10 SUP Camping Tips For A Smooth Trip

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Tips For a Great Paddling Adventure

SUP Camping (a camping trip on a stand up paddle board) is becoming a popular way to experience the outdoors. Exploring miles of wild coastline on a paddle board can be a great adventure.

Canoe and kayak camping have been around for a long time. Paddleboard camping offers a unique spin on those more traditional camping styles.

You need to keep a few things in mind before you start strapping gear to your paddle board. Here are a few SUP camping tips to get you started right.

10 SUP Camping Tips that Matter

1. Choose the Right Paddle Board

Touring paddle boards are best for SUP camping but you don’t need one. Many all-around paddle boards will work fine. Choosing the right paddleboard for your trip can be critical depending on the waters you are paddling and the length of the trip.

First and foremost you want to make sure your paddle board has more than enough float to carry you and all your gear. If your paddle board is not buoyant enough it will be hard to paddle, unstable and ruin your trip. All good paddle board brands list the weight capacity of their boards.

You also want a paddle board that is stable so you don’t have to work to keep your balance. I would say 32″ is a good stable width for a camping paddle board. But a 30″ width will glide easier. And go long if possible. 12 ‘ is good. Longer paddle boards glide easier.

Consider an inflatable sup because they transport so easy. When deflated they fit inside their own backpack. Plus inflatables are more durable. All whitewater paddle boards are inflatable. Rocks, logs, tree stumps and shallow bottoms can ruin a hard/fiberglass board.

With longer trips you may want a touring paddle board. These are 12-14′ long. Touring paddle boards have large cargo decks and are designed to paddle easy with plenty of glide.

My favorite paddle board for camping is the Red Paddle Co Voyager 12’6″. The Voyager is a real workhorse. It is stable, paddles easy and has a large deck for gear with plenty of float.

If you are planning a short weekend trip of 2-3 days you can use any good all-around paddle board as long as it has plenty of float. I have used the Atoll 11′ All-Around on short SUP camping trips.

A touring paddle board like the
Red Paddle Co Voyager
is perfect for
sup camping

2. Start With Short Trips

Don’t go out on a 14 day expedition on your first SUP camping trip. Go on a few day trips or short weekend trips first. You want to make your mistakes on a short trip.

3. Get in Paddling Shape

Paddle boarding works the shoulders, back and core muscles in a unique way. You will activate muscles you rarely use in everyday life. Even your feet can be sore after paddle boarding.

Paddling 4-5 hours with gear on your board. If you’re not in good paddling shape you will be sore the next day. You don’t want to be super sore on the second day of a six day trip.

I have noticed that some beginner paddlers bend at the waist instead of hinging at the hips. There is a difference and if you are carrying your bodyweight with your lower back you will be sore the next day. If you have ever had a real sore lower back you know it’s no joke. So when you are getting in shape work on proper technique.

Tip: Keep your knees slightly bent and legs soft. Hinge at the hips. Your back should be flat. Keep your body as relaxed as possible. And rotate your torso with each stroke.

4. Pack Light

Packing your paddle board with gear is both art and science. First of all, I recommend you consider going lightweight and somewhat minimalist. You only have so much cargo room and you don’t want any unnecessary weight.

Depending on your trip you may have to carry everything to portage over and around rapids or log jams. If you are sure you will not need to portage you can add some weight for luxuries. But still, lighter is always better in my experience.

Less is more
All paddle boarding activities
are minimalist
by nature

You want most gear on the front and near your feet, the middle of your paddle board. The idea is to keep your board as stable as possible. You need to experiment.

Find out what works for your board and your gear. This takes practice sessions with your gear on your paddle board and in the water. And fit testing your gear on your paddle board, which is my next point…

5. Fit Test Gear on your Board

All this means is taking your paddle board in your backyard and packing your gear on the deck like you will on your trip. It’s amazing how many campers like to skip this step. You want to make sure everything fits on your deck and is well organized. You don’t want any surprises minutes before you embark on a 5 day expedition.

I like to store most of my gear near my toes. On a short trip with minimal gear you can pack everything near the center of the board.

I prefer to have some weight on both the front and rear when on longer camping trips. If you will encounter whitewater on your trip you want more weight on the front of the board.

There are some items you will want quick and easy access to when you are paddling or taking a break. Spend a few minutes logically organizing your gear as you pack it on the paddle board deck.

A moderate amount of gear
packed correctly
should not
affect
stability

Don’t stack heavy gear too high. Spread the heaviest items out flat on the deck. Most inflatable sup boards are 6″ thick. And the rails of an inflatable are round. So, if you have a lot of heavy gear piled too high and strapped to your deck your inflatable board could capsize. And then it will become hard to turn upright. Another reason to SUP camp in a group and wear a life jacket.

Most all my gear and food are in dry bags. I strategically lay them on my deck and have rarely had anything fall overboard even with not strapped.

6. Practice Paddling With Gear

Before you go on your trip you want to take your board out loaded with gear. There is an art to packing gear on a paddle board. If you load gear on your deck correctly your board will be stable.

Practice self rescue
with your
fully loaded
paddle board

When you are on your practice session loaded with gear you want to practice self rescue. After you fall getting back on a paddle board loaded with gear is different than on an empty paddle board.

7. Use Dry Bags

Expect all your gear bags to get wet. Dry bags are essential to keep your gear dry. There are some great dry bags out there.

Your clothing
and sleeping bag
should be in
quality dry bags

I like to keep my gear organized by using a handful of small dry bags. Then I put all these small dry bags into one or two large main dry bags. So I am actually double-dry-bagging my gear.

I will put my sleeping bag and clothes in a garbage bag first, then a dry bag. It’s a priority to make sure my sleeping bag and extra clothes are dry.

Remember if you throw wet clothes in a dry bag everything in that bag will end up wet. Have a separate bag for wet clothes. Thick garbage bags work fine.

If you throw wet clothes in a dry bag
everything in that bag will become
wet

8. Bring a Spare Paddle

Obvious but often overlooked. If for some strange reason you should lose your paddle or if it gets damaged you will be glad you brought an extra. If you don’t bring an extra paddle and you need one you are screwed. Someone in your group should carry an extra paddle.

9. Make Sure You Have a PFD and Safety Gear

Always wear a Personal Flotation Device.

PFD
First Aid Kit
Cell Phone (you might not have service)
Water Filter
Spare Fin
Paddle Board Repair Kit
Knife
Board Leash (always wear a leash)
Extra leash
Extra paddle (2-3 piece)
GPS device of some kind and/or Personal Locator Beacon
Marine Radio and either a rugged power brick or solar panel like Goal Zero’s or Biolite’s.
Maps. Take both digital as well as paper copies of local maps, just in case.
“Analog, Old-Fashioned” Compass
Zip Ties (come in handy)
Slide-Lock Freezer Bags
Sunscreen
Bug Repellent
Flashlight

10. Leave a Float Plan

Plan out your trip as best you can. Have an idea how much distance you can travel each day. At least a general idea where you are going to spend the night is a good idea.

Of course, when you are on the water things can change. But you want to spend some time looking at maps and talking to Park Rangers or locals to know what you are getting into.

For safety it is important that you leave your float plan with family or friends

10 SUP Camping Tips for a Smooth Trip