Buying a Stand Up Paddleboard: A Guide for Beginners
Introduction
Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is a popular water sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It's a great way to get exercise, explore the outdoors, and have fun. If you're thinking about buying a SUP, there are a few things you need to consider.
1. Who will be using the SUP?
If you're buying a SUP for yourself, the choice is easy. Just choose a board that is the right size and weight for you and your skill level. If the SUP will be used by multiple people, such as children, partners, or friends, focus on the weight of the heaviest person who will be using it. You can also get a SUP that is large enough to accommodate multiple people.
2. What is your weight?
When it comes to buying a SUP, weight matters. It is important that the weight of the paddler does not exceed the recommended paddler weight for the chosen board. If the paddler is too heavy, it will put too much stress on the board and make it unstable, flex, and wobble. When buying a SUP, pay attention to the maximum paddler weight rather than the total board load capacity. If the retailer does not provide this information, avoid it (both the retailer and the SUP). You can always have an additional person (or more) on the SUP with you. The size of the SUP is also important. If the SUP is too small and narrow, you will often be in the water, and if it is too large, you will have trouble controlling the board.
3. What are your SUPing skills?
Whether you're a complete beginner, an intermediate SUPper, or an experienced SUPper, there are three rules to remember when buying a SUP. Long SUPs mean speed, wide SUPs mean stability, and short SUPs mean maneuverability. Long SUPs track better in a straight line and are generally faster, wide SUPs provide stability and less falling into the water, and short SUPs allow for quick and intense turns. We recommend that you try all three before you decide on buying a SUP and see for yourself which one suits you best.
4. What will you be using the SUP for?
The first SUP for beginners is most often an all-round or family SUP, which is wider and more stable, allowing both paddling in the bay and longer tours of up to 5 km, and you can also catch a wave with it. If you want more from your SUP, overcome a longer distance, consider a longer and faster, but slightly less stable touring or travel board. If SUP becomes part of your sporting activities and a way to stay in shape, there are also race or competition SUPs available, and there are also those that you can attach a sail to and turn into a windsurf.
5. How is the SUP constructed?
When buying a SUP, you will come across a very important piece of information: a single-layer or double-layer SUP. A single-layer SUP has a thinner and weaker layer of PVC, while a double-layer SUP has a thicker and stronger PVC that can withstand more stress and is more durable and resistant. Single-layer SUPs can be recognized by their maximum allowable pressure of up to 16 psi, while double-layer SUPs allow a maximum pressure of between 18 and 25 psi.
Of course, single-layer is not always bad. For fun in the bay, it can be more than enough. Of course, if no paddler has too many kilograms. Heavier paddlers should already look for a board that can withstand a pressure of 18 psi or more when they t buy their first SUP board. We also strongly recommend a double-layer board for anyone who will be using the SUP more than just once or twice a year on vacation.
In addition, the quality and technology of the rails, which are usually the weak point of SUPs, is also important. Almost all SUPs have glued joints at the rails and therefore have an expected lifespan of 5-10 years. Only Starboard has gone a step further and has heat-welded rails. This means that the joint cannot come loose and the SUP has a longer lifespan.
6. How to separate the good from the bad?
Avoid cheap double-chamber boards. Double chambers allow for more stress on the stance. By all logic, such a SUP should also be more expensive than a single-chamber one. A Starboard double-chamber board is 300 euros more expensive than the same single-chamber board. Why is this not the case with cheap SUPs? Because the double chamber allows for more stress on the stance, the manufacturer can choose even cheaper and weaker base materials. Therefore, double-chamber SUPs are usually made of weaker materials than single-chamber SUPs. When the glue between the chambers gives way, all that remains of a cheap SUP is an expensive pile of PVC. Repair is not possible or would be too expensive. Sure, maybe there are no problems with the warranty, but if your SUP deflates on the first day of vacation, it doesn't help you much. If your new Wasup board deflates, we will send you a new one to your vacation spot (valid for Slovenia and Croatia)
Don't fall for the board's load capacity. Most retailers only give you a total load capacity. They forget to mention that a 100kg man will not be able to stand on a board with a load capacity of 140kg. That's why children can ride it up and down all day. In the evening, when there are fewer eyes, dad tries it and "can't do it" at all. Dad is not the problem! Everybody can stand on a sup board. If there is no information about the recommended or maximum weight of the paddler, avoid the SUP (and the retailer). If the seller answers your question about the recommended paddler weight by saying that the load capacity is 150kg, tell them that there are very few SUPs in the world that a 150kg paddler can stand on and that theirs is definitely not one of them.
Don't fall for false information about double-layer SUPs. We have noticed a number of suppliers who claim to sell double-layer SUPs. In reality, they have SUP boards that only have two layers on the edges (which almost all boards should have anyway). If a supplier claims that the board is double-layer, but at the same time states that it can be inflated to a maximum of 12-16 psi (up to 1.1 bar), then know that they are lying to you. Double-layer boards can withstand 18psi and more. If you can't find the maximum allowable pressure, they are hiding it from you on purpose, so avoid the seller and the SUP.
Do you have to spend 600 euros or more on a SUP? No. You can find good double-layer SUPs for 400-500 euros. Even single-layer SUPs can be quite usable if they are well made (even just using a cheaper glue can save 20 euros in the production of one SUP!). However, single-layer SUPs have their limitations. A large, good single-layer SUP may still be able to carry a 110kg paddler, but we generally recommend that anyone over 90kg choose a double-layer SUP. The experience will definitely be better. If you are 100kg and 175cm, then a large, wide single-layer board will not be right for you. Get a narrower and double-layer one.
7. How will you transport and store it?
This question relates to whether to choose a hard or inflatable SUP. As with the previous question, you don't have much choice here, unless you live near the sea or a lake where it is easy to transport the SUP. Apart from SUP enthusiasts and competitors, most people choose inflatable SUPs precisely because they are easier to store at home and transport. Inflatable SUPs fold down to the smallest possible size and come in a handy bag that you can take with you on various trips. If you will be transporting your SUP a lot, it is worth buying a board that comes with a bag with wheels that you can pull behind you.
8. Should you buy a SUP with or without a paddle?
Some SUPs come with a paddle included in the set, while others have to be purchased separately. In most cases, the paddle in the set is aluminum. This is quite sufficient for shorter SUPping and fun, as long as the paddle is well made (make sure it has clamps that fix the paddle). However, with longer paddling, an aluminum paddle can become heavy and uncomfortable.
Shark and Starboard Zen SUP sets already come with a 3-piece paddle with a carbon/polyester shaft. This is a very solid paddle that is much lighter than an aluminum paddle. With Starboard Deluxe SUPs, however, the paddle must be purchased separately. This is because the paddle is just as important as the board and should be chosen according to the individual's needs - height, strength, purpose of paddling, etc.
The price also depends on the material. Aluminum paddles are cheaper, but they are heavy and can be felt after a while of paddling. If they fall out of your hand, they also sink faster. Carbon paddles are more expensive, but they are light, which makes longer paddling easier. We recommend that you choose a middle ground and buy a combination paddle made of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
Paddles also differ in the shape of the blade. As a beginner, choose a basic paddle with a wider blade. For convenience, we also recommend choosing a foldable 2 or 3-piece paddle.
9. How much are you willing to spend on a SUP?
SUPs can be found in all price ranges, from a few hundred to over a thousand euros. The rule of thumb is that the better the SUP, the more expensive it is. The higher price usually reflects better manufacturing technology, higher quality materials, durability, and a longer lifespan. No matter how much you are willing to spend on a SUP, always look for the best in your price range. If you are looking for a SUP for family fun, look for Wasup or Shark SUPs, while for the best quality, look for Starboard. To help you decide based on quality rather than price, Wasup also offers the option of installment purchases.
I recommend buying from a specialist who can also let you try out the board. If a test is not possible, at least ask an experienced salesperson (one who actually knows the subject matter and may even have been on a SUP before - i.e., not at Bauhaus). If the SUP is extremely cheap, there is a reason for it, and the reason is never that one retailer is less greedy - we all work for a living.
10. How much do you care about the environment?
Of course, we all care about the environment, and it's nice to know that your SUP is also 'eco'. SUPing is an activity that is strongly connected to water and the oceans. The Starboard brand is known for its focus on reducing its carbon footprint, using recycled materials, and generally cleaning up the oceans. Many components are made from recycled materials, the bags are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, and for every Starboard board sold, a mangrove tree is planted in Myanmar. The Shark Sups SUP brand has also turned its attention to environmental protection, focusing on raising awareness and conservation of different shark species, for which they have also founded The Shark Trust.
