How to Choose a Stand-Up Paddle Board

While durability is still often associated with fixed elements and hard surfaces, most water enthusiasts swear by inflatable SUPs as the best inventions ever. When the world of paddling adventures is beckoning, modern designs prioritize versatility and adaptability to different water environments. That’s why inflatable has quickly become the preferred type of stand-up paddle board worldwide.

Traditional SUP hardboards are heavy, requiring car racks and significant effort for transportation. Inflatables can travel with you anywhere, including airlines and remote mountain trails. So, your choice will likely be oriented towards the latter.

Is an inflatable better than a solid stand-up paddle board?

Though SUP surfers believe hardboards are more nimble, many compete on inflatables because these can be checked in for air travel. Inflatables have more volume, offering greater stability and supporting more weight – this makes them ideal for multi-person use or taking your dog for a ride. So, unless speed is your priority, an inflatable stand-up paddle board is a better all-around option in a variety of water spots.

The advances in iSUP technology make ‘hardboard-like performance’ a reality for all boards. Today, both hard and soft-top inflatable SUPs are composites made with layers of durable materials. But in terms of robustness, premium-quality inflatable SUPs are in a category of their own, superior to hardboards. They don’t get damaged when dropped and won’t be deeply scratched against sand or rocky shores.

What to consider when shopping for an inflatable stand-up paddle board

Depending on your preferred activity and experience, you can opt for an all-around paddle board or choose a model specifically designed with fishing, racing, or surfing in mind. But with any SUP, you should note its total weight capacity. This is essential for single and multi-person use, plus you have to factor in any luggage or other objects you may have on your deck:

• Wider shapes reinforce confidence for beginners, SUP yoga fans, paddlers with furry friends, or anyone who likes to sit on the board and relax. They are versatile enough for recreational paddling at a leisurely pace.
• Narrow-shaped racing and touring stand-up paddle boards are designed for carving through the water and long-distance paddling, thanks to optimized traction, performance, and strokes. These are best for avid paddlers with a competitive streak who value speed over stability.
• Surf-specific SUPs are shorter and have a pointed nose and tail for maneuverability on the waves but are slower on flat water. So, this stand-up paddle board is perfect for your overseas vacation, yet you probably won’t get much use of it as a regular board on your local waterways.

A kit or an individual board?

You can choose a complete kit with everything to hit the water or purchase your accessories separately. For instance, fishing or surfing SUPs may come with a permanent fin setup, or you can add and remove fins as you see fit.

Last but not least, purchasing an electric pump is one of the best helpers for your stand-up paddle board. It takes the guesswork out of inflating it to the recommended PSI and makes you instantly comfortable with setup and deflating.

Once you get used to that, every part of your SUP experience is a breeze!