What to know before buying a paddle board?
To find the right stand up paddle board for you, consider how you’re going to use it, how it will fit your body and how you want it to handle in the water. The key decision points will be the shape of the board, getting the correct volume and capacity, as well as the proper length, width and thickness. SUP Equipment The Board: A stand-up paddleboard is larger, wider, and generally more buoyant than a traditional paddleboard. It ranges between 9 and 12 feet in length and is designed to support a standing rider.Balancing on a paddleboard makes use of the muscles and joints in your feet and lower legs. I did say this was a full-body workout. The great balancing act of SUPing fortifies those essential muscles for achieving stability and providing joint support. This is a unique characteristic of this recreational activity.All paddle boards have maximum weight guidelines, if you’re nearing these weight limits (remember to include the weight of belongings, pets and passengers!The most popular SUP boards for general use are 10-11 feet in length and between 32 and 34 inches wide. If stability is a high priority for you, you’ll want to look for a board that is 33-34 inches wide. You can go wider, but you may end up with a board that is sluggish and less fun to paddle.
How to tell if a paddle board is good?
Rigidity: A well-built board should feel solid under your feet with minimal flex, even for heavier paddlers. Stability: It should track straight and offer good side-to-side stability without feeling like a pool toy. Handling: It should be easy to turn and responsive to your paddle strokes. Speed and steering Stand up paddleboards are generally faster than kayaks, as they have a longer waterline and can glide more easily through the water. This makes them ideal for exploring open water, such as lakes, rivers, or even the ocean. Kayaks, however, are easier to steer in tight spaces.Allows you to explore. Perfect for those that love an outdoor adventure, paddle boarding allows you to explore rivers, lakes and seas. This adventurous activity is a great way to reach secluded coves and untouched river banks that would be otherwise unreachable.A comfortable average speed is about 3-4 knots, on a regular all-round paddleboard. More wave-orientated boards are slower, while specialized race boards can be up to 8 knots fast. The ideal conditions (aside from surfing) is no wind days or get the wind behind you and do a downwinder.Having a fin in the water helps you to keep the paddleboard to track in a straight line. Making it slower to turn means you’ll find paddling forwards a lot easier. If you didn’t have a fin then you may find that with each paddle stroke, you begin to spin around.Yes, paddleboarding is good for you because you’re moving your body. Those who want an extra workout can try adding yoga poses like side planks or sun salutations, gym moves like squats or Russian twists or raise their heart rate with HIIT intervals of fast paddling.
Why not buy a cheap paddle board?
In the low end, cheap paddle boards; the drop stitching is made with a cheap, low quality material which means after a couple of times of inflating and deflating your paddle board, these threads will snap. You will see people who have the cheaper SUPs, that their board is dipped in the middle when they’re using it. The more threads used, the higher the pressure the board can withstand, resulting in a stiffer and more stable paddle board. Premium boards will have a much higher density than a cheaper board and inflation pressures of 15-19psi.
Which is better kayak or paddleboard?
Both kayaks and paddleboards offer unique advantages, and the best choice depends on your family’s needs. If you want stability, comfort, and longer paddling trips, a kayak is the better option. If you prefer a more playful, interactive experience and equipment that’s easy to transport, go with a paddleboard. Stand up paddleboards are generally faster than kayaks, as they have a longer waterline and can glide more easily through the water. This makes them ideal for exploring open water, such as lakes, rivers, or even the ocean. Kayaks, however, are easier to steer in tight spaces.Most paddlers prefer to paddle with bare feet. This enables you to have greater grip on the board, you can easily utilise your toes and you can easily put shoes (like sandals/Tevas) on and off for when you launch and exit the water.Kayaks have displacement hulls that work great for tracking and keeping yourself straight in the water. This hull design is perfect for traveling long distances. Paddleboards, on the other hand, have planing hulls. This hull type provides better stability and skims across the water rather than cutting through it.While shallow water may be good for getting your feet wet, it is not ideal for paddle boards. At 10” deep, the fins will be digging into the sand (or rocks, depending on where you are paddling). Beginners could start off in 20” of water, sitting or kneeling on the board, as they begin to get the feeling right.Having a fin in the water helps you to keep the paddleboard to track in a straight line. Making it slower to turn means you’ll find paddling forwards a lot easier. If you didn’t have a fin then you may find that with each paddle stroke, you begin to spin around.