Faced with thousands of paddle boards on the market, how to choose a satisfactory paddle board must be a headache for every paddle board beginner. However, the styles, parameters, materials, types, and structures of paddle boards are diverse. , so how to choose a paddle board that suits you? Let me introduce it below.
1. Type of paddle board
Decide what you want the paddle board for, is it leisure, racing, cruising, surfing, or yoga?
1. All-purpose board: The all-purpose board that most beginners will choose is also a leisure board. A great choice for outdoor relaxation and family fun, these boards also have the ability to ride small to medium waves on the ocean.
2. Surf paddle boards: These paddle boards are usually shorter in length than recreational paddle boards but wider than surfboards. They are a combination of surfboards and paddle boards. They have the flexibility of a surfboard and the functions of a paddle board. stability.
3. Cruise board: You can consider it if you need to travel long distances and have long-term endurance, such as those who often row dozens or hundreds of kilometers.
4. Yoga board: Wide enough to maintain stability when practicing yoga in water.
5. Fishing board: The fishing board is wider, more stable and can accommodate all fishing gear.
6. Competition board: Long, light and narrow, it helps to increase the speed during competition.
2. Material
1. Inflatable paddle board: If you have minimal storage space; you travel frequently and want to take your board with you; you have the lowest budget; you are an ordinary player, you need an inflatable paddle board.
2. Epoxy resin paddle board: generally also called hard paddle board. If you plan on using it only at local beaches, lakes; you want to paddle board; the local waters are reef-rich and gravelly; and you need the best performance, flexibility and speed, you need a hard paddle board.
3. Paddle board parameters
After determining the above two points, you need to further understand the specific parameters of the paddle board.
Generally, longer paddles are faster than shorter ones, but shorter ones are easier to maneuver. When deciding on the size of a SUP, you need to know the purpose:
Shortboard (under 10'): Great for surfing and/or kids. Shortboards are easier to maneuver than longboards and are great for surfing. Paddle boards designed for children are usually about 8 feet long.
Medium-sized boards (10' to 12'): Most casual yoga boards are the most common paddle board size, suitable for most users. When you don't know what size paddle board to buy, choose one within this range. .
Longboards (12'6 and above): Most used in racing and long-distance paddling.
2. Displacement: The displacement of a paddle board, measured in liters, is also the buoyancy of the board. The greater the displacement, the more weight the paddleboard can support.
3. Weight-bearing: How much weight can each paddle board carry? It is important to understand the weight of the board, because if you are too heavy for a paddle board, it will draft very deep and make paddling difficult. When considering rider weight, you need to take into account the total weight of other items placed on the board, such as body weight and the weight of any fishing gear, food and drinking water you carry with you.
4. Paddle board details
After confirming the above points, you already have a general understanding of the paddle board you need to buy. The next step is the brand and workmanship and some details, such as the handle of the paddle board, whether it can be balanced and carried It won’t be pulled to one side, and there are also foot rope buckles. If you are left-footed or right-footed, the experience will be a little different. There are also foot pads to check whether they will scratch your feet and how anti-slip they are. There is also a storage area, which is suitable for long-distance paddling. , whether the storage area is sufficient, as well as some workmanship details of the paddle board, whether the glue is evenly applied, whether the edges are exposed, and the influence of the brand and reputation, etc.