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Inflatable SUPs Versus Regular Paddleboards

By Janet Rogers


If you are looking to learn the sport of paddleboarding, you have probably checked out buying gear. Having your very own equipment can be costly to buy, but will wind up costing less in the end since you can prevent high board rental charges.

There are a variety of different paddleboard styles you can get, one of which is inflatable. Inflatable boards offer several perks, but there are a couple of downsides too. These kinds of boards are made with a specific person in mind who will appreciate the advantages and not care about the downsides. Let's look at their differences.

Ease in Transporting Them

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and delivered in a compact bag. This means that people do not need to load a large board on the top of their vehicles. They can also be carried on planes without requiring a substantial cost typically charged for large travel luggage.

Since they can be rolled up into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be easily locked in a car, transported on one's back and stored without using up much space. Standard fiberglass boards do not offer these benefits. Individuals who have a board rack on their car, sufficient storage area and no need to lock their boards while transporting them, this might not cause a problem.

Effort Required to Pump up the Board

Inflatable boards normally require a manual hand pump to be inflated. This can take from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the power of the person doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes work, and for some petite women, it can be a chore. Fiberglass boards naturally do not require this additional work, and some people prefer the benefit of not needing to continually pump up and deflate their equipment.

Maneuverability

The firmness of inflatable boards differs. In general, the less expensive boards have a lower psi inflation, and for that reason are less firm. This means that they can bounce more in choppy water or waves. For beginners, this can feel more unsteady. For individuals paddling on lakes or other flat water locations, they might not be able to notice a distinction and as a result not care.

Typical boards can offer a more easy ride and increased maneuverability. Paddlers wanting a fast board that is easier to turn and move around (ie those who want to race or do regular workouts) are more likely to prefer a fiberglass board instead of the inflatable type, which are more tailored to the recreational paddler or somebody interested in yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable SUPs do not leak air frequently. That said, many models have a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a fiberglass board to individuals not familiar with the various types of boards, and many novice purchasers are impressed at how they perform.

When buying, it is smart to compare the features of different options in addition to costs, so you can get a board that you enjoy.




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