Now that you’ve been out riding around on a SUP, trying out a friends, or even renting a paddleboard consistently and know that you love the sport, it’s a good time to start checking out paddleboards for sale for a little while, you’re probably ready to really thinking about buying a board. First there are a couple of things you will need to take into consideration before you pull out the credit card and get buying, because not all paddleboards are created equal.
What Are You Going to be Doing on you Stand up Paddleboard
Paddle surfing, touring, cruising, boards on waves, boards on flat water – there are a lot of things to consider, and a lot of board types out there, even specially designed paddleboards for women and kids. When I first got into stand up paddleboards, I had no idea there were so many different types, until I really started researching when I was looking to buy a stand up paddleboard.
First things first, decide where you are going to be using your board, and the decision is a lot easier. If you live in Kentucky and you will be using your stand up paddleboard on a local lake, a different board will be required from someone in Maine who will be using it on the ocean.
A touring or cruising board will generally be used on more flat water situations; lakes and rivers, and will typically be wider and longer to provide more stability to the paddler. Oftentimes, these boards will also come with some tie downs. Tie downs are basically secure areas on the front of your board, you can then use para-cord or bungee cord to secure your stuff to the board. This is really helpful if you want to bring a backpack or some gear on your board with you, it will be much easier to strap down than on a board that will be used more for surf.
You also want to make sure that you get a stand up paddleboard that is going to be comfortable for you to maneuver and get down to the water. There’s no point in getting a board that is so big and heavy for you that you can’t carry it out of your house without the help of two friends. I’d guess that board would be spending most of its time as decoration as opposed to being used. Thankfully, there are some tools to help with that, which we’ll cover in the accessories section.
Your Body Type Makes a Big Difference on What Kind of Stand Up Paddleboard to Get
For the best chances when searching paddleboards for sale to find the board that will provide you with years of enjoyment, it’s important to take into consideration your height and weight. This is a crucial step, so it’s really important to make sure you do not overlook it, because making a bad decision here will dramatically decrease the amount of enjoyment you get out of your board.
If you are someone who has a bigger build, then it is smarter to get a slightly bigger (longer and wider) board, this will provide you with more buoyancy and you will glide along the top of the water. It’s not fun to be out on your SUP and having to struggle paddling because your board is not supporting you in the right way.
What is Your Stand up Paddleboard Experience
Have you never stepped on a board? Have you used your friends for a year and now you really want your own?
Your on experience will make a different on what kind of board you want. The larger boards will provide you with more stability and a smoother ride, which is something that could be really great for a beginning SUP-er. If you’ve been out on some stand up paddleboards a few times, and really feel that you have intermediate to advanced paddleboarding skills, then a smaller and lighter board is an option, because it will be quicker and easy to manuver, it will also be less stable, which is a consideration.
The good thing is there are literally paddle boards for everyone. Boards that get used once a month, boards that get used 2 hours a day, boards that people do yoga on, boards you can bring your dog for a paddle, boards for catching waves and boards for the glassiest water you can find.
How a Stand up Paddleboard is Made
To the serious stand up paddleboard athlete, the construction of their boards are very important. But, for a novice, it might not matter as much as the price. Keep in mind though, that with most everything else in life usually more higher quality boards are more expensive. But, if you do some solid research when looking at all the types and brands of paddleboards for sale you will be able to find some boards that have high quality and moderate prices, the decision is up to you and your budget. However, if you are someone who is interested in the board construction, there are some tips to be on the look out for.
Paddleboards are generally about 4-5 inches thick and the width runs from 26 inches to about 32 inches (but there are some boards that go up to 36 inches wide). As mentioned, the wider the board, the more stable it is for the rider. As for the length, stand up paddleboards run from 8 feet to a whopping 14 feet long.
Another consideration to remember to check when looking at SUP boards is what is referred to as the rocker. Basically this is a curved rod (sometimes wooden) that is usually inserted dead in the middle of the board and runs from nose to tail, it is really what makes the board curve when looking at a stand up paddleboard from the side. The rocker is the curve from the front to back of the paddleboard, if a board has a lot of rocker, then it is much easier to turn and maneuver, its generally used more for paddleboards that will be on surfing and waves. While boards with a low rocker will be much smoother gliding across calm waters.
Even if you are shopping for budget sup boards for sale, construction is still pretty important. Most boards are made with a polyurethane foam core for buoyancy, and then covered with many layers of fiberglass for strength and then covered with polymer to cut down on drag in the water. For a lighter (but more expensive) board, many stand up paddleboard companies are using carbonfiber instead of fiberglass. Check to make sure that any board you are looking at has a lot of layers of fiberglass and polymer, or if they have fewer layers, make sure they are made of more high quality stuff. The last thing you want is for the polymer layers to crack or damage in the sun, or for your board to split if it gets hit with a wave, not fun.
It is also important to check the overall quality of the board. The last thing you want to happen is to spend a lot of money on a SUP and find out that after a few weeks or months the board starts to warp, develop cracks, the deck pad starts peeling away or the board experiences delamination. So this is really where price comes into play. Yes, you can get a stand up paddleboard for $500 bucks, but more likely than not that board will not last nearly as long as one that is $800-1200 – so quality does matter. If you are someone who is just looking to go out a few times a year, then a cheaper board may just be the solution, but for someone who really wants to become a great paddleboarder, price has to be a consideration.
Stand Up Paddleboard Accessories
The good thing about paddleboarding is you really don’t need too many accessories beyond just the basics. Once you’ve got the board, all you need is a pfd (personal flotation device/life jacket) and a paddle. Then once you get more into paddleboarding you can of course supplement a million different accessories, the possibilities are endless.
Just like boards, paddles are typically made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, but can also be made of aluminum, plastic or even bamboo, with the carbon fiber being lighter, but more expensive. Size matters, even with paddles. If you are going to be on flat water like lakes or ponds then a longer paddle will be a better option. Conversely, if the plan is to be on waves or the ocean then a shorter paddle will work.
Generally, you want a paddle that is 4″-8″ inches taller than you are. Make sure the paddle is not an afterthought, it is a very important component of stand up paddleboarding, and it is especially important that you are comfortable with the paddle. And your arms will thank you!
Next Steps
Now that you know your ins and outs of stand up paddleboard construction, and the important questions to ask yourself, get online and find a paddleboard for sale!
