It’s best to rinse your board with fresh water and store it deflated in its bag in a cool place out of sunlight. However, it’s also fine to leave it inflated between uses - with a few caveats. Ready to get on the water? Smith recommends having these essentials with you to make for a safe and enjoyable experience: Also, just like when running, you can choose your pace and duration while paddle boarding, so you always have the option to turn a leisure paddle into an endurance event and get that intense workout and increased heart rate, Smith says. Just be careful not to overdo it if it’s your first time paddling, so you’re not too sore at the end of the day. Then you must take into consideration your size and the board size,” Smith says. “In paddle boarding we measure people via their volume (height and weight) in comparison to that of the board. We don't want someone to be on a board that is too small for their body as this will create a lot of instability for the paddler.”

Remember that all our estimated delivery times are quoted in "working days". Weekends and bank holidays are not included in estimated timescales. Beginner boards tend to be super-stable, which does compromise speed and wave handling but are much more tractable for casual use. If you're planning extended trips around the coast, then choosing a dual-chamber touring style board adds an essential layer of safety, too, something that isn't as useful in the surf and closes inshore. If you’re paddling solo, consider wearing a leash, which will keep you connected to your board at all times

Benefits

If you are willing to spend a little bit more than a budget model but don't want to have to baby your board whenever you are moving it around, the TOUGH-TEC Cross is the perfect choice. This board is fantastic for families, novices, or anyone who doesn't want to worry about their board getting damaged from a single moment of carelessness. While there are other boards that can match this one when it comes to toughness, none of the other products paddle quite as well, with the TOUGH-TEC actually holding its own with the top-tier boards when it comes to paddling performance. Value Because paddle boarding is a low-impact activity, it’s also great for individuals who deal with arthritis or are recovering from an injury, Smith says.

There are many different types of blow-up paddle boards, so as well as your ability-level it’s worth considering whether you’ll be paddling on flat water like lakes, touring long distances with lots of kit, racing or trying SUP yoga. Finding the right inflatable paddle board can seem like a daunting task,” says qualified coach Jo Taylor, co-founder of Paddle Cabin on the River Medway. “But an all-rounder board is a great way to get started. They’re wide (generally around 30 to 34 inches), stable and easy to turn. We teach beginners on Red Paddle Co ‘Ride’ boards which are 10ft 6in long and 32 inches wide. They’re super stable and sturdy for paddlers of all weights, abilities, and balance.”If you’re interested in stretching sore muscles, you can also consider trying yoga on a stand up paddle board. “All yoga poses are much more challenging on the paddle board. If you’re an avid yogi you might be surprised at how so many of your most familiar poses become even more dynamic and brand new by the addition of the unstable surface of the paddle board,” Smith says. Due to the size, weight and handling difficulties associated with kayaks, we are unable to provide free delivery (or included in the cost of the item).

Think of paddle boarding as a hybrid between kayaking and surfing. You’re standing upright on a board, similar to a surfboard, but dipping one long paddle (like an oar) into the water to propel you through the water, performing strokes like you would on a kayak or canoe. The paddle slots together, the fin slides in and the leash attaches very easily. Then you attach the pump….. OK so there is no gain without pain. The pain for an inflatable SUP it seems is pumping, be prepared for this bit to take a while with the GUL pump. 5 mins of sweat later you realise maybe the gym is a good idea after all. The board should get to around 12PSI, my first attempt fell well short of this, maybe 8PSI. It does get easier.

Position your feet hip width apart either side of the handle in the centre of the board, look ahead (not down) and keep your knees soft and your core engaged. The sooner you start paddling, the more stable you will be, although that might feel scary at first.” Gul wanted to be able to upgrade the single layer board, by removing the base glue process from the second (double) layer. This additional glue process has always been messy and very time consuming. So instead of gluing GUL coats the thread structure with a layer of adhesive that has been specially formulated to create both a seal and bond once laminated to high density PVC- completely removing the human factor involved in traditional double layer application. This smaller paddle board weighs just 9kg and designed for younger paddlers, children and teens weighing up to 60kg. Two of my nieces, who are eight and eleven, and my nephew, who is thirteen, had much more fun with it than when trying to control a 10ft or larger board, especially when the sea was choppier and when paddling in surf. One of the draws of paddle boarding is that you can enjoy it in any body of water, from big oceans to small lakes. And it’s a great workout you can do outdoors. What are the benefits of paddle boarding for runners? Smith says for cross training, runners can take up a 30-minute paddle boarding session anywhere from one to three days a week. And says the mental determination required for long paddling sessions is similar to that of long endurance runs.