What is sup touring?
SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) touring is simply exploring a waterway or coastline with a stand up paddle board.
Who can go sup touring?
Paddlers of all ability levels can SUP tour. Beginner to advanced paddlers can sup tour. However it’s important to match your ability level to the water conditions you want to tour.
You can tour solo or with a group. You can also hire an outfitter to take you on guided tour.
How long does sup touring take?
SUP touring can be a short one hour ride or a long multi-day expedition. SUP touring has nothing to do with the time you spend on the water.
Where can I go sup touring?
You can tour any waterway. Lakes, rivers, sea, estuary, ocean bays, canals. Any coastline or waterway you can imagine can be explored.
Video: SUP Touring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
What is a touring paddle board?
A touring paddle board is designed for paddling longer distances (2+ miles). These boards are longer then all-around paddle boards and tend to have a more steam-lined profile. Thus they glide easier and move farther with each stroke.
Most touring boards will have a large deck and extra tie-downs for storing gear. And a good touring board will have plenty of float to carry that extra gear.
Read: Best inflatable touring paddle boards.
Touring paddle boards work fine for typical all-around paddling. Many people prefer a touring paddle board because they are faster than all-arounder paddle board.
Big, tall or heavy riders will feel more comfortable paddling a touring paddle board
Do I need a touring paddle board?
No. Any all-around paddle board will work fine for sup touring. If you ever get serious about paddling long distance tours you will want to consider a touring paddle board. But you don’t need one.
What equipment do I need to begin?
- A paddleboard and paddle of course
- Board leash (mandatory any time you paddle)
- Cell phone in waterproof bag
- Map or Google Earth print out and a compass
- Plenty of water
- Extra food
- Sun hat
- Extra clothes
- Footwear
- Dry bag
- PFD personal flotation device
- Cash or credit card
Do I have to go camping and sleep in a tent?
No. A sup tour can be one hour long. The most popular type of touring is the day trip. Packing light gear and spending the day exploring a coastline or waterway with your paddle board.
Printable day trip gear checklist
With an inflatable paddle board you can paddle all day and return on a bus, taxi, uber or train. You can paddle to a restaurant for lunch or dinner. Or pack a lunch to eat on a remote part of the coastline or an island. You can paddle back the way you came. But remember to mind the wind. A return trip paddling into the wind can turn into trouble.
There are also water trails where you can paddle from hotel to hotel to hotel and spend the night eating and sleeping in luxury.
How do I get started sup touring?
1. Start small. Start out with short day trips and work your way into longer paddles.
2. Get out on the water and paddle. You need to get your body paddling fit. The main challenge of touring is physical. So get in paddling shape.
3. Always plan your trips. It’s best if you have a map of the waterway. If you can’t get a map then go to Google Earth and zoom in on the coastline you want to explore. Spend time studying it looking in particular for good landing spots in case you want to rest. Print out a copy and take with you in a plastic zip-lock bag. And let someone know where you are going and when you plan on getting back.
4. Get a weather and wind forecast. Very important: find out the forecast for wind speed and direction. This is critical. Wind can be very dangerous to paddle boarders. Remember you will fly downwind but paddling upwind can be hard if not impossible. The wind can quickly take you where you don’t want to go and you may need to be rescued.
