Here’s How to Select the Right Gear for Your Stand-Up Paddleboard Session
By now you’ve either heard of the ever-so-popular water sport, stand-up paddleboarding or have seen people paddling while standing up out on the water. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), is a water sport filled with physical activity and relaxation at the same time. Yes, it’s true.
Beyond having a blast on the water with your friends, if you’ve never participated in the water sport, you’d be surprised at the benefits it has to offer.
With that, if you’re curious to get out on the water and experience the benefits SUP has to offer, you’ll need to make sure you have the essentials to provide a fun and safe experience.
Beyond hiring a qualified instructor, you’ll need the proper equipment that will not only keep you safe but make your experience a great one. From a board to safety gear, ISLE’s VP has got you covered.
Not all SUP equipment is the same explains Blakeney. “You get what you pay for with the cheaper stuff,” he says. “One of the things you’re getting when going cheap is the lowest quality accessories possible because that’s how they’re getting the price so low.”
Whether it’s your backpack, paddle, or leash – anything that comes with the kit, when going cheap, these items will be cheap and flimsy.
If a man weighing at 250-pounds and a woman weighing 120 pounds purchase a board with a weight capacity of 300- pounds, the woman will feel as though she is on land when paddling. The man, at first, will feel a little “tippy” on the board but will soon get the rhythm down making the board a good choice for both of them. If that board was fit for a 120-pound woman, the 250-pound man would not have a good first-time SUP experience. Aways go with the highest weight capacity for the best results/experience.
“A bad paddle is a bad day on the water,” says Blakeney. So, when selecting a paddle, keep in mind, a quality paddle is going to make a huge difference in your SUP experience.
However, selecting a top-notch paddle reaches beyond the material it’s made of. While aluminum is considered good, fiberglass is even better, and carbon is known as the best, the problem is, you can’t simply choose a paddle solely because of the material it’s made of. Why? Some of the paddles that are considered “good” (aluminum), can actually be really great.
So how do you choose a dependable, high-quality paddle? Blakeney recommends going with a reputable brand – one that has been around for a long time and has a history in the sport.
