Inflatable SUP Revolution – What To Look For In A Good SUP Pump

Why should I buy a different pump from the one supplied?

Not all SUP pumps are equal. Moreover, the majority of the manual pumps that come with the paddleboard packages are not suitable for long-term use.

As a frequent paddleboarder, these pumps can be unreliable when you’re looking to get your board ready and start paddling quickly.

In contrast, a more powerful pump specialized in inflating iSUP’s will do the job more efficiently and precisely. Plus, these pumps are usually sturdier than the standard single-chamber single-action inflation devices.

Therefore, after purchasing one of these pumps, you won’t have to worry too much about them breaking down after a month of use.

Additionally, the precise control over PSI level will protect your watercraft from being overpressured. This protection will, in turn, improve the lifespan of your board.

In a nutshell, with one of these pumps, you will spend less time pumping and enjoy more time paddling the waves!

What pump accessories are essential?

Paddleboard pumps have a few essential accessories which you will need to operate these devices safely and efficiently. 

For instance, a manual pump requires an inflation hose, pressure gauge, and a secure footplate to function correctly.

In contrast, the electrical pump requires a power source (car, battery), power cords, inflation hose, and a set of nozzles when working.

Moreover, a bag to carry, protect these pumps during travel will further assist the paddlers.

What is the best type of manual pump?

There are several types of manual SUP pumps available in the market. But, the best of these pumps should be lightweight, portable, efficient, and easy to use.

So, typically, the dual chamber, dual or triple-action pumps with an integrated PSI gauge should perform better than the standard pumps. Nevertheless, for the traveling SUPer, a lightweight single-chamber dual-action pump would be the perfect fit.

Now, without further ado, let’s look at some of the best manual paddleboard pumps to figure out what makes them stand out!

iROCKER Full Throttle HP6

The Full Throttle HP6 pump from iRocker boasts a perfect balance between power and efficiency.

It’s a manual pump with dual chambers and a triple action setup.

Moreover, it comes with a PSI gauge that will allow you to keep an eye on the inflation level. 

Furthermore, the two chambers together with the triple action system make it easy to inflate even the medium-sized boards in a relatively short time. After all, it works almost twice as fast as the standard SUP pump!

Nonetheless, this pump is pretty heavy. As such, it may not be very suitable for paddlers who frequently travel long distances to get to the water. But, its superior work efficiency more than makes up for this flaw.

In a nutshell, this is the overall best type of manual SUP pump. Check Current Price Here

Red Paddle Co TITAN II SUP Pump

Red Paddle Co’s Titan was already one of the best SUP pumps out there when it came to performance. But, the superior Titan II takes the iSUP inflation process to a whole new level with greater precision and tremendous power.

It’s another manual SUP pump with twin chambers. Moreover, it can pump out air at an incredible 60 mph!

Additionally, it has a PSI gauge that offers a more precise read on the pressure level. Also, it’s pretty easy to assemble, disassemble. This way, it sports decent portability despite being a double chamber manual pump.

However, like the iRocker Full Throttle, this pump is pretty bulky and heavy compared to the compact single chamber pumps.

Yet, if you want a reliable manual SUP pump, you can’t go wrong with the Titan II. Check Current Price Here

Scoprega Pump Bravo 101

With innovative technology, Scoprega has designed the Bravo 101 SUP pump, which is compact and lightweight.

It’s a single chamber dual-action manual pump with a built-in PSI gauge.

Furthermore, due to its shorter design, men, women of all ages, heights can use it comfortably. As such, it’s also great for junior paddlers, beginners, and their smaller SUP boards.

However, it’s nowhere near as powerful as the iRocker Full Throttle or the Red Paddle Co Titan II. Thus, it may take a long while to pump up the larger touring boards of family SUP boards like the ISLE megalodon.

Nevertheless, it remains an excellent choice for paddlers who plans to paddle occasionally or have to travel long distances to get near a body of water. Check Current Price Here

What power source do you need for an electric pump?

The majority of SUP electric pumps come with cigarette lighter power cords or alligator clips. If it has a cigarette lighter connector, you will need a car to power the pump.

On the other hand, pumps with alligator clips can draw power from a battery pack. Usually, a 12V battery is suitable for these pumps.

Moreover, some pumps can also operate with power from your boats or more oversized vehicles with solar panels.

What is the best type of electric pump?

The recent inflatable SUP revolution has led to a sharp increase in the number of electric SUP pumps. Moreover, there are many different types of these electric pumps to meet all your needs.

But, the best type of electric pump for an iSUP is the one that’s most convenient for you!

In other words, it should be able to inflate all of your paddleboards in a relatively short time while consuming little power.

Fortunately, most of these pumps can draw power from the cigarette lighter port of your car, vehicle, or a 12V battery. Furthermore, some SUP pumps may even be compatible with a boat’s battery!

Thus, let’s take a detailed look at the best types of electric pumps for your SUP.

OutdoorMaster Shark II SUP Electric Air Pump

OutdoorMaster’s Shark II (second generation) is hard to beat when it comes to speed and efficiency. Plus, with its patented FACS technology, it can fill up 3 SUP boards at one go without overheating!

It comes with a 12 DC car connector for power. Additionally, it boasts a 12 A fuse that offers increased safety.

Moreover, the device can safely support boards that require a PSI range of 1-20. It comes with a digital sensor that has an incredible accuracy of 0.01 PSI!  

This way, you can inflate your watercraft to the proper air pressure with precision. Furthermore, this is a dual-stage pump, so, initially, it can fill up your SUP board pretty fast and only slows down when it reaches above 15 PSI or more.

Also, it has a set of nozzles that will fit most watercraft from major SUP board brands. 

But, this pump lacks crocodile plugs, so it might not work with all 12V battery packs. Yet, if you have a vehicle, you can use this pump wherever you need it, and it can even inflate or deflate kayaks or boats.

All in all, its excellent work efficiency makes it one of the best electric SUP pumps! Check Current Price Here Or Read Our Physical Review Of the SHARK pump for an in depth insight

THURSO SURF SUP Electric Pump

The THURSO SURF SUP electric pump is lightweight and compact. It has the advantage of being automated, and it can inflate boards faster.

It has a cigarette lighter and alligator clips for power. Thus, it can function with both the car connection and the 12V battery pack!

Furthermore, it can fully inflate a SUP board to 15 PSI in about 10-15 minutes.

However, it does require a cooling time between each inflation to avoid overheating. So it may not be as suitable as the OutdoorMaster Shark II if you need to inflate a couple of boards at the same time., 

It does, however, support most SUP’s that have the Halkey-Roberts valve.

In essence, this is the ideal electric SUP pump for the traveling paddleboarder.  Check Current Price Here

Pros & Cons for electric iSUP pumps VS manual iSUP pumps

Whether it’s electrical or manual, the SUP pumps have their unique characteristics. These factors make them suitable for specific paddleboarding activities.

As such, let’s take a look at the core advantages and drawbacks of these devices to figure out what they are best for,

Electric SUP pump

PROS

• Fast
• Efficient
• Powerful
• Precise
• Automated
• Versatile

CONS

• Requires a power source such as a battery pack or a car connection
• Needs more maintenance
• Has a cooldown period
• Expensive

VERDICT

The electric SUP pumps are ideal for paddleboarders who need to inflate multiple boards or high-pressure paddleboards quickly.

Manual SUP pump

PROS

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Easy to handle, maintain
• It fits inside most Sup travel bags
• Excellent for cardio
• Versatile
• Durable

CONS

• Slower compared to the electric pumps
• Not very precise
• Requires a fair bit of strength to fill up higher PSI boards

VERDICT

The manual SUP pumps are excellent choices for recreational paddlers or those who occasionally enjoy these watersports.

A few tips & tricks to pick the best SUP pump

When picking a SUP pump, you need to look for functionalities that fit your needs. However, it can be challenging to determine how well a pump will perform without testing it out in several situations.

So, in this section, we’ll share with you a few tips and tricks to make the process easier.

• First, if you plan to paddle frequently, you may want to pick up an electric pump. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort.
• On the other hand, if you are a beginner or use a smaller board with a low PSI requirement, the manual pump will get the job done.
•  If travel space isn’t an issue, a dual-chamber manual pump or a powerful electric pump will offer greater efficiency.
• In contrast, if you need to travel often to enjoy paddleboarding and space is an issue, you can get one of the lighter, more compact pumps.

Furthermore, you will need to pay close attention to the pump’s maximum power and how much PSI it can handle. After all, a poorly inflated board can easily ruin the weekend for you and your family!

Bottom line

Paddleboarding has become a favorite activity for watersports lovers worldwide. In addition, due to the Inflatable SUP revolution, this sport is becoming more and more accessible to people of all ages and heights.

But, these inflatable boards require a good SUP pump to offer better performance.

So, no matter which pump you choose, whether it’s electric or manual, ensure that it has the capabilities to fill up your watercraft appropriately.

Afterward, with one of these top-quality pumps, you’ll be free to paddle the waves and enjoy your future SUP adventures!