Category: Advice & SUP hacks
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Paddleboarding vs. kayaking: which water adventure should you choose?
Are you torn between stand up paddleboarding and kayaking for your next water adventure? Both activities offer a fantastic way to explore lakes, rivers, and coastlines, but they come with their own unique vibes and experiences. In this post, we’ll talk about the pros, and cons of each option, helping you decide which watersport suits […]
What makes a good paddleboarding mentor?
Today, 17th January 2025, is International Mentoring Day. So we thought, what better day to ask ‘what makes a good paddleboarding mentor?’ Paddleboarding skills – a mentor can help significantly. Having a paddleboarding mentor can be incredibly beneficial, especially if you’re new to the sport or looking to improve your skills. Here are some reasons […]
McConks SUP & outdoor adventure – 8 awesome gifts for under your Xmas tree.
McConks SUP and outdoor adventure gear products are wide and varied. There’s lots to choose from in the online shop. Which is great, as just around the corner is that man in a red suit who loves to come tumbling down your chimney. Christmas lists and guides may induce groans from the gallery but there’s […]
Adventure SUP – 8 of the best McConks touring paddle boarding partners.
Adventure SUP can mean so many different things to so many different people. You may indulge in adventure paddle boarding (also known as touring SUP) by simply making small sojourns around your local area. Equally, your paddle boarding adventures may have multi-day excursions with overnighters in the wild. If you’re after a spot of adventure […]
Planning a Thrilling Multi-Day Whitewater Paddleboarding Adventure
Planning a Multi-Day Whitewater Paddleboarding Trip intro. Embarking on a multi-day whitewater paddleboarding trip is an exciting adventure that allows you to immerse yourself in nature while challenging your paddling skills. Proper planning is essential. Proper planning, experience, gear, and support are crucial for a successful and enjoyable trip. In this article, we will explore […]
Paddleboarding in colder weather – ChatGPT top tips for staying safe.
Does chatGPT give better advice than paddleboarding experts?
SUP in France – 6 awesome Alpine lakes to paddle this winter.
SUP in France doesn’t mean just heading there in summer. And going to the Alps to ski is so mainstream. So why not go there to paddleboard instead? There are between 3,000 and 4,000 lakes in the Alps, and many of them don’t freeze over in winter, meaning that hardy paddleboarders can hit the water […]
Inflatable paddle boards – how do I choose the best 1 for me?
Inflatable paddle boards and choosing teh right one can be tricky. There are LOTS of iSUPS in the marketplace. When we first had the idea of a web app questionnaire to simplify the complex issue of picking the best inflatable paddle board, we thought it was going to be easy. Oh how wrong we were! […]
SUP: top 5 reasons why winter paddle boarding is awesome.
A few things that make winter paddle boarding awesome.
Rockin’ the bobble – essential McConks winter headwear.
Rockin’ the bobble – essential McConks winter headwear.
McConks SUP boards to make the most of winter paddling.
McConks SUP boards to make the most of winter paddling. It’s coming! You know it is… Winter isn’t too far away. Before long those brown leaves will have been shed, air and water temperatures will have dropped with frosts making themselves known. Although we can’t halt winter there’ll be plenty of warmer days – relative to […]
Summer’s done: time to hang your SUP up, right?
Pics: Chris Jones. At time of writing the UK is experiencing some late summer heat. With air temperature high, wind levels low and waters still relatively warm it’s certainly still possible to paddle in summer gear. For some, this’ll be all the sweeter with schools back and the majority working again – quiet beaches and […]
Winter paddle board inspiration – video.
Winter paddle board inspiration – video.
Winter SUP travel – get gone this off season.
Winter SUP travel – get gone this off season.
SUP for winter – 4 paddling styles for the off season.
SUP for winter – paddling styles for the off season.
Stuck in a SUP rut? Tips to get out.
Stuck in a SUP rut? Tips to get out.
Common SUP surfing blunders.
Common SUP surfing blunders.
Common newbie paddle boarding mistakes – and how to avoid them.
Common newbie paddle boarding mistakes – and how to avoid them.
SUP, the Venturi effect and what this means for wind (and water) flow.
SUP, the Venturi effect and what this means for wind (and water) flow.
Common wind scenarios and how they can affect stand up paddle boarding.
Common wind scenarios and how they can affect stand up paddle boarding.
SUP hack #4768 – paddle board fin screws and tightening them.
SUP hack #4768 – fin screws and tightening them.
First time SUP racing tips.
First time SUP racing tips.
SUP hacks: three SUP performance changes to experiment with via fin tweaks.
SUP hacks three SUP performance changes to experiment with via fin tweaks. #1
Surfing wave types and their suitability for progressing SUPers.
Surfing wave types and their suitability for progressing SUPers.
Adventure SUP pitfalls (and how to avoid them).
Adventure SUP pitfalls (and how to avoid them).
Why you need a McConks sup in your life – alternative uses for your stand up paddle board.
What else are you going to use your paddleboard for in 2023?
McConks paddleboards – made for adventure, built to last. The only brand that makes our entire range from industry leading X Woven double layer fusion dropstitch.
Being a coastal SUP paddler.
Being a coastal SUP paddler.
SUP hacks. How to paddle board more.
SUP hacks. How to SUP more.
SUP point of view photography action camera mount hacks.
SUP point of view photography action camera mount hacks.
SUP fundamentals: paddles and paddling.
SUP paddles and paddling define what stand up paddle boarding is. Yet the amount of new recruits that miss this is significant. It’s not hard to understand why. Of all stand up paddling’s component parts it’s boards which are biggest and so stand out most. Even after carefully perusing all potential gear conversations invariably to […]
SUP hacks essential tools for your kit box.
SUP hacks essential tools for your kit box.
Paddleboarding, weather and SUP safety – almost everything you need to know.
Paddleboarding and the weather (especially in the UK) go hand in hand like cheese and pickle (OK, we know not everyone likes pickle, but that’s life!). If you don’t know what’s going on with the weather you’ll never enjoy your stand up paddle boarding to its full potential. And from a safety point of view […]
Swedish winter SUP reel with Chris Jones (video).
Swedish winter SUP looks amazing. How do we know this? Well, take a look at Chris Jones’ images (which you can see more of in the McConks SUP community Facebook group here) and we think you’ll agree. There’s something quite special about sunny blue skies, glassy water, SUP, snow and ice together. The whole thing […]
SUP tips for quick paddles when you’re short on time.
SUP tips for quick paddles when you’re short on time.
SUP hack #23904: repairing an adjustable paddle shaft clamp (inner).
SUP hacks are extensive. Everyone has their own little ways of doing things to get stand up paddle boarding kit back in workable order. For this SUP hack, we look at adjustable paddles. More specifically we look at how to fix an adjustable paddle clamp. Shop inflatable paddle boards online – McConks online shop. Adjustable […]
Swedish winter stand up paddle boarding with Chris Jones.
Swedish winter stand up paddle boarding with Chris Jones.
SUP weather: how to interpret forecasts.
SUP weather: how to interpret forecasts.
SUP hacks: stand up paddle surfing progression tips (video).
SUP hacks stand up paddle surfing progression tips (video).
SUP styles for winter – more off season fun!
SUP styles for winter – more off season fun!
McConks SUP user guide: how to attach a kayak seat to your stand up paddle board.
McConks SUP user guide: how to attach a kayak seat to your stand up paddle board.
Overseas SUP travel – travelling abroad with your stand up paddle board.
Overseas SUP travel hasn’t been at teh top of anyone’s agenda for a while. For obvious reasons we’ve held off on publishing articles and posts about overseas. But as we emerge from lockdown, and some foreign destinations have opened (and continue to open) up, is it now time to consider hopping onto the continent (or […]
Fitting the Air7 v3 internal fin box to your McConks inflatable stand up paddle board.
Fitting the Air7 v3 internal fin box to your McConks inflatable stand up paddle board.
SUP hack: Fenwick Ridley shows 2 iSUPs in 1 bag pack down demo.
SUP hack: Fenwick Ridley shows 2 iSUPs in 1 bag pack down demo.
Get wet! – flat water SUP freestyle progression and fun.
Get wet! – flat water SUP freestyle progression and fun.
Launching and landing your SUP in shorebreak.
Launching and landing your SUP in shorebreak.
Land paddling for all round SUP progression.
Land paddling for all round SUP progression.
Heading for the waves? Know and understand surf etiquette.
Heading for the waves? Know and understand surf etiquette.
Interpreting weather forecasts for your local stand up paddle board spot.
Interpreting weather forecasts for your local stand up paddle board spot.
Considerations when choosing your first or upgrading your SUP paddle.
Considerations when choosing your first or upgrading your SUP paddle.
SUP Hub UK article – SUP manufacturing (the general differences of hard shell SUP and inflatables).
SUP Hub UK article – SUP manufacturing (the general differences of hard shell SUP and inflatables).
Stand up paddle boarding point of view pics – the art of action cam SUP selfies.
Stand up paddle boarding point of view pics – the art of action cam SUP selfies.
Downwind SUPing – paddling in breeze and making it fun.
Downwind SUPing – paddling in breeze and making it fun.
Reef breaks vs beachies: (generalised) nuances from a SUP surfing point of view.
Reef breaks vs beachies: (generalised) nuances from a SUP surfing point of view.
SUP fins and why they’re an important part of your stand up paddle board set up.
SUP fins and why they’re an important part of your stand up paddle board set up.
SUP hack #7732: know your basic wind related terminology and jargon.
Wind can be the bane of many a stand up paddle boarders life. Especially if it’s blowing hard onshore, causing all manner of flotsam, waves and chop to form. Likewise, sideshore and offshore winds can also cause problems – especially offshore types. but hang on, what’s all this mean? Onshore, sideshore, offshore what? Seemingly simple […]
SUP hack #9078: stand up paddling on tidal water and scoring the least amount of current.
SUP hack #9078: stand up paddling on tidal water and scoring the least amount of current.
Considerations for stand up paddle boarding on the sea for the first time.
Considerations for stand up paddle boarding on the sea for the first time.
Three key SUP surfing tips for anyone who fancies a spot of wave riding this summer.
Three key SUP surfing tips for anyone who fancies a spot of wave riding this summer.
Off ya (SUP) rocker! – why some stand up paddle board noses sweep up more than others.
Off ya (SUP) rocker! – why some stand up paddle board noses sweep up more than others.
Doing a SUP downstreamer – one for the inland stand up paddle boarder.
Doing a SUP downstreamer – one for the inland stand up paddle boarder.
Path of least resistance – using the elements to your favour when stand up paddle boarding.
The weather and SUP are two partners that’ll never leave one another. In the UK, as many will appreciate, our whole lives revolve around Mother Nature’s moods and conditions day to day. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking watersports or being out an about generally: how the weather is on any given day will affect […]
Combo SUP: using your stand up paddle board as a wild swimming platform.
Combo SUP: using your stand up paddle board as a wild swimming platform.
Stand up paddle boarding visualisation: mindsurfing/SUPing to progress.
Stand up paddle boarding visualisation: mindsurfing/SUPing to progress.
Inflatable SUP paddle board for beginners
Are you a SUP noob? If so, these are the absolute basics you need to know Standup paddle boarding (SUP) is a fun relaxing and rewarding way to play on water. Relatively gear free, you can get out on the water, playing in river, or lakes or coastal waters. Stand up paddle boards (SUP) offer […]
Three coffees to start the day – growing older but still loving watersports (even in winter).
Three coffees to start the day – growing older but still loving watersports (even in winter).
SUP hack #6890: how to tune your stand up paddle board with fins.
SUP hack #6890 how to tune your stand up paddle board with fins.
Swedish SUP in winter – yep, it’s chilly! Chris Jones and co getting amongst it.
Swedish SUP in winter – yep, it’s chilly! Chris Jones and co getting amongst it.
SUP hack #3524: How do you change the length of a fixed SUP paddle?
SUP hack #3524: How do you change the length of a fixed SUP paddle?
Coping with cold weather SUP conditions – battling winter with the right attire. (staying SUP safe).
Winter stand up paddle boarding can be a tricky aspect. There’re obviously the usual elements that put people off such as rain and wind, but with winter you have also have the cold – sometimes bitter Baltic conditions. More so than slightly damp conditions the lowering of air and water temperatures can be dangerous if […]
Hydrofoils: the differences between high aspect and low aspect for wing foiling.
The differences between high aspect and low aspect hydrofoils for wing foiling.
SUP surfing: reading waves and how to take off more accurately.
SUP surfing: reading waves and how to take off more accurately.
What type of wave should I be looking at if I want to SUP surf?
What type of wave should I be looking at if I want to SUP surf?
Sunrise SUPin’ – autumn/winter style…
Dragging the kids out of bed at dawn’s crack, to get on the SUP train for sunrise is made all the more worth it when you get a new day start like the one Team Fam McConks recently experienced. There’re no two ways about it: the weather’s closing in, days are getting shorter and the […]
Relaxing – adventure SUP with plenty of chill time!
Relaxing – adventure SUP with plenty of chill time!
How to get up on your feet (and on foil) with the McConks Go Fly wing surfing/SUP/foil wing.
How to get up on your feet (and on foil) with the McConks Go Fly windsurfing/SUP/foil wing.
Flat water SUP freestyle – improving your stand up paddle boarding skills in a fun way.
Flat water SUP freestyle – improving your stand up paddle boarding skills in a fun way.
Winter SUP travel – if you could where would you go?
Winter SUP travel – if you could where would you go?
How to repair an inflatable stand up paddle board puncture.
How to repair an inflatable stand up paddle board puncture.
Cross trainer – different disciplines to stay fresh for SUP during the off season.
Cross trainer – different disciplines to stay fresh for SUP during the off season.
Wearing the correct SUP clothing, whatever the time of year.
Wearing the correct SUP clothing, whatever the time of year.
SUP fundamentals – bury (submerge) your paddle’s blade during each stroke.
SUP fundamentals – bury (submerge) your paddle’s blade during each stroke.
SUP hack #3569 – attaching additional D-rings to an inflatable stand up paddle board.
Attaching additional D-rings to an inflatable stand up paddle board.
Stand up paddle board trim – and what happens if you don’t achieve it.
Stand up paddle board trim – and what happens if you don’t achieve it.
Winter weekend SUP warrior tips – nailing it during the off season.
Winter weekend SUP warrior tips – nailing it during the off season.
Progressing from a beginner stand up paddler – 5 SUP adventures that await you.
Progressing from a beginner stand up paddler – 5 SUP adventures that await you.
Chilly season – preparing for a winter of SUP.
Chilly season – preparing for a winter of SUP.
Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) and stand up paddle boarding inland waterways.
Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) and stand up paddle boarding inland waterways.
How ‘reading’ clouds can you help you determine what SUP weather’s on offer – with ASI’s Glenn Eldridge.
How ‘reading’ clouds can you help you determine what SUP weather’s on offer – with ASI’s Glenn Eldridge.
Swim for it! – when SUP goes Pete…can you?
Swim for it! – when SUP goes Pete…can you?
Splash ‘n’ dash SUP tips – how to make the most of sessions if you’re short on time.
Top tips for quickie SUP sessions.
Stand up paddle board dimensions: only part of the picture.
Stand up paddle board dimensions: only part of the picture.
Keep ya head up! – stand up paddle boarding’s ‘magic trick’.
Gazing down into the depths from atop your stand up paddle board and observing the bottom is common practise among all paddlers. It doesn’t matter whether you’re piloting inland waterways or coastal, the instinct to look down is natural. Yet stand up paddle boarding’s biggest ‘trick’ is being able to keep your head up. There’re […]
Buying a budget inflatable stand up paddle board – tips on getting it right.
Top tips: buying a budget SUP.
Inflatable stand up paddle boards – the importance of inflating your SUP board to the correct PSI.
Inflating your iSUP correctly is important for both performance and enjoyment.
Stand up paddle boarding progression sessions at Cotswold Water Park (Lake 86)
Stand up paddle boarding progression sessions at Cotswold Water Park (Lake 86) with Rapid Skills.
Rapid Skills SUP Safety course, sat July 18, 2020 – get the right knowledge for your stand up paddle boarding.
With SUP’s reinvigorated popularity there’s lots of drum banging about stand up paddle boarding and safety. It can certainly be cause for concern when you see a total newbie, who’s never set foot in the water before (let alone stand on a paddle board), head off without a leash or buoyancy aid just as a […]
Worth a watch – stand up paddle boarding movies to get your juices flowing.
SUP movies that’ll get your paddling juices flowing.
School summer holidays, overseas travel and your new inflatable stand up paddle board.
Pic: CE Photo A few weeks back it looked like ALL overseas school summer holiday travel was off the cards due to COVID-19. There was, however, light at the end of the tunnel more recently when some nations announced a lifting of restrictions to allow holidaymakers in, as long as certain criteria was met. With […]
Stand up paddle boarding in rain – yes, you can!
A little spot of rain shouldn’t put you off stand up paddle boarding.
SUP hacks, tips and tricks: Doing a downwinder – making wind your stand up paddle boarding friend.
Doing a downwinder: one way to make good use of paddling in wind.
Video: Rapid Skills coaching run through how to begin stand up paddle boarding.
Tom Botterill from Rapid Skills run through a few beginner SUP points to get afloat quick smart.
SUP hacks | How to fit a centre fin to a McConks Board – video!
So, you’ve got a screw a plate and a fin, and don’t know what to do with them? It’s child’s play really. Hopefully this video from our mini McConks will sort you out. But probably it won’t!
Stand up paddle boarding hydration tips – it’s not just for performance paddlers!
Hydration tips for SUPers of all types – not just performance paddlers.
McConks SUP article round up May, 2020 – what you may have missed.
A round up of what you may have missed from McConks’ SUP blog.
SUP hacks. Fixing your SUP pump pressure gauge
SUP hacks are designed to help all paddlers with potential ways of overcoming things during their stand up paddle boarding. Sometimes it’s about specific equipment hacks. While at other times is more generalist related to the sport you love. In this one we look at how to sort out a SUP pump pressure gauge. Shop […]
No hassle fin set up – attaching your McConks SUP centre fin in six easy steps.
6 easy steps to fixing your centrally located US Box in place.
The easiest stand up paddle board fin system ever – McConks SUP Click Fins and how to fit.
How to fit Click Fins to your McConks inflatable stand up paddle board.
SUP hacks, tips and tricks: scoring the flattest possible water to paddle your SUP in wind.
Avoiding wind/breeze for flatter water stand up paddle boarding.
National BBQ week 2020: a perfect fit to your SUP life.
National BBQ 2020: time to get that hot coal grill on the go!
Making sense of it – SUP jargon and terminology
SUP jargon and terminology can be unfamiliar. If you’re new to stand up paddle boarding then you may be wondering what all this new language and SUP related jargon is. Even if you’re a seasoned paddler some terminology may have gone straight over your head. With this in mind we’ve listed some of the more […]
SUP’s just SUP these days…isn’t it?
Stand up paddle surfing, SUP racing, touring SUP, white water stand up paddle boarding, recreational paddling and so on…You’ve heard all the terms, no doubt read all the pigeon-holed descriptions and are probably aware of a few more disciplines within the discipline, so to speak. And that’s how it’s been since stand up’s renaissance in […]
SUP fundamentals – stand up paddle board stance types
SUP fundamentals articles from McConks have always tried to guide stand up paddlers in the right direction. Where you stand on your SUP board can have a profound effect in terms of performance and feel – not least it can be the difference between staying dry and getting wet. Stance, as much as anything, is […]
McConks SUP fundamental skills – stand up paddle board pivot turns
McConks SUP fundamental skills – the SUP pivot turn.
SUP hacks, tips and tricks – post-lockdown gear checks BEFORE heading afloat.
Gear check advice for post-lockdown SUP paddling.
Learning to SUP after COVID-19 lockdown – things to consider (in the short term).
Learning to stand up paddle post-COVID-19 lockdown can certainly be achieve with prior planning and prep.
Paddles and paddling – STILL, the most important aspects of SUP
Paddles and paddling – THE defining parts of SUP as a sport.
Can I SUP surf my McConks inflatable stand up paddle board?
Surfing your McConks inflatable stand up paddle board.
SUP hacks, tips and tricks – stand up paddle board leash attachment options.
Alternative options for attaching your SUP leash.
SUP hacks, tricks and tips: home paddling edition.
Hacks, tips and tricks for virtual SUP paddling at home.
5 SUP mistakes anyone can make…
5 SUP mistakes anyone can make
Should I buy an inflatable or a rigid paddleboard?
The truth about inflatable paddleboard performance If you want to race at a high level, and enter sprint and endurance events, or be on the podium for surf SUP comps, you’re almost certainly going to need a quiver of hard boards. But for everyone else, an iSUP is ideal. Let us tell you more. Despite […]
SUP River fins
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Hero_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] SUP river fins – demystifying the whole thing. SUP river fins are a niche within a niche. We put together a blog article last year to demystify paddleboard fins. We tried to turn all of the jargon into a short, simple article that anyone can understand, even if you don’t have a degree […]
Adjustable or fixed SUP paddles?
Fixed or adjustable SUP paddles. What SUP paddle do you need? Are you wondering about whether you need a fixed or an adjustable paddleboard paddle? Do you struggle to understand the performance differences between 1 , 2 and 3 piece SUP paddles? Don’t worry. You’re definitely not alone. But fret not, this article will hopefully […]
SUP fins 101- all about them | McConks SUP.
SUP fins are essential on surfboards and paddleboards, but lot’s of people don’t know why. Everyone has a vague understanding that they help SUP go in a straight line and give control when surfing, but scratch much deeper, and most don’t understand how fins work. So, we thought we’d put this blog together to help. The importance […]
SUP hack: separating a stuck stick (paddle).
SUP paddles are very similar to windsurf masts. And windsurfers have been battling with this problem for years. How to separate two pieces of carbon fibre/fibreglass that have seized up after a bit of neglect? Windsurf masts, as with two and three piece SUP paddles do have a habit of fusing sometimes. The two and […]
Yoga and SUP
As someone who’s always enjoyed adventurous activities, I’ve had my fair share of broken bones, pulls and strains. The most significant of these being a broken shoulder about 8 years ago (dumped on a sand bar at Praar Sands after failing to commit/pop in a double overhead situation), and a broken neck when I was 18. […]
SUP hack: Stronger, faster, longer – upping your SUP game
It might not be in your game plan to be stronger, go faster or paddle for longer. Which is fine. After all, standup paddleboarding is meant to be a fun pastime, not a boot camp. But we keep being asked for advice from SUPers who’ve been in the game for a while, and who want […]
SUP hack: Time on the water – quantity over quality?
The old saying: ‘need more time on the water’ is usually used when referring to required improvements in personal SUP performance. And there’s no question racking up the hours will pay dividends. But is quantity more important than quality? Is five days straight stand up paddle surfing in average conditions better than one session in groomed […]
SUP Hack: Maximum glide, minimum effort – stand up paddle boarding and trim.
SUP Hack: Maximum glide, minimum effort – stand up paddle boarding and trim.
Do all fins fit all paddle boards no matter how old the board is
In general or McConks boards?
All of our fins fit all of our boards that have been sold since 2018. Our very first range of boards from 2016 used a different type. basically if your McConks board uses fins with a thumbolt screw attached to the fins, then the fins we sell now are not compatible. That only accounts for about 60 boards out of tens of thousands sold since 2016! All of the others are compatible with all of the fins we sell.
If you’re asking in general, then wthe answer is no, not all fins are compatible with all boards, and you need to speak to your board manufacturer or retailer to check.
Hope that helps!
Andy