Quick Answer: Jimmy Styks’ current inflatable lineup centers on three boards: the 11’ Puffer (260 lb capacity, about 22 lb board weight, dual-layer fusion construction) is the best all-around pick, the 10’4” Mutt (260 lb capacity, extra-wide 34” deck) is the best budget/compact option, and the 12’6” Strider (260 lb capacity, bungee nose storage, GoPro mount) is the best for longer touring paddles. The one thing worth knowing before you buy any of them: Jimmy Styks sells mainly through outdoor retailers rather than its own storefront, and this review found the same Puffer board priced $459.97 at Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s versus $559.99 at Al’s Sporting Goods — a genuine $100 gap on an identical product, so it pays to compare at least two retailers.
Jimmy Styks has been building paddleboards since 2009, with a lineup that spans budget inflatables through fiberglass hardboards. This review covers the three inflatable models currently sold across major outdoor retailers, what’s actually different between them, and the retailer-pricing quirk that’s the real thing to watch for with this brand.
Jimmy Styks paddle boards at a glance
| Board | Best for | Size | Board weight | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Styks 11' Puffer | Best all-around | 11'6" x 31" x 4.7" | ~22 lb | 260 lb |
| Jimmy Styks 10'4" Mutt | Best budget / compact | 10'4" x 34" x 5.9" | ~22 lb | 260 lb |
| Jimmy Styks 12'6" Strider | Best for touring | 12'6" x 30" x 5.9" | ~22 lb | 260 lb |
1. Jimmy Styks 11’ Puffer — Best All-Around
Jimmy Styks 11' Puffer
- 11'6" x 31" x 4.7", about 22 lb board weight, rated 260 lb — Jimmy Styks' current flagship all-around shape, built with dual-layer fusion construction for rigidity at the brand's recommended 15 PSI.
- Confirmed at $459.97 direct from both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's (same parent company) as of this review, while Al's Sporting Goods lists the identical board at $559.99 (20% off a $699.99 list price) — a $100 gap for the same product.
- Ships as a complete kit: travel backpack, 3-piece adjustable paddle, coiled leash, dual-action pump, and repair kit, backed by Jimmy Styks' 365-day manufacturing-defect warranty.
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The Puffer is Jimmy Styks’ most widely stocked board, and that wide distribution is exactly why price-checking matters here. A $100 difference between Bass Pro/Cabela’s and Al’s on the identical 11’ Puffer isn’t a rare fluke — it’s a direct result of Jimmy Styks not running a strong centralized direct-to-consumer price, the same pattern that shows up across warehouse-club and outdoor-retailer brands rather than direct-sold brands like iROCKER or Nixy. At 260 lb rated capacity and 22 lb of board weight, the Puffer competes directly on paper with the Boardworks Shubu Riptide ($239.99) and Bluefin Cruise ($359) — worth cross-shopping if the Puffer’s current lowest price isn’t actually the deal it first looks like.
2. Jimmy Styks 10’4” Mutt — Best Budget / Compact
Jimmy Styks 10'4" Mutt
- 10'4" x 34" x 5.9", about 22 lb board weight, rated 260 lb — the shortest board in the current lineup, but the widest deck of the three at 34", built for stability over length.
- Found on clearance at Al's Sporting Goods for $149.99, marked down from a $399 list price — a 62% discount, among the steepest found on any board reviewed on this site.
- Same accessory bundle and 365-day warranty as the rest of the current lineup; its shorter length makes it easier to store and transport than the Puffer or Strider.
The Mutt trades the Puffer’s extra 14 inches of length for a 3-inch-wider deck, which makes it the more forgiving, stable board of the two despite the shorter footprint — a tradeoff worth knowing if garage or closet storage space is tight. The $149.99 clearance price found at Al’s is real, but treat any single clearance listing as a snapshot rather than a guarantee: the same retailer-volatility pattern that put $100 between two Puffer listings applies here too, so confirm the live price before assuming that discount is still standing. For paddlers who want a similarly compact, budget-tier board with a more predictable price, the Boardworks Shubu Riptide ($239.99, 10’6”) is a reasonable point of comparison.
3. Jimmy Styks 12’6” Strider — Best for Touring
Jimmy Styks 12'6" Strider
- 12'6" x 30" x 5.9", about 22 lb board weight, rated 260 lb — the longest and narrowest board in the current lineup, shaped for tracking and glide over turning.
- Bungee storage area at the nose, GoPro camera mount, rear grab handle, and a raised tail foot bar — features aimed at longer flat-water outings rather than casual paddling.
- Pricing on the Strider is the most inconsistent of the three boards: some retailers show it as heavily discounted clearance stock (as low as $199.99, marked down from a $719.99 list at one seller), while others still carry it near full price — a sign this model may be winding down at some sellers even though it remains a current listing at others.
The Strider is the board to consider if the goal is distance rather than maneuverability — the 12’6” length and narrower 30” width trade a little stability for tracking, the same tradeoff that separates it from the wider, shorter Puffer and Mutt. Because its retailer pricing is the least consistent of the three current models, ranging from steep clearance at some sellers to near-list at others, confirm both the price and current stock status before ordering — a clearance listing on an older or discontinuing model can sell out fast. For a similarly shaped board built specifically for long-distance touring with more consistent availability, the site’s Red Paddle Co Voyager review covers a premium alternative.
Jimmy Styks by the numbers
- $100 — the price gap this review found between the identical 11’ Puffer at Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s ($459.97) versus Al’s Sporting Goods ($559.99), the clearest sign of Jimmy Styks’ non-centralized retailer pricing.
- 62% — the discount found on the 10’4” Mutt at Al’s clearance pricing ($149.99 against a $399 list), among the steepest on any board reviewed on this site.
- 365 days — Jimmy Styks’ manufacturing-defect warranty period, applied consistently across the Puffer, Mutt, and Strider.
Why Jimmy Styks prices vary so much by retailer
Unlike direct-sold brands such as iROCKER or Nixy, which set one price on their own site and let Amazon roughly track it, Jimmy Styks sells primarily wholesale into outdoor and warehouse retailers — Costco, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Walmart, Al’s Sporting Goods, CampSaver, and West Marine all currently carry some part of the lineup. Each of those retailers sets its own price and runs its own promotions independently, which is exactly why this review found a genuine $100 difference on the identical Puffer board and a Strider that’s deeply discounted at one seller while still near list at another. That’s not unique to Jimmy Styks — Body Glove follows a similar warehouse-club distribution pattern on this site — but it means the single most useful thing you can do before buying any Jimmy Styks board is check two or three retailers rather than trusting the first price you see.
How to choose your Jimmy Styks board
- Want the most widely available, best-documented board: 11’ Puffer. Just confirm you’re not paying the Al’s premium when Bass Pro/Cabela’s has it $100 cheaper.
- Tight on storage space or shopping strictly on price: 10’4” Mutt. Widest deck of the three despite the shortest length, and the deepest clearance pricing found.
- Planning longer flat-water outings and want more glide: 12’6” Strider. Confirm current stock and price carefully — this is the model showing the most retailer-to-retailer inconsistency.
- Need higher capacity than any current Jimmy Styks board offers: See our Isle Megalodon review (650-1,050 lb) or our best paddle board for heavy paddlers guide.
- Want a similarly priced board with more predictable, centralized pricing: Our Boardworks review and Bluefin review both cover brands that sell more consistently direct.
Whichever Jimmy Styks board you’re considering, compare at least two retailers before buying — this review found real, verifiable price gaps of $100 or more on the identical board, and that’s money worth five extra minutes of shopping around.
The bottom line
Jimmy Styks’ current lineup — the 11’ Puffer (all-around), 10’4” Mutt (budget/compact), and 12’6” Strider (touring) — are all solidly built, complete-kit boards backed by a 365-day warranty, and none of them is a bad choice on specs alone. The real catch is distribution: because Jimmy Styks sells mainly through Costco, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Walmart, and other outdoor retailers rather than a strong direct storefront, prices for the same board can differ by $100 or more depending where you look, and older models like the Strider can show deep clearance at one seller while still selling near full price elsewhere. Check two or three retailers before you buy, and you’ll likely land well below the first price you find.