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How To Select The Best Stand Up Paddle Board Paddle
Stand up paddle boards (SUP) can provide you great
fun. It is the best relaxing way to play on oceans, rivers and lakes. It also
allows you to provide full workout to your body. You can practice SUP boarding
in the serenity of a quiet lake or the wide expanse of an ocean.
Selecting the best and right stand up paddle board paddle is a difficult task. You must consider certain factors while choosing an SUP boarding. First of all, you must determine the purpose of SUP boarding. Various different types of SUP boards are available. They are suitable for some specific types of SUP discipline, which include surfing, touring and racing. Hybrid types of SUP boards are also available. They have the capability to cross over from one disciple to the other.
Types of SUP Boards
There are five basic types of SUP boards. They are:
1. Surfing boards
2. Racing boards
3. Inflatable SUP boards
4. Touring/All-round boards
5. Yoga boards
Surfing Stand Up Paddle Board Paddles
The usual surfing paddle boards are lighter, shorter, narrower and have a narrow tail and nose. These boards are designed for high performance, quick turns, and are primarily used in the surf zone. SUP surfing boards are not suitable for long distance paddles. You need to do lots of works to keep them on a specific track. Compared to larger boards, these boards are less stable.
SUP surfing boards will have much more rocker, which is essential for top turns, efficient carving and to stop you nose diving when you drop into a wave. Compared to touring and racing boards, these boards are shorter. The tail and fins of this board will also be different. Various form shapes like squash tail, pin, or swallow are available depending on the selection of boards. Fin setup of your board provides you drive and stability through high speed turns. Though 3-fin thruster setup is very popular, other combinations are also available.
Racing Boards
Racing boards are creating waves and they have huge market for stand up paddling. Competitions for racing boards pop up in almost all cities and countries around the world. Racing boards are ideal for those who want to participate in competition or want to reduce weight with some intense training. The types of boards are much narrower, longer and have a very long fin and an extremely pointy nose.
Racing boards are designed to enable the user to stay on one track and cut through water as fast as possible. However, these boards cannot provide you stability if you are not able to move forward at a faster speed.
Inflatable SUP Boards
Inflatable SUP boards can solve a couple of specific problems on storage and transportation. Most paddlers have cars or they live in apartments. So, it is very difficult for them to transport large boards. Inflatable SUP boards are perfect for such paddlers because these boards are much lighter and easy to transport. They are very stiff, so it is not easy to make wave riding. However, these boards are durable under light conditions.
Touring/All-Around SUP Paddleboards
These are multi-purpose boards and they are typically longer, wider, have a pointed nose and a greater volume. The size and volume of these boards make them more stable. These boards are perfect for those who want to make flat-water paddling on lakes. You can also consider it if you want to cruise outside the surf zone. These types of boards are great for beginners.
Yoga SUPs
Yoga Stand up paddle boards are longer and wider. Usually, they have a soft top and places to keep various exercise tools such as safety equipment and resistance bands. You can also anchor these boards, so you can do yoga without the fear of drifting away from your group.
Factors to Consider While Choosing a Paddle Board
The best Stand up Paddle board Paddle will be strong enough to handle all types of conditions and light enough to use all day. The paddle board should be comfortable with the right length and grip. Lots of different materials are used for making paddles. Each of the materials has advantages and limitations.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is used for both blades and shafts. This is light, stiff and provides you a great balance between performance and value.
Wood
Wood is used for crafting the whole paddle. Sometimes, it is used to make just the blade. This is renewable, reasonably lightweight and can provide warmth to the touch. Wood paddles are very beautiful and they are highly preferable for most enthusiasts.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is the strongest and lightest material used in a paddle board. If the paddle is lightweight, it will cause very less arm fatigue. If you want to spend large amount of time on water, carbon fiber paddle is the best option. However, these types of paddles are little more costly.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an economical material and it is used for shafts. Though inexpensive, aluminum is slightly heavier and cold to touch.
Plastic
This is the other economical material and it is molded into grips and blades. Though heavier than the other materials, it is affordable.
Length
Length has greater role while selecting a paddle. You must select a paddle with right length. If a paddle is too long, it will tire your arms because you need to hold them too tight. If the paddle is too short, it will create stress on your back when you bend forward to reach water.
Adjustable paddles are also available in the market. The shaft of these paddles can be extended and locked in different lengths. Adjustable shaft is perfect if the paddle is used by more than one person. These types of paddles are ideal for families, demo fleets and lake houses. However, compared to non-adjustable paddles, adjustable paddles are marginally heavier.
Board size can be measured in terms of volume. If the board is much more thicker, longer and wider, the volume will be very high. If the volume of a board is high, it will be more stable. So, you can purchase a board with more volume if you are a new paddler. You should select a board with correct volume depending on your weight, height and paddling style. If you have deep knowledge in stand up paddle boarding, it is very easy to select the best SUP board.
Selecting the best and right stand up paddle board paddle is a difficult task. You must consider certain factors while choosing an SUP boarding. First of all, you must determine the purpose of SUP boarding. Various different types of SUP boards are available. They are suitable for some specific types of SUP discipline, which include surfing, touring and racing. Hybrid types of SUP boards are also available. They have the capability to cross over from one disciple to the other.
Types of SUP Boards
There are five basic types of SUP boards. They are:
1. Surfing boards
2. Racing boards
3. Inflatable SUP boards
4. Touring/All-round boards
5. Yoga boards
Surfing Stand Up Paddle Board Paddles
The usual surfing paddle boards are lighter, shorter, narrower and have a narrow tail and nose. These boards are designed for high performance, quick turns, and are primarily used in the surf zone. SUP surfing boards are not suitable for long distance paddles. You need to do lots of works to keep them on a specific track. Compared to larger boards, these boards are less stable.
SUP surfing boards will have much more rocker, which is essential for top turns, efficient carving and to stop you nose diving when you drop into a wave. Compared to touring and racing boards, these boards are shorter. The tail and fins of this board will also be different. Various form shapes like squash tail, pin, or swallow are available depending on the selection of boards. Fin setup of your board provides you drive and stability through high speed turns. Though 3-fin thruster setup is very popular, other combinations are also available.
Racing Boards
Racing boards are creating waves and they have huge market for stand up paddling. Competitions for racing boards pop up in almost all cities and countries around the world. Racing boards are ideal for those who want to participate in competition or want to reduce weight with some intense training. The types of boards are much narrower, longer and have a very long fin and an extremely pointy nose.
Racing boards are designed to enable the user to stay on one track and cut through water as fast as possible. However, these boards cannot provide you stability if you are not able to move forward at a faster speed.
Inflatable SUP Boards
Inflatable SUP boards can solve a couple of specific problems on storage and transportation. Most paddlers have cars or they live in apartments. So, it is very difficult for them to transport large boards. Inflatable SUP boards are perfect for such paddlers because these boards are much lighter and easy to transport. They are very stiff, so it is not easy to make wave riding. However, these boards are durable under light conditions.
Touring/All-Around SUP Paddleboards
These are multi-purpose boards and they are typically longer, wider, have a pointed nose and a greater volume. The size and volume of these boards make them more stable. These boards are perfect for those who want to make flat-water paddling on lakes. You can also consider it if you want to cruise outside the surf zone. These types of boards are great for beginners.
Yoga SUPs
Yoga Stand up paddle boards are longer and wider. Usually, they have a soft top and places to keep various exercise tools such as safety equipment and resistance bands. You can also anchor these boards, so you can do yoga without the fear of drifting away from your group.
Factors to Consider While Choosing a Paddle Board
The best Stand up Paddle board Paddle will be strong enough to handle all types of conditions and light enough to use all day. The paddle board should be comfortable with the right length and grip. Lots of different materials are used for making paddles. Each of the materials has advantages and limitations.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is used for both blades and shafts. This is light, stiff and provides you a great balance between performance and value.
Wood
Wood is used for crafting the whole paddle. Sometimes, it is used to make just the blade. This is renewable, reasonably lightweight and can provide warmth to the touch. Wood paddles are very beautiful and they are highly preferable for most enthusiasts.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is the strongest and lightest material used in a paddle board. If the paddle is lightweight, it will cause very less arm fatigue. If you want to spend large amount of time on water, carbon fiber paddle is the best option. However, these types of paddles are little more costly.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an economical material and it is used for shafts. Though inexpensive, aluminum is slightly heavier and cold to touch.
Plastic
This is the other economical material and it is molded into grips and blades. Though heavier than the other materials, it is affordable.
Length
Length has greater role while selecting a paddle. You must select a paddle with right length. If a paddle is too long, it will tire your arms because you need to hold them too tight. If the paddle is too short, it will create stress on your back when you bend forward to reach water.
Adjustable paddles are also available in the market. The shaft of these paddles can be extended and locked in different lengths. Adjustable shaft is perfect if the paddle is used by more than one person. These types of paddles are ideal for families, demo fleets and lake houses. However, compared to non-adjustable paddles, adjustable paddles are marginally heavier.
Board size can be measured in terms of volume. If the board is much more thicker, longer and wider, the volume will be very high. If the volume of a board is high, it will be more stable. So, you can purchase a board with more volume if you are a new paddler. You should select a board with correct volume depending on your weight, height and paddling style. If you have deep knowledge in stand up paddle boarding, it is very easy to select the best SUP board.
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