What type of SUP Suits You? [Part 3 of Series]

So You Want to Purchase a Paddle Board? [Part 3 of Series]

Now that you're getting ready to head to your local SUP shop, you are prepared with knowledge about what material you want your SUP to be (part 1), what each of the shape-specific features mean (part 2), and a broad understanding of what might work for you. The next step is to know what category of SUPs to start looking for…

Let’s start with this: What are you going to do with your future SUP?

Here’s a list of the different type of boards you can go for and what key features they will typically have.

Race Boards
Go long distances fast.

• Length: 12’6”+
• Width: Less than 27”
• Displacement Hull
• Carbon fiber material
• Very little to no rocker

Touring/Expedition Boards
Go long distances with stability.

• Length: 12’6”+
• Width: Around 30”
• Displacement Hull
• Can be a variety of materials
• Very little to no rocker

All-Around Boards
Do most things with average performance.

• Length: 10’6”-11’6”
• Width: Around 30”
• Planing Hull
• Can be a variety of materials
• Small rocker

River/Whitewater Boards
Designed with the river currents and rocks in mind.

• Length: 8’6”-11’ (depending on river rating difficulty)
• Width: 29”-34”
• Nose and tail shape trends are developing
• Heavy-duty materials
  
• Moderate rocker
  

Fishing Boards
Outfit your gear on board, paddle longer distance quietly, and ultra stable.

• Length: 11’6”+
• Width: 32”-36”
• Board shape trends are still developing, but typically will be a more stable version of a touring board
• Lots of D-rings or attachment sites for carrying gear
  
• Can be a variety of materials
  
• Very little to no rocker

Yoga Boards
Ultra stable and enough volume to do yoga or pilates. Might double as a leisure paddleboard.

• Length: 10’6”-11’6”
• Width: 32”-36”
• Nose and tail shape trends are developing
• Found in inflatable or hard SUPs
• Rocker trends are still developing
• Check out an in-depth video guide to yoga boards by Nikki Gregg here

SUP Surf Boards (Ocean and River)
Will fit inside a wave and allow the rider to surf, carve, and maneuver the board

• Length: 10’ and under
• Width: 29” and under (river surf boards are wider)
  
• Variety of nose and tail shapes (pointed/round nose and swallow-tails, flat tails, or pointed tails)
• Mostly fiberglass composite material for ocean/river, although kevlar and inflatable river surf boards are developing
• Lots of rocker

**Also, if you really want to geek out on SUP rail shapes, check out this blog post I found!**

The popularity of SUP exploded in the past five years, which created a market full of manufacturers and engineers that are constantly coming up with new and unique shapes and purposes for SUP.  It’s fun to see the industry evolve as more innovations enter the scene!

I hope this series will equip you with some understanding on paddleboard design and performance.  I am stoked that you are interested in getting into the sport of stand up paddleboarding! SUP has provided me with countless adventures and friends from all over the world, as well as enhanced my life in so many ways. I hope that it will do the same for you.

Please check out my Facebook or Instagram to follow my latest adventures. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to message me. Thanks for reading!