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Welcome to InflatableBoarder.com! Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is one of the most popular outdoor activities and growing fast. One of the reasons why is because SUP seems like a fairly basic concept. Stand on the board and paddle, right? Well, sort of, but not really. After trying paddle boarding for the first time (and obviously getting hooked like the rest of us) new paddlers will generally have a whole lot of questions. These are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards (iSUPs) along with their answers. If you have any other questions, feel free to send us an email with the contact form at the bottom of the page. Happy paddling!
What is a stand up paddle board?
Stand Up Paddle Boards, or SUPs, are a type of paddle craft designed specifically to be paddled with a single-bladed paddle while standing. Modern Stand Up Paddle Boards come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and constructions, but mostly resemble large surfboards. After all, while people have been standing and paddling for thousands of years, the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding originated from modern surfing in Hawaii and California in the early 1990’s.
Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards (iSUPs) have taken the world by storm thanks to their ability to deflate for easy storage and transportation, and their relative affordability without sacrificing performance.
What kind of paddle boards are there?
Stand Up Paddle Boards come in hundreds of different sizes and shapes for all sorts of different purposes. We can classify SUPs in many different ways. One of the biggest classifications is construction:
Inflatable SUPs are made from a soft, air-tight, material that becomes rigid when inflated to high pressure.
Rigid SUPs are made from combinations of foam, wood, plastic, composite materials like fiberglass and carbon fiber, and resins like epoxy or polyester.
Read our blog post about Inflatable vs Rigid SUPs here.
Paddle Boards can also be classified by their intended use:
All-Around, Cruiser, Touring, Fitness, Fishing, Yoga, Racing, Surfing, Whitewater, Compact, Kids, Groups, Foiling/Winging, and of course there are crossover shapes that blend between the different categories.
How much do stand up paddle boards cost?
Paddle boards are a bit like bicycles in that they span a large price range (though bicycles get significantly more expensive than SUPs). Some inflatable paddle boards are available for less than $200, while some specialty hard boards are well over $3,000.
Rigid paddle boards typically start at $800 or more for just the board. There are some very cheap SUP-shaped-objects at big box stores made with injection-molded plastic that are less expensive, but these are extremely heavy and have low build quality, low performance, and low durability.
Inflatable paddle boards range in price from $100-$2,000 with good-quality complete kits (with board, paddle, leash, and more) for as little as $300. High-quality iSUPs are available around $700, and specialty iSUPs for $1,000.
Are inflatable paddle boards any good?
Yes! Inflatable paddle board technology has come a long way in the last 15 years. Modern iSUPs offer the same level of stability and performance as their hard-board counterparts. Even racing iSUPs have begun to rival high-end carbon fiber boards for speed, and new materials are making iSUPs so rigid that they don’t even flex when jumping on them! There are very few instances where a hard board offers distinct advantages over an inflatable with the most prominent being intermediate and advanced SUP surfing.
What size paddle board do I need?
Choosing the right size paddle board is very important. You’ll not only want to match the board with the paddler, but also with how you will be using the board and if you will be bringing anything along with you.
Most people will want to begin with either an all-around or cruiser style paddle board. These SUPs are typically 10-11’ long and 31-33” wide. This size is generally large enough for most people to find comfortably stable and offers a good blend of maneuverability and tracking.
Larger paddlers or paddlers who want to bring along a child or pet, may want to size up to an 11-12’ long and 33-35” wide board.
If you want to paddle longer distances or faster speeds, then you’ll want a longer and narrower board, and if you want to paddle faster moving rivers you’ll want a shorter, wider board.
Of course board thickness, shape, and construction can all make a difference in choosing the right size board as well.
For more details about what size paddle board to use, see our guide on Choosing the Right Size SUP.
What should I wear for stand up paddle boarding?
Any time you are recreating outdoors you want to be comfortable, but safe. With Stand Up Paddle Boarding that means matching your clothing not just to the air temperature, but also the water temperature. After all, we are all between swims! Even the best paddle boarders in the world still fall off their boards.
In addition to appropriate clothing (below) you’ll want waterproof sunscreen and probably sunglasses and a hat. Most paddlers prefer to go barefoot, but if you paddle in rocky locations, areas that are frequent spots for anglers, or if it is a colder time of year, there are many great footwear options designed for paddling.
Because water is such a great conductor of heat (20x more efficient than air) it’s important to dress for the water temperature first. In warm climates with warm water this can be just a bathing suit. But as the water temperature begins to dip below 70°F / 21°C, you’ll want to start adding some thermal protection.
Read our guide on Clothing for Cold Water Paddling
It’s always easier to cool yourself down while on the water than it is to warm back up.
Synthetic clothing like rash guards and lightweight (0.5-1mm) neoprene separates are great ways to add a little warmth. But, as water temps cool down, you’ll want to wear proper thermal protection like a full wetsuit or even a dry suit depending on where you are paddling.
Avoid wearing bulky, heavy clothing like insulated jackets. These clothing items not only lose the majority of their insulation ability when wet, but they become very heavy – which can be dangerous.
Always wear an appropriate leash (which, at times, may be no leash), and your life jacket. Life jackets (aka PFDs – Personal Flotation Devices) are like seat belts: by the time you know you need one, it’s too late to put it on. Year after year, over 80% of boating fatalities list “Not wearing a PFD” as a primary contributing factor. Even strong swimmers can quickly find themselves tired or incapacitated in emergencies, especially in cold water.
How much does a stand up paddle board weigh?
Stand Up Paddle Boards vary in weight based on their size and construction. Smaller ultralight compact iSUPs can weigh as little as 12 pounds. Extra large inflatable paddle boards for fishing can weigh 50 pounds, and large rotomolded plastic fishing hard SUPs can weigh 75 pounds or more.
Average all-around iSUPs weigh between 22-28 pounds.
What is the best inflatable SUP board?
There is no ultimate best inflatable stand up paddle board because what is best for one paddler may not be best for another. We have many lists of best paddle boards for various activities and paddler types. When creating these lists we evaluate performance, construction, price, and a dozen other variables when deciding which boards to include.
- Best All Around Inflatable Paddle Boards
- Best Budget iSUPs Under $500
- Best Paddle Boards for Beginners
- Best SUPs for Heavier Paddlers
- Best Touring Inflatable Paddle Boards
- Best iSUPs for Fishing
- Best SUPs for Paddling With Your Dog
- Best Paddle Boards for SUP Yoga
- Best iSUPs for Kids
- Best Compact and Travel iSUPs
- Best Paddle Boards for Rivers and Whitewater
- Best Multi-Person/Group SUPs
Do I need to wax the top of the paddle board?
All Paddle Boards need some sort of traction on the deck (top) of the board, otherwise they become very slippery when wet.
Inflatable paddle boards all use a foam deck pad to provide a comfortable and grippy surface to stand, sit, or lay down on. Inflatable Paddle Boards do not need any wax for traction.
Hard paddle boards usually have a foam deck pad as well. Most hard paddle boards with a foam deck pad do not need wax. There is a whole category of SUPs called Soft-Tops or Foamies where the board is actually made from a high-traction foam material. These soft-top boards are fine as-is for normal SUP activities, but some people do like to add a layer of wax when using them for SUP surfing, especially on older boards.
Some hard paddle boards, especially hard Surf SUPs, may come with a bare deck. These boards do require you to add some sort of traction before using them for flatwater or surfing. You can either add a foam deck pad yourself, or wax them like you would a traditional hard top surfboard.
Where can I stand up paddle board?
Generally speaking, you can Stand Up Paddle Board on bodies of water you can canoe, kayak, raft, surf, or swim. There may be local restrictions on certain kinds of activities, so always check before you go.
Do I need waves in order to paddle board?
No waves required! Stand Up Paddle Boarding is available on almost any body of water, not just in surf zones. It makes SUP far more accessible and popular than surfing. Because you can SUP on flat water it’s far easier for people to learn, and allows for a greater diversity of people to enjoy the sport.
Of course, you absolutely can paddle on waves! SUP Surfing is immensely fun, and it’s not limited to those living on the coast. Whitewater parks (both natural river basins and totally man-made parks) have become more popular over the last decade and often include dedicated surf wave features.
Where do I stand on a Paddle Board?
The best place to stand on a Paddle Board is near the center of the board, usually with your feet on either side of the board’s center carry handle. You should keep your feet directly under your hips. Using a wider stance isn’t necessary and can actually make the board feel less stable. This keeps the board trimmed properly for optimum balance and performance.
Standing too far forward presses the nose of the board into the water making it slow and difficult to maneuver. It may also reduce the board’s overall stability.
Standing too far back lifts the nose of the board, drastically reduces stability, and makes it very difficult to paddle the board straight.
Can I sit on a Stand Up Paddle Board?
How durable is an inflatable paddle board?
Inflatable paddle boards are incredibly durable. In fact, they are far more durable than hard paddle boards. Small bumps, and even just standing on a hard board, can cause cracks, dents, and dings.
The flexible PVC material used to create most iSUPs is able to slightly bend when bumping into a hard object rather than breaking. This makes them the paddle board of choice for whitewater paddle boarders!
However, iSUPs are not invincible. They can be punctured, but it takes a significant amount of force from a sharp object to do so. Dragging an iSUP across a hard surface can also damage the reinforced PVC material (but this will also damage a hard board).
Heat and UV radiation affect both hard boards and inflatable SUPs. If a hard board is not properly ventilated, heat can cause the composite material to delaminate from the inner foam core. UV radiation can weaken epoxy and polyester resins, as well as PVC over time. Inflatable boards, especially those made with glued seams rather than welded seams, are at risk for a seam delamination if left off the water and in direct sunlight while fully inflated. Reducing pressure, keeping the board on the water, and/or keeping the board out of direct sunlight help protect your iSUP.
Repairing an iSUP is usually an easy task that can be done at home with a few inexpensive materials. Repairing a hard board can require expensive resins, composite materials, and is a more intensive repair process.
Would you consider buying a used (Nixy G3) iSUP that has been patched (assuming properly)? If they’re supposed to be ”indestructable”, should I keep looking, or is it worth considering if it’s far less than buying new and I’m on a budget ($350, all components of package included)? Or a $450 board that may just have some scrapes, normal wear, possibly a missing d-ring? (I did learn that the reason Nixy doesn’t include the carrying strap is because it was pulling on the d-rings. They supposedly will offer a strap that wraps around the board soon.)
Any inflatable SUP can be cut or punctured, given a sharp enough object or enough abuse. I wouldn’t take an individual anecdote that a particular brand or model has been patched as a indication of the quality of the board.
In your case, if you’re looking at buying a used board that’s been patched, what’s more important is how well the patch job was done (which may be impossible to know without inspection). I’d be much more comfortable buying a board with just normal wear. What you don’t mention is the source you’re buying from. Ideally you’d be buying from a friend who you know treats their gear well.
Alternately, several top brands like Bluefin, NRS, Sea Eagle, and Thurso, occasionally sell off lightly used demo gear via their websites — this gear is always well inspected before being put up for sale and often still carries a warranty. You can check out our SUP deals page for links to some of these sales.