What size of inflatable paddleboard should you choose?

How do you choose the size of an inflatable paddleboard?

The days are getting longer, the sun is starting to peek through and temperatures are slowly rising. There’s no doubt about it, the good weather days are coming. Now’s the time to plan some outdoor escapades! Toying with the idea of an inflatable paddleboard? You need to choose the right one! Length, thickness, width... How do you find the right size?

An inflatable SUP (because I’m not typing "stand-up paddleboard" in full each time) can be used in many different ways: to explore the shores of a lake, reach a secluded little cove, race with your mates or try to catch some waves... Each activity comes with its own type of board, with its own specific features. So how do you choose the right size out of all the different models? I put the question to Olivier, product manager for inflatable SUPs.

Why should you choose an inflatable SUP?

There are two types of SUP: rigid and inflatable. Are you torn between the two? How can you be sure you’re making the right choice?

The inflatable SUP has one major advantage: its practicality. Inflatable equipment inflates and deflates to suit your needs. So it’s very easy to transport and store. Its metres of length are no longer an obstacle to taking your craft wherever you want, in the boot of your car or on the luggage rack of your bike, thanks to a large backpack!

What does this mean in terms of strength and durability? There’s not much to worry about (except for very sharp objects or rocks). Its multi-layered PVC fabric makes it durable enough to accompany you on all your adventures.

Last but not least: inflatable models are generally much more affordable than rigid ones. The alternative if you don’t want to buy new? Get yourself a second-hand paddleboard or even hire one. Less of a burden on your wallet and less of an impact on the environment. A win-win solution!

How do the dimensions of your board affect what you can do with it?

The dimensions of an inflatable SUP are measured in US units, i.e. in feet and inches. Just as a reminder (because I have trouble remembering too): 1 inch = 2.54 cm and 1 foot = 30.5 cm.

Volume: This is the buoyancy of your board. It’s measured in litres.
SUP length: This is the size of your board from tip to tail.
SUP width: This is the measurement from one side of your paddleboard to the other.
SUP thickness: This is the measurement from the underside to the top of your board

Width, length and thickness: these dimensions are of utmost importance when choosing your board, as they will influence the control of your craft and, consequently, what you can do with it.

👉 Handling: The length affects the handling of your craft. A short board will be easier to manoeuvre if you find yourself among the waves.

👉 Stability: A short board may give you better handling, but not stability. On the contrary! A longer board gives you greater comfort and better balance. What about width? The wider your SUP, the easier it will be for you to stabilise yourself. However, it’s the thickness that plays a crucial role. The thicker your board, the stiffer it will be, giving you better support, greater stability and maximum glide.

The different board shapes

While the shape of your body plays an important role when choosing the size of your paddleboard, you should also consider the shape of your SUP. How you intend to use your board will be a key factor when choosing its shape.
Whether the board is rigid or inflatable, there are 5 main shapes:

All-round SUP: An all-round paddleboard masterfully combines the features of a touring SUP and a surf SUP. Thanks to its length, an all-round board lets you paddle efficiently wherever you want, while being wide enough to tackle small waves at sea.
Touring SUP: Relatively long and wide, a touring SUP is perfect for leisurely cruising on calm waters such as lakes and other freshwater spots. It’s also suitable for coastal trips, as long as the sea is calm!
Surf SUP: The smallest board on the market. This shape is for wave lovers! A surf SUP is short and wide. Its rounded nose makes it easier to handle in the thick of the action.
Racing SUP boards: The longest and narrowest of all the existing models. A race SUP enables you to reach high speeds, provided you know how to handle it! As such, it’s recommended for experienced paddlers only.

Which SUP is right for my weight?

Are you now familiar with the different shapes of paddleboards available on the market? That’s a great start. Now here’s how to find the right inflatable SUP for your body type and skill level:

Beginner level:

For smaller builds, from 50 to 60 kg: 9 to 11 feet long and 76 to 78 cm wide.
For medium builds, from 70 to 80 kg: 9’5 to 11 feet long and 78 to 81 cm wide.For larger builds, from 90 kg upwards: 10’2 to 11 feet long and 80 to 83 cm wide.

Intermediate level:

50 to 60 kg: 9 to 12’6 feet long and 73 to 78 cm wide.
70 to 80 kg: 9’5 to 14 feet long and 75 to 81 cm wide.
90 kg and over: 10 to 14 feet long and at least 81 cm wide.

Advanced level: If you’re an experienced paddler, you’ve got the skills you need to test out all the different board models! Once you’ve made your choice, you can then focus on choosing the right size:

From 50 to 60 kg: 8’5 to 12’6 feet long and 70 to 78 cm wide.
From 70 to 80 kg: 9 to 14 feet long and 75 to 81 cm wide.
90 kg and over: 9 to 14 feet long and 78 to 81 cm or more wide, depending on the model.

💡 This information is intended to help you make your choice, but may vary depending on the brand and shape of the board. If you’re hesitating between several models, I recommend checking out their technical specifications!

How to choose the length of your SUP?

As you probably gathered from the previous section, paddleboards do not all come in the same length, far from it:
- 10’ and under: Surf SUP and kids’ board
- 10’ - 12’: All-round SUP and yoga SUP
- 12’ - 14’: Race SUP and long-distance touring boards

How to choose the thickness of your SUP?

Inflatable stand-up paddleboards range in thickness from 7.5 cm to 15 cm.

What if my SUP is too thick or too thin for me—is that a problem?
Problem? No. Inconvenient? Yes. In short, an unsuitable board will prevent you from fully enjoying your paddleboarding session!
If the board is too thin for your build, water will likely wash over it and you may find it difficult to stay afloat and move forward. On the other hand, a paddleboard that is too thick for a smaller build will be harder to control. End result: you’re going to find it hard to paddle and manoeuvre!

3 key factors are to be considered when choosing the thickness of your SUP: how you will use it, how much you weigh and, lastly, how confident you are.

👉 Here’s what we mean by how you will use it:

To ride waves: a surf SUP is always a thin board!
For touring at a leisurely pace, choose a fairly thick board for comfort and stability.
Lastly, for racing, race SUP boards are fairly thin.

👉 Then take your weight into account:

Less than 60 kg: 10 cm is enough to ensure good buoyancy.
From 60 to 75 kg: 12 cm is suitable and easy to handle.
From 75 to 90 kg: between 12 cm and 15 cm.
100+ kg: 15 cm.

👉 And lastly, determine how confident you are (I should point out that there’s no point in lying to yourself, overestimating your abilities means running the risk of ending up with the wrong board, you’ve been warned...):

If you’re just starting out paddleboarding, there’s no doubt about it: you need a thick board to ensure good buoyancy while you build up your confidence.
The more at ease you become, the less thickness you’ll need. A thinner inflatable SUP will give you more sensitivity and speed.

How to store (and maintain) your inflatable SUP?

I’ve been talking about size, weight and dimensions for a while now, but all this raises a question: how should this equipment be stored?

In reality, it’s quite simple. Inflatable models have a sizeable advantage: their compact design. When folded, they take up no more space than a backpack.

Once you get to your launch point, unfold your craft and inflate it using a pump (manual or electric). Insert the fin, prepare the paddle, attach the leash and off you go! Once the session’s over? Rinse your board in clean water then, once it’s dry, fold it into a rectangular shape. Let out as much air as possible and remember to close the valve before putting everything back in the bag. Now all you have to do is wait for your next SUP trip.

To learn everything you need to know about maintaining and cleaning your inflatable stand-up paddleboard, check out this article (and if you don’t feel like reading, you can just watch the video).

Have you got this far? By now you should know everything you need to know to choose the right size of SUP. Quick recap? The type of activity you want to do, your skill level and your weight all need to be taken into account when choosing a board. Once you’re properly equipped, you’ll be able to enjoy your stand-up paddleboarding sessions to the full!

Marie

Web author

Passionate about dance, keen on weight rooms, lover of water and apprentice runner; when I’m not doing sport, I enjoy writing about its history and its benefits!

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