If you’re here reading this then I imagine you’ve tried paddleboarding, loved it and are now considering buying your own. I remember the feeling well. I opened Google, searched something along the lines of “buy a paddleboard for beginners” and suddenly there’s over 1 million search results, brand after brand after brand all claiming to be the best, influencers telling you to get the one they got because it’s the best (even if it’s the only one they’ve tried AND they got it for free), some with huge discounts leaving you wondering, “Is it really that good in the first place?” and advice that really leaves you no clearer than when you first started searching.
Well, no fear! I’m here to help you choose a paddleboard that will suit YOU. No affiliate links, no brand sponsorship – just everything I’ve learnt on my paddleboarding journey so far.
I’m not an expert but these are the three main consideration points I’d take into account if I was looking at purchasing my first paddleboard.
What paddleboard size is best?
I guess it depends on a lot of things! What kind of ride you want, what size you’re comfortable with and how fast you want to go…
SUP boards will generally come in three sizes: shorter ones which are usually under 10ft long, the all-rounder size which are usually between 10ft and 12ft and the long boards which are usually over 12ft. Here are the main uses of each;
- a shorter one will be great for children, they’re agile and great in choppy water or on waves
- an all-rounder size is the most popular with great stability and usually can hold the weight of more than one person
- longer boards are for fast paddling and long distances.
Then you’ve also got racing and touring SUPS to add into the mix but as a beginner and if you’re someone who wants to just play around on a lake, a river or maybe take it for a little SUP camp or some SUP yoga then the most popular choice for this will be a board between 10ft and 12ft long.
What is the difference between an inflatable and hard paddleboard?
You’d be forgiven for not actually knowing that SUPS are available as inflatable and hard boards. I had no idea when I first started looking for one and just assumed they were all inflatable since all I’d seen for months was people pumping them up at the side of a lake. But alas, this is another thing for you to consider when buying.
Inflatables – the key takeaways:
For just general leisure paddling, an inflatable one allows easier storage, they are lighter, takes up less space in storage, is more comfortable and usually a more affordable choice.
Hard SUP boards – the key takeaways:
Hard boards give a much better performance than inflatable ones but are less convenient to store and transport.
How much weight can a paddleboard hold?
Paddleboards are designed to hold a maximum weight and this will vary from board to board and you’ll need to consider this when buying your board. For example, if two of you and a dog want to jump on the SUP then you’ll obviously need one that can accommodate all that weight. Same as if you’re planning a SUP camp where your board will be loaded up with your equipment. It’s something to look at with each individual board and consider that alongside your own weight and any extra weight you think might be on the board at the same time as you.
If you exceed the recommended weight of your SUP board then the board will ride lower down in the water making it perform poorly. The stability will reduce which can be frustrating for a beginner paddler not to mention unsafe.
Bluefin Paddleboards – my choice
The type of paddleboarding I do is very leisurely and relaxing; think calm, flat lake and river vibes, the occasional sea paddle when there’s no wind and a couple of overnight camping SUP trips. I enjoy playing around on it, jumping off it into the water and use it mainly over spring, summer and autumn.
After a lot of SUP searching, I went with the popular Bluefin 10’8” cruise and so far, it’s been great. I’ve had it for two years now and have never had any problems. The only downside is that it’s very heavy when packed away. When I bought it, I had all these plans to hike it up to mountain tarns but that wasn’t possible. Since then, they’ve brought out a much lighter one so that might be worth looking into!
I’ve also recently tried the Red Paddle CO inflatable 10”8’ board which I loved. It was lighter than mine and actually felt more sturdy and comfortable. If I was to purchase again then this one would probably be my first choice.
If you can, I’d recommend trying out a few different boards before buying one. Maybe you could borrow a friend’s board to see what it’s like or even hire one for a couple of hours from different SUP rentals. Ask around and see what people who own them have to say. Hopefully, you’ll have enough information to then choose which one you’d like to buy.
Top Tips for paddleboarding
- Look after your board so that it lasts longer. Inflatable boards should last from 2-12 years depending on how well you look after it. Clean it down after every use, don’t leave it out in the hot sunshine, watch out for stones and debris that could damage your board.
- Wear a lifejacket! The RNLI are seeing a rise in people who need to be rescued when out paddleboarding. Put your safety first and throw on a lifejacket!
- Check for wind speeds – Offshore winds can sweep you out to sea without any notice and winds can be challenging to battle against. Stay off the water if winds are above 15mph and 10-12mph as a beginner.
- Wear a leash. You can get ones that attach to your ankle but the recommended type of leash now is one which attaches to your waist instead. A leash will help you pull your board back when you fall off and will reduce the risk of you losing control of your board and it injuring someone else on the water.
- Invest in an electric pump! Honestly I can’t stress enough how much more enjoyable it is being able to get changed, have a cuppa, a snack and a chill or chat while the pump does all the hard work for me. The pump I have is an Airbank Whale Shark Pro which pumps up around 4-5 SUPS on one charge.
Happy Supping!