Finding the right paddle board when you’re buying online can be a bewildering process. There are boards specific to the type of paddling from surfing, to racing and touring or those designed for flat water leisure paddlers looking for all-round ISUPs. Then there are ISUPs of different lengths, widths, thicknesses and volumes.... so read on or 

You can use our SUP Selector Tool to help choose.

Choosing the right board style and correct dimensions to suit your experience, height and weight, alongside the type of paddle boarding you’re planning to do is key to making a successful purchase. Do this for your first board, and you’ll own an inflatable stand up paddle board that will be used by you and your family for many years to come.

What to do first
Choose an ISUP which is designed for the area of the sport you’re interested in (for more information on this, see our blog: ISUPs - which one should I choose?) and your selection will be made more straightforward, as the size and dimension of boards is dictated by the job they have been designed to do. 

Board width and length
As a guide for beginner paddlers, the most popular adult sized All-Rounder ISUPs will be between 10 and 11 feet in length (300cm-330cm) and between 32-34 inches (81-86cm) wide. 

This size of board will suit paddlers under 16 stone (101kg) in weight. 

If you are carrying loads with a combined weight greater than 16 stone (larger adults, additional kit, small children or dogs), opt for a longer board (up to 12’6”/370cm) or wider board which also has more volume - more on this later!

Significantly lighter (for example, if you’re looking for a child’s or small adult board designed to carry up to 10stone/68kg), you'll want a shorter board in the 9-10ft range. 

Buy a board that’s too big for you and it will be difficult to handle in the water. And don’t be tempted to go too wide in a bid to get more stability. You’ll find the additional stretch required each time the paddle hits the water will make the going much more slow and tiring. Note that unlike surf boards, when it comes to choosing an ISUP your height to board length ratio is a less important factor than the total weight to be carried.

For those with higher skill levels, ISUP manufacturers offer boards that are narrower and longer. But if you’re just starting out, buy a board that’s easy to work with. That way, your focus will be on enjoying being out on the water rather than being frustrated with something that’s hard to handle.

Board thickness
Your choice of board isn’t just determined by its length and width. Board thickness is key to how successful your stand up paddle board purchase will be. If your combined weight is a maximum of 16 stone, choose a board that’s 5 inches (12.7cm) thick. It may be tempting to opt for one that’s thicker as it might seem to offer more buoyancy. However, too much depth means that too much of the board will be sitting on the water making it unstable to paddle. You’ll also find them too bulky to carry around on land and tricky to climb on to when you’re in the water.

If you’re carrying more than 16 stone, generally the right board will be 6” (15cm) thick. In this case, this greater thickness will provide greater rigidity and stability as less of the board will be sitting in the water. This greater buoyancy will give you a much more efficient, less tiring paddle. 

Remember that the quality of your ISUP has a big effect on its buoyancy and stability. Choose wisely, as not every 5” inflatable board will have been constructed using the best materials and technology to give the highest degree of either durability or rigidity. Our Guide to buying the right inflatable stand up paddle board gives lots of useful info on this.

ISUP Volume
There’s one final figure you need to have in mind before you buy, and that’s an inflatable paddle board’s volume. This figure is calculated using the board’s dimensions we’ve already looked at: length, width and thickness, which when multiplied out give you the volume and the maximum weight capacity, you can then compare this with what you’re intending to paddle with. (We’ve included all the information you need about ISUP volumes and maximum weight capacity in all our product descriptions so you don’t have to worry too much about doing the maths!)

Volume is important because it’s a good indication of how well the board will float with weight on it, and how stable it will be in the water. Too much volume and the board will be tricky to manage in the water; too little and you’ll have too much of the board dragging in the water. When choosing your ISUP, check the maximum weight the board’s designed to carry.  Don’t worry too much if your paddle load falls well below the maximum capacity.

You can use our SUP Selector Tool to help choose.

Board types for different activities
If you’re an experienced paddler with a few seasons under your paddleboard, you may be looking for a board that’s designed for specific activities such as surfing, touring or racing. As a broad guide, surf paddle boards are shorter than other inflatable paddle boards - generally 9’6” (290cm) long. This gives them better manoeuvrability in the surf but they lack the volume normally needed for comfortable and efficient all-round paddling. 

Touring boards or Race boards which are designed for straight line speed or covering longer distances on flatter waters tend to be longer, narrower and with more pointed noses than the all-rounder at 12’6” (370cm) long and 30” (76cm) wide.

To see the full Boards360.com range of Inflatable Paddle Boards, click here,

or 

You can use our SUP Selector Tool to help choose.