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You can now put a huge 10-14 foot board in the boot of your car and travel to any water-based destination – and it’s something you can do all year round if you have the right gear. Key specs – Total weight: 9kg; Length: 323cm; Width: 81cm; Height: 15cm; Air pressure: 12-15PSI; Volume: 300L; How much can it carry? 200kg; Accessories? Includes adjustable paddle, pump, leash, fin and carrying bag To help carry out the testing, WIRED assembled a group of SUP experts (above) including Saviour Aquilina of The Sup Store, Dave Price, author of The Paddleboard Bible, and Sarah Porretta and Graeme Blundell, founders of the Wimborne and Blandford SUP Club. We also enlisted the help of Bethany - a keen 7 year old - to aid our test by riding the front of each board. We rated each inflatable SUP board on its design, size and flex – the latter of which is important for balance. In our test, we were keen to find out whether each board was best suited to a leisurely sail or more active racing adventure. We compared how comfortable each board was to ride and how safely it could carry luggage and passengers - such as kids and dogs. What’s the best stand up paddle board for 2021? This all-round stand up paddle board from Trail Outdoor is ideal for both inexperienced and advanced boarders alike. The Portofino inflatable board comes with a complete starter set, including a pump with pressure gauge, telescopic aluminium oar, removable fin, travel bag, coil leash and repair patches. It supports a maximum load of 120kg, while incredibly lightweight to carry at 7.8kg. You can also convert it to an inflatable kayak with the Portofino Kayak Kit. ITIWIT Touring Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board
READ NEXT: Our favourite swimming headphones What should I look for in a beginner stand-up paddle board? If you want to go out paddle boarding with a friend but don't want to end up in the inevitable situation where one of you goes faster, and you get split up, the Red 15'0 Tandem MSL Inflatable Paddle Board is a great – if expensive – choice. It's a tandem touring board that's ideal for exploring with a partner while having a relaxed and chatty time, and it means that either of you can take a break if you get tired without the other having to slow down or stop. The Fusion has been designed with additional volume in mind, meaning it’s not only easier to get on board with as a beginner, but can also handle much larger loads. That’s ideal for bigger folk or those wanting to carry cargo. Key specs – Total weight: 14.2kg; Length: 12ft; Width: 32in; Height: 6in; Max load: 175kg; Accessories: Bag, leash, paddle, centre fin, pump and kayak seat In its 5in guise, the Shark Touring iSUP is suited to those who weigh 75kg or less, while the 6in version will work better for those over that weight. Don’t fret: both boards can handle a maximum payload well in excess of 180kg, which should be more than enough for a full day’s worth of supplies.If your family is learning how to enjoy the wonderful world of the inflatable stand up paddle for the first time, then you might want a model that can suit all of you. This versatile Aquaplanet option is perfect for all ages, no matter what your skill level might be. Features On calmer water the Portofino proved to be a peaceful way to get about, with a confident stance in the water and a bungee cord section at the front for storing a small bagor picnic. It glides along without constantly slapping against the surface like some less rigid boards I’ve tried. Looking to grab our first SUPs after having a great day out with some on loan recently - was looking at Decathlon Itwit but they don't come w/ pump / paddles, so found these (same price but with pump and paddle) Anyone know anything of these boards? Cheers :)
Another large model built for accommodating pets or kids alongside your own body weight, the Thurso Max is as multi-purpose as its name suggests. While you won’t be winning any races on this 11’6” inflatable, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that — as with many other bigger boards — you’ll be supported through yoga sessions, fishing trips or even simple water-based pootling. Adam Binnie is the Commercial Content Editor and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in bikes, fitness, cars, parenting and cooking. We had our two children with us (aged 9 and 5). The board is large so we were able to have an adult paddling (on our knees!) with a child sitting on the front for a ride. It still felt very safe and stable, even with a bit of fidgeting going on and the children both loved it. We also let both children have a go by themselves, with our supervision. Our 9 year old was able to have a good go by herself but the board and paddle were probably a bit too big for our 5 year old. As they grow though, I could see both really enjoying using it. You’ll see that we’ve mainly focussed on inflatable paddle boards, purely because they are much easier to transport, less likely to get damaged if dropped and are generally easier to get on with on the water. However, we’ve dropped in a couple of hard boards for those who want something sturdier. The Portofino has a D-ring on the front which provides a perfect attachment point for the coil leash. An additional tow hitch can also be found on the reverse of the SUP. Both can be used to attach a rope, so you can tow the SUP behind a boat or pull it across a sandy beach.
We called on the help of paddle boarding expert, Michael Robinson, who's based in Durham, to give us the lowdown. What follows is his guide to paddle boarding for beginners, written by him... Decathlon Forclaz Trek MT900 10°C Sleeping Bag review: well-designed camping cocoon for summer sleepouts Pros: Ideal for pets and heavier riders; rounded tail makes it easy to manoeuvre; good for beginners
The front is quite curved so it’s good for being static as well as navigating the water, as you feel very stable on it,” says Price. “The robust fins aren’t very long so they won’t snag so readily in shallow water either. They can get a little bent but easily straightened with warm water or a hair dryer.” Porretta also pointed out that the tubular handles on the board make it easier to carry in and out of the water. “While people generally recommend a 10.6” board for beginners, the extra length on this one helps if you want to add kids and dogs and a picnic,” she says. “It felt stable when Bethany was sitting up front and the bungee straps felt secure so I didn’t have to worry about my dry bag falling in the water.” If you are looking for added stability in a sturdy inflatable paddle board, we recommend the Tigerxbang SUP Kit. It has an extra-long and wide design that helps riders of all skill levels feel secure, even on rougher waters. Features I weigh somewhere between 90-100kg depending on what point of my yo-yo diet I'm at. The original blue Portofino claimed a maximum weight of 130kg, while the red one curiously drops to 120kg. Either is fine for me, although anecdotally the red one does look like it sits lower in the water. We took the Kids Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board from EZ Shopper and the Portofino 10ft SUP Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board.It's always worth trying out as many boards as possible before choosing the right one that feels right for your ability. You can do this by taking some initial lessons or by hiring boards. Fun on the water: Each paddleboard was rated by each tester for stability, manoeuvrability, and how easy the board was to get up to speed and maintain it. The best boards are excellent fun, easy to get your balance on and will cruise through the water with minimal effort. The worst are more energy sapping to navigate, aren't as stable and fundamentally just aren't as much fun. The removable fin, leash and paddle included in the kit bag are understandably cheap and plastic-feeling, but this is one of the most affordable ways to hit the water with confidence. The Sierra Designs 800 20 is all designed to make nights in the great outdoors more comfortable – no zips required! Look out for the right paddle board for your weight (and the weight of your gear you're carrying) as you'll want to make sure your board sits properly on the water and not too low if you're too heavy for it. Some paddle boards are perfect for those who like to go on adventures with their dog ( like this one), or a few friends to paddle together ( like this large 10-person design).
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