Blow up Paddleboard: Which Is the Perfect Choice for You?

Before you decide on your new blow-up paddleboard, you may want to consider how you want to use it. For beginners, the all-around blow-up paddleboard remains the best choice, at least until you get a feel for the sport and some experience beneath your wetsuit.

Whether you take up paddleboarding to soak up the scenery or for fishing, many different types of blow-up paddleboards are suited to specific activities. Choosing a board that offers versatility broadens your horizons. And if you fancy catching that cheeky fish while exploring a new river, an all-round blow-up paddleboard will help you get the job done.

Blow Up Paddleboard

A blow-up paddleboard consists of a robust material that you inflate with an air pump. Consequently, they prove tremendously versatile and convenient when traveling. Blow-up paddleboards tend to suit activities such as river riding, exploring, fishing, and water exercise.

The Aquaplanet MAX is one of the best inflatable boards in its class and proves the best choice for beginners and intermediate users. Plus, the Aquaplanet PACE SUP offers superb stability and buoyancy.

However, if you like the idea of using your blow-up paddleboard to catch fish, the Premium Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board from FBSport makes the perfect platform from which to cast your line.

The Different Types of Paddleboards

Various paddleboard types exist, and it is essential you know how you want to use your board before you make a purchase.

The all-round paddleboard

The all-around paddleboard represents the most versatile type of board suitable for various conditions. This popular type of board proves best for flat water, open ocean, and river riding. Furthermore, the all-around paddleboard uses a typical stand-up board shape, making them an excellent choice for beginners. The average length of an all-round board ranges from 10 feet to 12 feet 6 inches.

Fishing paddleboards

Most fishing paddleboards consist of purpose-built stand-up platforms designed for fishing. Choose a board with as narrow a nose as possible so that it doesn’t make too much noise when the board moves through the water. Otherwise, it may scare off your prey.

Flatwater touring

A blow-up paddleboard makes the ideal platform for cruising through the water when exploring lakes and rivers. Usually, purpose-built paddleboards used for cruising have a pointy nose to enable you to glide through longer distances, smoothly and quickly.

And the tapered nose design allows the paddler to maintain a straight line. However, most inflatable paddleboards make great flatwater touring platforms.

Exercise

A blow-up paddleboard makes a great platform to perform yoga exercises out on the open water. The comfortable nature of the inflatable platform makes exercise and yoga easier than their solid counterparts.

What Type of Blow Up Paddleboard Do I Want?

The type of inflatable paddleboard you use depends on the activity you wish to experience. If you want to experience whitewater paddle boating or surfing, use a solid platform because they provide the necessary durability for the purpose. However, recreational, fishing, and flatwater paddle boating suit the blow-up paddleboat.

Rule of thumb

The wider the board, the more stable it proves out on the water. Consequently, a wider board makes a great all-rounder and works for fishing and exercise purposes.

A narrow board moves faster through the water and proves the ideal choice for racing and surfing.

Longer boats gain faster speeds, making them particularly suited to racing and touring, while shorter boards give the rider improved maneuverability and make great whitewater boards.

The all-important paddle

You can’t go paddleboarding without a paddle. It remains vital to consider the paddle’s height compared to your size to maintain stability on the water.

Paddles usually stand six to eight inches above your height to consider your stooped position when paddling. However, the best flatwater paddles stand 8 to 10 inches above your height to improve power and reach with each stroke.

Racing paddles stand 10 to 12 inches above your height to give the rider maximum reach and power. However, racing paddleboats tend to come in hard form rather than the inflatable type.

Safety out on the Water

Whenever you venture out onto the water, some essential safety precautions and safety equipment may help to keep you safe.

Use a leash to keep your board attached to your ankle to prevent you from separating from the board should you fall into the water. Wearing a lifejacket may save your life should it get a little choppy, while a wetsuit helps protect you against the cold.

Protective gear such as a helmet combined with shin and knee pads helps prevents injury. A whistle and a waterproof flashlight may come in handy should you run into difficulty together with a GPS-enabled phone or locator beacon.

The Best Blow up Paddleboard for You

We chose some blow-up paddleboards with superb quality. Each board carries numerous positive customer reviews. Customer reviews play a vital role in our online purchases because you learn from others’ experiences, and positive reviews provide peace of mind.

Aquaplanet MAX

The Aquaplanet MAX from Aquaplanet is the ideal board for beginners and intermediates. You can use the board in choppier water, and it’s stable enough to take the occasional passenger or dog for a ride.

The board provides incredible stability and measures 10 feet 6 inches in length and is suitable for lakes, rivers, canals, and calm seas. Plus, the board arrives with everything you need to get started, including an aluminum floating paddle, a repair kit, a heavy-duty rucksack, and a premium leash.

It floats

Customers love the quick setup of the paddleboat, while many users praise the stability of the platform. Many users claim it represents fantastic value for money and offers superb quality.

That sinking feeling

Some users claim the pump supplied with the board proved low quality, while a few users felt unhappy with the inflatable board’s construction. Furthermore, a couple of clients reported that the paddle snapped after a couple of uses.

Aquaplanet PACE SUP

The Aquaplanet PACE SUP from Aquaplanet provides a board with superb speed, glide, and responsiveness. It uses a pointed shape to assist with speed and glide, and the extra thick inflatable board provides superior stability and buoyancy. The board measures 10 feet 6 inches.

The board has ultra-tough drop stitching for a robust construction combined with a thick surface laminate. And it includes triple fins for speed and a large detachable fin for stability. Everything you need to get started comes included with an aluminum floating paddle, a repair kit, a heavy-duty rucksack, and a premium leash.

It floats

Beginners praise the paddleboard for its stability and ease of use. Customers appreciate the compact nature of the kit and found it easy and convenient to transport. And most users found it performed superbly in flatwater conditions.

That sinking feeling

Some users found the kit supplied with the board of low quality and complained that the support from Aquaplant left them underwhelmed. A few users claim the board proved unsuitable for exercises such as yoga.

FunWater Inflatable Paddleboard

The FunWater Inflatable Paddleboard from FunWater delivers an 11-foot board with an ultra-light PVC construction. It comes with everything you need to get started, including a high-pressure pump, an adjustable aluminum paddle, a robust travel backpack, a waterproof phone bag, and three removable fins. For additional safety, the pack includes a coiled leash.

The board is robust and versatile, suitable for open water paddleboarding and flatwater touring. It is stable enough for fishing as the 33-inch wide board combined with the 3 fins ensures superb stability and balance.

It floats

Customers praise the stability of the board and appreciate the excellent value for money. Most users felt satisfied with the quality, with many clients using it for river exploration. Many users claim the board took two passengers without any issues.

That sinking feeling

Some users complained that the kit was overly heavy and found it difficult to carry and transport. A few users complained of poor customer service when they experienced a problem, while some clients claimed the gauge on the pump gave inaccurate readings.

Roc Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard

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The Roc Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard from Roc offers a superb and robust board that proves ideal for users of varying skill levels. The board measures 10 feet long by 32 inches wide and 6 inches thick to provide superb stability when out on the water.

The wide design makes the board particularly suited for the ocean, freshwater lakes, and river boarding. The board proves lighter than many other brands weighing 17.5 pounds. The premium package includes a collapsible aluminum paddle, a safety leash, a hand pump, and a waterproof bag.

It floats

Many users claimed the board exceeded their expectations with its superb handling and stability out on the water. Many larger users found the board took their weight without any issues and remained stable. Most customers felt the board offered excellent quality.

That sinking feeling

Some users had difficulty inflating the board and felt the seal insufficient for the job. Some customers felt the accessories supplied with the board failed in quality compared to the paddleboard. A couple of clients had issues with leaks and stability on the water.

Premium Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard

The Premium Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard from FBSPORT consists of a 10-foot-long inflatable paddleboard with a 30-inch deck and measures 6 inches deep. The robust construction includes a non-slip deck and surf control. And it offers superb handling with excellent stability.

The package comes with a premium alloy floating paddle, a coiled ankle safety cuff, a pump, and a robust premium carrying bag. The blow-up paddleboat is ideal for all skill levels. You can use the paddleboat for fishing, touring, snorkeling, spearfishing, and recreational paddling.

The triple bottom panel fins help improve your overall speed. You may remove one big fin while the other two remain fixed.

It floats

Most customers praised the value for money and the quality of the paddleboard. Clients loved the stability and the versatility offered by the board and felt it represented an excellent investment. Most users found it quick and easy to inflate and easy to transport.

That sinking feeling

Some customers claimed the pump gauge gave an inaccurate reading, while other users complained that the pump proved low quality.  A few users claimed that the paddleboard leaked after a few uses. Some clients discovered that the rear mount fin sat in the wrong position.

The Blow up Paddleboard Explored

The thought of cruising down a river or skimming across a lake may be an idyllic dream. However, when you consider the cost of many sports and hobbies, investing in a blow-up paddleboard may not feel as painful as you think.

Most of the complaints about blow-up paddleboards tend to derive from the pumps supplied with the kits. While, in reality, a perfectly working pump with every paddleboard seems only fair and correct, it remains a problem easily rectified. You may purchase many superior hand and electric pumps separately, so don’t let that issue put you off.

The Premium Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard from FBSPORT is an excellent all-rounder at a reasonable price. If you love a bit of fishing with your paddleboard touring excursion, you may not get a better deal.

If price remains of paramount importance and you find your budget a little stretched, the Inflatable Paddleboard from FunWater might be for you. It also is an excellent choice for beginners.

With the promise of better times ahead, the chance to escape out onto the open water brings with it a feeling of calm contemplation. Whether you want to start a new hobby or buy a new board, an all-rounder blow-up paddleboard provides you with the freedom to explore a whole new and exciting world.

Last update on 2022-02-28 at 18:30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API