How to choose your rigid stand-up paddleboard (SUP)

There are 3 main criteria which should guide your choice when purchasing a rigid SUP:
- Your chosen discipline and level (allowing you to determine what shape you need)
- What the board is made from
- Your build

Because it's nice to listen to the pros talk using their jargon and everything, but it's even better if you can understand what they are talking about:
- Nose: the "front" part, the tip of the board.
- Tail: the shape of the "back" of the board.
- Rails: the sides of the board.
- Rocker: the shape of the front tip, which therefore defines how curved your board is (when we say a rocker is pronounced it means that the SUP has a more curved shape at the front).

If you want to keep learning and become familiar with all the different terms, make your way over here: stand-up paddling glossary.

Length, shape of the front or back, width... What difference does it make exactly? Allow me to explain:
- Basically, the longer the board, the better the glide
- What a wide board gains in stability it loses in speed (you can't have everything)
- On the other hand, a narrow board is less stable but fast (you start to understand that you have to choose your priorities...)
- A thick stand-up paddleboard can hold more weight but is harder to manoeuvre (hence the feeling of steering an ocean liner)
- A narrow tail makes it easier to do tricks

The all-round SUP! Without a doubt, if these are your first steps (or rather your first strokes) on the water, the all-round SUP meets all the criteria to ensure you have a good time. Its rounded shape is stable and allows you to easily paddle on all terrains (sea, lakes, slightly choppy bodies of water, etc.).

And it's once again the all-round SUP that comes out on top. The versatility of this board allows you to have fun in many different situations: discover the feeling of gliding across the water without straying too far from the beach or simply use your SUP as a floating sun lounger (yes, you weren't the first to have this idea)!

Are you starting to feel increasingly comfortable on the water? Do you have plans to go out paddling for a few hours just to explore new places (like the small cove that you spotted but which is only accessible by sea) and to see things from a new angle (the beach often looks even more beautiful when seen from the water)? In this case you will need a touring SUP, one that is long, fairly wide, and with a fairly narrow nose. You will then begin to pick up speed and enjoy the feeling of glide while benefiting from good stability.

Time for a micro-adventure! If you are planning routes of 10 km to 15 km (which generally translates to half a day or even a full day of paddling), you need a stand-up paddleboard with a decent load capacity. Because when going out for long periods, we tend to like to keep our essentials close to hand (picnic, camera, towel, etc.). With a dry bag and a phone pouch, you'll be all set!

Race SUPs are boards designed to deliver maximum performance in terms of speed, glide efficiency and manoeuvrability. So what do they look like? They are long and narrow with a streamlined shape. The rails are thin and quite sharp to minimise drag and improve hydrodynamics.

The volume of a race SUP is generally low or medium, allowing for more speed (but less stability). So the challenge lies in choosing the right volume for your level and your body shape, allowing you to find the right balance between stability and speed.

💡 Race paddleboards come in standardised lengths: 12'6 or 14'. They can have different shapes and rockers depending on the race conditions. Some are designed for flat water racing while others are suitable for sea racing.

What are the different components of a SUP? Let's take a closer look:
- Polyethylene: for all the non-scientists out there (like me), we can keep it simple, polyethylene is plastic. This type of board is often produced using a mould, as is the case with boards for schools. This material is hardwearing but also heavy.
- Composite: generally fibreglass or carbon. Composite has the advantage of being light but it is not resistant to impact.
- Polystyrene: offers a good compromise between strength and lightness.

To help you to picture the different layers that make up a rigid stand-up paddleboard, imagine a sandwich. Plastic or composite is the outer layer of the board (the coating), so in your sandwich, it would be the bread (with composite being a slightly fancier bread). Polystyrene makes up the core of the board, in other words, the contents of the sandwich. The finishes are the sauce (sometimes there isn't any).

The choice of the main component therefore influences the characteristics of your board but it is the purity of the composite that determines where it sits on the price scale. What's a composite again? It's when 2 different components are used, either to cut costs or for extra rigidity. Let me explain:
- A composite with fibreglass is lighter compared to plastic but more fragile. It's a good weight/price compromise.
- A carbon fibre composite is lightweight and gives a good amount of rigidity but is also slightly more fragile (carbon being sensitive to impact). The use of carbon improves speed and is therefore one of the main materials used for race SUPs. Carbon construction is for high-end SUPs, for those looking for performance. So you won't be surprised if I tell you that this composition also makes the board more expensive.

A rigid board, OK, but what for? The fact is, the more rigid the board, the better feeling of glide it will give you.

So, what should you look for first? To begin with, plastic boards are very good value in terms of strength, even if they are often on the heavier side. The more you progress, the more you can look for a product that is both rigid and lightweight.

There are different types of finishes: reinforced finish, matte finish, gloss finish, transparent varnish (allows the base material to remain visible, often used for boards made from high-grade materials, a transparent varnish is applied to protect the surface and showcase the design). How do you choose which one? For this criterion, it is primarily a matter of personal taste ;)

Rigid SUPs all have pads (made from EVA foam) to prevent slipping. These pads are glued directly onto the board and provide better grip and optimal comfort.

The volume of a board directly correlates with its buoyancy. The greater the volume, the more stable the board. Be sure to choose a board with an appropriate volume for your weight and level.
- If you are completely new to water sports, whether paddleboarding or surfing, then you need a board with a good amount of volume. The aim? To provide stability (and to ensure that you can have a good time without constantly testing your balance).
- If you already SUP or have some knowledge of surfing, kifesurfing, windsurfing or another similar water sport, you can opt for a smaller board with a slightly lower volume. Brands generally give details of recommended sizes and weights for each type of board. If you want to learn more, check out this article on everything you need to know about choosing the size of your SUP.

What does that mean in terms of body size?
- For small builds (50-60 kg): if you are a beginner, opt for a board with a length between 9 and 11 feet and a width between 76 and 78 cm. If you are a more advanced level, you can go for a board that is longer (up to 12'6 feet in length) and narrower (from 70 cm).
- For medium builds (70-80 kg): your first sessions can be done on a board between 9'5 and 11 feet, approximately 80 cm wide. The more confident you become, the more you will be able to reduce the width (down to around 75 cm) while increasing the length (up to 14 feet).
- Lastly, for users over 90 kg: choose a stand-up paddleboard of 10'2 to 11 feet to start with and 9 to 14 feet once you have gained confidence. In terms of width, you'll need at least 80 cm.

That's a great question. As we have seen, a rigid SUP is a costly purchase. And, buying new not only costs money, the environmental impact also comes into play when considering a purchase.

If you know that you are going to use your board regularly, it is in fact better to buy one, but before rushing to buy the latest model that has just been released, why not give one a second life! You might pick up a bargain.

Another option? Rental. If you are not sure if you will use your stand-up paddleboard regularly, it is perhaps better to hire one, for a week or for a longer period, just to familiarise yourself with the board—you could even test out several.