Here’s the reality: An estimated 98% of paddleboards are made in Asia, generally in China. As you can see, finding paddleboards made in the USA is definitely a task and a half! But fear not, as it is not impossible. We have compiled a complete list of paddleboard brands made in the USA. Plus, we’ve got a guide for you to do your own research if needed. Ready to jump in?
Complete List of Paddleboard Companies Made in the USA
Yup Sup is a female-founded business that creates paddleboards that celebrate everything to do with water and this awesome sport. They have a wide range of colors and patterns to fit any aesthetic. And if you can’t find anything you like, Yup Sup can also design a custom board for you. All Yup Sup custom boards are made in the USA.
King’s Paddle Sports is all about creating products that have to do with paddling, including paddleboards. All of King’s boards are made in California. In their Carlsbad factory, they do everything from researching and developing to building gorgeous boards. All King’s Paddle Sports boards are overseen by Dave Daum, a master designer and shaper.
Aqua Bound produces paddles for kayaks, whitewater rafting, and SUP. The company creates high-quality paddles that they build to order. In other words, as soon as you order a paddle from Aqua Bound, someone on their team in their Wisconsin factor will start building and preparing your paddle! All Aqua Bound paddles are made in the USA.
Joe Bark has been making paddleboards since 1983. That’s more than four decades of crafting paddleboards! Joe produces many different types of paddleboards and even takes custom orders. Every single Bark paddleboard is tested, refined, shaped, and finished in Southern California.
Flying Fish Board Co is all about crafting paddleboards for the paddlers. They take into consideration the paddler’s size, weight, and conditions to craft the perfect paddleboard for them. Each of their custom boards is handcrafted in the USA.
Indigo SUP builds custom paddleboards in Miami, FL. The company works hard to create high-quality and unique SUPs for paddlers every step of the way. Paddlers can follow the making of their SUP on Instagram or Facebook or simply drop by the shop to see the progress over time. Everything from design to manufacturing takes place in the USA.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Paddleboards
How to Find Paddleboards Made in the USA
Beyond simply providing you with a list of paddleboard brands made in the USA, we want to equip you with the knowledge to do your own research. Knowing how to research and what to look out for is a crucial skill to have if you want to buy US-made products and support American manufacturing.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
But first, what does it mean for something to be “made in the USA”? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines it as a product that is “all or virtually all” made in the USA. That means basically every part of the process of making the product, from sourcing the materials to assembling the final product, should take place on U.S. soil.
For example, if a paddleboard is assembled in the USA but made only with imported materials, it may not be considered “made in the USA.”
Do you want to learn more about this? Check out our complete guide on how to spot made in the USA for more.
Materials
Now that we’ve defined “made in the USA”, let’s dive into what you need to research to find US-made paddleboards. The first step is to look at the materials used in the construction of the paddleboard. Some materials are just easier to find in the US than others. The main materials paddleboards are made of are EPS foam, wood, fiberglass, epoxy resin, and PVC.
EPS Foam
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is a common material that forms the core of paddleboards thanks to its lightweight and buoyant properties. This material is what allows the paddleboard to float. EPS foam is produced all over the world, with most of the world’s EPS foam coming from China, the USA, and Germany, among other countries. So, while it is possible to find EPS foam made in the USA, you’ll need to check the country of origin.
Wood
Traditional paddleboards were made of wood. While less common nowadays, you can still find wooden paddleboards, either in the internal or external structures or both. The USA does have one of the highest productions of hardwood in the world. That said, how easily you can find paddleboards sourced from US wood is another story. Ultimately, this depends on the type of wood the paddleboard is made of. Typically, paddleboards are made of Paulownia, which is mainly produced in China and Japan, though it is made in smaller amounts in the USA. Other types of wood that may be used include balsa and bamboo, both of which are available in the US, though also in limited capacities.
Fiberglass
Companies often use fiberglass to reinforce paddleboards, making the board more durable while still keeping it lightweight. China produces the most fiberglass in the world, but the USA does not fall too far behind and is one of the most significant producers of this material worldwide, alongside Germany and India.
Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin forms the outer shell of hard paddleboards and protects the board by providing impact resistance and waterproofing. This material is made all over the world, with the top country being South Korea. However, the USA is also a significant producer of this material.
PVC
If you’re looking at purchasing an inflatable paddleboard, it will typically be made of liquid PVC, a common type of plastic. The USA is one of the main producers of PVC, alongside other key countries like China, Germany, Japan, and France. Finding PVC made in the USA shouldn’t be too difficult.
Labeling
Researching the materials supplements this next step when trying to find US-made paddleboards. Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the United States Code states that all products that are imported must be appropriately labeled stating their country of origin. This law, plus the fact that the FTC protects the usage of the “made in the USA” label (though how effective they are at policing it is a whole other issue), makes research a lot easier.
Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as looking for the “made in the USA” label. There are a few things you’ve got to look out for.
You should pay attention to the wording. Companies may use confusing language to trick customers into thinking their products are made in the USA when they are not. Examples of such language include:
- Made in America – America can also include Canada and Mexico.
- Assembled in the USA – The product is only assembled in the USA, while the rest of the production takes place abroad.
- Made in the USA with foreign materials – The product is made with foreign materials.
Furthermore, if you see an American flag sticker on the label, ignore it. Flag usage is not regulated, so anyone can technically slap an American flag on their product label, even if their paddleboard is made abroad.
Finally, keep in mind that all of these regulations regarding labeling do not apply when it comes to online or promotional materials. In other words, companies are not required to state the country of origin of their products on their website. So, if you’re shopping online, you may struggle to find where the paddleboard is actually made.
As a general rule, it’s safer to assume the product is made abroad if you can’t find the country of origin, as “made in the USA” is a big selling point that companies are likely to advertise on their website somewhere. Check the product page, About Us page, and homepage for any information.
Other Tips
Here are our other top tips when researching paddleboards made in the USA.
Check Amazon
Online shopping sites like Amazon may sometimes list the product’s country of origin in the product description section of a page. So scroll down and check to see if it’s there. If not, you can also check the FAQ to see if someone else has already asked a question regarding the product’s country of origin.
Call the Company and Ask
If you’re still unsure where a particular paddleboard is made, simply call the company and ask! The customer support agent will be more than happy to answer all your questions.
Paddleboard Brands Not Made in the USA
What about some common paddleboard brands that are not made in the USA? These are the popular paddleboard brands that make their boards overseas. If you know of any others, feel free to reach out and let us know. We’ll continuously add to this list as we go.
- SIC – Made in China
- Starboard – Made in Thailand
- Bote – Made in China
- Bluefin – Made in China
- Red – Made in China
- ROC – Made in China
- Isle – Made in China
- Hala – Made in China
- Sea Gods – Made in China
