The best SUP bag depends on your board. For a hard board, a padded bag like the Curve SUP Travel Bag protects it from dings and sun; for an inflatable, a wheeled backpack like the Thurso Surf roller bag saves your shoulders on the walk to the water.
We haven’t tested these bags hands-on. We picked them from manufacturer specs, owner reviews, and whether you can buy them right now. Three of the five bags from the 2021 version of this list are no longer available on Amazon, so we replaced them.
Our picks at a glance
- Best for hard boards: Curve SUP Travel Bag, 10mm padding with a full-length zip.
- Best cheap hard-board cover: Ho Stevie! SUP Sock, a stretchy cover for storage and sun.
- Best wheeled iSUP bag: Thurso Surf Roller Backpack, wheels plus backpack straps.
- Best iSUP backpack: BPS Inflatable SUP Board Bag, padded and made from recycled plastic.
- Best roomy iSUP backpack: Tower iSUP Backpack, fits boards up to 14 feet.
Your inflatable probably came with a bag. Upgrade if the straps are thin, the zips have failed, or you walk more than a few minutes to the water.
Heavy padding for hard boards on the road or in the air
Curve SUP Travel Bag
Curve’s travel bag is built for hard boards. It has 10mm foam all round, a tough 600D base and a silver reflective top to keep heat off the board. A full-length YKK zip opens the bag wide, so you drop the board in instead of sliding it.
There’s a built-in paddle holder with a padded blade cover, a closable fin slot and a large inside pocket. It comes in lengths from 9’0” to 14’0”.
Who it suits: hard-board owners who drive long distances with the board on the roof, fly with it, or store it somewhere it could get knocked.
| Spec | Curve SUP Travel Bag |
|---|---|
| Board type | Hard boards |
| Padding | 10mm foam |
| Outer | 600D polycanvas base, silver reflective top |
| Sizes | 9’0” to 14’0” |
| Extras | Paddle holder with blade cover, fin slot, inside pocket |
| Weight | About 11 lb (11’0” size) |
| Warranty | 12 months on components and workmanship |
| Price | Around $205 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Thick padding for travel
- Easy to load thanks to the full-length zip
- Reflective top helps in the sun
- Holds your paddle too
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky and heavy to store when empty
- You need the right length, so measure your board first
Verdict
The bag to buy if your hard board travels a lot.
A stretchy cover for storage, sun and roof racks
Ho Stevie! SUP Sock
A sock isn’t padded like a travel bag. It’s a stretchy knit polyester cover with a reinforced, padded nose and a drawstring at the tail, so you can pull it over a board in seconds without removing the fin.
It’s mainly for keeping UV off the board in storage and for preventing scratches while you load the car. It works on inflatables too.
Who it suits: hard-board owners who store their board outside or in a sunny garage, and anyone who wants a cheap layer of protection on the roof rack.
| Spec | Ho Stevie! SUP Sock |
|---|---|
| Board type | Hard or inflatable |
| Material | Stretch knit polyester, 600D nylon on the nose |
| Sizes | 8’0” to 12’0” |
| Width (unstretched) | 30–34 in, depending on length |
| Closure | Drawstring at the tail |
| Extras | Velcro pocket, mesh storage bag |
| Price | Around $50 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Cheap
- Fast to put on and take off
- Fins can stay on
- Packs small
Cons
- Little protection from real knocks
- No shoulder strap, so it’s not for carrying
Verdict
The cheapest way to keep sun and scratches off a hard board.
Wheels for the long walk to the water
Thurso Surf Roller Backpack
Thurso’s roller backpack is a replacement bag for inflatable boards up to 12’6”. You can roll it like luggage or wear it as a backpack, with a padded back, torso strap and adjustable chest and waist straps.
It’s 39 x 16 x 14 inches, with two large front pouches and two mesh side pockets, so the pump, fin, leash and a life jacket fit too. Thurso uses grey fabric instead of black to keep the board cooler in the sun.
Who it suits: iSUP owners who park far from the water, travel by air, or carry the board through campgrounds.
| Spec | Thurso Surf Roller Backpack |
|---|---|
| Board type | Inflatables up to 12’6” |
| Size | 39 x 16 x 14 in |
| Carry | Wheels, backpack straps, handles |
| Straps | Padded back, torso, chest and waist straps |
| Storage | 2 front pouches, 2 mesh side pockets |
| Price | Around $73 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Wheels plus a proper harness
- Plenty of room for accessories
- Light grey fabric runs cooler
Cons
- Wheels struggle in soft sand; you’ll carry it on the beach
- Heavier than a bag without wheels
- Stock was limited when we checked
Verdict
The best value if you want wheels on your iSUP bag.
A comfortable backpack made from recycled plastic
BPS Inflatable SUP Board Bag
BPS (the brand from our old list) now makes its iSUP bag from recycled PET. It’s a backpack with padded shoulder straps that adjust to fit a 30 to 46-inch chest, a chest strap and padding between the board and your back.
There are padded side handles for carrying it like a duffel, and an internal rear pocket with Velcro. It has no wheels.
Who it suits: iSUP owners who usually carry their board a short way and want a comfortable, well-made backpack without paying for wheels.
| Spec | BPS iSUP Bag |
|---|---|
| Board type | Inflatables |
| Material | Recycled PET (rPET) |
| Carry | Backpack straps, padded side handles |
| Fit | Chest 30–46 in, chest strap |
| Storage | Internal rear pocket |
| Wheels | No |
| Price | Around $60 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Good padding on the straps and back
- Fits a wide range of body sizes
- Made from recycled material
- BPS offers a replace-or-refund guarantee
Cons
- No wheels
- Fewer outside pockets than the Thurso
Verdict
A solid upgrade from the thin bag that came with your board.
A big, airy backpack for long boards
Tower iSUP Backpack
Tower says its bag fits any inflatable board up to 14 feet long and 36 inches wide, with the pump rolled up inside the board. That’s more room than most bags, so long touring and family boards fit.
Mesh side panels let a wet board breathe, and bungees on the front hold a towel or wetsuit. It has padded shoulder straps with a chest buckle, and a small inside pocket for the fin and pump. The top folds over with Velcro and snaps.
Who it suits: owners of long or wide inflatables, and anyone who packs a wet board straight after paddling.
| Spec | Tower iSUP Backpack |
|---|---|
| Board type | Inflatables up to 14 ft x 36 in |
| Ventilation | Mesh side panels |
| Carry | Padded shoulder straps, chest buckle |
| Storage | Inside fin/pump pocket, outside bungees |
| Closure | Fold-over top with Velcro and snaps |
| Wheels | No |
| Price | Around $75 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Fits big boards other bags can’t
- Mesh helps the board dry instead of going musty
- Room for extra gear
Cons
- Mesh lets sand and dirt in, and isn’t great for checked luggage
- No wheels
- Owner ratings are lower than the others here (about 3.9 out of 5 on Amazon)
Verdict
A roomy, breathable bag if your board is too big for the rest.
