Last Updated on 06/02/2022 by TheDigitalHacker
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.8″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.8″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.8″ inline_fonts=”Verdana”] Few noobs confuse between SUP boards(stand-up paddleboards) and surfboards. Surfboards do not have enough volume to keep a person afloat, except when riding a wave. A very lightweight person might be able to balance on a large surfboard, but for most people, a surfboard will not keep them afloat. It depends on the size and type of surfboard, but a typical paddleboard will lant you float on it. 
SUP boards are of two types: inflatable boards and solid boards. Inflatable boards are easy to carry and store. These boards can fit into a medium size luggage bag. when you want to enjoy your weekend in a river then a paddle board will be a perfect choice for you. I personally feel that paddling is safer than surfing. It takes around 10 minutes to fill the air in your inflatable paddle board. Before you buy a paddleboard you need to consider many things to experience the best performance. DID YOU KNOW THAT? The new 14-foot Elite MSL is the fastest inflatable race board ever designed. Weighing only 22 pounds, the Elite is 25-inches wide and features Red Paddle Co MSL Fusion, a proprietary construction method that delivers a lighter, stiffer board at higher pressures.
Things to consider while getting an inflatable paddle board: –
The hull type of the board is the most important thing which you need to consider. this will affect your boating speed. So, first let’s list out important things to consider before you purchase an inflatable paddle board.
- Hull type.
- Dimensions.
- volume and weight capacity.
- extra accessories which suite you.
HULL TYPE: –
There are 3 types of hull. The hull is the shape of the board at the front end. This more important in terms of board speed. 1) Planning hull: – The paddle board in planning hull shape has a wide nose. This will allow the boat to lift it up from the water. It will make your board maneuvered. This hull type is designed to glide on the surface of the water as the board gains its speed. The planning hull will mostly suite for people who plan to
- paddle at Leisure time.
- hang-out with your pet, mostly dog.
2) Displacement hull: – This hull type is designed to power through the water and is most often found on larger boats. So, this hull type paddleboard has a pointed nose which will cut through the water to move fast. Displacement hull boards are great for exercising or for long distance paddling. Due to the pointed nose displacement, hull paddleboards cuts the water surface with its nose to the sides of the SUP. This will improve the boat speed with less effort to paddle. This hull type SUP board can be useful to people who want to
- race
- exercise through paddling.
3) Pontoon hull: – They have 2 cylindrical objects(pontoons) under it on both the sides. It helps the boat to lift and float in the right direction. This type of hull is not available in the inflatable paddle board. The inflatable paddle boards are only available in planning and displacement hull types.
DIMENSIONS: –
Length, width, and thickness play an important role while you paddle in the water. These things affect your boat speed and stability.
1) Board Length
The length of the inflatable board will affect your boat speed. The longer the boat is the faster you will go. The longer boats are faster and less stable. The shorter boards are slow compared to longboards and are more stable. NOTE: – Longer boards are suitable for experienced people and the shorter boards are for beginners. I have classified the paddle board length to 3 parts Shortboard: – This is for beginners who want to start paddling. The short boards are more stable and go slow. As a beginner then you might consider getting a shortboard. Most of the short paddle boards are available in planning hull shape(wide nose). Length: – Below 10′ feet. Medium board: – These sized boards are mostly available at planning hull. You might find displacement hull also at this size. This is an intermediate level board. If you are perfect at basics to handle a paddle board. Then you must have a board of this size. Length: – 10′-12′ feet. Longboards: – They are usually fast and unstable. Beginners cannot handle this inflatable board due to its less stability. An experienced guy can handle this kind of boards with ease. They are mostly available in the displacement hull SUP. As the longer boards function is to travel fast in speed they are available in displacement hull. This kind of hull board is pointed at the front end. This will tear the water and push to its sides to travel faster. The longboards are best for distance traveling and race. Length: – 12′-16′ feet
2) Board Width
The width of the inflatable board will also affect the board stability and speed. Usually, the width of the board is maintained at standard measures. The standard measures of the board width are 25-36 inches. For Example, a 25 inches board is faster than a 36 inches board. But, 25 inches inflatable SUP is less stable than a 36 inches SUP. Remember your paddling level and choose a perfect inflatable board width. The below things needs to be considered before you paddle. The place you paddle: – This is more important to know the place you paddle at. For a place with calm water, you should have a short width SUP. This will give you more speed and less stability. For the places like calm water you need speed but not stability If the place you paddle is disturbing with the flow speed of water then you have to get an inflatable board with long length. Here you will lose the stability very easily so, you need to have a SUP board with bigger width. Your Body type: – Your body will also do matter when you paddle. For a heavy body type, you will need a SUP with bigger width. This will allow the board to stay stable. If you have a small body then you can have a small width inflatable SUP board. Skill Level: – You need to know how good are your skill levels. If you are bad at paddling then you need to get a SUP with bigger width. This will have a good stability than a SUP with less width. Please don’t do adventures at the beginning stage. This kind of things might cost your life. So, don’t do any dangerous things while you just started learning. This is my personal request for you not to attempt dangerous things while you paddle.
3) Board Thickness
The board thickness is the 3rd factor after height and weight. This also does matter when you want a stability and speed as well. The thickness of the inflatable SUP will directly affect the volume of the SUP. That means the SUP can handle more weight with large volume. The thicker SUP has more volume than the thinner one and the higher the volume, the more weight it can support.
VOLUME AND WEIGHT CAPACITY
These 2 are the important factors to handle the stability if the Inflatable SUP. The volume of the board will directly affect the weight capacity of the SUP. The volume of the board can be determined using the length, width, and thickness of the SUP. Generally, the volume of this SUP is given in liters. If you have more volume then the board will have more weight capacity. These things need to be considered by large people. This kind of people is heavy in weight. While looking for the weight capacity of the inflatable paddle board think of your weight and the stuff you carry. The stuff might be your dog or any other thing you want to carry to the middle of the river. The weight capacity of the SUP will be given in pounds. Now calculate the approx weight of the stuff you want to carry and your weight. Now choose a SUP weight capacity which is a little more than your sum. Choosing a right volume and weight capacity is important: – Planning hull boards are convincible while your weight doesn’t match to your SUP volume or weight capacity. These SUP’s are for gentle and smooth paddling experience. The displacement hull boards volume and weight capacity should match your weight on the SUP. These boards are designed for racing as they move faster. When you are heavy in weight on displacement hull boards then they sink and get low in the water. This will cause the SUP board move slow with more effort. When you are light in weight and doesn’t match to the board weight capacity, the board starts to be unstable. You will feel the board is heavy and unstable. This is due to lightweight on the board. You need to have a weight near to the weight capacity of the board.
EXTRA ACCESSORIES: –
These extra accessories are for your safety. The things like a whistle, torch, and personal floating device and be life saviors at the time of danger. The paddle is a very important accessory because without that you cannot move from that place. You will be standing on inflatable board all day long and move in the direction of the wind. Before you plan for paddling wear proper clothes. Get a wet-suit or dry suit which will be suitable for water sports. Without a proper clothing, you might fall into a danger.
PROS AND CONS OF INFLATABLE PADDLE BOARD
PROS
Easy to transport: I prefer inflated board as they are easy to carry around. We can fit it into a large backpack and inflate it whenever need. It hardly takes few minutes to get your board ready. Solid SUP’s are very hard to carry on your truck. They need to be carried as the way they are. You will find this friendly when you travel a lot for paddling. This will easily fit in your car trunk along with your luggage. Soft surface: After the inflation, you will find a very soft surface on the front side. This will really avoid the danger of getting hit when you fall down. If you want your pet also to paddle with you then this is the best choice. Now your buddy will also enjoy the tour with you in the river or lake. Occupies less space: – When you are done with the paddling then you can deflate the board and put it back in your bag. It can be easily pushed under your bed to store. If you don’t want it under the bed then you can choose some other place. But, for sure it will occupy very less space.
CONS
Sink: – sinking in the middle of the board is a regular complaint with inflatable SUP’s. However, over time you have to learn to inflate the board to the proper level. Without the proper level of inflation, you face more problems like inflation. ALTERNATE TO INFLATABLE PADDLEBOARD: – Solid SUP is a very good alternative to inflatable SUP. Few solid sups are made up of carbon fiber material. This material is light in weight and very expensive. If you want to go for a cheaper one then the plastic body will the other choice. Plastic SUP is less expensive but they are heavy. Solid SUP might not be a good choice for whitewater(where water flows fast). There are many rocks and you may end up hitting them. Solid SUP cannot take that hard hits. For this reason, Inflatable SUP is the best alternative.
- Solid SUP’s perform well then the inflatable SUP’s. You don’t need to paddle hard on solid board as you do on the inflated board.
- Solid SUP’s are more stable than an inflatable board.
REASONS NOT TO BUY SOLID PADDLEBOARD: –
- They perform badly at whitewater paddling.
- It is 12 foot long and hard to find a place to store it.
- Due to its size, it is hard to carry while you travel.
REASONS TO BUY A INFLATABLE PADDLEBOARD: –
- Easy to carry with you and store in your home if you don’t have much space to store it.
- Can take hard hits from rocks while you paddle in whitewater or anywhere else.
- The soft surface where you stand.
- Best suited for river paddling and rocky shores.
- Great to hang out with your buddy (dog).
The easy to transport is the main reason you need to consider while getting an inflatable paddle board. Not all are good at everything. if you are not good at paddling then for sure I recommend getting an inflatable paddle board. Its surface is soft and the chances of getting hit when you fall down are very low. Many of us don’t have plenty of room to store unusual things. This will be a perfect board to store easily in a bag. So you have to consider this while buying it. CONCLUSION: – If you are a beginner at paddling then you have to go for a short length paddle board. That will provide stability while you learn. Let your weight and SUP’s weight capacity match. Only then you can see the inflatable paddle board perform well. If you want to race or paddle faster then choose paddle boards with the displacement hull. They tend to move faster and good for long rides. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
