Inflatable SUPs VS Regular SUPs

By Ana Mielty


If you are looking to get into paddleboarding, you have probably explored buying gear. Having your own equipment can be expensive to buy, but will wind up costing less in the end since you can avoid high board rental costs.

There are a variety of different paddleboard designs you can get, one of which is inflatable. Inflatable boards offer numerous benefits, but there are a couple of disadvantages as well. These types of boards are created with a certain individual in mind who will value the benefits and not care about the downsides. Let's have a look at how they vary.

Ease in Transporting Them

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and carried in a medium sized bag. This means that paddlers don't need to load a large board on the top of their cars. They can additionally be carried on airplanes without requiring a hefty cost typically charged for oversized luggage.

Because they can be packed into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be conveniently secured in a vehicle, carried on one's back and stored without using up much area. Conventional fiberglass boards do not provide these advantages. Nonetheless, people who have a board rack on their vehicle, ample storage space and no need to lock their equipment while carrying them, this might not be a problem.

Work Needed to Inflate the Board

Inflatable SUPs usually require a manual hand pump to be pumped up. This can take between 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the power of the individual doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes work, and for some small ladies, it can be a chore. Traditional boards naturally do not require this added work, and some people choose the convenience of not needing to continually pump up and deflate their gear.

Ability to Maneuver Them

The firmness of inflatable boards differs. In general, the cheaper boards have a lower psi inflation, and as a result are less firm. This means that they tend to bounce more in rough water or surf. For newbies, this can feel more unstable. For people paddling on lakes or other flat water locations, they may not be able to tell a difference and as a result not care.

Conventional boards can offer a more streamlined ride and increased maneuverability. Paddlers desiring a fast board that is much easier to turn and move (ie those who wish to race or do a significant amount of workouts) are more likely to opt for a hard board instead of the inflatable type, which are more tailored towards the leisure paddler or somebody thinking about yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable paddleboards do not leak air very often. That said, many models have a patch kit just in case. These boards look and feel like a fiberglass board to people not knowledgeable about the various types of boards, and the majority of novice purchasers are thrilled at how they carry out.

When shopping, it is a good idea to compare the features of different items as well as prices, so you can get an SUP that you like.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment