What Can You Do With Stand Up Paddle Boards?
While you may see stand up paddle boards (also known as SUPs) designed for specific activities, a good all-around board lets you experience a variety of activities on a lake, ocean or river. Depending on the capabilities of the board and your experience and skill level, you can use a SUP to:
- Explore the water and shore
- Get intense exercise with long-distance, nonstop paddle boarding (known as touring)
- Ride the waves at the beach
- Practice paddle board yoga
- Fish from a perspective you don’t get in a boat
If you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to develop your balance and skill with the board on flat water (a lake or pond). You need experience before taking on the wind and waves of the ocean or the current and white water of a river — and before attempting activities like yoga or fishing.
How to Choose a Stand Up Paddle Board
Knowing how the shape and size of a paddle board relate to what you can do on the water will help you find the best paddle board for your activities. There are two primary hull types or shapes.
The wide, rounded shape of a planing hull gives you a lot of control and stability. These boards are a good choice for beginners. They’re versatile enough to work for all-around recreational use, giving the beginner experience with different activities. Adult planing paddle boards 10 feet in length are great for riding waves, and 12-foot boards are good for activities such as yoga, where you want stability and room to move. They also work for surfing and general-fitness paddling. Children’s stand up paddle boards are typically planing boards that are around 8 feet long.
Stand up paddle boards with a displacement hull are longer boards — usually 12-1/2 feet in length — with a pointed nose. They’re narrower than planing boards, and the shape helps it move quickly and easily through the water. These are good options for more advanced paddle boarders who are interested in racing or a workout of long-distance or all-day paddling.
In addition to the hull shape, pay attention to board width, thickness and weight capacity.
- Width: Wider boards have better stability, but a board shouldn’t be so wide that it makes it difficult to paddle comfortably. Boards between 31 and 33 inches wide offer the stability a beginner needs but typically won’t restrict paddle strokes. Narrow boards don’t have as much stability, but they’ll be faster.
- Thickness: A thicker board has a more rigid feel and will be more stable. A thicker board can handle a larger person.
- Weight Capacity: The board needs to support your weight as well as anything you’ll bring with you — think water, a cooler, fishing equipment, pets, etc. If the total weight is greater than the board’s capacity, the board won’t sit on the water correctly. Paddling will be more difficult, and the board may sink.
Follow the stand up paddle board manufacturer’s instructions for setup, use and safety.
Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards
While solid stand up paddle boards offer great performance, inflatable stand up paddle boards are excellent options for all-around recreational use. The best inflatable paddle boards feel almost as firm as a solid board when inflated properly and come with everything you need to get your board ready for the water. Inflatable SUPs offer several advantages.
- Their larger size makes them good, stable boards for beginners.
- They’re lighter than most solid boards.
- Deflated and folded, they require minimal storage space — perfect for apartments or homes without a garage or storage shed.
- They’re easy to pack and can easily fit in a vehicle hatch or trunk.
- They’re easy to carry on a hike or take camping.
- The softer material can absorb falls better, making an activity like yoga more comfortable.
- They’re good for using on rivers where the material’s softness and flexibility can absorb impacts from rocks.
How Many Fins Should a Paddle Board Have?
Fins keep a paddle board headed in the right direction as water resistance on the sides of the fins helps the board move in a straight line.
- A paddle board with a single fin is more maneuverable than one with multiple fins. One fin provides stability with minimal drag. This configuration is well suited for use on flat water such as a lake or pond.
- Multiple fins make the board more stable and even a bit faster, but they’ll also make it harder to turn. A setup of one large center fin and two smaller side fins — known as a 2 + 1 configuration — is common on boards designed for use in the surf. A tri-fin or thruster configuration, where all three fins are the same size, will help a board move in a straight line on flat water but will also give you good control in surf.
- A board for white water might have no fins — a fin could snag on rocks in the riverbed.
Stand Up Paddle Board Features
Look for these features on a paddle board. Some are nice-to-haves, while others are necessary, so it’s helpful to purchase a board that includes them.
- Nonslip Area: All stand up paddle boards should have a traction area to let you stand on the board without slipping, but consider the size of the area. A larger area will be useful for activities that require more space for movement — such as yoga or fishing — or if you want to bring a pet along for the ride.
- Deck Storage: A small storage spot with elastic cords is great for holding a water bottle when you’re just cruising around a lake, but more storage space will be necessary if you want to bring a cooler, tent or some fishing gear along.
- Board Leash: You’ll need a leash that connects your ankle to the board to keep your board in reach if you fall off. Look for a board that comes with the leash included.
- Paddle: Paddles are included with many boards, but an adjustable paddle can be nice to have so you can be sure it’ll be a comfortable length for your height.
- Pump and Pressure Gauge: An inflatable paddle board needs the right air pressure to perform well. Look for kits that include a pump and gauge so they’ll always be with your board.
- Carry Handles: A handle mounted in the middle of the board makes it easy to carry your board to the water. A handle at the rear can be helpful for pulling it up onto the shore.
- Bag or Backpack: Two major benefits of an inflatable board are portability and a small storage footprint. Look for a board with a bag that lets you easily pack the board in a trunk, carry it to a campsite and store it away when not in use.
- Kayak Capability: For an additional way to enjoy time on the water, look for a stand up paddle board that converts into a kayak. These boards have flip-up seat backs and paddles that convert to a two-bladed kayak paddle.
Other Necessary Gear
While a paddle board creates a lot of fun on the water, you need to keep safety top of mind. Here’s some gear you need to have with you when you take to the water.
- An appropriate personal flotation device (PFD) is essential. Depending on where you are, a PFD may be required. But, required or not, you should always have one when you’re on the water with your board. Make sure any pet you have on board is wearing one as well.
- Take plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
- Sunscreen will protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Lip balm with UV protection is also a great idea.
- A hat and sunglasses are a good idea in hot or sunny weather. You’ll also appreciate a sunglasses retainer to keep the glasses in easy reach and to keep them with you if you fall.
- In cool conditions, you’ll need a dry suit or wet suit to stay warm.
- If you’ll be tackling white water on a river, a helmet is a must to protect your head from rocks in case you fall.
- If you take snacks, a phone, a camera or anything you need to keep dry, don’t forget a waterproof bag.