ALBERTA, Canada - Buying your first paddle board can be a challenge. Stand up paddle boards (SUP) aren’t cheap, and a first time buyer can quickly be overwhelmed by all of the options and variations that exist in the market place. Inflatable or hard board? What size should you get? Hull shape? Length? Materials? Price? The stuff one needs to learn seems to go on forever. Answering these basic questions will help you get the SUP that’s right for you.
Should you get an inflatable SUP or hardboard? Inflatable paddle boards are less expensive but there is more to consider than price...
Pictured left: Pop Board Co Inflatable / Pictured right: Surftech Generator Composite
Be sure to choose a board that is right for your skill level and body type, there are tons of options out there!
Forget that 8’ board that looks wicked in the surf shop. If you are a first time buyer and weigh more than 100 lbs, that is way too small of a board for you. Remember this rule: The smaller the board, the less stable it is. You first board should be a good all around board. You will have it for years, and it will be great for friends and family to use when you move onto other boards.
Carbon fiber is currently the strongest and lightest material on the market for board construction. | Photo via: NSP Surfboards / Erik Aeder
Materials and construction method is what really determine the price of a stand up paddleboard. Better materials make a SUP stronger and lighter. A light board might not matter when you are renting from the beach and they guy carries it to the waterline for you, but when you are walking a few blocks from the parking lot to the beach, it makes a difference.
Only you can determine how much you can afford to pay. If you love paddle boarding and you are dying to get your own board, but your budget is limited, get an inflatable. If you need the best of the best, get a carbon fiber SUP. Otherwise, look for the lightest and best constructed board you can afford with the best materials possible.
No matter your budget, you will be able to find a SUP that suits your needs. | Photo: Starboard / Wissanu Wisetputtasat
When shopping for your first stand up paddle board, ask yourself the four basic questions, do your research and then look for the best SUP that meets what you want in a board. It's also EXTREMELY important that you consider your safety and the safety of others when out on the water. A leash and life jacket are always key items to have when you're paddle boarding so make sure that with your new purchase you also invest in your safety.
To see more SUP Tips for Beginners, click HERE.
Layne Pennell has been stand up paddle boarding for 10+ years and loves all aspects of the sport. After paddling daily while living in Mexico for several years, he returned to Alberta, Canada and brought his passion for SUP with him. Layne teaches paddle boarding to beginners, and his company Wappa Paddle Boards builds environmentally friendly bamboo stand up paddle boards.
After personally paddling, weighing, and…
After personally paddling, weighing, and…
After personally paddling, weighing, and…
After personally paddling, weighing, and…
After personally paddling, weighing, and…
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