How to Select a Perfect Standup Paddle Board

Are you looking for the ideal standup paddle board? There are many types of boards in the market today and finding the right one can be daunting. Each standup paddle board is designed for individuals, water types and uses. In this article, we shall discuss the factors you need to consider finding the best board.

Function

For starters, you need to consider the kind of paddling you intend to do. Determine if you will be racing, surfing, cruising or a hybrid of these activities. This will help in narrowing down the board selection. Smaller and shorter boards are more maneuverable and surfable. Also, a long and more streamlined design is more efficient, meaning the board will cover faster. Such a device is ideal for racing. For cruising, consider a board that’s between the two spectrums.

Conditions

The type of water one intends to paddle matters a lot. Different boards are designed to manage the different environmental condition. The fuller the board’s outline the more stable it is. This kind of a board is great at cruising in calm conditions. If an outline is pointed, a board will offer increased control and displacement. This makes the tool perfect for choppier or windier conditions. Lakes, oceans, rivers and other water bodies provide various paddling environments. The most important thing is to consider how often you intend to be in those conditions and select board sizes and shapes that are conducive to enhancing performance in such environments.

Height and Weight

Your skill level along with the height and weight are the next essential factors you need to pay close attention to. Since you will use this accessory to be on top of water(differs from shortboards where a board can be fully submerged sometimes),you need to be keen on the height and weight as they will dictate how easy it will be to float. 

Most people prefer inflatuque stand up paddle boards because they are stronger and stiffer and can be inflated easily. Other than being excellent boards, you can carry them around and inflate or deflate when you need to.

Note that the needs of a first-time board buyer are very different from those of a skilled paddler. A skilled person already knows how to handle a board depending on its weight and height, but a learner will need some time to get used to paddling. This is the reason skill and athleticism are an advantage when it comes to paddle board selection.

Future plans

When addressing your future goals in paddling, there are essential points you need to take into account:

• How often you want to paddle every week?

• Do you take on the challenges that come head on or you like taking each challenge at a time so you can grow at a slow pace over time?

When you consider these points carefully, you will be able to know the right board to select. Again, you can also choose to own multiple boards that will suit your specific needs. 

Selecting a board doesn’t have to be nerve wracking. Consider the factors discussed here and you will land the perfect toy for paddling.

 

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