How to Extend Your SUP Season: Essential Fall Paddle Boarding Tips for Fitness and Fun

As the leaves change color and the air becomes crisp, many people pack away their summer gear - but you shouldn’t. Fall is the secret season for avid paddle boarders. The cooler temperatures are a refreshing welcome, after the stifling summer heat. Plus, as the temperatures drop, so does the amount of people outdoors. If you love the peace and serenity of paddleboarding, imagine gliding through silent lakes or along coasts, surrounded only by the sounds of waves and faraway birds. 

Finally don’t forget that paddleboarding is an incredible workout that challenges your endurance, balance, and core strength. All elements that help power your body in any activity. Now isn’t the time to stop paddle boarding, it’s the perfect moment to elevate your fall fitness game. 

In this guide, we cover how to choose your paddleboard, what to pack for paddleboarding in the fall, and tips on how to enjoy paddleboarding in cooler weather. 

How to Choose Your Paddleboard

Before you can get started on cooler weather paddleboarding, you need a paddleboard! If you already have one, you can skip to the next section. 

Here at ISLE, we sell Inflatable Paddle Boards and Hardboards. Inflatable paddle boards are durable, lightweight, and great for taking on the go. They’re perfect if you like to explore different waters or even travel with your paddleboard. Plus they deflate and pack up small for storage. They’re more durable than hardboards because if you drop them, they won’t scratch or be damaged. Inflatables are great for first-timers and adventure paddlers looking for a more durable board.

Our Hardboards are designed for high-end performance and agility. They are more agile, have better glide, and are easier to catch waves when SUP surfing or for touring. Hardboards are slightly faster than inflatables. Plus, they don’t require any setup time, you can just grab and go! If you have the space in your home and car, hardboards are perfect if you love going paddling locally.

We also sell SUP-Kayak Hybrids. These are incredibly versatile boards that can switch between SUP and kayaking. They can be used for paddling, SUP yoga, fishing, lounging, and more. 

Our Pioneer 3 best-selling 10’6” SUP-kayak comes with a full coverage traction pad so you can tandem kayak, bring kids or a pet, do SUP yoga, or stretch out and lounge. The board itself weighs 19 lb with a 385 lb capacity. 

Our Explorer 3 is an 11’6” touring SUP kayak, great for advanced paddlers who love going the distance. With its touring shape, it favors speed over stability. The board itself weighs 19 lbs with a 300 lb capacity. You can easily tandem kayak or pack it with gear for a long day trip. 

Our Pro Series hybrids, like our Explorer Pro, are our newest SUP kayaks which are fantastic all-purpose recreational and fitness boards. They are “Inflatable Hardboards”, a new class of inflatables thanks to our innovative new InfinityFiber material. These are the most rigid inflatables available on the market which allows them to support larger riders, more gear, and perform more like epoxy hardboards, but in a portable package.

The Explorer Pro is for adventurous kayakers who want to go the distance with our award-winning touring and fitness board. The narrower, longer profile makes it faster on the water. It’s great for longer distances, and the incredible rigidity gives it a high weight capacity means it’s great for carrying gear while solo and tandem kayaking and SUP. It won’t “taco” under load like other narrow touring boards can.

If you love tandem or family paddling, our Megalodon 3 is for you. It’s our best-selling multi-person paddleboard that now comes with a turnkey motor-mount system so you can more easily paddle your friends, family, or even your dog! It comes in two lengths, 12’ and 15’ and they can carry 700 - 1100 lbs. 

If you want a refresher on how to paddle your SUP, you can check out our videos on YouTube. We have guides on how to pivot turn, how to feather, and finally, how to SUP faster than your friends. 

What to Pack for Paddleboarding

Once you have your board, don’t forget to pack all the gear below so you can maximize your experience on the water. 

• Wetsuit/Drysuit: Wetsuits keep you warm by trapping body heat, while a drysuit keeps you completely dry, which is great  for colder days
• Light Layering: Wear moisture-wicking base layers under a wetsuit or dry suit that regulates your temperature. Don’t wear thick, heavy clothing that is hard to move on. Focus on several light layers instead
• Footwear: Neoprene booties or water shoes keep your feet warm and prevent slipping
• Waterproof Jacket: Protect yourself from wind and light rain with a lightweight, waterproof jacket.
• Gloves: Neoprene gloves keep hands warm while maintaining grip
• Sun Protection: Sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a lightweight hat to shield from UV rays. If you don’t love the feel of sunscreen, try UPF protective clothing, like our SunJoy UV Hoodie. It has moisture-wicking fabric and loose fit is a shield from cool temperatures and UV rays
• Paddle Leash: Prevent losing your paddle in case of a fall
• Lifejacket: stay safe with a lifejacket 
• Hydration & snacks: don’t forget to pack your food and drinks - paddleboarding in the cold burns more energy, so you need to stay energized
• Dry Bag: keep your phone, gear, and food dryin a dry bag 

How to Enjoy Fall Paddleboarding

When you’re paddleboarding in the fall, there’s a few crucial things to consider:

Weather: 

• Winds: the fall winds can be quite extreme, so make sure that you paddle close to shore and pick a location that has onshore wind (wind that blows from the sea towards the land)
• Temperature: make sure you check the “feels like” temperature versus the stated temperature as it’s a lot more accurate once you’re on the water
• Be Aware: check the weather forecast constantly. Once you’re on the water, be vigilant and watch the sky. If there is a weather shift, be ready to paddle back towards the shore. 
• Check tide reports: if it’s available in your area, check the tide reports which will let you know if it’s very choppy or safe for paddling

Leave Enough Time

• Plan accordingly: Remember that the days are getting shorter, so you need to check sunrise and sunset so that you avoid dangerous paddling in the dark. Keep in mind that it takes time to get to your location, park,  set up, and break down. If there’s strong winds, it will take you longer to return to where you started
• Bring light: if there’s a chance you’ll get caught after dark, bring a waterproof light. Many paddlers like a headlight for hands-free paddling. 

Safety

• If you’re paddling alone, let a close family member or friend know where you’re going and when you’re expected to be back. If they don’t hear from you that day, they will have to notify authorities. 

Fun Fall Paddleboarding Ideas

There’s nothing more cozy than taking a sip of a warm, cozy drink when on the water. Try taking a drink on your next paddleboard adventure, or make two if you’re going on a date!

We wrote about our favorite fall beverages while looking at the vibrant, rich colors on our ISLE paddleboards. So for fun, we’ve listed the top fall drinks and paired them with our boards. 

First let’s start with the modern fall classic, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Does anything remind you more of cozy fall feelings than this sweet & spiced coffee? If we had to pick a board that reminded us of the PSL, we’d go for our Pioneer 3 and Explorer Pro in the Coral/Sun colorways, which have bright, vibrant oranges reminiscent of pumpkins. 

If you love country life, like hayrides and apple picking, you might crave a delicious Apple Cider. Apple orchards are full of vibrant colors - like the golden yellows, ambers, and reds of the fruit themselves, to the verdant green trees, and the deep blue night skies above the orchard. This reminds us of our Megalodon 3 in Seafoam/Coral/Navy. Apple picking is a group activity, and so can paddle boarding when you have this board. 

If your idea of a perfect fall day is mulled wine by the fire, try our Pioneer 3 in Seafoam/Dawn. The deep burgundy reminds us of the rich red of mulled wine, and the bright green reminds us of a crisp green apple. Pack it in a sealed thermos and picture yourself taking a sip of the spiced wine while floating on a lake - doesn’t this sound like heaven? 

Finally, we have the Caramel Apple Martini, for those who enjoy a sweet, seasonal & sophisticated drink. 

This reminds us of our Pioneer 3 and Explorer 3, both available in Sun/Ice/Coral/Navy with autumnal oranges and contrasting navy blue trim. This contrasting design reminds us of the Caramel Apple Martini because it the sweetness of the caramel is balanced with the strong martini. 

With the right board, gear, and a few thoughtful touches, fall has the potential to become your favorite season for paddle boarding. The cooler temperatures, serene waters, and vibrant autumn scenery provide the perfect backdrop for fitness and relaxation. Whether you're pushing through an autumn outdoor workout or enjoying a peaceful moment with a warm drink in hand, fall can be the best time to get on the water. So, pack wisely, stay safe, and embrace the season - happy paddling!