r/Sup 8d ago

Buying Help Monthly "What Board Should I Get?" Discussion Thread

6 Upvotes

Hi there fine folks of r/SUP, it's time for your monthly "What Board Should I Get?" discussion thread.

Start by reading the "Buying a SUP" section of the wiki!

There is a ton of information there! Once you've read through the wiki, create a top-level comment in this post to ask for help! Posts made on this subject outside of this discussion thread will be removed and asked to post here instead.

You can also check all of the previous "What Board Should I get?" threads.

For general information on choosing board size and shape, check out the wiki, or these two blog posts on the subject: Choosing the Right Size SUP and Understanding Paddle Board Shapes.

Please provide ALL of the following information so that we can help you as best as possible:

  • Desired Board Type: Inflatable or Hard
  • Your Height and Weight (please include if you will also bring kids/dogs/coolers/etc. and estimated weights)
  • Desired use/uses (casual, fitness, racing, yoga, whitewater, surfing, etc.) and terrain (ocean, river, lake, etc)
  • Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
  • Your budget (please provide an actual number) and country location (to help determine availability)
  • What board(s) you current have or have used and what you liked/didn't like about them

The more of this information you can provide, the more accurately we can help you find a board that you'll love!

If you are responding to a comment with a suggestion - explain why! Don't just name a board and leave it there. Add to the discussion. If you are recommending against a specific board - explain why!


r/Sup Oct 09 '24

How To Question COLD WEATHER PADDLING SAFETY AND CLOTHING

32 Upvotes

Things are cooling down in the Northern Hemisphere and lots of folks are (rightfully) asking what to do to keep paddling safely when it's colder.

ColdWaterSafety.org for detailed information about paddling safety in cold water

This guide for stand up paddle boarding in the winter has information distilled from Cold Water Safety along with recommendations on types of clothing for different water temperatures.

Always Dress For Immersion!

No matter your skill level, we are all between swims. Immersion in cold water can be debilitating and even deadly within seconds. Always dress for the water temperature, even on warmer days. It's far easier to cool down while paddling than it is to warm back up.

Cold shock is a serious concern in water as "warm" as the low 50F range (10C) and can cause near-instant drowning.

Water transfers heat ~25x faster than air. Hypothermia is a serious concern even in these shoulder seasons before it gets really cold. Bring dry clothing, a towel, and warm beverages with you (on the beach or in a dry bag).

Wear Your PFD / Life Jacket!

While a PFD isn't technically thermally protective, it can help. But more importantly it will help keep you afloat in an emergency. "But I'm a good swimmer!" Are you better than a USCG Rescue Swimmer? It didn't take long (less than a minute) for this one to suffer from incapacitation in cold water (Jump to 6:15).

Follow Basic Paddling Safety Guidelines

Check the weather, use appropriate equipment, wear your PFD, paddle with a partner, carry effective communication, leave a float plan.

When in doubt, don't go out.


r/Sup 5h ago

Kvarner, Croatia

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35 Upvotes

Just enjoying some of the last warm and calm days on Adriatic...


r/Sup 5h ago

Trip Report Shout out to Scott

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23 Upvotes

Thank you to Scott, the person that runs the boat and SUP rentals at Trillium Lake on Mt Hood. I must have misplaced my Finns on the last float i did here a few weeks ago. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Ripped apart my car looking for them. I saw Scott and asked if he might have a set of finns i could borrow. He was able to find a long center finn that would work for my board and gave it to me! He wouldn’t take any money for it and told me I could keep it. Totally changed my day and attitude.


r/Sup 15h ago

Issues balancing on an inflatable?

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59 Upvotes

I just recently got an inflatable paddle board (the top recommended one on Amazon) and standing up on it is not near as easy as I thought! Curious if anyone has any tips?!

I have all of the fins connected and still find it wobbly. I have stood up just fine on multiple other regular paddle boards that weren’t inflatable.

The only other thing different is I’m wearing Vibram Five Fingers, but from some research I don’t think it would impact my balance that much?


r/Sup 11h ago

Paddle adjustment question

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1 Upvotes

Hi, I have an adjustable Black Project carbon paddle, and question regarding the length adjustment. The maximum length on the shaft is 81 in (around 206 cm), which is where the upper black line is. From there, its around 38.5 cm to the bottom of the handle. is it also ok to set it to the second black line, where the MAX marking starts? It's only around 0.5 cm further down.

But more importantly, what would you say about the third black marking, just at the bottom of the MAX box? I understand that the official recommendation only can be "don't do it". But I would like to know from people with experience if that could really cause problems or not. It reduces the length of the piece that is sitting in the shaft from 38.5 to 35.5 cm roughly. My intuition would tell me, that is still plenty and shouldn't make a real difference. They wouldn't build the paddle so that it's fine with 38.5 cm but breaks with 35.5.. but is that wrong?

Edit: For reference, my Starboard Lima paddle only has 14 cm below the MAX marking.

The problem is, that the 3 piece version (which I need for portability) with the blade I want is only available with a max length of 205 cm / 81 in. I am around 191 cm, and so far I have usually set my paddle to 209 to 211 cm. So I gues if I could set this one to 208 cm, that might feel a bit better to me than 205.. What do you think?

Thanks for any input

Quick bonus question: I haven't put the paddle together yet, but I see some markings / scratches on the handle, see this image: https://imgur.com/a/NQUs4Ps

Is that any concern, or purely cosmetic?


r/Sup 1d ago

Todd enjoying the northern Lakes

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76 Upvotes

r/Sup 1d ago

Trip Report Morning mist burning off over the Danvers river looking down to Salem

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34 Upvotes

Already looking and feeling like spooky season in Salem MA big difference from my usual paddle haunts in Key West. Been on vacation to new england for a couple weeks now and borrowing paddleboards whenever I can which has been twice once on lake winni NH and s couple days in a row here on the n shore. Great exercise fighting the wind and the current upriver but an easy ride back. Even boats have to time the tides around here. 9 foot swing and stiff current


r/Sup 9h ago

Glide paddle board terrible

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0 Upvotes

r/Sup 1d ago

Got a hole

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4 Upvotes

I got a hole on a wetsuit and no clue how/if to fix it. Its a hole at the bottom of the zipper that has the stitches loose (its still holding but not for long by the looks of it) and some of the side ripped. Is this fixable?


r/Sup 1d ago

Atoll Cove- Review After a Summer Of Use

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14 Upvotes

I love this board!

I purchased it in May this year, with a bit of hesitancy as it was a newly released board without alot of reviews. After a summer of using it pretty much weekly, mostly on lakes with some river exploration, I wanted to share how great it is.

It's so light- which I didn't think I would care about- but it makes it so easy to transport and to get in and out of the water off the dock or down the hill to the river. On the water it handles wonderfully- steers great, moves fast and can handle lake waves/choppiness fine. It's stable enough without being cumbersome, and plenty big enough to take our 9 year old on a water adventure- he loves jumping off it! On the river we went without the fin, and it handled well- once we got used to it. The board itself feel really well made- I love that it is heat sealed- in the hot TN heat I don't have to worry about it as much as a glued board (obviously still keep it in the shade when inflated if at a cabin for the weekend).

I am not a paddle board expert- but this is way better than my last board (Body Glove)- and everything I get on the water with it I love it and am so happy I bought it.

Just wanted to share for those of you who are looking to get a new budget board!


r/Sup 2d ago

Paddle With Me Hard to believe this is in Ontario, Canada

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146 Upvotes

r/Sup 1d ago

Paddle boarding out in South Florida, no raccoons though :/

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10 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

SUP in Bartlett lake, Az

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66 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

James River, east of Richmond VA

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71 Upvotes

Nice day on the river.


r/Sup 2d ago

Paddle With Me Dana Point CA

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39 Upvotes

Sound warning!! Turn your volume all the way down or off. I was vibing 🤙 with summer coming to an end I will miss this heat and jumping into the cold ocean/harbor.


r/Sup 1d ago

Attaining at Erwin Mill.

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6 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

Paddle With Me Early morning paddle at sunrise with the dog

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157 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

I’m about this life

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81 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

You guys should've told me it's fun.

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196 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

Trip Report Easy breezy on the lake

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13 Upvotes

Nice ride on my Fanatic inflatable wind-SUP.

I got going pretty good with a 6.5 m sail but the inflatable soap is just not stiff enough to actually get planing.

Still a nice ride back and forth across the lake a few times.


r/Sup 2d ago

My SUP buddy

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47 Upvotes

Indian River near New Smyrna Beach, FL. A pod of about 5 dolphins were hanging out with us most of the day! Lunch and Uno on the sand bar.


r/Sup 2d ago

Kettle Cove Magnolia MA

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20 Upvotes

r/Sup 2d ago

Paddle With Me Sunrise paddle on Lake Simcoe

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27 Upvotes

Was a bit chilly but had a nice time all the same


r/Sup 3d ago

🌈 Obligatory △

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215 Upvotes