Best Electric Pumps for Inflatable Paddle Boards (2023)| SUPBoardGuide

Most iSUPs come equipped with a manual pump in the kit. Depending on how strong you are, or how good your cardio is, it can take about 10-15 minutes to inflate. 15 minutes may seem like no big deal, but once you get your board past around 6 PSI, using the manual pump gets to be a decent workout.

Because of this, we see tons of people out on the water with half-inflated boards, not having as much fun as they could be. This is why an electric pump is our number one recommended accessory when it comes to building out your paddle kit.

We also want you as our reader to be aware that we only add pumps to the best list that we’ve heavily tested for over a year. We’re super picky about which pumps we suggest to you because about 50% of the pumps we get fail on us before year’s end, and we don’t want you to have that experience based on our recommendation.

With that in mind, you’ll notice that this list is a bit shorter than some of the other best lists on this site but be assured that each of the 4 pumps below has been super reliable over the past year or so whether it be during our 110 degree summer days or inflating board after board on our testing days (bottom line- we’ve put these pumps through hell).

Most electric SUP pumps are under $150 and are better than a manual pump in every single way. They are lighter and easier to pack than a manual pump, and many can be made portable. It saves your time and energy for your paddle, will deflate your board to make for an easy pack up, and will overall help you have a better, more relaxing day on the water.

With that said, let’s get into our list of our top 4 recommended electric pumps to help you narrow down your selection and make the best choice to fit your needs.

Best Electric Pumps for Inflatable Paddle Boards (iSUPs)- 2023

1. Outdoor Master Shark II Electric Air Pump
2. iRocker 12 V Electric Pump
3. Nixy Ventus Paddle Board Electric Pump
4. Sea Gods Battery Electric SUP Pump
5. Outdoor Master Whale Electric Pump

Outdoor Master Shark II SUP Electric Air Pump (See Full Review)

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Pros

• Can inflate 3 boards in a row without stopping
• Built-in cooling system (makes for a more durable pump)
• Long power cord and hose

Cons

• Not much. We love the Shark II and it has yet to give us anything we’d call a ‘con’

The Outdoor Master Shark II Air Pump is going to hold its spot at the top of our list of best electric pumps. We have been able to use this pump for about a year and a half now without a hitch, and believe me, we put it through the wringer. The addition of Outdoor Master’s patented shark cooling system allows us to pump up 3 boards in a row with no rest period.

As for the specs, the Shark II can pump up to 20 PSI in about 12 minutes, and under our testing pumped up a typical 10’ board in just over 11 minutes. It features an automatic shut-off as well, so you can set your desired PSI using the digital display and walk away without worrying about running the motor too long or over-inflating your board. We also liked that it came with 6 valve options that are not connected to the hose via a string-like piece of plastic. Instead, the valve pieces all come separated in a bag within the Shark II box. This may seem super nit-picky, but when all the valve pieces are connected, they get in the way screwing and unscrewing the valve, and when wrapping up the hose; it’s just one of our pet peeves.

This pump is also easy to carry around and store given its carry handle and flatter, oval-like shape; it could fit in the front or main zipper pocket of most iSUP bags. The power cord can easily be wrapped around the handle for storage and connects right to your car’s cigarette lighter, so you don’t have to pop the hood and access your battery.

Overall, we love this pump and will likely use it until we run it into the ground. We love that it’s fast, but love even more that it can inflate more boards with less rest period, though we do recommend using some caution on extremely hot days as it will be easier for the pump to burn up. We also love that it’s backed by a 1-year warranty, and have been happy with Outdoor Master’s customer service.

Specs

Voltage Required:12 V car outletMax PSI Capability:20 psiMax Use Time (constant):30 minutesCool Down Period Required:20 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic, once PSI is reachedWeight:3.6 lbsDimensions:11.9” X 9.45” X 4.84”Warranty:1 year from time of purchase

iROCKER 12 V Electric Pump:

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Pros

• Reliability: we’ve used this pump a ton since we’ve gotten it and have yet to see any issues
• Quick inflation time
• Compact: this pump easily fits into the top pocket of iRocker’s bags
• Thick hose that won’t melt under high heat
• 20 PSI limit will let you inflate almost any board
• Cord storage box keeps things organized

Cons

• Would like to see iROCKER incorporate and internal cooling mechanism
• Also would like a travel bag and some extra nozzle attachments

As we’ve said before, we love working with iRocker. They’re a reputable company that stands behind their products and takes great care of their customers. Like the Shark II, we’ve put iRocker’s 12V electric pump to the test. So far, it’s been able to handle everything we’ve thrown at it. It inflates fairly quickly (up to 20 PSI in about 12 minutes), and we’ve yet to have an issue with overheating.

Like all the other pumps on this list, iRocker’s 12V electric pump features an auto-shutoff when you’ve reached your selected PSI. We’ve found that it can inflate a 10’ iRocker board to 18 PSI within 11 minutes. It connects via cigarette lighter cord to your car, or with alligator clips, depending on your preference. I also really liked the cord storage box on the pump to help everything stay compact and organized.

To summarize, iRocker has done a great job building a pump that inflates quickly, is easy to store and carry, and is at an average or below-average price point for electric pumps. iRocker also offers a 1-year warranty on the 12V electric pump, in the case that it gives out on you.

Specs

Voltage Required:12V Car outlet or direct to car batteryMax PSI Capability:20 psiMax Use Time (constant):20 minutesCool Down Period Required:30 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic, once PSI is reachedWeight:4.2 lbsDimensions:10” X 7.5” X 4”Warranty:1 year from time of purchase

NIXY Ventus iSUP Electric Pump:

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Pros

• Built-in cooling system to avoid overheating
• Included travel bag to keep all your pieces together
• Auto-shutoff if pump starts to overheat despite the cooling system
• Quick inflation
• Long cord, so you don’t have to awkwardly set it up outside of your car

Cons

• The hose seems to get pretty hot (though we’ve not seen this have any negative effect on the pump and would need to do more testing to verify if it’s actually hotter than the other pumps)

The Nixy Ventus pump was a strong contender for the second spot on our list, and at this point, we’re calling it a tie between the Ventus and the iRocker 12V electric pump. The main reason the Nixy Ventus is “below” the iRocker pump is simply because we have not put it through as much use.

Nixy has made loads of improvements with the Ventus pump. They added a cooling mechanism (what they call ‘Active Cooling Tech’), which is a great thing to look for when shopping for a good electric SUP pump, as one of the most common issues is overheating. This pump is also extremely easy to use with the digital display and automatic shutoff. You just need to set your desired PSI (the Ventus can inflate up to 20 PSI) and walk away expecting your board to be fully inflated in 10 minutes.

We loved the features of this pump as well. It comes with a travel bag that has a nice carry strap and an inside zipper pocket to store the hose and its 7 valve pieces. Its 10’ cigarette lighter cord makes it super convenient to just plug into your car, but it also comes with optional alligator clips to attach to your battery if you’d like to. The cord is also able to be stowed away by wrapping it around the bottom of the pump and tucking the lighter connection into its slot, which makes storing and transporting this pump a breeze. It also is covered by a one-year warranty in case you do run into overheating issues.

Again, we really liked this pump. I’m excited to see how it holds up over more tests but its cooling mechanism, and organizational features keep the Nixy Ventus on the top-end of our list, and I would not be surprised to see it move up space as we put it through more use.

Specs

Voltage Required:12V Car outlet or alligator clipsMax PSI Capability:20 psiMax Use Time (constant):About 20 minutes (pay attention just in case the pump gets too hot)Cool Down Period Required:10 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedDimensions:10” X 5” X 8”Warranty:1 year from time of purchase

Sea Gods Battery Electric SUP Pump

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Pros

• Internal rechargeable battery makes this pump fully portable; just charge it up at home and you’re good to go
• Flashlight mechanism is a nice touch for early morning sunrise paddlers or night paddles
• Included carry bag helps to keep everything organized and easy to pack up

Cons

• Inflates up to 16 PSI, rather than 20 PSI. This is standard for rechargeable pumps, but it can limit you if your board can inflate up to 20 PSI.

Sea Gods’ Battery Electric SUP Pump is the newest pump on this list, with Sea Gods just launching it this past season. And while we haven’t put it through quite as much of a beating as the pumps mentioned above, we absolutely love this pump for its portability and travel-friendly nature.

Obviously, the highlight of this pump is its internal rechargeable battery. This enables you to venture off into more remote areas with your SUP and not have to worry about being tethered to your car to inflate your board, whereas otherwise you would have had to inflate your SUP by hand. Our favorite thing about this batter is that it actually charges fairly quickly, though it can still easily inflate about 3 boards before the battery runs out. We also like that the battery life is indicated clearly with a percentage reading on the screens, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of understanding how much more you can get out of your pump. Of course, with rechargeable batteries, the PSI of this pump is capped at 16 PSI, which can be limiting for individuals that need their board at 18 or 20 PSI. It’s also worth noting that you absolutely can still power this pump using your car’s power via the pump’s cigarette lighter cord.

Sea Gods went the extra mile here as well, to add an extra bit of versatility and convenience to this pump by equipping it with a flashlight mechanism, cord storage compartment, collapsible carry handle, and travel case. They’ve also thrown in a variety of nozzle heads, enabling you to use this pump for all of your inflatable goods.

Overall, the Sea Gods Battery Electric Pump has quickly become one of our team favorites and has been a consistent go-to when we’re planning on hiking or backpacking into a lake with our SUP.

Specs

Voltage Required:12V Car outlet or Internal Lithium Battery 6000mAhMax PSI Capability:16 psiMax Use Time:20 minutesCool Down Period Required:30 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedWeight:N/ADimensions:N/AWarranty:One year

Outdoor Master Whale Electric Pump (See Full Review)

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Pros

• Rechargeable battery to let you be fully portable on a full charge
• Built in cooling system so you can inflate more boards at one time
• 6 included nozzles give you a lot of usage versatility

Cons

• Higher price point
• Only inflates up to 16 PSI

When Outdoor Master came out with the Whale electric pump, I was super excited to see how it would compare to the Shark II. While the two do have a lot of similarities including the built-in cooling mechanism, digital display, cigarette lighter cord, auto-shutoff, and the addition of 4 nozzles, there are a few major differences.

The main reason the Whale stands out is that it comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, enabling you to have a fully portable electric pump that you can use anywhere without having to be glued to your car. We found that we could even inflate 6 boards in a row (following the recommended use time and rest period instructions) using a full charge, which is extremely impressive. It is slightly slower than pumps without a rechargeable battery pack when connected to the cigarette lighter, but only by about 2 minutes. We also have had no problems with overheating at this point, but have yet to use it on a scorching day, so we still would suggest using some discretion. However, if you do run into mechanical issues with this pump, Outdoor Master offers a 1-year warranty.

The Whale does have a few drawbacks though. It cannot inflate above 16 PSI, so if you have a board above that range, you’ll need to go with a different pump. We also would like to see some improvement in the cord storage box at the back of the pump; it needs to be bigger to fit the cords in there without constantly popping open.

The concept of a fully portable- rechargeable pump is great, and Outdoor Master is definitely capable of manufacturing an excellent pump that holds up through some serious use.

Specs

Voltage Required:12V Car outlet or 12V battery packMax PSI Capability:16 psiMax Use Time:30 minutesCool Down Period Required:15 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedWeight:3.6 lbsDimensions:14.56 X 8.66 X 6.69Warranty:1 year from time of purchase

Honorable Mentions

Although the 6 pumps listed above are our most recent favorites, we also have an arsenal of “old reliables”. Below, we’ll go over some pumps that have previously been listed on this page and have withstood some heavy testing from us in the past.

SereneLife Rechargeable Pump

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Pros

• Built in rechargeable battery makes this pump portable
• Can inflate 3-4 boards on a full charge
• Carry handle is collapsible so it doesn’t get in the way for storage

Cons

• Has a 16 PSI cap (we like it to be around 20)
• Warranty is only 30 days

The SereneLife Rechargeable pump is another portable pump option for those not wanting to be reliant on their car to inflate their SUP. Unlike the ERS VDC, this pump has an incorporated battery pack, meaning there’s no need to purchase an additional battery.

Although we would have liked to see this pump have a higher PSI cap (right now it is at 16 PSI), it’s still suitable for most board’s that have a max inflation of 15 PSI. If you forget to charge your battery, you can plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter like any other pump, which gives you some versatility. It also has a digital display, in which you can select your PSI and walk away without worrying about over-inflating, since this pump will shut-off on its own. We liked the collapsable carry handle on this pump, as well as its included carry bag and 5 extra nozzle pieces.

If kept cool in the bag, the SereneLife pump can inflate 3-4 boards on a full charge, though we recommend giving it a rest after 2 to avoid overheating. In the case that your pump does overheat, it’s covered by a 30 day warranty. We’d appreciate a longer warranty period, but given the lower price for a portable pump, it may be a fair trade-off.

Specs

Voltage Required:Built-in 6000 mAh rechargeable battery or 12V car outletMax PSI Capability:16 psiMax Use Time:20 minutesCool Down Period Required:30 minutesStages:1Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedWeight:4.85 lbsDimensions:11.2” X 8.6” X 7.7”Warranty:30 days from time of purchase

Thurso Surf SUP Electric Pump:

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Pros

• Thurso incorporated a deflate option, which helps a ton when it comes to packing away your board
• Super compact pump fits easily in a SUP bag
• Pressure gauge is easier to read when it’s too sunny for a digital display

Cons

• Has a PSI cap of 15 (this would be fine on most boards if max recommended PSI is 15)

Thurso’s Surf SUP electric pump is a great choice if you’re looking for something compact and effective for smaller boards. In 10 or 15 minutes, this pump can inflate up to 15 PSI. Of course, we’d like to see a higher PSI cap, but understand that not everyone needs to inflate up to 20 PSI.

Like every other pump on this list, Thurso’s pump connects to your car’s power via a cigarette lighter cord, but comes with optional alligator clips and a travel bag to keep everything organized. We love that Thurso incorporated a deflation option onto their most recent version of this pump, though we’ve not gotten the chance to test it out yet. Another change is that Thurso swapped out their backlit digital display for a simple pressure gauge, which can sometimes be easier to read on sunny days.

As I said, we’ve not been able to test out Thurso’s newest version of their surf SUP electric pump, we’ve had no problem inflating two boards in a row with their older version. Thurso does a great job of making a compact but capable pump.

Specs

Voltage Required:12 V car outletMax PSI Capability:15 psiMax Use Time:20 minutesCool Down Period Required:30 minutesStages:1Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DialShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedWeight:2.6 lbsDimensions:8.5” X 3.9” X 5.6”Warranty:1 year from time of purchase

Gili 12V Electric iSUP Paddle Board Pump

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Pros

• Built-in overheat protection mechanism
• Small/ lightweight
• Handle makes it easy to carry

Cons

• Nozzle pieces come attached to the hose and get in the way

Gili’s 12V electric iSUP paddleboard pump is a standard electric pump. We weren’t blown away by it like we were with the Shark II, but we also weren’t disappointed in its function. It inflates up to 20 PSI in about 12 minutes and has a max run-time of about 20 minutes, so you should be able to inflate 2 smaller boards with it before needing to give it a rest. It also has a cigarette lighter cord and optional alligator clips, a digital display with the option to pre-set your PSI, an auto-shutoff, and is covered by a 1 year warranty.

As for its features, Gili’s pump does come with a carry handle, but it’s not a flat fabric strap like iRocker’s. Instead it’s part of the plastic that makes the pump shape kind of awkward and difficult to fit into an iSUP bag. We also could have used a storage compartment for the cord and a way to store the air hose, as this pump does not come with a travel bag. We liked that it came with 5 nozzle attachments, but they’re all attached to the air hose with a piece of plastic, so they get in the way when screwing in or unscrewing the valve.

Although the most recent pump we’ve received from Gili feels sturdier, we’ve had issues in the past with these pumps, and similarly shaped pumps, burning up pretty quickly. Gili claims that there is an over-heat protection mechanism in their pumps now, so I’m interested to see if there’s any change as we use this pump more. Stay tuned for more testing on our newest pump from them, but for now it is going to sit lower on our list.

Specs

Voltage Required:12V car outlet or car batteryMax PSI Capability:20 psiMax Use Time:20 minutesStages:2Auto Shut off:YesPSI selection:DigitalShut off:Automatic when PSI is reachedWarranty:1 year from time of purchase

Portable Power Units

One thing we’ve mentioned a few times throughout this post is portable power units. These are newer within the SUP electric pump space, and there can be some confusion on why exactly you’d even want a portable power unit, if nearly every electric pump can simply plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. Below, we’ll go over the advantages of having a portable power unit, so you can decide if it’s something you’ll want to add to your gear bag.

Portability/ Convenience

One of the best things about iSUPs is that they roll up into a duffle bag, and are way more portable than hard SUPs. However, relying on your car to inflate your board can take away some of that portability that we love so much.

With the addition of a portable power bank, you can make any electric pump, a portable electric pump. You can simply put the power bank and electric pump in your bag, and inflate your board once you get to your paddle spot regardless of where your car is. These are perfect for people who like to hike their boards into more remote spaces or even if you’ll just simply have a long walk to the beach.

We also love the convenience of being able to recharge the power unit. You can charge it up while you load your car or during your drive, and we’ve found that we can inflate around 2 boards with a single full charge.

Diversity

Another thing we like about portable power banks is that they can power a wide variety of devices. As long as there’s a USB port, you can use the same power bank that you use for your iSUP to charge your phone, laptop, camera and most other electronics without needing to search for an outlet.

It’s a great idea for someone that’s a frequent flier and constantly finds themselves in airports scrounging for a place to charge up. They’re also great for general safety, as you could hook up your phone to charge and throw it in your drybag to avoid the risk of a dead phone in the case of an emergency on the water.

Affordability

Although there’s a wide range of prices for portable power banks depending on its capacity, most that you’ll need for inflating iSUPs will sit between $80-$150. Of course, you could expect to spend more if you’re looking for a power bank that can inflate 6-8 boards at a time, but most within this range should be good for inflating 2 boards on a full charge.

Where to Buy

We have not been able to thoroughly review portable power units yet, but we’ve been super happy with iROCKER’s electric pump battery so far. iROCKER is also a reputable company that we’ve enjoyed working with and are confident in their products.

Tips for Electric Air Pumps

Once you’ve purchased your first electric pump, you’ll love being able to crack a drink or apply some sunscreen while your board inflates. However, we want to give you some general tips that can help you get the most out of your electric pump while also protecting your board.

Make sure your valve pin is up:

There’s nothing worse than waiting for your iSUP to inflate, getting excited and ready to paddle, and then hearing that whoosh of air, or multiple PSI, escaping when you disconnect the hose from your board’s valve. The easiest/ only way to avoid this is by making sure your valve pin is up, in the locked position, before you connect the air hose.

If it so happens that you forget that your valve pin is down, and you end up releasing some air between disconnecting the hose and closing the valve, always check to see how much PSI you lost. It may not seem like much, but if you’re only a few PSI from your recommended range, your board will taco under you and you simply won’t have a great time. It’s much easier to just spend the extra few minutes re-pumping in that lost air.

Be careful inflating multiple SUPs in a row:

Although most electric pumps advertise that they can inflate up to 2 boards in a row without needing a break, it’s always a good idea to check the temperature of your pump after your first board to decide if it needs a break.

There’s a lot of variables that can lead to your pump burning up, outside of simply over-using it. Those of us that live in hot climates need to keep an even closer eye on our electric pumps. There’s also the possibility of your pump’s vent system getting clogged with sand or dirt, as well as consistently inflating to a higher PSI.

When in doubt, it’s always better to give your pump a 5-10 minute break in between boards than to be stranded with a dead pump. This is also why we always suggest bringing a manual pump as back-up.

Use a tarp, blanket, or landing mat:

One of the only ways you can cause serious damage to your iSUP is by letting it come into constant contact with concrete and other hard surfaces. Because of this, it’s always a great idea to inflate your SUP on top of towels, a tarp, or a landing mat to separate it from any hard surface that could scrape up the exterior PVC layer.

Nixy sells a great landing mat that we use for our own SUPs, while a bigger tarp would do great for inflating more than 3 boards on one surface.

Inflate to your PSI limit, don’t exceed it:

We all know that the more PSI in an iSUP, the better it will perform. Once the grunt work of inflating your board is taken away by an electric pump, it can be tempting to put some more PSI than necessary in your board. However, this is super damaging over time for your iSUP. It will cause things to pop and break, and it’s just not worth it for a minor, ultra-temporary improvement in performance.

Use your electric pump to deflate:

Deflating your board is super easy, so most people forget that their pump even has a deflate option. It’s best to use your electric pump to finish deflating your iSUP, as it will suck any remaining air out and make it exponentially easier to roll up and pack away your board. Also, failing to fully deflate your iSUP can permanently damage the board shape over time.

Conclusion: Choose the Most Reliable Electric iSUP Pump

Overall, the differences between how each electric pump on this list performs are going to be very minor. Some are faster than others, and some have higher or lower PSI caps, but at the end of the day, we’ve heavily tested all of these pumps and are confident that they will do just fine inflating your board within 15 minutes without you having to do the work.

The most important thing to look out for when shopping for an electric pump is reliability. If you’re shopping outside of this list, keep in mind that a common issue with electric pumps is that the motors overheat. Make sure to check reviews, check out each pump’s max run time, and go with companies that you know already make reliable products. Even better, is if the company offers a 12 month warranty that covers overheating.

Once you’ve found a reliable pump, you can start to look for features that are important to you such as included travel bags, cord storage, and carry handles. It’s also a great idea to double check that your pump has a deflation function, as it will save you time, energy, and protect your board shape.

Overall, we think an electric pump is one of the best additions you could add to your SUP kit. As you’re in the market for an electric pump, check out our more detailed review of the Shark II.