Solid vs. inflatable
There are two types of paddleboards you can buy, inflatable or rigid, also known as rigid. One is not better than the other – this will depend primarily on your current circumstances and what you are looking to get from your board.
Hard paddleboards tend to be better for the ocean because they are more durable and are more likely to withstand impacts from rough rocks and coral reefs. They are also more stable when faced with choppy waters, boat wakes, and waves. They are also usually heavier, more difficult to transport and more difficult to store.
Inflatable paddle boards allow you to easily store them in small spaces like apartments, studios, or the trunk of your car. It’s also easier to get to the water, especially if you don’t have a truck or vehicle with roof racks.
Job
There are specific types of paddleboards you can purchase that are ergonomically designed for specific activities. There are different lengths, widths and styles to maximize functionality.
- Touring: Tourist paddleboards are intended to travel long distances over flat water and enable you to cross choppy waters without problems. They tend to be long and pointed noses for maximum speed but are wider than a racing board to help you feel more balanced over a long period of time.
- race: Racing paddleboards are designed for speed. They are usually long, slim, agile, and exquisitely maneuverable. Expect to pay upwards of $1,000 for a quality paddleboard.
- Yoga: Yoga paddleboards are longer and wider than regular SUP boards, so you can feel more balanced while practicing your poses. The footbed also tends to take up a large portion of the board’s surface area, so you have plenty of room to move around.
- fishing: Fishing paddleboards are similar to yoga SUPs in that they are longer and wider for better balance. They also usually have a sunken surface to help lower the center of gravity and improve balance. Not to mention there are more D-rings to attach your fishing gear to.
- Multi-person: Fits most paddleboards up to 250 to 300 lbs. Paddleboards designed to fit more than one person are very large and wide and can be up to 20 feet in length.
- emptiness: The average paddleboarder wants to glide through the water and balance without falling. The paddleboard can range from 10 to 11 feet in length and offers a great combination of speed, stability, and maneuverability.
budget
You can find a wide range of prices with paddleboards, so you can enjoy the sport on almost any budget. Inflatable boards tend to be more affordable than hardboards, while performance and racing boards are among the most expensive boards you can buy. For a good paddleboard, prices start around $300 and go up to $2,000 or more.
storage
One time, I lived in a 750 square foot one-bedroom apartment and bought a 10-foot paddle board. Did I have a detached garage? No. Did I have an abnormally large storage closet? No, I didn’t have that either. I didn’t understand the sheer size of the paddleboard, and didn’t take storage space into consideration. I had to buy wall brackets to hold the paddleboard above my bed, almost like a makeshift headboard. Before I knew it, my house looked like a beach house in downtown Reno, Nevada.
Moral of the story is to make sure you have storage space for a sturdy SUP before purchasing if that’s the type you’re inclined towards.