How to choose a paddleboard

13.02.2024

9 min. read

Juraj Haruštiak

The origins of paddleboarding can be traced back to about year 1940, when surfers started doing it for fun in Hawaii. Actually, the indigenous people from Easter Island came up with idea of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) way before the Hawaiian surfers. Since 2010, its popularity has skyrocketed and without any exaggeration, it belongs to one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. Its magic lies in its simplicity. Read on and you'll find out how to choose the right paddleboard for you.

Paddleboard reminds surfboard on which you can stand, sit, lie and move around with paddle. Everyone can handle it and the reward comes in a form of relax and fun on water, and better shape of your body as well. Did you know that you can do yoga on a paddleboad? Keep reading and you will learn how to choose a paddleboard for a beginner and advanced rider, and also which board is suitable for whitewater and which for calm lakes.

Inflatable or solid paddleboard?

Inflatable or solid paddleboard?

How many fins?

Accessories

Paddleboard shape

The shape of SUP hull greatly affects how the board moves on a water. The basic division comes with two distinct hull shapes, but you can come across different combinations of these shapes. Hybrids bring the best of both worlds and therefore they represent the most versatile type.

Planing hull

This is the most common type. The front is rounded and resembles a surfboard. It is easy to control and due to its good stability, it is mostly preferred for leisure paddling, surfing, SUP yoga. Its maneuverability makes it a good choice for whitewater as well. This type is suitable for beginners.

Displacement hull

It reminds kayak or canoe. Straight and narrow shape with pointy bow make it a perfect fit for fast and smooth ride. These boards are very quick, however, they are harder to control. Therefore they are a preferred choice for fitness and race padling or to travel longer distances.

Paddleboard types

Allround paddleboard

The most popular type of paddleboard has both ends round and the bow is slightly lifted. Hull is wider, longer and thicker. This sturdy board is meant for leisure activities in dead calm waters, slow moving rivers or in small waves. It is suitable for beginners or advanced leisure paddleboarders. Allround paddleboard is a great choice for families so you should pay extra attention to picking the right size, volume and weight capacity. There is a difference whether the paddleboard is suppose to carry just one adult or an adult together with a child.

Inflatable paddleboard Hydro-Force SUP Allround HuaKa‘i Tech.

+ stability
+ maneuverability
+ versatility

- speed

suitable for beginners
Usage: family paddleboard, lake, pond, slow-moving river, calm sea

Touring paddleboard

The board for adventurers is narrower, longer and has a pointy bow, that makes it faster. It is meant for more advanced paddleboarders, for paddling in whitewater or other rough waters, but also for covering longer distances in calm waters. Touring paddleboard is faster than the Allround paddleboard and it can keep in a straight line better. If you prefer more comfortable ride, you should go for an inflatable model. Attachments for kayak seat and rubber straps to secure the baggage make this board a perfect choice for adventurous exploration of unknown bodies of water.

+ speed
+ control

- stability

Not suitable for beginners
Usage: whitewater, large lake, open sea

Race paddleboard

The frame of a race paddleboard is derived from the shape of a touring paddleboard. However, it is narrower, longer and more pointy. No other paddleboard can match its speed and with the right technique you can reach 10 km/h. Race paddleboard is not suitable for beginners. It is one of the least stable boards and it is hard to control. It can be challenging even for a skilled paddleboarder.

+ speed

- stability
+ maneuverability

Not suitable for beginner
Usage: speed races, performance ride, endurance training

Yoga paddleboard

Wide board with great stability and displacement is ideal for fitness activities and yoga excercises on a water. Yogaboards are made in many shapes, however, only those "traditionally" shaped are capable to move around by paddling. Yogaboards are trendy alternative for families with children that can have a lof of fun on their summer vacation. Anti-slip mat made of soft foam and side attachments that enable to hook up to more paddleboards, so you can excercise with a partner for exampe, are standard features of these paddleboards. Thanks to a shoulder strap you can easily carry the yogaboard.

Paddleboard Aqua Marina Dhyana 11’ is meant for yoga and fitness exercising.

+ stability
+ versatility

- speed
+ maneuverability

Suitable for beginner
Usage: SUP yoga, fitness, family paddleboard, calm waters, lake, pond, pool

SUP yoga

Complex exercise to stimulate body strength, balance and flexibility. It helps to avoid back pain, therefore it presents a perfect physical activity for people with sedentary jobs. SUP yoga is done on a dead calm waters, however, slightly unstable water base poses a challenge that brings yoga asanas to awhole new level. More muscles are engaged while exercising on a water than on a land and every move require patient and precise work with your own gravity center and proper breathing. This form of yoga request at least basic experience with standard yoga and should be supervised by an instructor for few first sessions.

Exercising on water engages more muscles than exercising on a land. SUP yoga helps to master the patience and it is a great prevention against back pain if you work a sedentary job.

Windsurf paddleboard

It comes with a middle fin, a device for quick installation of a sail and footstraps. Its shape mostly resembles allround models. Wind SUP is not only for skilled paddleboarders, but also for everyone who is attracted to windsurfing and are just getting into using wind for sailing and do not want to break the bank buying expensive windsurf gear. Thanks to its compact dimesions, Wind SUP is an attractive alternative to family paddleboard.

+ speed
+ maneuverability

- higher price

Rather unsuitable for beginner
Usage: windsurfing, windy bodies of water

Fishing paddleboard

Medium-long board resembles allround or race paddleboards by its shape. It excels at stability and high weight capacity. Fishing paddleboard is an alternative to a fishing boat, so it has to carry not only the fisherman, but also all the fishing equipment and even camping gear in comfortable way. No wonder it comes with a variety of grips, straps, attachments for fishing rods and anti-slip mat. Thanks to all of these features it is also a good choice for longer paddling trips. Fishermen prefer rather inflatable models than solid ones.

+ weight capacity
+ maneuverability
+ stability
+ comfort

- speed

Rather suitable for beginner
Usage: fishing, paddling trips, calm waters

The right size

If you already know what type of paddleboard you will be using for your favourite activity, you should focus on the length, width, volume and wieght capacity. If you pick improper attributes, the board might be either severly unstable or too slow.

Paddleboard length

Length of the board has a decisive impact on speed and maneuverability. Longer paddleboard is harder to control but it can reach higher speed. Beginners should opt for shorter paddleboards.

Short paddleboard (up to 300 cm)

Mostly for children or surfing on waves. Suitable for beginners.

Medium paddleboard (from 301 to 369 cm)

Versatile usage on calm waters, fishing and yoga. Suitable for beginners and intermediates.

Long paddleboard (from 370 cm)

It is quick and preferred for covering longer distances. Suitable for advanced paddleboarders.

Illustration of SUP paddleboard's length

Paddleboard width

Wider board comes with greater stability and higher weight capacity. The cons are heavier weight and slower speed. The most models' width ranges from 71 to 99 cm. Beginners should opt for wider paddleboard.

Illustration of SUP paddleboard's width.

Narrow paddleboard (up to 83 cm)

It is suitable for advanced paddleboarders who look for speed and can handle lower stability. Short people can keep balance on a narrower board, taller people require a wider one.

Wide paddleboard (from 84 cm)

It is meant for beginners and for everyone who wants to enjoy higher comfort or just need more space to store their belongings. Wide boards are used for yoga, fitness exercising or fishing. Tall people or those with heavier weight can keep better balance on a wider paddleboard.

Paddleboard thickness

Thicker paddleboards are more stable, heavier and have increased buoyancy. Inflatable boards are thicker (ca. 15 cm), solid boards are thinner (ca. 10 cm). In general, inflatable paddleboards are more stable but slower than their solid counterparts.

Illustration of SUP paddleboard's thickness.

Paddleboard weight capacity

Weight capacity limits how much of overall weight in kilograms the board can carry. While choosing, consider not only your body weight but also the weight of all the possessions you want to carry on a board. If you overweight the board, it will move very slowly. On the other hand, if the board carries too light load, it does not draw properly and thus is harder to control.

Kids' paddleboard

Paddleboards for the little ones are way shorter compared to the adult models. According to the kid's height, you can choose from 244 cm to 280 cm long board. Kids' paddleboards are usually allround and with a volume up to 194 l. The most important for the little beginners is to learn how to keep balance. Therefore their boards feature just one large fin at the stern. Althought it limits the speed, it also helps to keep a better balance on the water. Never let a child to paddleboard on its own without adult supervision. Even the kid that can swim should wear a life vest while paddleboarding.

Laughing kid wearing a life vest and swimsuit holds a paddle and sits on a wall, with an inflatable SUP paddleboard is leaning on it.

Fistly, kids have to learn how to keep balance. The best choice is a round and wide paddleboard with one fin.

Number of passangers

When choosing, you have to contemplate whether the paddleboard will be used by only one person or more persons will be having fun with it at the same time. This helps to pick the right size, volume and weight capacity.

Paddleboard for 1 person

In this case, paddleboard has to fit perfectly the person that will ride it. Dimensions and volume reflect physical attributes and skills of the rider. While advanced paddleboarders can handle narrower board with lower volume, beginners have to rely on more stable wider boards with higher volume.

Paddleboard for 2 persons

If the paddleboard will be shared by a couple, let's say, but only one of them will ride it at the given time, it needs to fit the heavier from the couple. If the paddleboard is meant to be used by two persons at the same time, you have to consider whether it will be just for fun somewhere close to the shore or it should cover longer distances. In case of longer paddling trips, it should accomodate the weight of both persons and therefore the tandem paddleboard is the way to go. For shorter trips, even the standard paddleboard should be fine, however, it's weight capacity should be at least higher by 30 kgs than the weight of the heavier person.

Standard paddleboard of bigger dimensions or a special tandem paddleboard? That depends on the length of the trip. Watch how a tandem trip of a couple can look like.

Paddleboard for entire family

Paddleboarding provides a great fun for entire family. A board with ample dimensions can carry a parent with two kids. If this is the case, you shall not underestimate the total weight capacity of the paddleboard and should opt for wider inflatable model. Allround and touring types of paddleboards represent the most popular choice for more people using it at the same time.

Inflatable or solid paddleboard?

Solid paddleboards are made of light materials, move smoother on the water and can reach higher speed with less effort. Solid board is more stiff so it feels more stable on waves than the inflatable one. The cons are the heavier weight, less effective storage and transportation possiblities.

Inflatable board can be easily stored in a small apartment and transported in a car, train or even a plane without any problem. In deflated state it does not take much space and thanks to straps you can carry it in a compact bag on a shoulder. Advantages of inflatable version of paddleboard can be seen while paddling down the whitewater. It better absorbs bumps into rocks or other objects in the water.

Solid board feels more stable but is harder to transport and store. Inflatable one is more practical and better at absorbing bumps while riding in whitewater.

How many fins?

Fins also affect speed and stability, thus pay attention to their size and position. Fins help maintain balance and improve maneuverability when paddling. Without them, the board would spin wildly. The larger and heavier the fin, the greater the resistance. Therefore, large fiberglass fins increase stability, but also reduce speed, so they are more suitable for beginners. Lighter fins made of carbon fiber enable dynamic changes of direction, which makes them a perfect choice for advanced paddleboarders. In general, rounder fins are also less resistant, hence the faster ride. Thick fins are used more for moving in a straigh line, narrower fins are ideal for maneuvering and steering.

Paddleboard without any fins was spinning wildly. Thick fins are for moving in a straight line, the narrower ones for maneuvering and steering.

Standard paddleboard has from 1 to 5 different fins. You can experiment with their positions, most of them can be replaced easily. Here are the most popular configurations of fins:

Illustration of a bottom of SUP paddleboard with one fin attached.

Single fin: A large fin at the stern is a bare minimum. It helps to keep balance and direction. Without it, the board would spin wildly. This fin is usually 25 cm long and is an ideal option for calm waters. In whitewater, it can be replaced by a shorter fin, approximately 13 cm long.

Illustration of a bottom of SUP paddleboard with two medium-sized fins attached.

Two fins: A double of medium-sized fins makes the board move smoothly on a water, reach high speed and maintain good maneuverability.

Illustration of a bottom of SUP paddleboard with one large middle fin and two small fins attached on sides.

2 + 1: Large middle fin (ca. 25 cm) with two smaller side fins (ca. 10 cm). This is preferred configuration by beginners, due to its perfect stability. The con is larger resistance which allows lower speed.

Illustration of a bottom of SUP paddleboard with four fins attached.

Four fins: This set-up does not include the large fin in the middle. 4 fins of the same size placed on sides of the board enable higher speed. However, the board is less stable, therefore this configuration is not suitable for beginners.

Accessories

Once you know which paddleboard and what size is the best fit, you should check what accessories does the package include. A good deal can be a set of a SUP paddleboard with extra necessary accessories. Most of the inflatable models come with an air pump,a bag where you can store the deflated board or with some extra straps. Many of the sets include a paddle, but it is not uncommon that the paddle might not be included. The detailed list of what is part of the package can be found in the description of each model.

Paddleboard STX Freeride 10’6’’ with folding aluminium paddle, transport bag, air pump, fin and tools for repairs.

Most sets come with air pump, backpack and a paddle.

You have to additionally buy anything that ist not included in the set. In shop's collection you can find a wide variety of accessories with different functions. The most simple air pumps are manual, while the best ones are electric, have LCD display and automatically shut down once the desired pressure is reached. You will definitely find very handy a waterproof bag in which you can store your belongings. You can protect your mobile phone with a waterproof case. You may paddle just in your swimsuit, but to protect yourself from changing weather and to maintain a body comfort, wearing the neoprene wetsuit is a good choice.

Safety first in every water sport. The skilled paddleboarders should also consider getting a high-quality life vest which may save a life at the critical moment. The bright sun should not be underestimated, so think of the protection against heat stroke. The proper cap and sunglasses are a must-have.

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How to choose a paddleboard