The best SUP pump for most people is a rechargeable electric pump like the OutdoorMaster Shark 3: you set the PSI, press start and it stops itself while you get the rest of your gear ready. If you always paddle near your car, a 12V plug-in pump like the Shark II does the same job for much less, and everyone should still keep a decent hand pump as a backup.
We haven’t tested these pumps hands-on. We picked them from manufacturer specs, independent testing (Paddling Magazine, Inflatable Boarder and other paddling testers), owner reviews, and whether you can actually buy them right now. All five pumps in the 2021 version of this list have since been discontinued or were out of stock everywhere we checked, so this is a full rewrite.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overall: OutdoorMaster Shark 3, battery or 12V, the fastest pump here on paper.
- Best 12V plug-in pump: OutdoorMaster Shark II, the long-standing benchmark at around half the price.
- Best compact rechargeable: Thurso Surf Rechargeable SUP Electric Pump, slower but smaller, with a hard case.
- Best budget electric: OutdoorMaster Dolphin, a basic 12V pump for around $60.
- Best hand pump: Thurso Surf Dual Chamber SUP Pump, triple-action so the last few PSI are less brutal.
Not sure what pressure your board needs? Most inflatable boards are designed to run at 12–15 PSI. The exact number is printed near the valve. Never go over the maximum.
Fast, cordless, and still plugs into the car
OutdoorMaster Shark 3
The Shark 3 is a rechargeable electric pump with a 74Wh battery, so you can inflate at the beach, a trailhead or a lake with no car nearby. When the battery runs flat it also runs off your car’s 12V socket.
OutdoorMaster claims it inflates a 10’6” board to 15 PSI in under 4 minutes on battery and deflates it in under a minute and a half. One full charge is rated for about four boards at 15 PSI. Those are the maker’s numbers, but they line up with the Shark range’s reputation: Paddling Magazine calls the Shark line the benchmark for electric SUP pumps.
Who it suits: anyone who paddles away from the car, families inflating two or more boards, and people who simply want the quickest setup.
| Spec | Shark 3 |
|---|---|
| Power | 74Wh battery or 12V car socket |
| Max pressure | 20 PSI |
| Claimed time, 10’6” board to 15 PSI | Under 4 min (battery) |
| Boards per charge | About 4 at 15 PSI |
| Charging | USB-C fast charge, about 1 hr 40 min to 2 hr |
| Deflate | Yes |
| Weight | About 7 lb |
| Price | Around $170–180 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Fastest pump here on paper, by a wide margin
- Works with or without a car
- Auto-off at your target PSI, plus a deflate mode
- Doubles as a USB power bank
Cons
- Expensive for a pump
- Loud: OutdoorMaster lists up to 88 dB at high pressure
- Heaviest pump on this list
- You have to remember to charge it
Verdict
The one to buy if you want setup to take less time than putting on sunscreen and you’ll use it often enough to justify the price.
The proven 12V pump
OutdoorMaster Shark II
The Shark II is a plug-in pump that runs from your car’s 12V socket. It has been around for years and is still one of the most popular SUP pumps sold, with thousands of owner reviews. Paddling Magazine singles it out as a widely loved pick for getting boards to full pressure.
It uses two stages: a high-volume first stage (350 litres a minute) fills the board fast, then a high-pressure second stage (70 litres a minute) takes it to your set PSI and switches off. OutdoorMaster quotes 9–12 minutes for a typical 10’6” board at 15 PSI, and its cooling fan lets it do up to three boards in a row.
Who it suits: paddlers who always launch near the car and want reliable, hands-off inflation without paying for a battery.
| Spec | Shark II |
|---|---|
| Power | 12V car socket only (3 m cord) |
| Max pressure | 20 PSI |
| Claimed time, 10’6” board to 15 PSI | 9–12 min |
| Boards in a row | Up to 3 |
| Deflate | Yes |
| Weight | 3.6 lb |
| Noise | 85 dB |
| Price | Around $110 at the time of writing |
Pros
- About half the price of a battery pump
- Set-and-forget with auto-off
- Long track record and lots of spare hoses and nozzles available
- Light and simple
Cons
- Useless away from a 12V socket
- Draws a lot of current (it uses a 12A fuse); don’t run it for long on a weak car battery with the engine off
- Slower than the Shark 3
Verdict
Still the best value electric pump if your car is always close by.
Rechargeable, compact, comes with a hard case
Thurso Surf Rechargeable SUP Electric Pump
Thurso Surf, an inflatable board brand, sells its own battery pump. It’s a step down from the Shark 3 in speed and battery size, but it’s cheaper and arrives in a hard-shell case with space for hoses and adapters.
Thurso claims about 8 minutes to get a 10.5 ft board to 15 PSI and up to three boards per charge. It charges by USB-C and also comes with a car adapter.
Who it suits: paddlers with one or two boards who want cordless convenience and a tidy, protective case for travel.
| Spec | Thurso Surf Rechargeable |
|---|---|
| Power | 4,000mAh battery or car adapter |
| Max pressure | 20 PSI |
| Claimed time, 10.5 ft board to 15 PSI | About 8 min |
| Boards per charge | Up to 3 |
| Charging | USB-C, about 2.5 hr |
| Deflate | Yes |
| Weight | 5 lb |
| Price | Around $139 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Cordless, with car backup
- Hard carry case included
- Auto-off with an LCD pressure display
- Cheaper than the Shark 3
Cons
- Roughly twice as slow as the Shark 3 on paper
- Smaller battery: fine for a couple, tight for a family
- 1-year warranty
Verdict
A good middle ground for one or two boards if the Shark 3 is more pump than you need.
A basic 12V pump for not much money
OutdoorMaster Dolphin
The Dolphin is OutdoorMaster’s entry-level 12V pump. It has the same idea as the Shark II (set the PSI, it stops when it gets there) in a smaller, lighter body, without the high-volume first stage or the deflate mode.
OutdoorMaster quotes 10–12 minutes per board and up to three boards in a row. That’s not far off the Shark II in the maker’s own numbers, though the Shark II has the stronger first stage.
Who it suits: occasional paddlers who launch next to the car and want to stop hand pumping without spending much.
| Spec | Dolphin |
|---|---|
| Power | 12V car socket only |
| Max pressure | 20 PSI |
| Claimed time per board | 10–12 min |
| Boards in a row | Up to 3 |
| Deflate | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Price | Around $60 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Cheap
- Very light and small enough for any board bag
- Auto-off at your target pressure
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- No deflate function
- Needs a car (and OutdoorMaster says it isn’t compatible with Teslas)
- No battery option
Verdict
The cheapest way to make inflating somebody else’s job.
A hand pump that makes the last few PSI easier
Thurso Surf Dual Chamber SUP Pump
Even with an electric pump, you want a good hand pump in the car. Batteries go flat and fuses blow. This one has two chambers and a three-position setting, so you can move to an easier stroke as the pressure climbs instead of fighting the handle at 12 PSI.
Thurso says it gets most boards up in 5–10 minutes. Expect a workout either way. It folds and comes apart for packing.
Who it suits: everyone as a backup, and paddlers who travel light or don’t want another thing to charge.
| Spec | Thurso Dual Chamber |
|---|---|
| Type | Dual-chamber, triple-action hand pump |
| Gauge | Built-in |
| Max pressure | 29 PSI |
| Claimed time | 5–10 min, depending on board size |
| Weight | 4.9 lb |
| Height | 25 in |
| Valve | Halkey-Roberts (the standard SUP valve) |
| Price | Around $70 at the time of writing |
Pros
- No battery, no car, nothing to break electrically
- Triple-action makes high pressure manageable
- Comes apart for packing
Cons
- Heavier and bulkier than single-chamber pumps
- Still hard work at 15 PSI
- No deflate mode listed
Verdict
A solid hand pump for a backup or for paddlers who’d rather not deal with electronics.
