Paddle Board Brands

Top Paddle Board Brands

Paddle boards are still so new as a sport that prospective buyers may not yet be familiar with the paddle board brands on the market. The explosion of paddleboarding upon the sports scene has opened business opportunities for family-run companies as well as multimillion-dollar blockbusters selling SUP equipment. With a sport that’s growing this fast—in some estimations, it’s the fastest-growing sport in the world—enthusiasts are looking for the best boards and the best bargains. But there are some basics to consider before you start to evaluate what the different paddle board brands have to offer. In this article, we’ll outline the things you need to know before you go paddle board shopping.

What Paddle Board Companies Want You To Know About The Boards They Sell

Known as SUPs, the stand up paddleboard looks like a surfboard, but the paddle makes all the difference. Still, making a “stand” on a paddleboard encompasses an amazing range of possibilities that aren’t available for mere surfing. There are paddle boards for a variety of different activities. There are different paddle board brands that specialize in the different types of boards, and knowing more about the board that’s right for you will make your paddle board shopping a lot easier.

Best Paddle Board Brands

Sizes Of SUPs Offered By Top Paddle Board Brands

Size and weight are obvious metrics when choosing the size of your paddle board, but other criteria factor in as well.

How much experience do you have in paddleboarding?
If you’re a beginner, you’re going to do best with a board that’s between 10 feet, 6 inches to 11 feet in length, and between 32 to 34 inches in width.

What type of activity are you interested in pursuing?
Fishing: 11 to 12 feet in length, and between 34 to 38 inches wide. The length adds a smoother glide; the extra width adds stability.
Touring: 12 to 14 feet in length, again for the smoother glide, and 30 to 32 inches wide.
Yoga: 10 to 11 feet long, 34 to 36 inches wide for stability.
Racing: 14 feet long for fast movement, and 26 to 28 inches wide.
Surfing: The length can run anywhere from 7 to 10 feet. Factors to consider when choosing the paddle board brand for include your experience as a surfer, the conditions of the water and, of course, the wave.
Children’s: There are boards designed for children as well, which is one of the reasons why paddleboarding is a family fun sport. A child’s board is 7 to 9 feet long, and from 30 to 33 inches wide.

Information You’ll Need When Researching Stand Up Paddle Board Brands

You’re not ready to go shopping for a paddle board until you’ve done some homework.

• What type of paddleboarding do you plan to do?
• What size of paddle board is the one that’s right for you?
• Do you want an inflatable paddle board or a hard paddle board?
• Where will you store your paddle board. (Hint: your answer to this question will depend on your response to the question above. A hard board takes up the full space of the board. An inflatable board, when deflated, can fit in a backpack.)
• What type of paddleboarding do you want to do?

What Kind Of Paddle Boards Will You Find At A Top SUP Company?

All-Around Paddle Board
All-around paddle boards are great for those just starting out in the sport, but even as you become more comfortable with paddleboarding, the all-around may continue to be your favorite model. They’re the most common type of board in use, and they’re ideal for family fun.

Yoga Paddle Board
If you want to combine the beauty of nature with yoga, there’s a yoga paddle board that will make that possible. These models are wide and designed for stability. They can also be used for slow cruising on flat water, and, if you don’t plan to go far—yoga paddle boards aren’t designed for long-distance paddling—you can use them for fishing as well.

Surfing Paddle Board
If you want to ride waves, then you need to purchase a surfing paddle board; they’re great in the surf, not so on flat water. The surfing paddle board is basically a big surfboard with a paddle.

You do have the option of buying a hybrid paddle board that’s adaptable for both surfing and cruising. The hybrid is a good choice unless you expect to spend a lot of your paddleboarding time riding waves. They’re bigger than a surf specific paddle board, with a larger volume that gives more float when you’re flat water paddling.

Fishing Paddle Board
A bona fide fishing paddle board has a large deck and comes with accessory plates, slots, and tie downs where you can stash all the gear that goes along with a fishing excursion. They also are designed for smooth gliding in the water.

A fishing purist is going to want an authentic fishing paddle board. But if fishing is just one of the things you enjoy when paddleboarding, then you’ll be satisfied with any wide, stable paddle board.

Touring Paddle Board
If you plan on long distance paddling that’s longer than two miles, you’re looking for a touring paddle board. As is the case with surfing, there are stand up paddle boards specifically designed for your camping jaunt, and there are hybrids. The touring paddle board isn’t a racing board, but it does give you speed. The extra cargo space of these SUP Boards is handy for stowing your camping gear. The smooth glide is beneficial when you’re going a longer distance.

The ample float and easy glide of a touring board makes them good both for those are are just starting out as paddleboarders, as well as others who are heavier in weight.

Racing Paddle Board
Racing paddle boards are sleek, long, and narrow so that they can move swiftly in the water. A racer wants a racing paddle board; there’s no question about that. They’re versatile enough for open ocean paddling as well as fitness, but keep in mind that what makes them fast also means that they aren’t stable.

 

Now that you know more about the kind of paddle board that suits your interest, you’re ready to explore the different paddle board brands that are available. One of those brands is right for you!