If you want to buy a jet board, you will notice pretty quickly that the choice is getting bigger and more confusing. In the jetboard comparison tables below, I have listed and compared all electric surfboard models since 2017. eFoils can be found in our eFoil comparison.
Both current models of electric surfboards in the first table and older versions that are no longer available in the second table. Of course, the jetboard comparison tables are updated regularly. You can also find product demonstrations of the different eSurfboards on the E-Surfer Youtube channel. The best models in our opinion can be found in our Jet board Shop.
Hardly a quarter goes by without a new jetboard being introduced on the web. Many of these announcements don't even make it to market. The market potential is simply explored with such e-surfboard ideas. This creates confusion.
It usually takes two years from a working prototype to a mature production product. Therefore, I would be cautious with newcomers, even if they usually advertise attractive prices.
Since the number of new announcements is increasing, while the number of products that actually make it to market is decreasing in percentage terms, we no longer include every new product in the jetboard comparison table. Rather, we focus on jetboards that are either already available for purchase or that we are certain will be available soon.
But even with these models, the number of manufacturers and especially the number of configurations has increased so much that we have set up a jetboard buying guide here in addition to the comparison tables.
Ideally, you visit our headquarters in Berlin or one of our branches and try out the boards. We offer test rides for this purpose. If this is not possible, we will be happy to advise you by phone. A good start is also this online buying guide for a first jetboard comparison.
We ask our customers the following questions to find the right jetboard:
A) One person or a small group with similar weight and skill level.
B) A group of people with different weight and skill level
C) Families with children
For answer A), we will try to find the most sporty setup for that person. Since such a board may be too difficult to learn on, we will have the customer ride a larger board first as part of our test ride until they master it. For people who are eligible for sportier boards, this is usually quick. Often under 10 minutes. After that, we switch boards and see how far they really get. Why do we do it this way? Simple. You don't buy a board for the first three hours, you want to enjoy it for a long time.
For answer B), we go by the heaviest rider in the group. It must fit for him, so that he can drive. This then allows everyone else in the group to ride. That doesn't necessarily mean that a bigger board is boring for lighter riders. But certainly not as sporty.
If the board is too small for the heaviest rider, it sits too low in the water and can't get into planning. In addition, the engine could overheat.
For answer C) One thing in advance. Jetboards and eFoils must be registered and get a license plate. This means that the rider must be at least 16 years old outside of private waters. But of course you are allowed to take your son or daughter on the board.
For this use case there is a jetboard, which is unique and especially suitable for this purpose. The Lampuga Air. The Lampuga has a soft inflatable surfboard hull. Similar to a SUP. This not only makes it comfortable for the short, but also cushions waves. It has enough volume for an adult plus child and offers plenty of hand straps to hold onto.
And should you have a private lake and let the kids ride there, the soft surf hull increases the safety of the kids and others.
Unlike eFoils, jetboards are licensed as personal watercraft (jetskis) in Germany. On the sea, this makes no difference, but on inland waters in Germany, outside of designated "jet ski routes", you are only allowed to ride in a so-called "Wanderfahrt". What does that mean? So not only do you have to stick to the speed limits, but you're also not allowed to make wild turns.
Sporty or relaxed? If you want to ride sharp turns and fast maneuvers, you should choose a short jetboard with foot straps. These are harder to ride, but also much more maneuverable. Not necessarily faster, because as explained above, a small jetboard lies deeper in the water and requires more energy.
If you like it easy, you should choose a bigger board with more volume. The volumes can be found below in the Jetboard comparison table.
Some boards have a leash attached to the top of the board, which allows the rider to hold on to a handle. On some boards this leash can be removed and others do not have it at all.
There are two reasons for the handle. One is that it makes riding easier and the other is that it helps with steering. That's why some radical boards have these handles as well. Personally, I like the freedom without a handle.
A jetboard should definitely have a leash with safety magnet (kill switch). This leash is attached to the rider. Either on the ankle or on the vest. By the way, helmet and vest should be worn in any case.
The kill switch has two functions. First, the engine can not be started accidentally as long as the magnet is not attached. On the other hand, the motor switches off immediately if you fall. When you fall, the magnet is pulled out of the device and stops the motor.
Most jetboards are just under 11 kW (15 hp), so that these eSurfboards remain license-free. Depending on the size of the board, this is sufficient for riders weighing up to 100 kg. If you want more power, then you need a recreational boating license.
Below 8 kW for an electric surfboard, however, it's too weak and will only very light riders under 70 kg to glide.
Well this is really a matter of taste, isn't it? Yes, but not entirely. I advise against black boards in any case. For jetboards and for eFoils. Black electric surfboards simply heat up much faster in the sun. This heat goes right into the electronics and this is counterproductive and can lead to overheating.
While the rubber pads are also often black, the rubber transfers heat much slower than the board itself. Still, I would always put a board in the shade or at least cover it with a light-colored towel.
We removed the prices from these tables at some point. Not only did the effort become too much, but it became confusing. Many electric surfboard manufacturers usually quote prices on their websites without VAT, shipping and import fees. With VAT, import and shipping, a few thousand EUR can easily be added (depending on where the trip goes). Other manufacturers or we in our Jetboard Shop do not do that. So this would not be a realistic comparison. But under "more info" you can get most of the prices ;-)
We get too often requests for a high performance electric surfboard under 5.000 EUR - but this is simply not possible. We try to keep this table as up to date as possible, but if you think we missed something, please contact us.
In the second table we want to archive the overview of older jetboards that are either no longer available or have been renamed. We want to keep this page as complete as possible and offer the largest jetboard comparison you can find on the internet. This industry is still young, but has already gone through so many changes ;-)
Especially the speed and range in our eSurfboard overview can - depending on the weight and style of the rider- vary greatly.
Both depend heavily on the battery and exactly this is expensive. For this reason, most jetboards under 10,000 EUR are more suitable for lighter riders under 70 kg. Another important aspect is the quality of the batteries. Batteries make up about 30-40% of the price and cheap cells from China and a weak battery management system (BMS) can save thousands of EUR but also increase the risk of damage and fires. Please check out our battery safety tips to learn why you should not underestimate the need for high quality components.
Of course, 14,000 EUR or more is no small investment, but safety should always come first. We are seeing more and more low-cost Asian models entering the market, undercutting the prices of high-end brands by up to 60%. Yes, this sounds attractive at first and sometimes might be the only chance to find an electric surfboard for your budget, but I recommend finding at least one local distributor for "after buy" support - also to have tested the boards at least once before buying. Otherwise, disappointment can quickly set in.
Don't think of these jetboards as surfboards! Of course, you might think that spending 2,000 EUR for a surfboard plus another 2,000 EUR for the motor and electronics is enough, but you are sadly mistaken. This is a completely new sport that can be compared to a jet ski (a.k.a. personal watercraft), which are usually also between 10,000 and 25,000 EUR. The same is now true for the electric surfboards.
