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How to Choose a Stand Up Paddle Board

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) offers something for everyone. You can head out for a relaxing paddle on a calm lake or catch waves in the ocean. Or maybe you’d like to do best stand up paddle board brands for yoga or go for a fast-paced paddle to get a workout. Whatever your ambitions, having the right board is key to your enjoyment.

To find the right SUP, here’s what you need to consider:

SUP Volume and Weight Capacity

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A SUP board must work for your size. If the board doesn’t displace the correct amount of water for your weight, you won’t be supported well and the board may feel unstable. Board volume and weight capacity are two factors that affect how stable you will feel and how well the best stand up paddle board brands will travel through the water.

Volume: A paddle board’s volume, expressed in liters, gives an indication of the board’s ability to float with weight on it. The higher the volume, the more weight the board can support.

Weight capacity: Each paddle board has a rider weight capacity, which is listed in pounds in the specs . Knowing weight capacity is important because if you’re too heavy for a board, it will ride lower in the water and be inefficient to paddle.

Volume and weight capacity as it relates to hull type: Most planing-hull boards are very forgiving, so as long as you’re below the weight capacity, the board will perform well for you. However, with displacement-hull SUPs, volume and weight capacity are more significant kauai stand up paddle board near.

SUP Length

Short boards (under 10’): Great for surfing and/or kids. These best stand up paddle board brands almost always have a planing hull. Short boards are more maneuverable than long boards, making them great for surfing waves. Boards designed specifically for kids are typically around 8’ long.

Medium boards (10’ to 12’): Ideal for all-around use and for SUP yoga. Most of these boards have planing hulls, but sometime you’ll find a displacement-hull SUP at this length stand up paddle board hanalei.

Long boards (12’6” and above): Great for fast paddling and long-distance touring. The majority of boards in this size range are displacement-hull SUPs. They’re faster than short and medium boards and they tend to track straighter. If you’re interested in paddling fast or touring long distances, you’ll want a long board.

SUP Width

Type of paddling: If you’re going on long tours that require you to carry extra gear, like a cooler of food and a tent, choose best stand up paddle board brands wider one in order to have more storage space. The same is true if you’re doing SUP yoga; a board that is 31 inches wide or more will give you space and stability for doing poses surf boards.

Body type: Try to match the width of the SUP to your body type. In general, if you’re a small person, go with a narrower board and if you’re a big person, go with a wider board. This is because a smaller person can generally find their balance on a narrow board, whereas a bigger person may struggle to do so.

Ability level: If you’ve paddled a lot, you may be comfortable on a narrower, faster SUP. However, someone brand new to SUP, might prefer a little extra width to help them feel more secure.

SUP Fins

There are many different options for how fins are configured on the bottom of your SUP. Some popular best stand up paddle board brands fin configurations include:

Single fin: Many SUPs include a single fin placed in a finbox and secured with a nut and screw. The finbox has a channel for the fin to slide back and forth in. The single fin provides good tracking and minimal drag, making it a good choice for flatwater paddling.

3-fin setup: Also called a thruster, this setup promotes straight tracking on flatwater and offers good control in surf. All three fins are usually about the same size.

2+1 setup: This configuration includes a larger center fin with a smaller fin on each side of it. This is a common setup on SUPs designed for surfing.

Fins for inflatable SUPs: Inflatable SUPs can have any of the fin configurations already listed. What sets them apart is that they feature either flexible rubber fins attached to the board or detachable semi-rigid fins.