Thursday, August 8, 2013

Differences Between Inflatable SUPs and Regular Boards

By Elizabeth Dennis


If you are looking to start the sport of paddleboarding, you have most likely explored buying a board and paddle. Having your very own board can be pricey to buy, but will wind up costing less in the long run due to the fact that you can avoid high gear rental fees.

There are a variety of various paddleboard styles you can get, one of which is inflatable. Boards that are inflated have numerous benefits, but there are a couple of downsides. These kinds of boards are created with a specific individual in mind who will appreciate the benefits and not care about the drawbacks. Let's look at how they are different.

Portability

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and carried in a compact bag. This means that people do not have to load a huge board on the top of their cars. They can additionally be carried on airplanes without requiring a substantial fee usually charged for extra-large luggage.

Due to the fact that they can be rolled up into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be conveniently locked in a car, transported on one's back and stored without using up much area. Traditional fiberglass boards do not offer these benefits. Individuals who have a roof rack on their SUV, ample storage area and no need to lock their boards while transporting them, this might not cause an issue.

Effort Needed to Pump up the Board

Inflatable SUPs generally require a manual hand pump to be pumped up. This can take from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the power of the person doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes effort, and for some small women, it can be a chore. Fiberglass boards of course do not require this added work, and some individuals prefer the convenience of not having to continually inflate and deflate their gear.

Maneuverability

The firmness of inflatable boards varies. In general, the cheaper boards have a lower psi inflation, and for that reason are less firm. This means that they can bounce more in rough water or surf. For newbies, this can feel more unstable. For people paddling on lakes or other flat water places, they may not be able to notice a distinction and for that reason not care.

Traditional boards can offer a more smooth ride and greater maneuverability. Paddlers desiring a fast board that is simpler to turn and move around (ie those who want to race or do a significant amount of exercises) are more likely to choose a fiberglass board instead of the inflatable type, which are more designed to the leisure paddler or someone interested in yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable SUPs do not leak air very often. Even so, the majority of models have a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a hard board to individuals not knowledgeable about the various types of boards, and most novice buyers are impressed at how they carry out.

When shopping, it is a good idea to compare the features of different options in addition to prices, so you can get an SUP that you will be happy with.




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