What To Know When Buying A Stand Up Paddle Board

The last thing riders want is to start their rides with small boards.

What to know when buying a stand up paddle board.

If the paddler is too heavy for a sup board the board will sit lower in the water and thus create more drag making it difficult to pick up speed. Here are some inflatable paddle boards for you to consider. In the specs maximum rider weight is included. Surf paddle boards are perfect if you are always going to spend your time in the surf.

Surfing specific paddle boards. Determine your stand up paddle board size based on your weight and paddle boarding experience. Longer boards are also better for long distance paddling. If you re looking at two boards of the same length and width but different thicknesses the thicker board has more volume than the thinner one and the higher the volume the more weight it can support.

You must know which board is best for which rider. The more volume the board has the more stable it will be on the water. Buyers guide how to choose a stand up paddle board. With a minimum of gear you can paddle ocean surf lakes and rivers no waves required.

The stability of your board is dependent on a paddle board s dimensions aka a board s length width and volume. While they have some downsides like not being as rigid and mainly for flat water paddling. Longer stand up paddleboards are generally better for going faster and paddling downwind. Surf specific stand up paddle boards are typically shorter have a narrower nose and tail and more rocker curve than allround and flatwater race boards.

These boards will usually range from 12 6 to over 14. The most important thing to look for in your first paddle board is if it is stable enough for you to comfortably stand on. To find the right one for you consider a board s weight volume capacity and size. They are not meant for a leisurely paddle.

The main reason to consider the thickness of a stand up paddle board is because of how it affects the overall volume and weight capacity. With undersized boards padding becomes hard. The wider longer and thicker the board the more volume and weight capacity it will have. You want to choose a stand up paddle board that has enough volume buoyancy based on your weight and experience level to properly float you.

A surf paddleboard are meant for quick turns and high performance. Sups for surfing tend to be shorter and narrower especially at the nose and tail of the board.