Not all paddle boards are built for the same kind of fun. Some are designed to do everything pretty well, while others are purpose-built for speed, yoga, fishing, or charging rapids. Understanding the different styles of paddle boards makes it much easier to pick the right one for how you actually paddle—not just how it looks on the beach.

Below is a breakdown of the main SUP styles, what they’re best for, and who they’re designed to serve.

Best for: Beginners, families, casual paddlers, “one board to do it all”

All-around paddle boards are the Swiss Army knife of SUP. They’re designed to handle a little bit of everything:

• Flatwater cruising

• Light chop on lakes and bays

• Casual surf

• Paddling with kids or dogs

• A bit of yoga or stretching

Key traits of all-around boards:

• Shape: Rounded nose, fairly wide midsection, moderate tail

• Width: Typically 31"–34" for stability

• Length: Usually 10'–11'6"

• Feel: Stable, forgiving, and predictable

They’re ideal for new paddlers who haven’t decided on a “specialty” yet, and they’re also the board that even experienced paddlers keep in their quiver because it just works for almost any session.

Best for: SUP yoga, meditation, mobility work, ultra-stable flatwater sessions

SUP yoga boards are all about stability and space. They’re designed to be floating yoga mats, giving you a wide, grippy platform so you can focus on your breath and balance—not on staying dry at all costs.

Typical features:

• Extra width: Often 33"–36" or more

• Wider nose and tail: Maximizes usable deck area

• Full-length or oversized deck pad: Soft, non-slip cushion for standing, kneeling, or lying down

• Gentle rocker: Keeps the board planted and stable on flatwater

Boards like the Glide Lotus series are tuned specifically for this kind of use—stable enough for poses like Warrior, Triangle, or even headstands, but still easy to paddle to and from your favorite quiet cove.

Best for: Distance paddling, fitness, exploring lakes, bays, and coastlines

Touring paddle boards are built for efficiency. They’re designed to cover more water with fewer strokes, making them perfect for:

• Long day paddles

• Camping trips and expeditions

• Fitness and endurance training

Typical touring traits:

• Longer length: Often 11'6"–14'

• Nose shape: More pointed or displacement-style nose for cutting through water

• Narrower width: Usually 29"–32" to improve glide

• Tie-downs: Extra bungees for dry bags, food, and gear

Touring boards feel noticeably faster and smoother once you get moving. They can still be quite stable, especially in the wider sizes, but they favor paddlers who are comfortable standing and want to turn their paddling into real adventures.

Best for: Competitive paddling, speed junkies, advanced fitness training

Racing SUPs are the Formula 1 cars of the paddle board world. Everything about them is tuned for speed:

• Narrow width: Sometimes as narrow as 23"–28"

• Long length: Typically 12'6" or 14'

• Streamlined outline: Minimal drag and maximum glide

• Lighter construction: Often stiffer and more responsive

These boards demand good balance and technique. For newer paddlers, they can feel twitchy or unstable. But for experienced paddlers, the payoff is real: they fly across the water and respond to every bit of power you put into your stroke.

Best for: Anglers, gear-heavy paddlers, SUP camping, wildlife watching

Fishing paddle boards are designed to be floating docks—wide, stable, and ready for gear. They’re ideal if you want to stand and cast, drift quietly, or load up for a long day on the water.

Common features:

• Extra width and volume: Huge stability for standing, casting, and moving around

• Gear mounts: Action mounts or tracks for rod holders, fish finders, or cameras

• Multiple tie-down points / D-rings: For coolers, dry bags, tackle, and anchors

• Durable construction: Built to handle dogs, coolers, and shore launches

These same traits make fishing boards fantastic for SUP camping, snorkeling platforms, or simply paddling with a lot of extra weight on board.

Best for: River paddlers, surfable river waves, adventurous paddlers

Whitewater SUP boards are a more niche category—but one of the most fun for thrill-seekers.

Characteristics:

• Shorter and wider: For stability and quick maneuverability through rapids

• Durable construction: Reinforced rails, impact-resistant shells, or heavy-duty inflatables

• Rockered nose and tail: To ride over waves and avoid pearling in rapids

• Special fin setups: Short or flexible fins to avoid catching rocks

Boards like the Glide Lochsa are purpose-built for this environment—able to bounce off rocks, handle shallow features, and surf stationary river waves while keeping you in control.

Best for: Wave riding in the ocean or beach breaks

Surf SUPs blend the world of surfing and paddling. They’re designed to:

• Catch waves earlier and more easily than traditional surfboards

• Let you stand and scan for sets

• Carve, trim, and cut back on the face of a wave

Typical surf-SUP traits:

• Shorter length: Often 7'6"–10'

• Narrower outline: More responsive rail-to-rail

• Pronounced rocker: Helps prevent nose-diving and improves turning

• Surf fin setups: Thruster or quad configurations

Many riders keep both an all-around board and a dedicated surf-SUP, using the former for flatwater and the latter when the swell shows up.

You’ll also find specialized boards for:

• Kids: Shorter, lighter boards sized for smaller paddlers, easier to carry and control

• Multi-person / tandem boards: Oversized platforms designed to hold two or more adults, or the whole family plus a dog

These aren’t always separate “styles” in the technical sense, but they’re worth knowing if you’re outfitting a family fleet.

When you’re trying to decide which styles of paddle boards are best for you, figure out:

• Where will I paddle most? (Lakes, rivers, ocean, surf?)

• What do I want to do? (Cruise, fish, tour, race, yoga, surf?)

• How important is stability vs speed?

• Will I paddle with kids, pets, or extra gear?

For most people, an all-around board is the best place to start. From there, you can add specialized boards—like a touring SUP, fishing SUP, or yoga SUP—as you discover what you love most.

At Glide, our goal is to build boards that match how people actually paddle: durable, stable, and fun, whether you’re chasing rapids, doing sunrise yoga, fishing a hidden cove, or taking your first ever strokes on flat water.

When you find the style that fits your life, every session feels better.