Stand up paddle boarding is a fantastic activity for your mind, body, and soul. It takes you to beautiful oceans, lakes, rivers, or bays, while also being a full-body and core workout. You can experience peace and serenity when paddling alone, or you can bring a friend, a dog, a child, or a partner along for your adventure. Check out our complete Video Instructional series, and read on for additional insights!
Stand up paddle boarding is also a lifelong sport, which can be experienced by people of all ages and skill levels. Once you master SUP, you can build on the experience by practicing SUP yoga or using your SUP to fish or lounge.
If you’re wondering how to paddle board, we have written the ultimate beginner's guide for you. In this blog, we’ll explore the types of stand up paddle boards, equipment you need, how to set up your board, how to move and the best tips for paddle boarding.
If you’re looking for a crash course, our 5 minute how to paddle board video is the one for you. And for those looking to kayak with their hybrid SUP-Kayak, here’s a video on how to kayak in 5 minutes.
We’ve also created a comprehensive VIDEO INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES that covers a wide range of skills and fun tricks to do on your board!
Stand up paddle boards come in all shapes and sizes and materials. Paddle boards typically range from 8 to 14 feet in length, 30 to 36 inches wide, and 4 to 8 inches thick. At ISLE we sell three types of paddle boards: traditional hard boards, inflatable paddle boards and SUP kayak hybrids. If you’re curious which one is right for you, you can use our board finder tool.
Beginner paddle boarders should choose an “all-around” paddle board - these styles are generally wider overall, and also have a wider nose and tail for added stability. All-round SUPs perform well in most conditions - from choppy ocean waves to calm lakes. They can also be used for SUP yoga, SUP fishing, SUP touring and SUP surfing. As you gain experience, you can progress to a narrower, longer board if you’re looking to go further, faster. But if recreational use is your focus, an all-around board will serve you well for many years.
We recommend going with an all-round inflatable paddle board if you’re a beginner for the following reasons:
Beginners can also choose a hard paddle board to learn on for a “grab and go” option without the need to inflate or deflate for set-up. Keep in mind you’ll need plenty of storage space as well as roof racks for your vehicle.
If you’re an advanced paddle boarder looking for a performance option, we recommend the traditional epoxy paddle board aka hard paddle boards. An epoxy paddle board is fiberglass wrapped around an EPS foam core, with one or more fins to help the board track in the water. It is more rigid than an inflatable
For 2024 all ISLE inflatable SUPs feature our ISLE-LINK system for easy conversion to to a sit-on-top kayak. This is a great benefit for those looking for maximum versatility and value from their equipment.
Below are some popular activities to do with your SUP and some things to consider for each activity.
We’ve also written articles on hard tops versus inflatable, or how to choose the best SUP kayak hybrid i