What is the Most Stable Type of Paddle Board?

What Is the Most Stable Type of Paddle Board?

The Most Stable SUPs for Paddle Boarding

What is the most stable type of SUP? This is a common question for many first-time paddle board shoppers. Rather then supplying a simple answer, lets first looks at the issues that factor into the answer.
 
BOARD STABILITY
A paddle board’s stability is based upon three aspects of its basic shape; Length, Width and Volume. The longer and wider the paddle board, the more stable it will be.

A paddle board’s volume is directly connected to the size of the board. Volume is measured in Liters and it signifies how much water is displaced by the board when it enters the water.  Generally, the bigger the paddle board, the more volume it will have.
 
BOARD TYPES
There are four main types or styles of paddle board: All Around, Wave/Surf, Touring and Race.
All Around paddle boards are aptly named. They are shaped to be good at all types of SUP activities but don’t excel at any one style. By their nature, they are designed with stability in mind.

Wave paddle boards are stable as well, but become less stable as they get smaller and narrower. However, larger wave boards are quite stable and should be considered if there is a possibility to catch some waves in your future.

Different Types of Paddle Boards

A specialized design. Touring boards may be 2-4 inches narrower then than an All-Around type of SUP, making the board feel less stable to beginner riders. There is simply less room for your feet to get comfortable. On the plus side of the equation, Touring boards are longer than All Around styles. The additional length adds volume which greatly increases board stability.
Racing paddle boards are very narrow and are a specialized board. If board stability is a factor in your purchase decision, don’t think about a racing board.
 
INFLATABLE VS. HARD
Another major factor that affects a paddle board’s stability is rigidity. Rigidity can be described as stiffness. A concrete sidewalk is very stiff and rigid. A mattress isn’t.

Hard paddle boards are more rigid than inflatables and offer better stability.

PROPER SIZE
As a first-time buyer, paddle board stability is an important aspect of the decision-making process. However, it shouldn’t be the primary factory. The level of stability you need as a new rider is not the same level of stability you’ll need two years, or even two months down the road. As you gain experience, your balance will improve and your need for extra stability will decrease.

Some first-time paddle board buyers will purchase a board larger than they need just because it feels more stable during the test drive at the shop. As they gain experience and balance, these boards often start to feel too large. What was once a nice big stable board becomes a tug boat. Having to needlessly push extra weight and volume through the water gets tiring after a while.

Rather than purchasing a SUP that is too large for you just for better stability, select a board that is the proper size. Paddle board manufacturers create boards of different volumes to enable a better match between rider weight and the board’s function. A properly sized paddle board will not only provide you with the stability you need now, it won’t feel too big in the future as your skills improve.
 
ANSWER
Now that the issues have been examined, what is the most stable type of paddle board?
Assuming the questioner is a first-time paddle board buyer with limited experience, the answer is an ALL-AROUND HARD paddle board.

All Around boards have the most stable board shape and are designed to do everything pretty good. Combine this stable shape with the rigidity that a hard board provides and you have a winner!