Picture the scene: you're serenely gliding down the river under the bright blue sky, occasionally waving at passersby admiring your impressive paddle boarding skills. The part they don't see? The minutes spent huffing and puffing away trying to blow up the thing before you can even approach the water.
If you're a fan of paddle boarding, you know how tiring and time-consuming it can be to inflate your board manually. The trick? Investing in an electric pump, so you can reserve your energy for the fun parts.
The first mistake you may make is assuming you can use any old electric pump. While some pumps come with a set of nozzles that can work with most brands, others may require a specific one. Not all electric pumps are compatible with all paddle boards and you'll need to check if the pump you're considering has the right nozzle or adapter to fit your board’s valve.
You'll also want to pay attention to the power source that comes with your pump - ideally before you've left the house for the day, board in tow. Most electric pumps use a 12V DC power source that can be plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter or battery: a convenient option if you can park near the water. But, if you want to inflate your board in more remote spots, you may need a pump with a rechargeable battery or one that can be powered by a portable battery pack.
Lastly, pay attention to the pressure levels. Most boards need between 12 to 15 PSI, but some may go up to 20 PSI or more. Check if the pump you're considering can reach the necessary pressure for your board and has an accurate pressure gauge to monitor it. Some pumps have an automatic shut-off feature that stops the pump when it reaches the preset pressure, designed to prevent over-inflation and damage to your board.
We've rounded up all of the best paddle board electric pumps.
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OutdoorMaster 20PSI High Pressure SUP Air Pump
The OutdoorMaster 20 PSI High Pressure SUP Air Pump takes things one step further when it comes to safely inflating your stand up paddle boards (SUP). The only SUP electric air pump with active cooling system up to 20PSI, it ensures your boards are pumped safely and securely without any chance of overheating, even if you’re inflating multiple SUPs at once.
With a 12A fuse for increased safety, this air pump has a full set of nozzles to fit most high pressure inflatables including C7 and H3 valves. Better yet, it’s also made from eco-friendly materials.
Buy now £109.99, Amazon
HIKS 12 Volt Electric Paddle Board Sup Pump
Ask those in the industry for their top recommendation when it comes to electric SUP pumps and you’ll almost definitely get a few recommendations for the HIKS 12 Volt Electric Paddle Board Sup Pump. With a 12A fuse and overheat cut off, this dual stage pump will inflate your average 10 ‘6 paddle board to 15 PSI in an impressive 12 minutes, built for boards up to 20PSI.
Its attached digital pressure gauge allows you to seamlessly set your pressure preference and use the auto-stop feature to automatically shut off airflow once your desired pressure is reached. And, with its three metre long 12V DC car connector, you don’t need to worry about actually manoeuvring the thing once it’s pumped up, either.
Buy now £77.99, Amazon
Sevylor SUP and Water Sport Electric Pump
This Sevylor SUP and Water Sport Electric Pump is great to keep on a boat or in the car and can inflate up to 15 PSI for rigid SUP boards. The adjustable auto shut-off lets you connect the high-pressure hose to your board, select your pressure and the pump does the rest.
A versatile pump that you’ll love during the summer months, it also features a low-pressure extension hose and adapters included for low-pressure inflatables, meaning you can use this pump for all kinds of water-based adventures.
Buy now £66.30, Amazon
Wave Battery Pump
While it might not be electric in the sense of connecting to mains, this Wave Battery Pump is a great choice for carrying around with you and speeding up the process even when you don’t have a car to plug it into. Perfect for saving time and energy, it offers super fast inflation at the touch of a button and will have your inflatable SUP or kayak water ready in a matter of minutes.
Buy now £129.99, Wave
Decathlon 0-15PSI 12v/15a electric pump for inflatable stand-up-paddle boards and kayaks
Decathlon’s 0-15 PSI 12v/15a electric pump is an effortless choice for easily and quickly inflating your inflatable stand-up paddle boards to high pressures of up to 15 PSI. A popular choice that’s lightweight and easy to use, it has one Boston fitting, one mini-Boston fitting and one high-pressure fitting to ensure all boxes are ticked. Expect around eight to 10 minutes to get your SUP fully inflated to around 13 PSI or a couple extra minutes for the full 15.
Buy now £54.99, Decathlon
iROCKER Electric Pump For Paddle Boards
The bright blue colour of this iROCKER Electric Pump means you’ll never lose sight of it in the boot of the car, no matter how many other things you have packed away there. Lightweight and compact, the iROCKER model inflates all SUPs in 12 minutes or less and will deflate as well.
Complete with a convenient carry handle and cord storage compartment, it easily fits into the top pocket of your paddle board bag and connects via cigarette lighter or alligator clips directly to a 12V battery.
Buy now £63.00, iRocker
Tuomico 20PSI High Pressure SUP Electric Air Pump
A little stronger than your standard electric pump, this Tuomico 20PSI High Pressure SUP Electric Air Pump has a working range of 0.5 to 20 PSI, making it ideal for larger boards when you’re short on time. Usually, it takes about 10 minutes to pump up a regular SUP, meaning no time at all from stepping out the car and onto the water. With digital control and an LED screen to display the set pressure and real-time air pressure, there’s no guessing required when using this pump.
Buy now £55.99, Amazon
Jobe SUP Pump 12V
This lime green Jobe SUP Pump 12V is a fast two-stage low-to-high pressure mechanism that inflates your SUP up to 20 PSI without any effort. Easy to carry and easy to use with a car battery, alligator clips, cables and cigarette lighter connector, it takes virtually no time at all to fully inflate your SUP when using this pump and comes with all the necessary features for a seamless experience.
Buy now £143.83, Amazon
Vachan Sup Electric Pump
You don’t have to spend a fortune to find a versatile, high-powered SUP pump, as proven by the Vachan Sup Electric Pump. This electric paddle board pump features 0-16 PSI and usually takes around 10 minutes to fill a regular SUP. The pump is equipped with a digital LCD display and button controls, which means all you need to do is set the pressure target, use the pressure increase button and press ‘go’ before it springs into action.
Buy now £44.59, Amazon
Aqua Marina 2 Stage 12V - 20PSI Electric Pump for SUP and Kayak
A sleek option that wastes no time at all helping you to get from A to B, this Aqua Marina 2 Stage 12V 20 PSI Electric Pump comes in a cool blue shade and takes mere minutes to fully inflate your SUP. Perfect for when you want to get on the water that bit quicker, the pump will do the job and comes with multiple adaptors to suit all boards.
Buy now £89.95, Decathlon
Verdict
We’re not the only ones who rate the OutdoorMaster 20PSI High Pressure SUP Air Pump so highly - if its close-to-1500 positive reviews are anything to go by. If you’re looking for a seamless paddleboard prepping experience, this electric pump offers everything you need.
