SUP Types
When learning how to choose a paddle board it’s important to know and understand the different types available. I will break down the types of paddle boards by construction and activity.
A. Types by Activity
- All-Around
- Touring
- Fishing
- Yoga
- Racing
- Surfing
- Whitewater
B. Types by Construction
- Hard Epoxy/Composite
- Inflatable
- Foam
- Plastic
A. Types of SUP Board by Activity
How you will use your paddle board will determine what type you need. Most first time paddlers will opt for an All-Around paddle board. But Touring paddle boards are becoming a popular choice for beginners too.
There are also hybrid paddle boards that can perform decent in a few activities. For example I have a surfing/flatwater hybrid that will cruise around calm waters and surf waves well too.
- All-Around
- Touring
- Fishing
- Yoga
- Surfing
- Racing
- Whitewater
1. All Around
The All-Around paddleboard is the most popular and versatile type of paddleboard. All-arounders are a “jack of all trades but masters of none.”
These stable boards are great for beginners, family fun and leisurely cruises. They can be used on occasion for yoga, fishing, even surfing small waves.
The boards are typically about 10′-11′ long and 32″ wide with a rounded nose. These can be hard composite boards, inflatables or a foamies.
Keep in mind all-around paddle boards are “swiss army knives”. Multi-purpose but not great in any single activity. So if you want to focus on one particular activity your better off buying a SUP board designed for that activity. You can read about the best inflatable all-around paddleboards here.
2. Touring
Touring SUP boards are designed for long distance paddling.
They combine the best characteristics of an all-around and a race board. Their speed and stability bridge the gap between an all-around and a race board. Faster than an all-around. More stable than a race SUP.
Touring boards are typically 12′-13′ long and 30-32″ wide. Most beginners can learn on a touring SUP board but for some it make take longer than with an all-around.
The longer length allows these paddle boards to glide easier through the water. These boards are great for SUP camping expeditions.
A touring board will also have a large deck and plenty of float for camping gear. Touring boards can be inflatable or hard/composite.
The extra volume and easier glide make a touring SUP board perfect for the big heavy paddler. You can read about the best inflatable touring paddleboards right here.
3. Fishing
While any stable paddle board can be fished off, there are SUP boards designed specifically for fishing. For example, Bote is a company that specializes in fishing paddle boards.
Fishing paddle boards need to be stable so they are wide boards. There is always a trade-off between width and speed. So fishing paddleboards are on the slow side.
Fishing paddle boards should have a large deck for gear and good fishing SUP boards will have gear accessory tracks or attachment points. A typical fishing paddle board is 11-12′ long and 34-36″ wide.
Fishing paddle boards are available as hard composite boards or inflatables. You can read about the best inflatable fishing paddleboards here.
4. Yoga
Any very stable SUP board can be used for yoga. But there are boards designed specially for practicing yoga. The boards are very wide and stable. They often have a larger softer deck.
Yoga boards can be family friendly. Great for slow cruising, carrying kids or a dog, and even fishing. However, because they are wide they are on the slow side.
Inflatables, hard composite or foamies can all be good yoga paddle boards. A typical yoga paddle board is 10’6″ and 34″ wide with a wide rounded nose and tail. See the Nixy Venice G3 multi-purpose yoga paddleboard review here.
5. Surfing
Surfing paddle boards are shorter than most boards. They have a planning hull but with a pointed nose. Right now, the best surfing paddle boards are hard composite boards. Inflatable SUP brands are beginning to close the performance gap but are not there yet.
If you are serious about surfing go with a hard board. If you just like surfing small waves you can still surf an inflatable with good results. But if you want to push the edge on performance you need a hard board.
6. Racing
Racing paddle boards are somewhat like touring boards. They are very long with a displacement hull. One big difference between touring and racing SUPs is that racing paddle boards are extremely narrow.
Since racing boards are narrow they are not very stable. They glide through the water better than any other paddle board.
Real racing paddle boards are always hard composite boards. A typical racing paddle board is 12’6″-14′ long and 24″-27″ wide.
7. River Whitewater
River running paddle boards are short, compact paddleboards. They are always inflatable. The durability and extra flex make inflatables the only choice when running rivers.
These are very wide boards and can double as a yoga paddle board. They need to be very stable for riding whitewater. And at the same time need to be responsive and nimble to avoid rocks and logs.
Fins must be short and unbreakable for encounters with shallow water and rocks. A typical river paddle board is 9’6″ long and 36″ wide. Check out this discussion of whitewater paddle boards here.
B. Types of Paddle Board by Construction
Paddle boards are made with different construction methods and materials. If your priority is durability, portability and easy storage you will want to look at inflatables. If optimal performance is your priority you will want to check out hard paddle boards. If you are buying a SUP for a youngster you may prefer a “softer” board like a foamie or inflatable.
1. Epoxy/Composite Paddle Boards
Epoxy paddle boards perform the best. They glide faster and easier. If you are serious about performance, surfing, racing, going fast or traveling long distance than you want a hard composite paddle board.
When you think of a paddle board the hard epoxy/composite board is what comes to mind. These are just like surfboards. In fact they are manufactured just like surfboards. In general there are two basic construction methods.
Foam/Fiberglass/Epoxy
This is the most common construction method and is just like a surfboard. A foam blank is shaped like a paddle board. Then fiberglass cloth is laid over the board and epoxy resin is poured over the cloth.
There are variations within this method. Carbon fiber cloth can be used or a combination of fiberglass and carbon fiber cloth. Sometime a wood veneer is used as a final layer.
Often wood or plastic stringers are added for stiffness. And it’s not unusually for PVC to be added to the deck area for extra strength and stiffness.
Pop Outs
Pop outs use a mold that is injected with foam. Then layers of fiberglass and epoxy are added around the core. This creates a durable lightweight paddle board. The pop out molds are expensive so this limits the number of shapes available.
2. Inflatable Paddle Boards
Inflatable paddle boards or iSUPs are becoming the most popular type of paddle board. They are easy to transport and are compact for storage. Although they can be as expensive as a hard composite paddle board they do have a lower entry price point.
Good inflatables are made with multiple layers of thick military grade PVC. The top and bottom are connected inside with hundreds of thousands of drop stitches. These drop stitches stop the inflatables from expanding like a balloon. Plus these stitches are woven together adding stiffness to the board when inflated. Most good inflatable paddle boards are 6″ thick which makes them rigid and super buoyant when inflated. Although some very good newer high quality board can be under 5″ thick.
Inflatable SUP board perform well but not as good as hard paddle boards. They are about 6% slower than a hard composite paddle board of the same shape and size. Inflatable paddle boards are great for general cruising. You can use them for yoga and fishing. They are family friendly and great for kids and dogs. See the discussion: Inflatable vs Hard Paddleboards here.
3. Foam Paddle Boards
Foam boards (foamies or soft tops) are low cost options that are great boards for beginners and kids. EPS Foam is injected into a mold. Good foamies will have wood stringers placed inside the foam for strength. Then a higher density foam is heat laminated around the core sealing it. Good foam paddle boards are lightweight and durable. Like inflatables they offer a softer deck to stand and fall on. They are great for beginners, yoga, general cruising and nice for kids and dogs.
4. Plastic Paddle Boards
Plastic paddle boards are the cheapest type of SUP. While they don’t cost much and are durable you really get what you pay for in their poor performance. Plastic paddle boards are the heaviest type of board. They don’t glide well, they are slow, paddle hard and are awkward when turning. I can’t recommend plastic SUP boards.
