The Best Paddle Boards For Beginners

7 Key Features To Look For In A beginner’s SUP

Searching for the best paddle boards for beginners is made simple when you know what you’re looking for. If you’ve ever tried paddle boarding before, you may have noticed your SUP board was very wide and stable as you clambered onto the deck. 

Generally speaking, entry-level boards are wider and slower, as this helps you out when you are learning. As you develop your skills and become a more advanced paddler, you can then experiment with different sizes and shapes of board. 

For your first paddle board, you should be looking at a typical style of an all-around paddle board. Keep in mind to check these key features for your entry-level SUP:

• Stability
• Size
• Shape
• Construction
• Affordability
• Versatility
• Fins

Let’s take a look into each of these and discuss how these features can affect your search in finding the best beginner SUP.

Stability

Feeling stable and balanced is key for standing up on a paddle board. The size and shape of your board, in addition to your core strength, will determine how easy this is to do. Look for boards that are long, wide, and have a lot of volume, as these tend to be easier to balance on.

Size: width, length, and volume

Size does matter, especially for beginners. As mentioned above, Novice riders generally need a bigger and wider board to help with their balance and stability. However, it’s worth remembering that as boards get wider, it does get more difficult to maneuver. 

Every SUP has a weight capacity that is determined by the board’s size, meaning there is leeway to consider depending on the rider’s height and weight. For more information, check out the specifications for each board.

The main factors used to measure a paddle board are:

• Length: how tall/long is the board?
• Width: how wide is the board’s deck?
• Volume: how many liters is the board? (i.e. the float)

There are a whole array of paddle board sizes out there, but these are the most ideal dimensions for the best beginner paddle board:

• Length: 10 to 12 feet 
• Width: 30 to 35 inches 
• Volume: epoxy/soft – 175 liters | inflatable – 225 to 275 liters

It is important to remember that these dimensions are a general guide. Remember, you can’t be too light for a SUP! It’s much better to be too light for a board than too heavy.

The volume is good guidance on buoyancy. The higher the volume in liters means a higher weight capacity. Generally, the more volume a board has the more stable it will be on the water. 

When choosing the right stand up paddle board for you, the volume should be an important measurement to consider.

Pro Advice: To calculate the ideal weight capacity for you, include your weight plus any additional weight you’ll be carrying. We suggest adding 10 or 15 lbs to that number — just in case, this will cover any gear you choose to take with you. Choose a board for the weight you are now – even if you plan on losing weight in the future.

Shape

We always recommend an all-around style shape for beginner paddle boards. This offers a nice wide deck, a well-rounded nose, and plenty of length to get a feel for paddle boarding.

These beginner-friendly SUP’s will have you glide over the water gracefully and easily, no matter what the conditions are.

As you begin to advance your skills, you’ll be able to experiment more with the different shapes available depending on what activity/style of paddle boarding you choose to do. Hull shaping will begin to come in question, either planing or displacement hull. Beginners should be aiming for a planing hull shape. 

Construction

There are three types of constructions to paddle boards, all suitable for beginners in their own way. Deciding which to go for depends on your lifestyle and what you want to get out of your new stand up paddle board. 

1. Soft Top
2. Inflatable
3. Epoxy

Soft tops suit those who:

• Have a tighter budget, as the material tends to be much cheaper than other constructions.
• Who are nervous about hurting themselves — the soft upper layer provides a more cushioned surface in the case of falls.

However, soft tops are very limiting and slow to handle on the water which will put a hold on your improvement. 

Inflatables suit those who:

• Want to travel easily with their board, simply deflate, roll up, and tuck away in a SUP backpack.
• Have minimal storage at home, same idea as traveling, plus, your board only takes up a backpack size space in your home.
• Want a durable and versatile board that can go anywhere while limiting damage

Epoxy (hardboards) suit those who:

• Have space at home to store a large board without sacrificing their bed or sofa.
• Looking for optimal performance and speed.
• Don’t have the patience to inflate an iSUP and just want to grab and go with their gear.

Affordability

Getting yourself set up to paddle does cost money. You need to determine your budget and decide how much you can afford. 

All of the inflatable boards are in a mid-range price bracket which is both affordable and gives great quality. 

A general rule of thumb for people buying their first paddle board is to not spend too much money on them. Chances are you are going to knock into things in the water. An entry-level board at the mid-range price bracket will give you exactly what you need in performance and won’t break the bank.

Versatility

Most paddlers often look for a paddle board that is versatile. They want to cruise across a lake in addition to riding the waves in the ocean. It’s worth remembering, however, that versatility will be more important as your skills progress and you become a more competent rider.

Most all-around paddle boards will have a degree of versatility to get you started. Once you have experienced different activities with your new paddle board, you will then be able to look at specializing your board even more.

A good level of versatility in a board will take you over lakes with a fishing rod, and provide space to stretch into some yoga poses, while also allowing you to catch some waves and paddle with your dog.

Fins

Fins are a crucial element of your SUP. They give you tracking, speed, and help with the steering of your board. Stand up paddle boards generally have one center fin and two smaller side fins to aid in stability. 

Normally for simple cruising, you can get by quite comfortably with just a single fin. For longer tours or more choppy waters on the ocean, a thruster or even quad set-up is advised to give you something extra to cut through the waters. 

Nearly all SUP fins are removable. The key thing here is knowing which type of fin box to go for. 

Snap-in boxes or US fin boxes. 

As the name suggests, Snap-in boxes are quick and easy to use with no tools required. This is super convenient and appealing to beginner paddlers. Whereas the US fin boxes are more versatile and allow you to use a wider range of fins, but they do require a tool to use. 

What kind of paddle board do I need?

Now you have a rough idea of what you need to look out for, you can begin to think about what type of paddle board you need. 

You can find boards that tick a lot of boxes, while others are more specifically designed for a single purpose. Don’t worry and get overwhelmed! We’re about to tell you all you need to know about the different types of stand up paddle boards and which are great for beginners.

What’s The Best Type of SUP for a Beginner?

When you begin browsing for stand up paddle boards you may notice the amount of variety that is available. There are all-around boards, hybrids,, touring and racers, surf SUPs, and more.

An ‘All-Around,’ paddle Board is hands down the best type of SUP for a beginner. They are shaped with a wide nose, stable deck, and forgiving rails that are not overly sensitive to mistakes. These boards are designed with beginners in mind and allow the paddler to experience most avenues of paddle boarding.

Hybrid Paddle Boards are also suitable for beginner paddlers. If you’ve been able to get to grips with the basics beforehand, then this is possibly a good option for you. A Hybrid board will see you through most activities and allow you to progress your technique. You’ll be able to try  the waves, and also cruise on flat water lakes.

What’s Not Suitable For a Beginner?

Touring and Racing Paddle Boards are not suitable for beginners. These boards are narrow and are shaped to cut through the water efficiently with an expert level of technique. Beginners will struggle on these more specialized boards and risk falling into the water instead of progressing with the basics.

What size paddle board do I need?

Ok, now you know what type of board you should be looking for. How do you figure out what size paddle board you need? 

The best beginner paddle board provides stability and is proportional to the rider. You must consider your weight along with the board’s length, width, and volume.

Volume is the float capacity based on the board’s dimensions. A higher volume means more float, which results in higher weight capacity. 

The recommended paddle board size for beginners is:

• Length: 10’ to 12’
• Width: 30” to 32”
• Thickness: 6”
• Volume: 225 to 275 liters

Are inflatable paddle boards good for beginners?

We firmly believe that decent inflatable paddle boards are ideal for beginners. When fully inflated, these boards are just as rigid and solid as any hardboard underfoot. They also sit much higher out of the water making it significantly easier to paddle in any conditions.

Benefits of an iSUP over a hard board

Still, need a bit more convincing? Here are some benefits of an iSUP over a hard board that should sway your mind:

• Storage made easy: simply deflate, roll up, and tuck away in a backpack 
• Travel is simple: the same principle as above, take your iSUP anywhere with you, even up mountains for far reached wonders to discover
• Better value for money: generally speaking, you can get a better bang-for-your-buck in the inflatable department than the epoxy boards
• Safer when learning: you are less likely to hurt yourself when learning the basics with an iSUP

Basic paddle boarding tips to get you going

Once you’ve got your paddle board there will be no stopping you from hitting the water and exploring your new passion. Before you grab your SUP and start paddling, take in a few of these basic paddle boarding tips to help get you going in the right direction.

1. Safety is always the first priority. Check your surroundings, be aware of any hazards, always use a leash and wear a PFD (personal flotation device).
2. Fit, size, and adjust your paddle to be the correct height for you as the rider.
3. Make sure you’re paddling correctly by keeping the paddle blade angled away from you. 
4. Get comfortable with paddling on your knees first before trying to stand up on the paddle board.
5. When you stand, take one foot at a time in the center of the board keeping them at shoulders width apart.
6. Momentum is key. Once you start standing get paddling straight away to get your momentum working in your favor.
7. Be sure to clean all your equipment thoroughly after your paddle and make sure it’s dry before storing. This extends the lifespan of your gear.

Other paddle boarding gear to get you started

A lot of inflatable paddle boards come as a bundle with everything you need to hit the water straight away. Along with the board, here’s a few other pieces of kit that you need.

• Coiled ankle leash
• Center fin
• Paddle / adjustable paddle
• Hand pump (if you have an inflatable SUP)
• SUP backpack (if you have an inflatable SUP)

Coiled Ankle Leash

Having a coiled ankle leash is crucial for your safety and the safety of those around you in the water. The coil is important to keep the leash from tangling under your feet but still giving you space if you do wipeout in the waves, allowing your board to safely stay close without hitting you. 

Center Fin

Fins’ are needed to give you steering and tracking while in the water. When you begin to progress your paddling you can begin to experiment with the center fin, possibly trying out a 9” Touring Race Fin or other varieties.

Paddle

The best paddle for beginners is an adjustable length paddle. This enables you to try different lengths to find what works best for you, and even share your paddle with friends or family. 

Hand pump 

If you do choose to go with an inflatable SUP then you will definitely need a paddle board pump to inflate and deflate your board. Choose between a dual action, a triple action, or even an electric pump to save your arm power for paddling

SUP backpack

Again, if you do go for an inflatable paddle board then you will be wanting to kit yourself out with a SUP backpack. A good backpack will have enough room to store your paddle board, paddle, pump, fin, leash, and wet gear in various storage compartments throughout the bag. 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. You have a complete guide and all the information you need regarding the best paddle boards for beginners. All you need to do is decide which one is best for you.

What are you waiting for?