The Tower Xplorer Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board is a full eight inches thick for a super stable ride. Photo: Jenna Miller/The Inertia
When in the market for an inflatable stand up paddle board, everyone is after different things. Some are searching for an ultra-packable option. Others want an affordable beginner friendly board. And endurance paddlers are on the hunt for a board that can cover long distances quickly.
Regardless of what type of paddle board you’re looking for, a common desire is for the board to be stable and feel and perform like a traditional hard paddle board. At eight inches thick, the Tower Xplorer Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board (priced at $1,475 but on sale for $999 at the time of publishing) is the thickest iSUP we’ve encountered, and may be thicker than any other inflatable on the market. The result? A stable ride on a board that performs like a hard board, with all of the benefits of an inflatable.
| Pros | Cons |
| 8 inches thick | Doesn’t come with a bag |
| Paddles like a hard board | Fin is tricky to insert |
| Packs down small | A lot of work to inflate |
First Impressions of the Tower Xplorer
When I first received the Xplorer in the mail, it seemed like a beastly board and I was eager to get it inflated. The board comes with a hand pump, but it’s single barrel, so it took a lot of grunt work to get it fully inflated to the recommended 10-12 PSI.
At 14 feet long I knew the Xplorer would be big, but it’s wide and thick as well, leading me to believe that it would be incredibly stable. An all-white design, it wasn’t an eye catcher, but looks can be deceiving and I was eager to hit the water and see how it performed.
Enjoying the ride. Photo: Jenna Miller/The Inertia
Notable Features of the Tower Xplorer
Weight: 33 lbs
Dimensions: 14’ x 32” x 8”
Volume: Estimated to be over 600 liters
Weight Capacity: Up to 800 pounds
Nose Rocker: 4 inches
Tail Rocker: No tail rocker
As mentioned before, the Xplorer is a challenging board to inflate due to its size. However, most boards recommend inflating to 15 PSI whereas the Xplorer recommends 10-12, so you don’t have to get it quite as full. I opted to inflate it to 15 for a more stable ride. If you’re like me and don’t enjoy the hard work of blowing up your board by hand, consider purchasing an electric pump (it makes the job much easier).
As predicted, the Xplorer is incredibly rigid and stable. At 14’ x 32” x 8”, it’s wide, stable, and thick and is one of the most rigid inflatable I have ever paddled (and I’ve paddled a lot of iSUPs). It feels more similar to a hard board than an inflatable.
Where most inflatables are six inches thick, the Xplorer is eight inches thick. Those extra two inches do wonders to add extra stability and when paddling, you sit (stand) super high on the water. The owner of Tower told me they are the only brand currently offering eight inches thick boards and after a quick web search I found that the only other eight-inch boards currently out there are for multiple riders, so it’s definitely a unique design.
CHECK PRICE ON Tower Paddle Boards
Practicing turns on the Tower Xplorer. Photo: Jenna Miller/The Inertia
I’ve been paddling the Xplorer on the marina near my home on Oahu and it has faired well in both calm water, wind, and the open ocean. It’s a great board to ride solo but I’ve also had two friends ride it when we were short a board and it worked great. At one point we even had three on the board and it remained stable and secure. The Xplorer can hold up to 800 pounds, making it a great fit for larger riders or for paddling tandem.
Despite the size, the Xplorer actually packs down fairly small. To pack up, you simply release the inflation valve and roll it up like a sleeping pad, squeezing out the air as you go. Once it’s rolled and deflated, you can secure it with an included strap and stash it in the closet, under the bed, or wherever you have space.
Despite it’s size, the Tower Xplorer iSUP rolls up nice and small. Photo: Jenna Miller/The Inertia
Drawbacks
Like a lot of inflatable SUP packages, the paddle that comes with the board is on the cheap side. It is heavy and is made of plastic. If you’re the occasional paddler looking to cruise your local waterway it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you plan on paddling regularly you may want to upgrade your paddle for a better experience. Also, unlike most SUP packages, the Xplorer doesn’t come with a bag, so you must get creative with your storage and transportation.
At 14’ long, you would think the Xplorer would paddle like a touring style board but due to the width and thickness it doesn’t. It’s faster than some smaller boards, but due to the high volume I’d label it as more of an all around board.
Finally, the fin design on the Xplorer is a bit tricky. It’s a single fin set up and to insert, you slide it in and then slip a clip through the middle. The clip was challenging to get lined up to get it in, but once it was in, it was secure and performed fine. The fin was also a bit difficult to remove but got easier as I figured it out and got used to it.
Cursin’ and groovin’. Photo: Jenna Miller/The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Tower Xplorer’s size (especially the thickness) results in an incredibly stable and rigid inflatable stand up paddle board board. At eight inches thick, it is thicker than any other inflatable stand up paddle board we’ve tested and you can feel the enhanced stability with each paddle stroke. The Xplorer can hold up to 800 pounds, making it a great pick for larger riders or those who enjoy paddling with a buddy.
CHECK PRICE ON Tower Paddle Boards CHECK PRICE ON AMAZONEditor’s Note: To see how this board stacks up against the competition, check out our guide to The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards. For more options, including hardboards, here’s our overall Best Paddleboards Review. We’ve also reviewed The Best SUP Paddles, and The Best Lifejackets for Paddleboarding. Need something to wear when paddling? Here’s our guide to The Best Board Shorts, The Best Sun Hats, and The Best Rashguards. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
The Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2025
