What should you get for the upcoming paddle board tours? is it Solid/hard SUP, or inflatable SUP? You might have a hard time to choose between those two. Well, it has never been easy decision for anyone who is going to paddle the beautiful water in Kauai.
Well, both of them are great and they have their own benefits. But the differences of them might be the factors to make them suitable for different users. The iSUP or inflatable stand up paddle board, is a paddle board that you can inflate and deflate. The Hard/solid paddle boards are the conventional paddle boards. Many also call these as fiberglass or epoxy paddleboards.
To find the best SUP board for you, you will need to weigh the options based on the features that you need and how you are going to use the board. Here are few points that you could assess.
The performance of the board
Although both types serve the same purposes, the overall performance of inflatable paddleboard and solid paddleboard can be different. For instance, the rigidity of the inflatable SUP board depends on the pressure. If you have less pressure, the iSUP won’t get the best performance.
Not to mention that if you are serious paddler, choosing solid board is a must because it provides better acceleration than iSUP. That includes for the racers and surfers too. Solid paddleboards are more responsive than iSUP.
If it is for beginners or children, the iSUP or inflatable paddleboard will become more useful.
Compactness
Inflatable paddle board indeed has the perk over the solid board because it is, well, inflatable. If you are living nearby the SUP spots, then having the solid SUP board will not be a big deal for you. However, with the iSUP, you won’t need a van or large truck, or even towing the extensions. You just need to deflate the board and put it anywhere you want.
The inflatable paddle board is also compact. You won’t need too much space to store the board. Instead, you just need to prepare a little space which will not compromise your journey. you can practically store the inflatable anywhere. Obviously, the iSUP is the winner for this aspect.
Durability
There has been disputes amongst both sides’ fans to determine which one is more durable. At some point, the fiberglass can be more durable than the inflatable SUP board because it won’t make you drown when you hit the rock. Inflatable, in the other side, is also durable when you drop it but pretty risky if it bumps sharp objects. So, it would depend on how you are going to use your SUP.
Have you decided about which board for your upcoming paddle board tours?