enero 9, 2023
Paddle Board choice
Finding the right Paddle Board to buy is quite difficult. There are many types of stand up Tablas de paddle surf. How do you choose the right stand up paddle board? Which Paddle board suits you best? Over the years, ISUPCENTER has become a true specialist in the field of paddleboarding. This is mainly because we also have a SUP rental ourselves and we also like to be on the water with the SUP. To make the right choice, we will help you choose the right Paddle Board.
1. Stand up Tablas de paddle surf for beginners
In the advice guide for beginning Paddle Boarders we will give advice for purchasing the right Paddle Board. A advanced Paddler is a person who has stood on a Paddle board at least ten times or who has taken at least 8 sup lessons. SUP ‘Stand Up Paddling’, also called supping, can be done anywhere, as long as there is water and the environment is safe. One of the biggest reasons that supping is so popular is because you can do it anywhere and anyone can learn it. SUP Boarding has a nice age range, a child from 7 years old to an adult of 80 years can learn to paddle! This advice/buying guide has been created based on our years of experience and the experience of our suppliers in the field of paddle boarding. This makes this guide the number 1 buying guide in Europe.
The question we usually get first is “which Paddle Board is right for me?”.
Wherever there is water you can paddle. This can be done at sea, but also on inland waters such as lakes, ponds, canals, etc. Most holidaymakers mainly paddle on inland waters. If you mainly go supping on inland waters, the following questions will be asked: do you want a wonderfully relaxed round of supping and/or do you want to make short or long distances? Some people have the goal of turning it into a sport, for example to paddle short or long distances as quickly as possible. SUP Boarding is like running. You can take it easy or very intensive. It is important to map this out for yourself as well as possible.
For short trips, we recommend an all-round SUP for beginners. For long trips we recommend a Excursión SUP for beginners. For advanced suppers, a Excursión and racing SUP is suitable for both short and long distances.
Why choose an inflatable Paddle board?
We sell both hardboards and inflatable SUPS. You will mainly find inflatable Tablas de paddle surf in our webshop, because these are perfect for beginners and intermediary paddle boarders. We will explain the inflatable sup board in the first part of this buying guide.
These are the advantages of inflatable Tablas de paddle surf:
> Inflatable: this is a great advantage if you have limited space at home, you can store it anywhere and take it anywhere
> Stiff: current technology in inflatable Tablas de paddle surf makes them almost as stiff as hardboards
> Type: there is a type of Paddle Board for every purpose. By purpose we mean use at sea, flat water, wild water, rivers etc.
> Low in Price: the inflatable Tablas de paddle surf are cheaper to purchase than a hardboard of a similar quality
Types of Stand Up Tablas de paddle surf
In addition, there are different types of Tablas de paddle surf in the inflatable SUP market. If you are going to start with Stand Up Paddle Boarding you first have to think carefully about what you want to do with your Paddle board. Is it your goal to relax or go on more trips or maybe even to go supping on the sea or rivers? This is all important to know to find the right type of Board. Nowadays yoga and Pilates are also done on a Paddle Board. In addition, with a Paddle Board you can go to places where normally no one can go. Your goal and activity already determines what kind and type of SUP you need.
Below you will find the most recommended Tablas de paddle surf for beginners:
- All round Paddle board: an all-round Paddle board can be used in almost every area
- Excursión Paddle board: a Excursión Paddle board is intended for wonderful long trips on supping
- Olas / sea Paddle board: a Olas Paddle board is mainly used at sea to catch a Olas while supping
For specific activities such as sup yoga, sup pilates and sup windsurfing, there is a limited choice of SUPS as it is for a specific purpose. We have researched the top 3 best Tablas de paddle surf of each type of Board.
We examined this on the following points:
1. Estabilidad
2. Quality
3. Price
Check out the top 3 best all-round beginners Tablas de paddle surf here:
Fanatic Fly Air Pure 10’4 Tabla de Paddle Surf Hinchable
Moai SUP 11′ Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
We have also made a selection of the 3 best Excursión Tablas de paddle surf, view the selection below:
Fanatic Ray Air Premium Excursión 12’6 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Moai Excursión 12’6″ Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Check out our selection of the 3 best surf Tablas de paddle surf here:
Fanatic Diamond Air Pure 9’8 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Fanatic Fly Air Premium 9’8 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Fanatic Stubby Air 8’6″ Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Besides having a good beginner sup board, it is also important to learn to sup in the right way. Novice suppers often make the mistake of paddling forward too much from their arms. It is important to use the full core when supping. We therefore always advise novice customers to take a few sup lessons at a sup school. Want to know more about the best sup technique? Check out our blogs and advice guide with the 10 beginner tips for paddleboarding.
Why choose a hardboard SUP?
Hard Paddle Board
In addition to our inflatable Tablas de paddle surf collection, we also have hardboard sups.
You don’t have to blow up the hardboard sups. These boards are suitable for beginners and advanced paddle boarders, depending on which model and size you choose.
We will fully explain the hardboard sup’s below.
What are the advantages of a hardboard sup board?
>Non-inflatable: you don’t have to inflate these Tablas de paddle surf
> Stiff: these are the stiffest boards, this ensures that the board glides better over the water
> Type: there are various types of hardboard sup boards available, both for sea, flat water and subdivided per purpose including racing, all-round and Excursión
> Price: the price is often a bit higher than with an inflatable sup, on the other hand they almost never leak / break
As with the inflatable Tablas de paddle surf, there are also various types of boards for the hardboards and each is divided into various activities. Especially as a beginner you have to think carefully about what you are going to use the SUP for. Are you going to try supping at sea or are you going for a big round of paddle boarding. For a hardboard sup, you need to store the board in a safe, dry and spacious place
Below you will find the most recommended hardboards for beginners:
2. Stand up Tablas de paddle surf for advanced paddle boarders
Have you mastered the right balance and sup paddling technique and do you already have the necessary experience? Then you belong to the advanced suppers. From our experiences we see that after a few seasons of supping, some people really get the hang of it. The goals of an advanced supper are often different from a beginning paddle boarder. An advanced supper is often looking for more Velocidad, challenge and comfort for long trips. This advice is intended for:
> People who paddle for longer than a season
> People who would like a narrower board
> People who want to use the paddle board for multiple purposes such as windsurfing
What do you need to know about an advanced Paddle Board?
- Use: where are you going to paddle? Are you going to catch waves at sea or take a long trip on a lake
- Size & Volume: find the size that’s right for you. Advanced Tablas de paddle surf are often narrower. Check carefully which width is best for you. This completely depends on your balance, technique and use. In addition, the length of the SUP is also very important. At sea you want a shorter sup and for racing or Excursión you want to use a longer SUP
Inflatable or hardboard sup
Both in the inflatable and hardboard Tablas de paddle surf, there are sup’s for advanced players. You can find all these sups in our webshop. Which board suits you best depends on several factors. The modern technique of making inflatable Tablas de paddle surf ensures that they are almost as sturdy as hardboards. This can make the choice between an inflatable and hardboard SUP a lot easier.
Below we have listed the major differences between inflatable and hardboard sups. We have investigated this by means of material, weight and stiffness.
Inflatable Tablas de paddle surf VS hardboard Tablas de paddle surf
| Feature | Inflatable SUP Boards | Hardboard Tablas de paddle surf |
| Materials | Mainly PVC with drop-stitch technology | hard materials such as composite, fiberglass and carbon |
| Stiffness and hardness | Slightly less stiff and hard than a hardboard sup from the same price range | Harder and stiffer than an inflatable supboard |
| Performance | Less like a hardboard. This is mainly because a hardboard sup is harder and stiffer glides more over the water | Better than an inflatable sup, because the sups are stiffer and harder the board glides better over the water |
| Storage | You need less space. The sup’s can easily be placed in small spaces | You need more space to store the sup board |
| Mast insert and mount for action camera | With some models this is possible | With some models this is possible |
| luggage net | Depending on board type | Depending on board type |
| Package deals: Paddle Board with paddle, leash, pump and carrying case | Yes | No |
| Price indication | € 499,- | € 1000,- |
Conclusion
Although inflatable Tablas de paddle surf also have race, Excursión and windsurf sups in various sizes, inflatable sups are more accessible for beginning paddle boarders than for advanced paddle boarders. This is mainly because purchasing an inflatable paddle board is cheaper and the properties of a hardboard in general are slightly better. It is good to know that you not only have inflatable boards for beginners but also for advanced paddle boarders. These inflatable Tablas de paddle surf are therefore recommended for both beginning and advanced paddlers. Overall, the hardboards are a lot better for advanced suppers thanks to the stiffness, Velocidad, quality and sturdiness. It is also good to know that hardboards for beginners are also available.
View the top 3 best sup boarding for advanced paddlers here:
Fanatic Falcon Air 14’0″ x 29″ Tabla de Paddle Surf Hinchable
3. What type of stand up Tablas de paddle surf are there?
It is very important to know for what purpose you are going to use your paddle board. You can use a sup for at sea, but also for lakes and rivers. For someone who starts with supping, Estabilidad is important and for advanced suppers Velocidad is more important. There are different sizes for each type of board for both beginners and advanced paddlers.
We have listed all types of sups here:
- Surf Tablas de paddle surf
- Todo terreno Tablas de paddle surf
- Excursión Tablas de paddle surf
- Race Tablas de paddle surf
- Wind crossover Tablas de paddle surf
- New: Foil Tablas de paddle surf
Surf Tablas de paddle surf (also available in inflatable)
Surf Tablas de paddle surf Firstly, have more rocker than the racing and Excursión boards. What exactly is rocker? If you put your paddle board on the ground, the center of the board will not touch the ground. This is because the front/nose is rounder. This ensures that the nose of your board does not dive under water as soon as you are picked up by a Olas. In addition, sufficient rocker is essential for short steering and faster cornering. It also gives a lot of Estabilidad. The boards for SUP surfing are also shorter, often between 8″ and 10 feet. The Netherlands has a beautiful coastline of up to 523 km, where surf suppers can show their skills. Thanks to the arrival of supping you can go a lot easier and also in less high waves, all the ultimate surf feeling can be experienced.
View our selection of surf sups here:
Fanatic Diamond Air Pure 9’8 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Fanatic Fly Air Premium 9’8 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Fanatic Stubby Air 8’6″ Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Todo terreno Tablas de paddle surf (also available inflatable)
The all-round Tablas de paddle surf are made for supping on flat and sea water. These Tablas de paddle surf are often between 10 and 11 feet long.
In terms of length, these boards are in between surf, tour and race boards. These are often shorter and have less volume than the longer Excursión and racing boards. Most recreational users opt for an all-round board. There is by far the most choice for a Todo terreno board. You can determine your choice with the following question: do you want to use the paddle board on flat water or at sea? If you are going to paddle long stretches on flat water, we recommend a slightly longer all-round board of 11 feet. Are you going to paddle small tours? Then 10’4 feet will suffice. When you go supping at sea, a somewhat longer all-round board of 11 feet is the best. Are you going to surf the waves? Then take a short all-round board of maximum 10’4 feet.
View our selection of all-round Tablas de paddle surf here:
Aqua Marina Fusion Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Fanatic Fly Air Premium 10’4 Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Moai SUP 11′ Tabla De Paddle Surf Hinchable
Glide is the way the sup glides through/on the water.
A wide board has more resistance in the water, so less glide. A narrow supboard has less resistance in the water, so more glide. Every Stand Up Paddle Board is different, so the shape of the board is also very important. A Excursión board and race board has a pointy nose that ensures that the water goes past the hull. The following English sup term is used for this: displacement hull. Because the front of the Excursión board and race board are made in this way, they cut through the water even easier. An all-round paddle board is a bit more on water, so it slows down more.
Buying a paddle board, what else do you have to think about? See it in the headlines below.
Transport and storage space
What means of transport do you have? Do you take your Stand Up Paddle Board with you in the car? Do you take it on or in the car? Or do you take your paddle board with you by public transport or by bike?
It is of course also possible that you live right on the water and that you never have to transport your paddle board. How much space do you have to store your board? And where do you store it?
An inflatable paddle board is of course very easy to roll up. So for an inflatable board you don’t need much space to store it. In addition, it can easily be placed on the roof of your car, but also in the car. Every inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board comes with a special bag with which you can always easily take the board with you. So if you don’t have roof racks or the space to store a hardboard, an inflatable board may be a better choice for you.
Buy a hardboard or inflatable paddle board?
When you live right on the water or you don’t have to transport your board. Then most people opt for a hardboard, provided they have the necessary storage space. If you choose a hardboard and would like to paddle in other places, how are you going to transport the board? Provided you know the answer to this, a hardboard may be the right choice for you. If you don’t know the answer to this, an inflatable SUP may be the better choice for you.
Maintenance of the Stand Up Paddle board
You might not think that a supboard needs to be maintained. Maintaining your board is really important to ensure that your board can last as long as possible.
Length and weight
How tall are you? What is your weight? For the right paddle Board choice, it is important that your SUP has enough volume for your height and weight. For a large/tall/heavy person, a board with a lot of volume is the best choice! What happens if a large/tall/heavy person stands on a board that is too small? Then the board will be too deep in the water, which causes a lot of instability and also an unpleasant SUP experience. So make sure there is sufficient volume and width so that the Estabilidad is sufficient.
What kind of SUP levels do you have?
In Europe we currently mainly have many recreational and beginning Stand Up Paddle Boarders. The fanatics who have got the hang of it even continue to paddle in the winter. The number of recreational and beginning suppers is currently growing rapidly.
Paddle Boarding on flat water can be learned relatively quickly. Paddle Boarding at sea is a different story, here you have to deal with waves, wind and the current. This takes a lot more time and training to master.
Distribution of SUP levels
Beginner: you have never paddled before and/or have hardly any experience with paddle boarding
Advanced: you paddle regularly and/or you have taken sup lessons several times at a paddle board school. In addition, you also have the SUP technique under control and you are 100% stable on a Paddle Board
Expert: you have the skills to paddle in almost all weather conditions and you paddle both lots of short and long distances. In addition, you have years of experience and you SUP intensively several times a month.
Do you need more advice?
We are here for you! We try to provide everyone with the right advice as soon as possible. Are you a beginning supper? Check out our top 10 beginner tips. Do you have any other questions? Please contact us. We are happy to help you!
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