You may be in the middle of the two options: sup or kayak. if you do, then you will need to read this until the finish.
There are a lot of similarities between the two vessels, which make it really hard to choose one over another. Each type has its own benefits and downs. One thing for sure, they both over maneuverability, sightseeing, comfort, as well as astonishing experience.
Fighting the wind
Kayak would win when it comes to the wind resistance. SUP exposes the body of the paddlers. That’s why the wind can easily beat the paddler. It will slow the SUP down. Kayak, because of its lower position, catches less wind. So, the winner for this aspect is Kayak.
The materials
You probably concern about the medium that you are dealing with. The longer the kayak, the faster it will be. For the SUP, it’s got to be slim and longer to accelerate. Both kayak and SUP have such astonishing materials for their purposes. However, many users agree that SUP’s inflatable versions are much better than Kayak inflatable.
The Speed
When it comes to the speed, SUP is the winner. The high speed can be attained in no time. Kayak’s speed will only attainable by the strong and experienced paddler. It goes without saying that SUP is for everyone. Even children can accelerate the SUP. SUP can reach around 4 knots with standard SUP, and speed up to 8 knots when handled by the professionals. Average kayak speed is around 3 knots.
Versatility
We can do YOGA, fishing, playing with the dog, duo paddling, and other things with SUP. It is something that Kayak can never have. You can do a lot of things with just a paddle board and a paddle. If you plan to do most of the activities onboard, then SUP is the winner.
SUP fishing
Yeah, we’ve mentioned it before. But we’d like to emphasize it more. Stable SUP can have more advantages for fishers than a kayak. Let’s us not neglect that most of the fishing activities can be spent by standing. If you are planning to stand more, then SUP is for you. Not to mention that it is easier to transport and carry the SUP. Can you imagine how inconvenient it will be when you have to move from one spot to another with your kayak? Well, SUP is your savior.
There you have it, the sup or kayak comparison. The next time you visit Kauai, you’ll know what you want to use.
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