Inflatable Paddleboards Versus Traditional Paddleboards

By Jeanette Baltran


If you are looking to learn the sport of paddleboarding, you have most likely explored buying gear. Having your own gear can be expensive to purchase, but will end up costing less over time because you can prevent high gear rental charges.

There are several various paddleboard styles you can purchase, including inflatable. Boards that are inflated have several benefits, however there are a couple of downsides. These kinds of boards are created with a particular person in mind who will value the benefits and not mind the drawbacks. Let's look at how they vary.

Ease in Transporting Them

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and delivered in a medium sized bag. This means that people don't have to load a huge board on the top of their cars. They can additionally be transported on airplanes without requiring a hefty cost normally charged for large travel luggage.

Because they can be packed into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be easily locked in a vehicle, carried on one's back and stowed without using up much area. Conventional fiberglass boards do not offer these benefits. Nevertheless, individuals who have a board rack on their car, ample storage space and no need to secure their boards while carrying them, this may not be an issue.

Effort Required to Inflate the Board

Inflatable SUPs typically need a manual hand pump to be pumped up. This can take from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the power of the individual doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes effort, and for some petite women, it can be a chore. Regular boards naturally do not require this additional work, and some individuals prefer the benefit of not having to continually inflate and deflate their gear.

Ability to Maneuver Them

The firmness of inflatable boards varies. In general, the less expensive boards have a lower psi inflation, and therefore are less firm. This means that they can bounce more in choppy water or waves. For beginners, this can feel more unsteady. For people paddling on lakes or other flat water locations, they may not be able to notice a difference and therefore not care.

Standard boards can provide a more smooth ride and greater maneuverability. Paddlers wanting a fast board that is much easier to turn and move (ie those who wish to race or do regular exercises) are more likely to prefer a hard board instead of the inflatable kind, which are more designed towards the recreational paddler or someone thinking about yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable SUPs do not leak air frequently. Even so, a lot of models come with a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a fiberglass board to individuals not familiar with the various styles of boards, and the majority of newbie buyers are impressed at their performance.

When shopping, it is smart to compare the attributes of different options in addition to prices, so you can get a board that you like.




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