The best anchor for most paddle boards is a small folding grapnel kit like the Airhead SUP Anchor Kit: a 1.5 lb anchor is enough to hold a board in calm water for yoga, swimming or a lunch stop, and it packs into a bag the size of a water bottle. If you fish, paddle in wind or want to hold position in a light current, step up to a 3.5 lb grapnel. In water shallower than about 4 feet, a stakeout pole or sand anchor is quicker and easier than any anchor.
We haven’t tested these anchors hands-on. We chose them from manufacturer specs, owner ratings, and whether they’re actually available right now. Four of the six anchors in our 2021 list weren’t buyable on Amazon when we checked, so we’ve replaced them.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overall: Airhead SUP Anchor Kit, a 1.5 lb vinyl-coated grapnel made for SUPs.
- Best kit with a buoy: Extreme Max BoatTector 1.5 lb SUP kit, with a marker buoy and bag.
- Best for wind and fishing: Extreme Max BoatTector 3.5 lb kit, with 25 ft of rope.
- Best value 3.5 lb kit: Retrospec Mainstay, anchor, rope, buoy and bag for around $30.
- Best for sandbars and beaches: SandShark Lite, a stainless stake you twist into the sand.
- Best for SUP fishing in shallows: YakAttack ParkNPole Link, an 8 ft two-piece stakeout pole.
Anchor safety first. Never anchor in moving water you couldn’t paddle against, and never tie the anchor line to yourself or your leash. If the board gets pulled under or swings in current, you need to be able to release the line instantly. Wear your life jacket even when you’re stopped.
Light and made for paddle boards
Airhead SUP Anchor Kit
Airhead (part of Kwik Tek) makes this kit specifically for SUPs and kayaks. It has a 1.5 lb folding grapnel anchor that’s vinyl-dipped so it’s less likely to scratch or puncture your board, a 15 ft anchor line with a spring-loaded stainless steel hook, a D-ring and webbing to secure the board, and a padded storage bag.
At 1.5 lb it’s at the light end for anchors, which is the point: it’s easy to carry, and on a SUP in calm water you don’t need much.
Who it suits: yoga paddlers, swimmers, and anyone who wants to stop and float without drifting off in a breeze.
| Spec | Airhead SUP Anchor Kit |
|---|---|
| Anchor | 1.5 lb folding grapnel, vinyl-coated |
| Line | 15 ft with spring-loaded stainless hook |
| Includes | D-ring and webbing, padded bag |
| Price | Around $29 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Coated anchor is kinder to an inflatable board
- Very light and compact
- Made for SUPs, so it includes a way to attach it
Cons
- 15 ft of line is only enough for shallow water
- Too light to hold in strong wind or current
Verdict
The anchor to buy if you mostly paddle on lakes and calm bays.
A light kit with a marker buoy
Extreme Max BoatTector 1.5 lb Paddleboard Anchor Kit
Extreme Max sells a version of its popular BoatTector anchor kit sized for paddle boards and small kayaks. You get a 1.5 lb folding four-fluke grapnel, 15 ft of hollow-braid rope with a snap hook, a foam marker buoy and a padded storage bag.
The buoy is the difference from the Airhead kit: if you need to leave in a hurry, you can unclip the line, leave the buoy floating and come back for the anchor.
Who it suits: calm-water paddlers who’d like a buoy in the kit.
| Spec | Extreme Max 1.5 lb kit |
|---|---|
| Anchor | 1.5 lb folding four-fluke grapnel |
| Line | 15 ft hollow-braid polyethylene, snap hook |
| Includes | Marker buoy, padded bag |
| Price | Around $25 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Marker buoy included
- Cheap
- Compact padded bag
Cons
- Bare metal flukes (not coated)
- Short line for deeper water
Verdict
A good alternative to the Airhead kit, especially if you like having a buoy.
More hold for wind and fishing
Extreme Max BoatTector 3.5 lb Grapnel Anchor Kit
This is the full-size BoatTector kit, one of the best-selling small-craft anchor kits on Amazon with thousands of ratings. It has a 3.5 lb folding grapnel, 25 ft of hollow-braid rope with a steel snap hook, a foam marker buoy and a padded bag. Extreme Max also sells a Deluxe kit that adds a short length of chain, which helps the anchor dig in.
A 3.5 lb anchor is about as heavy as most paddle boarders need. It holds better in a breeze and on a loaded fishing board, and the longer rope works in deeper water.
Who it suits: SUP anglers, ocean and big-lake paddlers, and anyone who’s found a 1.5 lb anchor drags.
| Spec | Extreme Max 3.5 lb kit |
|---|---|
| Anchor | 3.5 lb folding grapnel |
| Line | 25 ft hollow-braid polyethylene, steel snap hook |
| Includes | Marker buoy, padded bag |
| Price | Around $30 at the time of writing (Deluxe with chain around $40) |
Pros
- Holds much better than 1.5 lb anchors
- Longer line
- Huge number of positive owner reviews
Cons
- Heavier to carry and haul up
- Bare metal flukes can damage an inflatable if you’re careless
Verdict
The anchor to get for fishing or windy water. The Deluxe version with chain is worth the extra if you anchor on sand or mud.
A complete kit from a paddle board brand
Retrospec Mainstay 3.5 lb Folding Grapnel Anchor Kit
Retrospec sells inflatable boards and this anchor kit to go with them. It’s a four-fluke folding grapnel with a rope, hook and buoy, and it folds into the included travel bag. Retrospec says it’s compatible with inflatable SUPs and recommends attaching it to a D-ring on the underside of the board.
Who it suits: owners of Retrospec and other inflatable boards who want a complete 3.5 lb kit at a low price.
| Spec | Retrospec Mainstay |
|---|---|
| Anchor | 3.5 lb folding four-fluke grapnel |
| Includes | Rope, hook, buoy, travel bag |
| Price | Around $30 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Complete kit with buoy
- Heavier anchor for breezier days
- Cheap
Cons
- Retrospec doesn’t list the rope length
- Bare metal flukes: keep them away from the board’s skin
Verdict
Good value if you want a 3.5 lb kit straight from a paddle board brand.
Twist it into the sand and tie off
SandShark Lite Shallow Water Anchor
The SandShark Lite isn’t a dropped anchor. It’s a polished stainless steel stake with foam grips that you twist into a sandy bottom in shallow water (or on the beach), then tie your board to. It’s sold mainly as a sandbar anchor for jet skis and small boats, which tells you it’s more than strong enough for a paddle board.
It’s quicker to set and pull than a grapnel, and there’s no line on the bottom to tangle. It’s also handy for keeping your board from drifting off while you’re on the beach.
Who it suits: sandbar and beach hangouts, and shoreline anglers in shallow, sandy water.
| Spec | SandShark Lite |
|---|---|
| Type | Screw-in sand anchor / stake |
| Material | Polished stainless steel, foam grips |
| Best bottoms | Sand |
| Price | Around $24 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Fast to set and retrieve
- Doubles as a beach anchor
- No anchor line to manage in shallow water
Cons
- Only works in shallow water with a sandy bottom
- Useless on rock or deep water
Verdict
The easiest way to stay put on a sandbar or shallow beach.
The angler’s stakeout pole
YakAttack ParkNPole Link 8 ft
YakAttack makes stakeout poles for kayak anglers, and they work just as well from a fishing SUP. You push the pole into the bottom through a ring or line on your board and you’re locked in place, with no swinging around an anchor line. The Link is the two-piece version of the 8 ft pole, so it packs shorter and can reach a little deeper water.
YakAttack says it’s made from formed, UV-stabilized fiberglass and weighs 1.8 lb.
Who it suits: SUP anglers fishing flats, marsh edges and shallow lakes.
| Spec | YakAttack ParkNPole Link |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 ft, 2-piece |
| Material | Fiberglass, UV-stabilized |
| Weight | 1.8 lb |
| Price | Around $133 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Holds the board exactly where you want it
- Silent, which matters when fishing
- Doubles as a push pole
Cons
- Expensive
- Shallow water only
- Long to carry on a board without a rod or pole holder
Verdict
Worth it if you fish shallow water often. Everyone else is better off with a grapnel.
