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Research >> Paddle Board >> Stand Up Paddle Board
Related: Paddle length

What is stand up paddle board?

Jimmy Styks 11 2 Hybrid 208 Stand Up Paddle Board Bundle.jpg
Stand up paddle board is used by the sport of stand up paddle boarding also known as stand up paddle surfing. This sport is very similar to surfing except one would stand on the board and use a paddle to move it through the water. 

Stand up paddle boarding can be fun. The paddle board should be sturdy and easy to paddle. You do not want to tip over as the paddle board should have great balance. If you are starting out you may want to find a paddle board that is great for wide range of water and use conditions.

Most paddle boards are portable and easy to store.

Stand up paddle boarding is great for all day family fun wherever the next water adventure takes you!

What is SUP?
SUP is short for Stand Up Paddle Board.

Where can you buy stand up paddle boards?

Types of board

  • soft top 
  • all around design
  • inflatable

Soft top

Soft top boards are designed for longevity and efficient production. For example, Jimmy Styks soft top boards feature a comfortable soft foam layer on top and durable hard plastic surface on the underside. Soft top boards are a great choice for those first entering the sport of stand up paddle or for rental shops.

All around design

All around SUP design can make it more rigid and stable on flat water.

Inflatable

Inflatable SUP, aka iSUP, is a stand up paddle board that can be inflated and deflated for compact storage and convenient transportation. Jimmy Styks iSUP’s are durable and offer increased stiffness and rigidity. When fully inflated, it feels very similar to a hard board (usually inflate to 15 PSI). 

An iSUP may come with a high pressure air pump, however, it may be difficult for you to inflate with the manual pump. Most SUPs comes with a single action pump rather than dual action pump. You need to be able to straddle your feet to hold down the pump pegs, and near the end, as it does require some shoulder/upper back strength. It can generally take 5 to 15 minutes to inflate using a manual pump depending on your strength. 

You may want to use a different pump so you may not feel exhausted by pumping before you even get to the water. If it is a standard connector then you can use other pumps and even electric pumps, but you can't connect something like a bike pump to it. It is important that the iSUP has a popular connector. Others may use an air compressor attachment. It may be cheaper then getting an electric one. 

To connect the pump hose to the inflation valve on the board, the white spring loaded pin needs to be up. Push the hose down on the valve and turn clockwise. In order to detach the pump hose without a large about of air rushing out, you have to close the valve before you begin pumping up. There is a pin in the center of the valve, twist it until it is out (closed).

Generally an electric pump is not recommended but most people do use one. You don't inflate all the way with the electric pump. You stop when it just starts to look rigid then finish the rest of the way with the hand pump. 

An iSUP is great for beginner. Generally it works great if you are on small inland water where there are minimal waves. Most people have a standard SUP that they use for active waters. The inflatable is so incredibly lightweight which is great for hauling around. The inflatable may perform much better in gentle water because it is so very lightweight. 

Stand up paddle board tips

  • How to balance on a paddle board
  • Open rough water vs flat and calm water
  • Finding the right size
  • Yoga
  • Airplane check in
  • Dog

How to balance on a paddle board

Stand with your feet shoulder distance apart near where the carry handle is. Best to stand with your core engaged and a slight bend in the knees. Then you just work on your balance. It takes practice.

Some people have trouble standing on the paddle board and balancing themselves. For an inflatable stand up paddle board, be sure it is inflated enough to the correct PSI otherwise you will feel unstable. Your pump should have a pressure gauge, so make sure it’s inflated to the recommended level. The paddle board should not bend and is real rigid.  

Open rough water vs flat and calm water

Some paddle boards are designed only for flat and calm water. It would be very difficult to balance in open rough water like the ocean. For rough water, you generally need a wider paddle board and how wide it should be probably depends on your skill level. If you are heading to rough seas, you would need a rigid board otherwise the board would flex and could be difficult to control.

Some inflatable stand up paddle board is not stable enough for paddle boarding on a lake with waves, and some people prefer buying a hard (not inflatable) board instead. 

Finding the right size 

When finding the right size, your height relative to the thickness of the board isn't quite as relevant as your weight. A short, heavy person isn't going to do well on a board that cannot support that weight. For someone who is taller and heavier, you may look for something wider and longer for stability.

Yoga

Some people like to do yoga on a paddle board. You most likely need to find a paddle board with a wide base so that it is very sturdy on the water making it perfect for yoga on calm waters. You may consider getting a paddle board anchor if you plan on being in water with a current. It also depends on whether you have better balance. For inflatable SUP, you also need get all the way up to 15 psi. 

Airplane check in

One may be hoping to be able to take a iSUP on the airplane as a carry on so they wonder what the dimensions of the backpack are when the iSUP is deflated and inside. It is too large for a carry-on, it will have to go into checked baggage. 

An iSUP will not fit in most regular suitcase due to the length of the paddles (even folded they are just under 36 in). Unless you get a telescoping paddle that you can collapse down pretty far, you most likely to have to check it in. In most cases the bag for an iSUP is heavy duty canvas which should be more than enough to withstand flying as checked baggage. It originally comes with some foam packing materials when shipped which you don't need for daily use. However, I would save it for flying and also make note of how they packed it for shipping. 

Dog

Some people like to bring their dog along on a SUP. As long as the recommended weight limit is adhered to, then absolutely. 

Features

  • length
  • width
  • thickness
  • board materials
  • weight
  • maximum weight capacity
  • deck pad
  • fin
  • Click-N-Go Key-Less Fin
  • standard fin box
  • carry handle
  • utility tie down / bungee
  • camera mount ready
  • leash
  • paddle
  • safety
  • warranty
  • patch kit
  • accessories
  • parts replacement

Length

Its length can range from 9.75 ft to 11.17 ft. long.

Width

The board can range from approx. 30" wide in the center.

Thickness

The board thickness can range from 5" to 6".  In general, the thicker the board, the more stability you have. 

Board materials

There are different types of board materials. These include epoxy and PVC.

Weight

The weight can range from 22 lbs to 31.5 lbs. Generally, the lighter paddle boards are typically around 22 lbs.

For an inflatable SUP, once inflated it can weight starting from 24 lbs. It is not as heavy as regular board. You should be able to carry it with no problem. 

Maximum weight capacity

The maximum weight capacity can range from 240 lbs to 280 lbs. Knowing how much it supports the rider will allow one to get out on the water with confidence and find balance.

Deck pad

Large, comfortable deck pad will keep you on your feet.

Fin

The paddle board usually comes with detachable center fin. To put the fin on the board, you need to take out a plastic protector. The fin box (where fin is to be inserted) may contain a plastic protector (it looks like a mini ladder). Slide the protector out and discard, then proceed and slide the fin into place. Use fin clamp pin to secure. 

Generally if you want to surf waves on a board, you would be better off with a board with 3 fins.
The tri fin set up provides great tracking in varied water conditions. 

Click-N-Go Key-Less Fin

Installing the Fin on a paddle board just got a whole lot easier such as the ones with Jimmy Styks Click'N Go Fin. The patented design features an integrated locking mechanism that simply requires the user to turn the latch to open, place the fin in the fin box and close the latch. No tools required.

Standard fin box

It is important to be able to replace the fin in a standard fin box. Sometimes the fins that come from China may not fit perfectly in the fin box and that is because the plastic may be too thick towards the front of the fin under the pin. It is always better to use the fin made by the board that you are using. So if you bought Jimmy Styks board, then in this case a Jimmy Styks fin would be the best fitment for that board. If the fin doesnt fit you may need to alter the fin by shaving down the front part under the gold pin.

Carry bag and handle

It is important to have a carry handle for ease of carrying. Some paddle boards may come with carry handle. Some paddle boards may come with a zipper bag that has a handle and shoulder strap. This makes it easy to carry. 

Inflatable SUP sometimes come in backpack style with straps so it is easy to carry. If you are hiking, the weight might be heavy to carry far, depending on your ability. 

Utility tie down

Some paddle boards come with utility tie downs which can help keep travel gear secure. Others come with bungee for securing on-board cargo.

Camera mount ready

If you want to record your action you may need to find one that is camera mount ready where there is a camera mount plug at the nose for action cameras.

Leash

Paddle board may come equip with 10’ coiled leash. It should have a D-ring that is used to attach a leash. Not all boards come with a leash so you may need to buy it separately.

Paddle

The paddle can be made of aluminum and is usually adjustable for travel purpose.

A paddle may not be designed to float. It may float for a brief period, but it will likely fill up with water and sink. 

Most paddles are expandable and you can set it to whatever height you need. They often can extend from 65" at its shortest to 86" at its longest. If you are 5'7" you are most likely not going to have it extend much. If you are 5'8" and extend it, there are probably still several inches to spare.  

Safety

For safety reasons, please remember to always keep a personal flotation device with you on your paddle board. 

While the US Coast Guard (USCG) does not "certify" SUP boards, they have determined that SUP boards operated outside a surfing, swimming or bathing area are “vessels” under USCG regulations. This means you need to have a USCG approved life jacket, a whistle/sound producing device and a light for night/dark paddling kept on board. 

Warranty

Most SUP should come with limited one year manufacturer warranty. You can check with the manufacturer on their website or contact them directly. Generally, the board's manufacturer offers a limited 1 year against defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty is void if the paddle board is left in heat or direct sun when inflated (and not in the water), stored in contact with a heat source, or when it is towed using the installed D-Rings on the board. Additionally, this warranty does not cover damage associated with commercial use (rentals).

Patch kit

Some boards comes with patches. 

Accessories

You can find different accessories such as paddle, fin, leash, bag, bungie, pump and deck mat .

Parts replacement

Sometimes you may need to replace an accessory part because you lost it or it breaks. The accessories can be purchased individually on Amazon. They won't be exact replacements but you can search for SUP bag, pump, paddle and fin. If you are looking for exact replacements, you can contact the manufacturer. They should be able to help you. 

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