Choosing the Right Stand Up Paddle Board

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) offers something for each one of you. You can head out for a relaxing paddle on calm lakes or catch gigantic waves in the ocean. Or maybe you would like to do SUP yoga or even go for a fast-paced paddle to get a workout. Whatever you enjoy doing; having the right stand up paddle board is key to your enjoyment. Whether you are interested in buying it or would like to go for stand up paddle board rentals, you need to consider a few important things seriously.

The key decision points will be the board’s shape, getting the correct capacity and volume, and the proper thickness, length, and width. Whether you choose an inflatable or solid board will greatly depend on how conveniently you will transport it and amount of storage space you have. Right from there, you will consider the fins of the board and any other accessories or extras which work for you.

Stand up paddle hull types

The body, or hull of a paddle board plays one of the major roles in determining how the board would perform in the water. Many SUPs have either a displacement hull or planning hull. There are a few with hybrid design which combine the perfect attributes of every design.

SUP volume & weight capacity

An SUP board should work for your size. If your board fails to displace the correct amount of water for your weight, you will not be supported well and even the board will feel unstable. Board weight and volume are two main factors which affect how stable you will feel and how perfectly the board will travel through water.

Further weight and volume are determined by the length, thickness, and width of the board. The manufacturers of SUP combine these 3 dimensions in various ways to get different performance characteristics.

Solid vs. inflatable SUP

Displacement and planning SUPs are available in 2 different general construction styles: inflatable or solid.

  • Inflatable SUP – These feature PVC exterior along with drop-stitch construction which create an air core. They usually come with the pump for inflating the paddle board as well as a storage bag, especially when not in use.

 

  • Solid SUP – Most solid boards have an EPS foam core which is wrapped with epoxy and fiber glass. This is generally durable, lightweight, and an affordable construction. Carbon fiber is a stiffer and a lighter option, but it is also costly. Plastic SUPs are cheaper, but they are heavier and also lack the performance of other several materials. A few SUPs even incorporate lightweight wood for a great appearance.

Depending on how you want to use your SUP, you might find a board with a few extra features like: attachment points/mounts, bungee straps, leash, car rack and so on.

If you are looking for the best stand up paddle board rentals in Maui, contact 808 Boards today. Come and check out their wide range of SUP board selection or you can even request to deliver boards to you.

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