Gili Paddle Board Reviews – Which Gili SUP Should You Buy?

Gili is a popular stand up paddle board brand in the paddle boarding community. If you’ve been looking for a SUP board you have most likely come across a few Gili boards. The company is known for quality paddle boarding accessories and its efforts to help save the ocean. 

Gili inflatable paddle boards are some of the most reliable iSUPs you can find. One thing I love about the brand is that there’s something for everyone–from kids to adults, beginners to pros, and solo paddlers to families. 

Although there aren’t that many Gili SUPs, picking the perfect one still isn’t an easy task. Plus it doesn’t help that all the Gili boards look good and have great features!

To make things easier for you, I’ll discuss all of the Gili SUPs in detail here and explain which GIli paddle board would be best for different paddlers. So keep reading.

Gili Stand Up Paddle Boards Compared

Gili Paddle Board Reviews

Let’s take a closer look at the Gili paddle boards and see what they have to offer. 

Gili Air – Best Budget Gili Paddle Board

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The Gili Air paddle board is one of the most popular inflatable paddle boards from Gili. 

This inflatable SUP comes in two sizes: 10’6 and 11’6. I found the Gili Air 10’6 a little too short for me (I’m 6’1 and weigh about 192 pounds). It felt a little sluggish while I was paddling. The Gili Air 11’6 has a smoother glide and it performs better for me. 

The Gili 11’6 would be more suited for bigger paddlers. But I will say that both paddle boards are great all-around SUPs and it’s nice to have two sizes to choose from depending on your size. 

Despite being a budget board, I could feel that the Gili Air is well-built. It is made using military-grade PVC and when inflated, it’s so hard and sturdy that it feels like a traditional SUP board. I love that it doesn’t flex–this is usually a problem with budget boards, especially for heavier paddlers (like myself).

Not so for the Gili Air. Despite being a more budget-friendly board, it remains very rigid! 

The Gili Air comes with a backpack, paddle, manual pump, and leash. The SUP is available in six colors and all the accessories are color-matched, which is a nice touch. The colors are vibrant but not annoyingly bright under the sun; I think they look great! You can probably expect a lot of compliments from fellow paddlers. 

The backpack is of great quality too –better than what you tend to get with most cheap paddle boards. It’s worth noting that the paddle is made of aluminum, though – not the best material for a paddle, because it’s slightly heavier than carbon and fiberglass. However, you can upgrade to the optional fiberglass paddle, for a price. 

The Gili Air is lightweight weighing only 19 lbs (10’6) and 21 lbs (11’6) so you can travel with it easily. 

The Gili Air inflatable paddle board is best suited for paddlers on a tight budget. 

Read our full review of the Gili Air paddle board or read how the Gili Air compares to the iRocker Nautical.

• Size options: I love the fact that you have two sizes to choose from. If you’re on the bigger side you can pick the 11’6 Air as it will perform better. If you’re smaller the 10’6 Air will be easier to handle.
• Attractive colors: You have six gorgeous colors to choose from, all of which are vibrant but not too bright. You also get a camo option – which is pretty unique for a paddle board!
• Affordable but great quality: The Gili Air is a budget SUP but the quality is still amazing. Besides, it comes with a two-year warranty so you know you’re getting a great paddle board.
• Action mounts and paddle holder: You’ll have a place to attach accessories like fishing rod holders and a secure spot for your paddle when doing activities like SUP fishing. 

• Aluminum paddle: Most budget inflatable boards now offer a fiberglass paddle as a standard – but the Air includes an aluminum paddle. That said, it’s still a quality paddle board with a great iSUP package. 

Check Price of the Gili Air

Gili Komodo – Best Gili SUP for Yoga

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The Gili Komodo is Gili Sports’ top paddle board for yoga. 

It is 33 inches wide, giving you a stable enough platform for your yoga poses. You won’t have a hard time maintaining balance, even when transitioning from one pose to another.

The Komodo has a full-length traction pad that covers the deck from nose to tail. It’s soft and grippy, perfect as a yoga mat. You’ll have a comfortable surface for your feet, hands, and knees while doing yoga. It also has great traction so you won’t have to worry about slipping.

There are multiple attachment points on the deck–action mounts, D-rings, and bungee storage. While these are awesome for attaching gear, they can be a little distracting and perhaps get in the way during some yoga poses. 

The Gili Komodo inflatable paddle board has an in-built paddle holder. You’ll have a nice place to secure your paddle while doing yoga.

Despite the fact that the Komodo is wide enough for yoga, it only weighs 21 pounds. You’ll have no trouble carrying it to and from your SUP yoga spot. 

The Komodo inflatable SUP comes in four colors and one has a lotus flower print that would be perfect for yogis. 

• Wide and stable: The Komodo is a super stable board, which is one of the qualities that make it particularly good for SUP yoga. You won’t have a problem maintaining balance. 
• It’s versatile: This inflatable SUP is not just good for yoga. You can use it for other SUP activities like fishing. 
• Full-length deck pad: The traction pad covers the entire deck giving you a soft grippy surface for your yoga poses. 
• Side paddle holder: I love the paddle holder on the side because you can free your hands for yoga or fishing without having to worry about losing your paddle. 

• Not the best performance: The Komodo is stable, no doubt, but it’s slightly slower and not the easiest to maneuver.So it’s not the best of their bunch if you’re after an all-rounder or something quick on the water.

Check Price of the Gili Komodo

Gili Adventure – Best Gili Board for SUP Touring

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The Gili Adventure is a paddle board for the adventurous paddler.

The inflatable SUP is available in two sizes: 11’ and 12’. It’s 32 inches wide and this gives it a slightly long and narrow shape that ensures great performance. I love how it balances good stability with decent tracking so you’re not sacrificing one for the other.

The 11’ Adventure is not impressively fast and it doesn’t glide as well as I’d like when carrying my weight. It’s also slightly less stable than some of the other 11’ inflatable SUPs that I’ve tested. So if you’re on the bigger side you might want to get the 12’ Adventure.

The Adventure comes with a nice backpack, hand pump, fiberglass paddle, leash, and a repair kit. The fiberglass paddle is fine, but for long SUP touring trips, I’d recommend a carbon paddle. It’s lighter and more efficient.

This paddle board features seven handles that make it easy to handle and a paddle holder for when you want to free your hands. It also has gear mounts for your action camera holder, cup holder, fishing rod holder, or any other accessory you may need on your trip. 

The Gili Adventure would be suitable for paddlers who like to explore and go where big boats can’t reach. 

• Beautiful colors: The Gili Adventure is available in multiple vibrant colors that aren’t too bright. The accessories and bungees are also color-matched so you get a nice-looking iSUP package that stands out.
• Size options: Like most of the other Gili paddle boards, the Adventure is available in two sizes: 11’ and 12’. I love this because you can choose the size that suits you best depending on your weight and paddling lifestyle.  
• Enough storage options: There are two bungee storage areas for your stuff, extra D-rings for things like a kayak seat, and action mounts for attaching gear.
• Decent performance: The Gili Adventure tracks well, which is a great quality for touring boards. It doesn’t take much effort to keep it going straight. 

• Not as fast as I expected: The 11’ Adventure is not as fast as some of the other 11’ boards I’ve paddled. 

Check Price of the Gili Adventure

Gili Meno – Best Gili Paddle Board for Fishing

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The Meno is Gili Sports’ most stable inflatable paddle board. 

It’s 35 inches wide, wider than most single-person SUPs. You can get it in two sizes: 10’6 and 11’6. This is awesome because you can choose to have a bigger or smaller platform for your adventures. 

Given the size of the Meno, stability is the last thing you have to worry about. You can cast and reel in your fish comfortably without taking an unexpected swim. 

The Gili Meno is made using dual-layer, fusion-laminated PVC material and drop-stitch construction. It also has carbon fiber side rails for remarkable rigidity – which I definitely think is noticeable when standing on the board. 

When fully inflated this SUP can easily hold 450 lbs (10’6) and 485 lbs (11’6). It can accommodate paddlers of all sizes together with their fishing gear and even a dog. 

Another thing I love about the Gili Meno is its complete SUP package, which includes a rolling backpack that makes traveling with your paddle board super easy. You also get a carbon paddle with a nylon blade – which is a big step up from aluminum or fiberglass, as  It’s much lighter and more efficient for paddling, and I could definitely feel the difference. 

With five action mounts, two bungee storage areas, and extra D-rings, you have enough storage and attachment options for your luggage and fishing gear. There’s a paddle holder too for when you need to free your hands while fishing. 

The Gili Meno is a fantastic choice for paddlers who want to get into SUP fishing. It’s also great for families. 

Read our full review of the Gili Meno 11’6 paddle board

• Incredible stability: At 35 inches wide, the Gili Meno is one of the most stable single-rider paddle boards you can get and it’s ideal for fishing or paddling with your little ones. 
• High weight capacity: The paddle board can accommodate 450 lbs without flexing or sinking. It’s ideal for heavier paddlers and SUP fishermen who like to carry a lot of gear on board.
• Size options: You can choose between the 10’6 Meno and 11’6 Meno depending on how big you want your fishing platform to be. 
• Lots of handles, D-rings, and gear mounts: The handles make the Gili Meno easier to handle while the D-rings and gear mounts allow you to attach different kinds of gear and accessories. 
• Premium iSUP bundle: The Meno inflatable SUP comes with premium accessories including a carbon paddle, rolling backpack, and fin kit. 

• It’s not fast: This inflatable paddle board doesn’t have exceptional speed, which is to be expected, considering the width. But that’s the price you pay for its remarkable stability. 
• May not be easy to handle for smaller paddlers: If you’re on the shorter side, this won’t be the easiest paddle board to maneuver for you. I don’t recommend the Meno for smaller paddlers.

Check Price of the Gili Meno

Gili Mako – Best Gili Board for Shorter Paddlers

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The Gili Mako inflatable paddle board is smaller than your average all-around SUP. 

It’s only 10’ long and 32 inches wide, which makes it extremely maneuverable and easier to handle–perfect for shorter paddlers. It is easy to handle on the water and only weighs 20 pounds so even young teen paddlers likely won’t have a problem carrying it around. 

Despite being light and small, the Gili Mako is quite tough, made using dual-layer fusion technology. It’s rigid when fully inflated and can support up to about 260 lbs. 

The Gili Mako comes with three carry handles and four safety handles that make it easy to drag into and out of the water. It also has five action mounts and you can attach all kinds of gear, including fishing rod holders and an action camera mount. You get two bungee storage areas as well–providing enough space for all your SUP essentials.

The Mako inflatable package includes a fiberglass adjustable travel paddle, backpack, leash, and hand pump. The accessories are color-matched and you have two color options: blue and green.

This is a fantastic paddle board for shorter paddlers who want a SUP that’s easy to control. It’s ideal for younger SUPers too. 

• Highly maneuverable: The Gili Mako is small and maneuverable in every water condition. Even teen paddlers can handle it and maneuver it without an issue. 
• Lightweight: This inflatable SUP only weighs 20 pounds! This means it’s easy to transport, regardless of your size.
• Quality construction: It may be small and lightweight but you still get a quality paddle board. It’s tough and comes with a two-year warranty.

• Few color options: The Gili Mako is only available in two colors, blue and green. It would have been nice to have more options as with the other Gili Sports inflatable SUPs. 

Check Price of the Gili Mako

Gili Meno Touring – Best Performance Gili Paddle Board

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The Gili Meno Touring paddle board is designed for speed, and it delivers! 

It is 12’6 long, the longest single-person inflatable paddle board from Gili, and 31 inches wide. As you can guess from these measurements, the shape of the Gili Meno lends itself to speed- as it is long and narrow, and it has a pointed nose too. 

This streamlined shape enables it to cut through the water with minimum resistance. It’s fast and pretty fun to paddle. 

The Gili Meno Touring is not the most stable option and it’s best suited for advanced paddlers who want a fast SUP board. 

Its inflatable package includes a premium quality wheeled backpack for easy transport and a carbon paddle. The adjustable travel paddle is nice and lightweight, perfect for long touring adventures or SUP races.

The Gili Meno Touring has carbon tech rails. This, plus the fusion dual-layer technology, results in a remarkably rigid paddle board that glides smoothly on the water. It feels super hard when fully inflated and doesn’t flex at all. 

There are four action mounts for you to attach your cup holder, action camera mount, or fishing rod holder. 

If you’re looking for an inflatable paddle board with impressive speed and general performance, you should check out the Gili Meno Touring. 

• Premium inflatable package: You get a lightweight carbon fiber paddle included, which makes for fun and easy paddling, and a wheeled backpack means that everything is easy to transport! 
• Fantastic performance: The Gili Meno Touring glides over the water smoothly and with great speed. It’s suitable for touring and SUP racing.
• Impeccable construction: With the dual-layer military-grade PVC and carbon fiber rails you won’t have to worry about dings and dents when exploring those secluded locations.

• Only one color: The Gili Meno Touring is only available in blue, so you don’t have color options. I’d like to see Gili offer more colors in the future, like with the other boards in their line-up.

Check Price of the Gili Meno Touring

Gili Manta Ray – Best Gili Paddle Board for Multiple Riders

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The Gili Manta Ray is designed to help you enjoy stand up paddle boarding with friends and family. 

It’s available in two sizes: 12’ x 45” x 8” and 15’ x 56” x 8”. The smaller Manta Ray can hold about three people while the bigger one can hold more than five people. 

This multi-paddler inflatable paddle board is built using military-strength PVC material. It’s rock-hard when fully inflated and it can support 725 lbs (12’) and 1150 lbs (15’). That’s amazing!

I love the Gili Manta Ray inflatable package as it includes two fiberglass paddles and two hand pumps. This is thoughtful, seeing as it’s a multi-person paddle board. 

The inflatable SUP has a lot of handles all over, which is awesome because you won’t have a hard time carrying it or dragging it in and out of the water. The deck has nine gear mounts for your cup holders and other accessories, making it the ultimate party paddle board.

The traction pad on the Gili Manta Ray is large and covers most of the deck to ensure that everyone onboard has a soft and grippy surface to stand, sit, or kneel on. 

The Gili Manta Ray may be right for you if you want a paddle board that can accommodate you and your friends. 

• Extra large and stable: The Manta Ray paddle board is long and wide, offering a big stable surface for multiple people. 
• High-weight capacity: This multi-person paddle board can hold 725 lbs or 1150 lbs (depending on the size you pick). It can support several people plus gear without flexing or sinking.
• Great iSUP package: I love that this inflatable paddle board comes with two paddles and hand pumps. You don’t need to buy an extra one for your partner. 

• Not the fastest SUP: The Manta Ray is quite wide and this translates to more resistance on the water so the speed is not that great. But it’s perfect as a recreational multi-person board.

Check Price of the Gili Manta Ray

Gili Cuda – Best Gili SUP for Kids

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Lastly, we have Gili’s paddle board designed specifically for junior paddlers. 

The Gili Cuda, like most of the other boards here, is available in two sizes: 8’ and 9’. It’s 30 inches wide and only weighs 18 pounds. It’s a nice smaller paddle board that’s easier to maneuver and carry for kids. 

The inflatable SUP package includes an adjustable fiberglass paddle for kids, a fin kit, a whistle, a repair kit, a coil leash, and a bag. It doesn’t come with a pump because chances are that the parent already has a pump. If you don’t, there’s the option of having a manual or electric pump in your package.

The Gili Cuda features a tri-fin setup: a center fin and two side fins. The fins enhance stability, tracking, and maneuverability of your child’s SUP.

This may be a kids’ paddle board but it’s made using the same high-quality construction that Gili Sports use on their adult-size SUP boards. It even comes with a two-year warranty so it’s durable and safe for your little paddler to use. 

The Gili Cuda is ideal for kids from the age of five and up. 

• Stable and maneuverable: The Gili Cuda SUP board is perfectly sized and stable enough for children. It’s also easy for them to handle on the water and carry on their own. 
• Size options: It’s nice to have some choice – you can pick the 8’ Cuda or the 9’ Cuda depending on your kid’s age and size. 
• Nice SUP package: The Gili Cuda package includes everything your junior needs to start paddling, including a fiberglass paddle for kids. 

• No color options: Seeing as this is a children’s board, it would have been good to have more fun color options that kids would love.

Check Price of the Gili Cuda

How to Choose the Right Gili Paddle Board for Your Needs

Gili Sports has a wide range of inflatable paddle boards–all of them amazing. How do you know which one is best for you?

What’s Your Budget?

First, you need to think about how much you’re willing to spend. If your budget is tight then you should check out the Gili Air paddle board because that’s the cheapest option. It’s affordable but you still get a quality SUP board and a complete iSUP package.  

If you don’t mind spending a little more, you can start looking at the other Gili boards. 

Consider Your Size and Weight

Some Gili Sports paddle boards may not be ideal for you depending on your size. 

Take the Gili Air 10’6 for instance. It’s affordable and well-made but I personally found it a little sluggish. So if you’re heavier you might want to check out the Gili Air 11’6 or some of the other bigger options. 

The Gili Mako would also not be suitable for you if you’re bigger. It’s small with a lower weight capacity and you may not find it very stable. 

The good thing is that most Gili inflatable SUPs have size options so you can always choose the size that would suit you best. 

Get the Correct SUP for Your Skill Level

Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced paddler? 

A paddle board like the Gili Meno Touring wouldn’t be great for a beginner because they would find it unstable. An advanced paddler, however, would find it quite fun to paddle. 

The same goes for the Gili Adventure. Some newbies may find it a little less stable than other all-around SUP boards. 

If you’re a beginner, consider the more stable boards like the Gili Komodo.

How Do You Intend to Use the Paddle Board? 

There are so many ways to use a paddle board. You can use it for SUP fishing, yoga, touring, racing, paddling with your kids, and more. 

For fishing, you’ll need a wide, stable SUP with attachment points like the Gili Meno. If you’re looking for a yoga paddle board, the Komodo would serve you best. It is stable and has a full-length deck pad that doubles as a yoga mat.

For paddling with friends, you’ll want to check out the Manta Ray as it’s large and has a high weight capacity. It comes with two paddles and two pumps for you and your partner too. 

Conclusion

Regardless of what you’re looking for, you can be sure that you’ll find it at Gili Sports. They have all-around, fishing, yoga, touring, and even kids’ paddle boards. And if you’d like to have a SUP party with your friends, there’s a paddle board for that too! I love that most of their boards have size options so everyone is catered for.

All Gili paddle boards come as a complete package. You get a paddle, SUP bag, manual pump, repair kit, and a leash. They’re also well-made and come with a two-year warranty.  

So, which Gili paddle board is your favorite?