Paddleboarding is an awesome way to explore your local lakes, reservoirs, and even rivers or the ocean. You may have images of striking yoga poses on the open water dancing through your head, and while paddleboarding can be a great way to get some exercise, there’s so much more to discover!

There can be a lot of decisions whenever you’re trying something new, and we want to make sure you have a seamless entry into life on the water. We’ll guide you through the gear you’ll need for your first paddling trip, help you choose the right paddle board, and give you some tips for when
you’re ready to paddle out.

Here’s a short list of essential gear you need for stand-up paddleboarding.

PFD: As with any style of boating or paddling, wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) is incredibly important and, in some places, legally required. The most common type of PFD available is a USCG Type III, which is usually a vest or jacket style. As long as you’re wearing the PFD properly, it’s always ready to go, and they come in a wide variety of configurations with zippers, buckles, and pockets for convenience. When selecting a PFD, you’ll want to make sure that it offers a wide range of mobility and that you can’t pull it above your ears when fully secured.


For those looking for a lower profile style of PFD, USCG Type V, which use gas cartridges to inflate air chambers. They come in a classic vest design or as a waist belt, which offers greater freedom of movement. Either way you will need to ensure you have working gas cartridges and remember to pull the cord when it's time to inflate. 


Leash: Few things are more disheartening than taking a spill and watching your paddleboard floating away, especially when you’re in rough or choppy waters. A leash will ensure that your swim back to your board won’t be too far and is especially useful when ocean paddling. 


Paddle: We know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no, you cannot use the spare canoe paddle you have laying around. Luckily, there are plenty of options for paddles that will allow you to glide through the water. 


The most important detail will be finding a paddle that is long enough to reach the water while you’re standing up. To find a paddle that is comfortable and effective, raise your arms above your head with a slight bend in your elbows—the paddle's handle should hit the middle of your palms while the blade is touching the ground. This means that on flat ground, the paddle will be about 8–12 inches taller than you. 


Most entry-level paddles have an adjustable shaft, allowing you to find the height most comfortable for your body. They’re also great if multiple people will be using the paddle, so you can quickly adjust the length and get to paddling. 


Accessories: It’s never a bad idea to bring along sunscreen or UPF-rated sunshirt, a water bottle, and first aid kit. A dry bag is great for keeping your phone, camera, or extra layers dry.

There are a few simple decisions to be made when considering which paddleboard to buy. Before even setting the board on the water you must consider storage space, transportation, and where you’ll be paddling. On the water you’ll need to think about speed, stability, and durability. We’ll sort through the pros and cons of inflatable and solid SUP boards to help you choose the right type.

Benefits: Inflatable paddleboards are the more versatile option of the two. They typically come as an all-in-one kit, with a travel bag, pump, paddle, center fin, and repair kit included. This is a great option for beginners because everything you need to get started is right there, aside from a PFD. Unlike with solid boards, inflatable boards pack down to the size of a large backpack and can easily fit in the trunk of a sedan or hatchback. That means you don’t need any special modifications for your vehicle.

Inflatable paddleboards are also incredibly durable. Often made of military-grade PVC materials, they can withstand impacts with submerged rocks and logs and are easier to repair than solid boards. Plus, their greater volume lends itself to more stability for beginners.

Drawbacks: The biggest downside of inflatable boards is that they are bulkier than solid boards when inflated. This means they are harder to turn, accelerate slower, and are liable to be affected by the wind on open water.

In our experience, the process of inflating a standup paddleboard with the included pump is time consuming and energy intensive. If you’d rather not spend time pumping air into the board, we recommend buying an electric pump like this one from BOTE, which plugs into your car outlet or connects directly to your car battery, to save time and energy.

Benefits: Solid boards are designed to slice through the water, packing in power and agility that inflatable boards simply cannot match. They are typically used for ocean paddling and racing, as they are better able to catch waves and cut swiftly through the water, but their nimble, responsive feel makes them suitable for flatwater paddling as well.

They are more straightforward when you get to the water, as they’re ready to grab and go without having to inflate, however getting them to the water requires more equipment.

Drawbacks: The most common obstacle to purchasing a solid board is storage and transportation. They cannot be shrunk down like inflatable boards can be, and in small homes or apartments there may not be enough room to store a board up to 12 or 13 feet in length.

Additional hardware is needed to safely transport the board on your car as well, which can increase the price of getting started. If you have crossbars already on your roof rails, we recommend cushioning them with products like the Thule Surf Pad or Yakima Crossbar Pads. To secure the boards to the roof rails you’ll need to use straps. We like the NRS 1in Heavy Duty Straps in the 20-foot length. We strongly advise against using ratchet straps, as you can easily tighten the straps too far and damage the board. When travelling with the board atop the car, turn the board upside down with the fin side closest to the front of the car.

If you don’t have crossbars yet, the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surf Rack, Yakima SUPDawg Surf Rack, and SeaSucker Board Rack are specially designed for safely transporting your boards. Solid boards are also less durable than inflatable boards. The fiberglass and epoxy can be chipped and scratched, which over time will diminish the boards performance and may require more frequent maintenance and repair than inflatable boards, which are typically only vulnerable to punctures.

The last big consideration when choosing the right SUP for you is the length and width of the board. Boards typically range from 8 feet to 13 feet in length, although there are some exceptions with longer tandem paddleboards. The general rule of thumb is that longer boards better maintain their speed and tracking, while shorter boards are more agile. For the most versatility, we recommend looking for a board between 10 and 11 feet.

The other thing to look for is the width of the board. Most all-around paddleboards range between 31 and 34 inches, and the wider the board, the slower and more stable it will be.

As a final tip on board shape, we recommend starting with a paddleboard that has a rounded nose and square tail, which is commonly referred to as the all-around shape. Paddleboards with a pointed nose are mostly used for touring and racing.

You’ll find a variety of fin setups available, but most beginners only need one. A single center fin is ideal for paddling on flatwater, and adding more fins will just increase drag and slow you down. Twin fin, thruster, and bite fin setups are almost exclusively for surfing purposes.

Your first few times paddling may be difficult, but they shouldn't feel stressful. We’re going to run through a few tips to help you have the most fun as you dive headlong into the wet world of paddleboarding.

To get onto your paddleboard, wade into the water until it reaches your knees and place the paddleboard parallel to the shore, being careful not to run the fin into the ground. Then, with your paddle perpendicular to the board, climb onto your knees and find a comfortable seated or kneeling position that feels balanced and stable. Use the butt of your paddle to push off the from shore.

It will take some time to get accustomed to the balance and feel, and you’ll be using lots of new muscles to stabilize yourself, so take your time, take deep breaths, and relax. Paddle around on your knees or in a sitting position until you feel comfortable.

When you’re feeling ready to stand up, first balance on your hands and knees. Keeping your hands on the paddleboard, place your feet one at a time at the center of the paddleboard, and slowly rise while keeping your knees bent. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, facing the front of the board, and try to keep your eyes fixed on a point straight ahead of you while dipping your paddle blade into the water, as that will help minimize some of the rocking. It’s around this time that you’ll probably fall for the first time, which we can also promise won’t be your last. Keep working on getting to your feet and remember to breathe!

When you are confident on your feet you’ll want to think about how you’re paddling. Reach as far forward as you can while maintaining your balance, dip the paddle blade fully into the water, then pull the paddle towards the back of the board using your shoulders and core for power. Longer strokes will allow you to build up more speed, but shorter, more frequent strokes will help you maintain it. Switch the side you are paddling on as necessary to stay on a straight line and minimize fatigue. The best way to stop is with a simple backwards paddle, and turning is most easily accomplished with a sweep stroke. Basically, to turn left you’ll have the paddle on the right side of the board, and instead of moving the paddle directly backwards like you do to propel yourself forwards, you’ll sweep it outwards and back in a semi-circle shape.

As you spend more time on your feet, you’ll find that paddling can get exhausting. Drop back down to your knees when you need a break or if you feel like the wind is blowing you backwards.

You may have seen paddleboarders gliding across your local lakes and reservoirs, running small sections of rapids on rivers, exploring hidden coves along the bay, or riding waves at the beach, and word of mouth can be an effective way of finding places to paddle.

The internet is another incredible resource when looking for information on where to paddle. Paddling Inc. offers a free app called GoPaddling that offers a map view of places others have paddled. It also gives information on where to park, where to launch, and if you’ll need a permit. The app even offers pictures and descriptions, so you know what to expect when you arrive.

Most states also have bustling Facebook groups that offer tons of information, with plenty of folks who would be happy to share their knowledge of your local waterways.

Around our home in Park City, Utah, we love escaping to Causey and Echo reservoirs on baking-hot summer afternoons or driving down to Lake Powell for a weekend of camping and SUPing. You can even paddle some parts of the Colorado River, although we don’t recommend it for beginners because of the fast-moving water making it more difficult to stay balanced and submerged rocks and logs that require knowledge of the waterway and experience to navigate around.

Be sure to research and obey any local laws when choosing where to paddle. Laws regarding PFDs vary from state to state, and some states may require you to get a permit for your paddleboard. You can find a quick overview of every state's laws here.

• Check out our full selection of stand-up paddleboards!
• Setting up basecamp by the water? Here’s our packing list.
• Dive in to the world of BOTE’s inflatable watercrafts.
• Our 2024 Water Guide will be splashing down soon!

Q: What is paddleboarding?

A: Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a water sport born out of surfing, in which paddleboarders use a paddle to propel themselves and their board through the water.

Q: Is paddleboarding good for you?

A: Yes! Paddleboarding requires a combination of strength, stamina, and balance that strengthens muscles with a low impact on your joints. It is also linked to feelings of well-being from spending time in nature.

Q: What is the lifespan of an inflatable paddleboard?

A: Depending on how frequently a paddleboard is used and how well it’s maintained, inflatable paddleboards are expected to last anywhere between five and ten years.