Frequently Asked Paddleboard Questions... You name it we've answered it... Email us if there is something we've missed and we'll get back to you straight away...

Are Inflatable paddleboards durable?

Inflatable paddleboards are more durable than rigid hard boards. Inflatable paddleboards do not dent or crack and are harder to scuff than rigid hard boards due to there construction.  Most of our brands have a multi-layer skins meaning you’ve got to do something very serious to make even a mark on the board!  Check out one of our popular Brands “Red Paddle Co” and their durability test on the link below! Where they drive over a fully inflated paddle board with a JCB Digger! 

Test 10: Board Vs Digger - YouTube

What paddle board is best for beginners?

The best paddleboards for beginners are typically the round nose designs that are 32-34” wide and 10.4 – 10.6 in length and typically offering 200 ltrs Plus of volume. If your heavy (over 90kg) then a double skin board would be a must so the board will remain rigid once inflated enabling a steady and stable platform for your to balance and paddle on… Like a Fanatic Premium Air on the link below.

Fanatic Fly Air Premium Paddle Board - iSUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

If your lighter than this so long as you stick to the above dimensions a single skin paddleboard would work well and offer rigidity for the lighter weight riders, like the Fanatic Fly Air below in a 10.4

Fanatic Fly Air Paddle Board - iSUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

Is a paddle board good exercise?

Paddleboarding is great exercise, like any form of exercise the more you put in the more you get out… A fast paddle around a lake or open sea will work your core muscles, legs, arms, shoulders and back giving you a full body work out… The faster you paddle the harder the exercise will be. It can be done on your own or in groups, its outside in the fresh air so great for your mental health as well!

What is paddle board good for?

Paddle boards is a cost effective way of accessing water sports… Often regarded to as the Watersports Bike! Its easy to learn and fast to pick up, making it ideal as your first water sport for the whole family… Like kayaking but standing up offering a full body work out… It’s a great way to explore the water ways for short scenic paddles or the more adventurous expeditions as your confidence rises. Paddle Boards can also be used as tenders for those with boats and are popular with all Watersports hire centres now. We’ve recently supplied Centre Parks with Inflatable paddle boards for hiring at multiple locations around the UK…

What is the difference between a SUP and a paddle board?

SUP is the shorthand or abbreviated name of Stand UP Paddleboarding (SUP) both meaning the same thing.

What size paddle board do I need for my Height And weight?

One of the most asked questions we get as one of the UK’s largest Paddleboard stores… Its both size and construction that need to be considered for the correct board for your weight… As a guide for a beginner, below 75kg a Single Skin paddleboard around 9’8 to 10.4 in a round nose design would be ideal. For example the 9’8 by 32” Fanatic Fly Air in either the Popular Red or Blue Colour way.

Fanatic Fly Air Paddle Board - iSUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

From 75kg to 90kg you’d be fine on a single skin board, but you’d need to consider a larger size like the 10,4 to 10.8 models by 32” to 34” wide ensuring there is both enough volume and width to provide a stable platform to paddle from. For example, the O’Shea QSX below in the 10.6 or the 10.8 model…

O'Shea QSx Inflatable Paddle Boards - SUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

Once your weight is pushing over the 90kg model we’d recommend considering a board with a double skin (Two layers) or a welder or Glued double skin board… This manufacturing technique cost a little more, but makes the given paddleboard more rigid under pressure supporting more weight allowing heavier riders to experience the same stable platform for paddling lighter riders would experience on the single skin boards… Again, the size would be 10.4 models to 10.8 in the round nose designs like the Red Ride model

Red Ride Paddle Board 2022 - SUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

Fanatic Fly Air Premium Paddle Board - iSUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

How easy is it to learn to paddleboard?

Paddleboarding is very easy and quick to learn proving you’re on a stable board to begin with. It’s compared to kayaking, but your aim is to stand up and paddle like a gondola… Once on the board, you’ll kneel and begin paddling from the nose of the board to your hip and then pull your paddle out and repeat, after two or three paddle strokes the boar will be moving forward and become even more stable allowing you to stand to your feet, should width apart over the centre of the board… As the board slowly turns, you’ll have to counter this by switching sides to paddling and keep this up until you master a proficient J paddle stroke… Techniques like turning the board faster by stepping back and sweeping the paddle and bringing in more body weight into each paddle stroke can be learnt making you more efficient and being able to paddle faster…

How much does a good paddle board cost?

A good paddleboard based on getting a good rigid construction and decent accessories including a carbon paddle and durable carry case would be between £400 - £500 depending on the exact brand and offering.

Are red paddle boards worth it?

Red Paddle Co inflatable paddleboards do sit at the top of the charts with construction along with the Premium Models from Fanatic. Red use their signature MSL construction, they begin by coasting the thread structure in a layer of adhesive that has been specially formulated to create both a seal and a bonding layer. Red Paddle Co then machine laminate a layer of high-density structural PVC to this adhesive layer under controlled conditions completely removing the human factor involved in traditional double layer application. This whole process is done at the raw material stage by carefully calibrated machinery developed for this process. The result is a consistent and high-level cosmetic finish that has all the durability and strength of our previous double layer construction.  All Red Paddle Co Inflatable boards use this construction (Apart from their compact range) so you can be sur your board is made to the best manufacturing techniques there currently is… Of course, you’ll then pay for it! But you are getting the stiffest lightest board on the market, arguable you are getting the best accessories too including their industry leading carry case and top of the range paddles… Fanatic use a similar technique. Check out our most popular board here the Red Ride 

Red Ride Paddle Board 2022 - SUP | H2O Sports | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

Are inflatable paddle boards better for beginners?

The short answer, YES! Easy to transport, more durable, lighter, easier to use, less chance of an injury. But you need to get the right size and volume to match your weight.

Why are red paddle boards so expensive?

Red Paddle Co inflatable paddleboards do sit at the top of the charts with construction along with the Premium Models from Fanatic so you can be sur your board is made to the best manufacturing techniques there currently is… Of course, you’ll then pay for it! But you are getting the stiffest lightest board on the market, arguable you are getting the best accessories too including their industry leading carry case and top of the range paddles… Fanatic use a similar technique. Check out the range below. 

Red Paddle Co SUP | Red Paddle Co Inflatable Paddle Board | H2O | H2O Sports (h2o-sports.co.uk)

How long do paddle boards last?

Typically, the more you spend the longer it should last! Brand like Red Paddle co now offer a five-year warranty… So, the construction and confidence is there! If its looked after then we’ve got customers who have boards seven years old plus! We have boards in our school in their second year, bearing in mind they are used nearly every day during Easter Till November! Some inflated and deflated every day, some left inflated for weeks on end… So a life time for us mere mortals paddleboarding once a week!

Can you use a surfboard as a paddleboard?

Short answer no! Surf boards do not generally have any where near enough volume to float a standing adult from a stationary start… Way too narrow and typically have too much rocker making them complete unusable…

What are the top brands of SUP Boards?

The top brands in the industry are Red paddle Co, Fanatic Paddleboards, O’Shea Paddleboards, JP Australia Paddleboards, Tahe Paddleboards, RRD Paddleboards and O’Brien Paddleboards… These brands have been involved in the watersports industry for over a decade and have a sturdy place and strong market share. Meaning customer service, support, spares and a whole dealer network through retail stores is available throughout the UK… There are many pop brands, hear today and gone tomorrow which as a business we don’t deal with as the service can be poor and the aftersales  none existence 

What Brands do you work with for paddleboarding?

We work with brands that have been involved in the watersports industry for over a decade and have a sturdy place and strong market share. Meaning customer service, support, spares, and a whole dealer network through retail stores is available throughout the UK. Brands like Red paddle Co, Fanatic Paddleboards, O’Shea Paddleboards, JP Australia Paddleboards, Tahe Paddleboards, RRD Paddleboards and O’Brien Paddleboards…