Inflatable SUP board guide

Inflatable SUP or Hard Board – that’s the question..?


Buying an inflatable stand up paddle (SUP) board primarily should not be seen as a compromise on performance, quality or aesthetics. Inflatables
are far outselling hard boards in the UK because of some serious practical benefits that don’t leave you feeling like you are missing out on some hard board fun.


Transport


Having to transport an inflatable SUP consists of a few simple options, chuck it on your back, wheel it down to the water, put it in the boot of your car or cycle down wearing it like a rucksack. The ease of getting from home to the beach with an inflatable is massively different to the hassle of a larger hard SUP board and is one reason why these are a perfect SUP
board.


These boards love to travel, the board deflates and rolls up into the wheeled bag for ease of transit. The Red Paddle Bag has been specifically designed for airline regulations and the bag can take the board, pump and paddle and still weigh in at under 20kg, again under most airlines weight restrictions.  Red Paddle have thought of everything… 

 

So when you book your summer sun, just add an extra suitcase and now you can Paddle board around the world!


Setting up


Pump and go time for an inflatable is super quick….fact. With the new Red Paddle Co Titan 2 cylinder pump you can have your SUP inflated and
on the water with 8-12 minutes at a leisurely pace. This pump is the best in the business and can get that board inflated to the desired PSI in no time for a cruise or surf.


Storage


If you own an 11ft hard SUP board then it will always be 11ft, the travel bag that the Red Paddle inflatable comes in can live under the stairs, corner of the garage or keep it in the boot of the car so you are always ready. These options make paddle boarding way more accessible for people without outdoor or garage storage, as all you need is the same space as a suitcase.


Also you don’t have to deflate every time you use your board if you can get to and from the beach or storage is not an issue – just leave it inflated for the season and deflate when the weather turns… We have had customers that have never deflated their boards since the day they bought them.


SUP Family and Kids


The nature of an inflatable board is to sit higher in the water and have more buoyancy, which means they are perfect for the family as a couple of kids can go out on the water, you can take the kids out or even the dog! The soft and super durable construction is suited for kids, rather than the unforgiving construction of a hard board, the last thing you want to happen is the kids getting bonked on the head with a hard board. There isn’t any need to be so precious with an Inflatable SUP on land either, whereas hard boards can easily get dinged on hard surfaces if the kids get hold of them!


Durability – How strong is an inflatable board..?


We think these boards are bomb proof..! Red Paddle have thrown one off a warehouse roof just for it to laugh at them and bounce around. After this attempt they had a cherry picker drive over it and still nothing. To
date we have not had one return in the shop from the last few years of
stocking, selling, paddling and loving these inflatables. These indestructible boards are perfect for a long term purchase for the entire family to go and use without any worry.


With an inflatable board sitting a little higher in the water,  if you go for a board with that little extra volume for the family, then they are perfect for a couple of kids to go out on the water or take the kids out with you.


So why only Red Paddle Inflatables Boards  


Red Paddle are a British Company based in Devon – we have backed them from the outset. They pioneered inflatable boards from day one so they
made the mistakes back in the day that some leading brands are still making today. Clever innovations like the 15% lighter MSL construction, wheeled travel bag, the amazing Titan pump to all products being designed for airline travel make them always one step ahead of the rest and especially suited to what the UK market wants.


I’ve seen a much one cheaper on Ebay…


With the phenomenal success of inflatable paddle boards many factories in the Far East that make other inflatable products have jumped on the band wagon and started producing SUPS, they look similar and feel similar – its only when you try one you will realise the difference. One way of making an inflatable SUP cheaper is to use one single layer of construction – this reduces weight, durability but also stiffness which means it will be like standing on a banana as soon as you are on the water and it could be easier to puncture.


In our opinion there are two types of paddleboards cheap ones and decent ones and nothing in the middle is worth the compromise – We all
ride Red boards too!