Merax Inflatable Paddle Board: Best Beginner SUP

In my quest for my first stand up paddle board (SUP), I was looking for something that would provide a great beginner experience, be good quality, and be affordable.  I decided that my first paddle board to purchase would be an inflatable paddle board, mostly because it could be stored easily.  After looking around, I ended up purchasing a Merax Inflatable paddle board and am really happy with the purchase.

What you get.  The Merax Paddle Board comes with a 3 piece adjustable paddle, back pack storage bag, repair kit, removable rear center fin, pump with pressure gauge.  Let’s take a closer look at this inflatable paddle board.

What I was looking for in a Beginner’s SUP

•  Easy to transport
• Affordability, but still a quality board
• All Purpose
• Large Size for kids, fishing, and fitness
• Accessories

Putting it Together

It took me a few minutes to completely inflate the paddle board.

The pump worked fine, but it was a little bit of an upper body workout to inflate the board.

An electric pump would be much easier.

All in all, the pump that’s provided is easy to use and does the job.   One thing to note, I couldn’t seem to get the gauge on the pump to work, but I’ll continue to play around with it.

The paddle went together with ease.  The upper adjustable portion says it’s 48 inches.  I haven’t measured the full length of the paddle but would guess it tops out around 8 feet.

The paddle does float in the water.

The back fin was easy to connect.  It slid in a traction grove and was secured with a butterfly screw and square nut.  I appreciated that the rear fins had small inflatables covering them to protect them.

Comfort

The Merax Paddle Board provides maximum comfort for the SUP rider. The board it self consists of a heavy duty PVC and feels like it is good quality.

It has a comfortable traction pad and the thickness of the inflated board tops out at 6-inches, providing plenty of cushion. The traction pad is grooved, so it doesn’t become slippery when wet.

I spent a lot of time standing, kneeling, and sitting on the board without any discomfort.   The board provides good balance and stability.

The overall size of the board is 10’6 x 32” x 6” which makes it feel very roomy.  I rode with each of my kids ranging from 4 years to 8 years without it feeling cramped at all.

I probably could’ve had a few of my kids on the board at the same time, but it does say it has a 300 lb weight capacity.

The Ride

The lake I was on was pretty crowded with boats and jet ski’s, which at times created some choppy water.

After I adjusted to the board, it was smooth, and I felt like it absorbed any waves fairly well.

It glided in the water great and I didn’t have to take a ton of strokes to cover a good bit of ground.  This board moves pretty quickly and I was out in the middle of the lake in what felt like a blink of an eye.

The paddle is sufficient and didn’t feel overly heavy.  The board turned well without too much force.  It defiantly helps with control to have the larger rear fin to go with the two small fins.

I’ve seen some boards with just the three small fins mounted on the board.

Features of the Board

I really appreciate the high pressure valve system on the board.  It was simple to connect the pump to the valve and lock it into place.

After locking it in, no air was leaked, and the air went in properly.  After removing the pump, the air valve closed preventing excess air leakage.

The valve is easy to deflate with a push button that can lock to stay open.  The board itself has a bungy cord attachment on the front end of the board to allow for securely carrying any items.

The board has several handles to make it easy to transport in and out of the water.  It also has a rear stainless steel d-ring to connect an anchor or secure it to a docking station.

I would’ve liked it if the board came with an ankle strap, but it wasn’t a huge detriment.

Storage

The paddle board was easy to deflate and fold up into the bag.  I appreciate the back pack like bag, which made it easy to carry out.

It fit great in the trunk and stores well in the bag.  The bag is a canvas bag, that also includes various side pockets.

Specs from Merax:

• 🏄🌊 Double Layer PVC & EVA Pad 🌊🏄 Robust and impact-resistance double layer PVC construction with 6” thickness adds incredible durability and better rigidity for surfing. Non-slip groove EVA traction pad lets you paddle in comfort and style. Ready for your exploration adventure whether into the oceans, lake, rivers, or lagoons to your desire.
• 🏄🌊 32″ Wide Stance Stable Rides 🌊🏄 Merax iSUP offers a generous amount of length, width and thickness (10’6” x 32” x 6”) to achieve optimum balance between stability and tracking, suitable for novice to advanced riders. No need to worry when bounced off rocks or any hard surface. A front bungee system allows for simple gear attachment and keeps them in place at all times through waves.
• 🏄🌊 Agile & Superior Maneuverability 🌊🏄 A tri-fin setup allows for great tracking in small waves or wind chop, with the large center one enhances speed and tracking, two smaller side fins keep the tail stable in maneuver. The removable large center fin is easy and quick to attach when you want to maximize your time on the water.
• 🏄🌊 Lift SUP Handle for Easy Portability 🌊🏄 A high pressure valve can easily be locked into open or closed position for rapid inflation or deflation (235 liters of volume). The front nose handle and Lift SUP handle offer solid grab points for easy transportation, which can also be used as tie up points for docks or leash.
• 🏄🌊 Complete Paddle Board Kit 🌊🏄 We’ve prepared almost everything you need to get out and get lots of waves. The complete bundle includes Board, 3 Piece Adjustable Paddle, High Pressure Dual Action Pump with Pressure Gauge, Removable Fin, Repair Kit, and Carry Backpack. Weight Capacity up to 300 lbs.

Best Inflatable SUP for Beginner

I believe that the Merax Inflatable SUP provides a great experience for a first time paddle board or the beginner.

The Merax paddle board, moves at good speeds, provides the comfort, maneuvers well, and is easy to put together.

Beginners will appreciate the 6-inch thickness of the board for easier balance.  If you want something that you can get right up on and enjoy, take a look at this board.

It is extremely affordable and for the quality, it’s a great buy with two color options to choose from.  I’d highly recommend checking this SUP out.

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