Purchasing a SUP Board

SUP, which stands for ‘stand-up paddling’, is rapidly gaining popularity as a water sport. If you're considering acquiring a board for yourself, here are some aspects to reflect on. You can obtain details on both solid SUP boards and inflatable paddle boards.

1. Varieties of SUP Boards

When it comes to most sports equipment, the initial step is to ascertain the intended use to determine the most fitting option. Similarly, there are a few principal categories of boards - surf SUP boards, allround, flatwater (touring), and race SUP. Variations stem from these, such as allround windsurf SUP boards or Yoga boards, which are typically broader and lengthier than the allround versions.

Surf SUP boards are typically shorter, with a narrower nose and tail, and feature more rocker (a curve on the nose and tail) compared to other boards. This enhances manoeuvrability, making wave surfing easier. However, these boards tend to be less stable and harder to navigate in calm waters.
Allround boards are usually wider, longer, and thicker than surf SUPs. As implied by the name, these boards are ideal for general usage and help beginners explore diverse SUPing aspects. They offer stability and effortless gliding on flatwater, while maintaining a reasonable rocker for wave performance. An allround board is an excellent choice for first-time buyers.
Flatwater boards (also called touring) are crafted for paddling on still waters, wave-free. They can also be used for ocean paddling when conditions permit. Characterized by a sharper nose and longer deck, these boards slice through the water smoothly, enhancing gliding. They are wide enough for beginners to balance on, making them a good initial buy if wave riding isn't the goal.
Race boards share similarities with flatwater versions, yet are elongated with a pointed nose and narrow design to facilitate easy speed gain. Due to challenging balance requirements, these boards usually aren’t suited for beginners.

2. Board Dimensions - Length and Volume

The key criteria for selecting the right board size are volume and length. The volume (in litres) indicates the board's buoyancy with weight, derived from your weight. A higher volume implies the board can support more weight. Novices should usually opt for boards with more volume for added stability and buoyancy.

The general principle is that a litre of volume displaces a litre of water, creating a lift of one kilogram. This means that one litre of board volume can support or lift one kilogram of weight. For novices, approximately double the volume in litres is recommended relative to your weight. For instance, an individual weighing 88 kg should consider a board with a volume around 176 litres.

Next, you should identify the length. The length (marked in feet and inches - e.g.10’8’’ translated to 10 feet and 8 inches) depends on the selected board type (surf, flatwater, allround, race) and your weight. Longer boards are generally faster and more stable, while shorter boards are easier to control. Nonetheless, ensure the board is suitable for your weight, as each product and manufacturer typically offers weight/length ratio guidelines.

3. Solid vs. Inflatable Boards?

When selecting a SUP board, you also have the option between solid and inflatable boards. Solid boards use diverse materials like foam, fibreglass, Kevlar, wood & plastic. They often have a foam core, coated in epoxy and fibreglass, making them somewhat more fragile than inflatable boards.

Inflatable SUP boards are crafted from layered PVC plastic with woven fibres connecting the top and bottom layers, known as a drop-stitch construction. They're effortlessly portable and demand minimal storage space, yet are quite sturdy. Moreover, inflatables (iSUPs) are extremely durable and ideal for beginners. Both board types are compared in the table below.

4. The SUP Paddle

Discussing SUPs necessitates mentioning the paddle as a crucial component. The paddle consists of a handle, shaft, and blade. Considerations when selecting a paddle include blade size and height.

Relate blade sizing to bicycle gearing. For extended biking, a lower gear provides momentum without heaviness. Conversely, for a speed burst, higher gear offers instant powerful thrust, though heavier. The analogy applies to SUP blades: Larger blades offer powerful strokes, displacing more water and thus enhance paddling efficiency. These are favoured for wave surfing as they deliver stability and forceful strokes. On the contrary, smaller blades cater to touring and allround SUP, where prolonged paddling is typical. Smaller or medium blades are suitable for beginners, requiring less strength.

The paddle height relates to your chosen SUP type and height. It should always exceed your height; the added inches depend on SUPing type – e.g., add about 7 inches for surf SUPing, or up to 11 inches for racing. For dual use (surfing and flatwater), consider either two paddles or an adjustable one, especially for shared usage.

Alternatively, a fixed paddle serves particular paddling types, usually preferred by experienced users with specific preferences. Adjustable paddles are available as 2-piece or 3-piece, with the former being more common. The latter is mainly used with inflatable SUPs.

5. Fins

Finally, fins on a SUP board influence basic riding qualities. A rule of thumb akin to board sizing: larger and wider fins increase stability, while smaller ones boost manoeuvrability.

Removable and easy-to-swap, fins vary in setups, with primary types being:

Single fin - offers minimal drag while paddling due to reduced weight and water friction, ideal for flatwater SUPing;
3-fin setup or thruster setup, ensures straight tracking on flatwater and good control while surfing. Typically, all three fins are similar in size;
2+1 setup features three fins, but the centre fin is larger than the side fins, preferred for surf SUPing.

Inflatable SUP boards accommodate any of the above fin configurations, differing only in the use of detachable semi-rigid fins or attached flexible rubber ones. Riding finless is also possible for navigating shallow waters and light rapids.

In conclusion, important considerations before purchasing your SUP board include: