Choosing Between a Fiberglass and an Inflatable SUP

By Theresa Fogarty


If you want to start the sport of paddleboarding, you have probably looked into purchasing a board and paddle. Having your own board can be pricey to purchase, but will end up costing less over time due to the fact that you can avoid high gear rental charges.

There are several various paddleboard designs you can buy, including inflatable. Inflatable boards offer a number of perks, however, there are a couple of downsides as well. These kinds of boards are made with a specific individual in mind who will value the benefits and not care about the drawbacks. Let's look at how they vary.

Portability

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and delivered in a compact bag. This means that paddlers don't have to load a big board on the top of their cars. They can also be carried on airplanes without requiring a substantial fee usually charged for oversized baggage.

Because they can be rolled up into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be conveniently locked in a car, transported on one's back and stored without taking up much space. Typical fiberglass boards do not provide these advantages. Individuals who have a gear rack on their car, adequate storage space and no need to secure their boards while carrying them, this might not cause an issue.

Time Needed to Inflate the Board

Inflatable boards usually require a manual hand pump to be inflated. This can take from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the power of the individual doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes effort, and for some small ladies, it can be a chore. Traditional boards obviously do not require this extra work, and some individuals like the convenience of not having to continually pump up and deflate their equipment.

Maneuverability

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 can bounce more in rough water or waves. For newbies, this can feel more unsteady. For people paddling on lakes or various other flat water locations, they may not be able to tell a difference and for that reason not care.

Typical boards can offer a more smooth trip and greater maneuverability. Paddlers wanting a fast board that is easier to turn and move around (ie those who wish to race or do a significant amount of exercises) are more likely to prefer a hard board rather than the inflatable type, which are more designed to the recreational paddler or somebody interested in yoga paddleboarding.

From my experience and research, inflatable paddleboards do not leak air very often. That said, a lot of models have a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a hard board to people not knowledgeable about the various styles of boards, and most newbie purchasers are impressed at how they carry out.

When buying, it is a good idea to compare the attributes of different items as well as costs, so you can get an SUP that you will be happy with.




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