboard that’s too thick is like trying to stand on an exercise ball. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of focus and a lot of practice.”

It’s a punchy comparison – and it gets straight to the heart of the issue. When you’re perched too high above the water, balance becomes much harder work than it needs to be.

Thinner feels more stable

This is where centre of gravity comes into play. When you stand on a thinner board, you’re closer to the water. That lower stance helps you feel more balanced, more connected, and more in control. Small shifts in weight feel easier to manage, and the board responds in a calmer, more predictable way.

For all-round paddling, that matters enormously. Whether you’re just starting out, paddling with family and friends, or simply want an easier, more enjoyable time – feeling settled on your board builds confidence fast. That’s why our award-winning Ride paddleboards are just 4.7" thick, thinner than most other all-rounders on the market.

More connection, less compromise

A thinner board feels more connected to the water. Rather than sitting high and feeling corky or bouncy, a well-designed lower-profile board feels more natural underfoot. It’s easier to feel what the water’s doing and easier to make small corrections to your balance before it’s too late. In breeze and chop, that can make a huge difference.

Less thickness also means less board above the waterline, exposed to the wind. So instead of being pushed around so much by gusts, you feel more in control of where you’re going. 

Thinner boards are quicker to inflate too, so you can hit the water faster. And then, even if you do fall in, getting back onto a board that’s lower to the water is so much easier. 

So, why are so many boards 6" thick?

Because thickness is a shortcut – for most inflatable brands, it’s a common way to achieve an acceptable level of stiffness. A 6" board is easier and cheaper to make using more generic inflatable construction methods. 

But for recreational or all-round paddling, that extra thickness is a compromise – not an advantage. It raises your centre of gravity, catches more wind, and can leave you feeling less stable and less confident.

So the question isn’t just: ‘How thick is the board?’ It’s also: ‘How well is it built?’

MSL® construction is the difference

Our exclusive MSL® construction is what allows us to create 4.7" boards that stay super-stiff without needing to be too thick. We can build thinner boards – and still make them stiffer – because of the materials and technology inside them.

Developed over many years, our high-density drop-stitch weave gives a Red board its strength, helping it feel more solid and controlled on the water. And our MSL® boards can inflate to over 20psi too: much higher pressure than lesser constructions. That’s why we don’t have to resort to extra thickness to achieve rigidity – we properly engineer it into the core of our boards.

What about longer boards?

On boards over 11' long, we also use our patented RSS (Rocker Stiffening System) battens to increase rigidity even further. This can increase stiffness by up to 40% – combined with our refined MSL®800 material, we’ve even made our 12'6" Sport+ just 4.7" thick while still delivering optimum rigidity and performance. 

Not every board should be the same thickness though – for example, longer touring and raceboards still benefit from being deeper for specific reasons, such as carrying more kit or delivering greater stiffness over a longer shape. 

The key takeaways

So, does paddleboard thickness matter?

Absolutely. But not in the simplistic way many people assume.

Choosing the thickest board will not give you the most stable ride. For most all-round paddling, a board that’s too thick will feel wobblier and be more affected by wind and chop. 

Whereas a thinner yet equally stiff board will feel more stable because it keeps you lower, more connected and more in control.

That’s why we design our beginner and all-round SUPs at 4.7" thick. Combined with our MSL® construction, it gives you the stability, confidence and control that make paddleboarding feel fun and easy from the very first stroke.