Picking the Right Paddle Board Length

Choosing the right paddle board length is imperative if you want to enjoy your SUP experience. Especially, if this is your first board. Anything to big or to small could lead to a negative experience and the end result could be a paddle board sitting unused in a garage collecting dust. I don’t want this to happen to you, so keep reading, gain some knowledge and go armed into your next paddle board shopping adventure.

Selecting Proper SUP Length

For most people, paddle board length shouldn’t be the primary shopping factor. In my opinion, all length does is provide guidance to the amount of displacement (volume) a board offers. Instead of shopping by length, try to find a paddle board that meets the following needs, and the length will take care of itself.

• Your Weight. A SUP board should be built for your size if it’s to function as intended. The board should displace the right amount of water for your weight otherwise you will not be supported by it. A board that has to little volume for your weight will be unstable. While it can still be paddles, if you are new to the sport, you might find a board with a small weight to displacement ratio unstable and “tippy”. To large a board on the other hand will be difficult to push through the water despite it being super stable.

• Experience Level. As you gain experience, you can paddle boards that are close to the lower end of the weight to displacement ratio. These boards will be unstable for inexperienced paddlers, but they offer better maneuverability.

 

• Expected Activities. What are your plans with the board? Will you be surfing every day? Do you expect to take five-mile-long paddles, or do you just intend to get some exercise and paddle around the lake? What you plan to do with the board will determine its length. If you plan on traveling long distances, a long thin touring style is what you want. Starting at 12 feet, a touring board can be up to 18 feet long. The added length makes it easy to cut through the chop, and to ride the swells down wind. If you plan on paddle surfing regularly, a long touring board isn’t right for you. Depending on the size of the waves and your experience level, you might need a board as small as eight feet long.
  

Wappa Scout 12.6 - Touring Style

 Factors That Shouldn’t be Considered

I chose to write about this topic because it’s a question that’s been asked to me many times. Not only by my students when I taught paddle boarding, but also by prospective customers. Below are some of the factors that customers think should be considered when determining SUP length, but in actuality, are not important at all.

• People should add about 9 to 10 inches to their height to determine their paddleboard length. When I first heard this, I just about fell over. Height is irrelevant. It’s your weight, experience level and board function that’s important.
  

• When picking, you should consider the type of car that you use. Unless you have a convertible, car type is irrelevant to the length of SUP you purchase. No paddle board is large enough to affect a car’s performance or ability to transport the SUP.
  

This space is to small for any SUP

• Your home storage area. If you don’t have the space to store a 12-foot hard board, I suggest you get an inflatable that will meet your needs instead of compromising on length to fit your storage area.
  

• The length of time it takes you to walk to the shore or beach. Board length shouldn’t be the determining factor for a long walk. The weight of the board is what’s important for this argument. Get as light a board as you can afford. Paddle boards made from carbon fiber are the lightest on the market. Quality SUPs made from bamboo tend to be the next lightest.
  

• Longer boards tend to be harder to carry, particularly if it’s windy.  Quality paddle boards are well balanced with the SUP handle placed in a location that makes it easy to balance the board. While it’s true that the bigger the board is, the easier it is to catch the wind, I would never let that be a factor in board selection.

 
So now that you know what to consider when selecting paddle board length, stop fixating it. Instead, consider what you want to do with your SUP, your weight and experience level. Once you have selected a board based on those needs, the length will take care of itself. Now, take this knowledge you just gained and go buy the paddle board that is right for you.