How do you choose the right inflatable iSUP for you?
Choosing the right inflatable paddleboard should be a joy – you should be thinking about your escape to freedom – the adventures you’re going to have on your new board, all the new places to visit, all the amazing people you’ll meet on your SUP journey.
But we keep hearing that choosing the right inflatable SUP is a challenge. There are so many different brands and so many different shapes, making it very difficult to decide what will work best for you. All too often all the fun is taken out of it by overly complex decision making, by the number of products available, and by conflicting claims by different manufacturers. And that’s before you even start thinking about ethics, sustainability and what colour the board is.
If you’ve decided you want an inflatable SUP board rather than a rigid board, but you don’t know what size board to get, then this article is for you. If you’re still not sure whether you need a rigid or inflatable board, then check out this article. And when you’ve read it, and decided an inflatable is for you, then come back!
A board for everyone
We really believe that, no matter how big, small, old, young, competent or incompetent you are, there is a perfect board for you. A board that will make it easy for you to enjoy and progress in SUP.
We’re not going to tell you why you should buy one of our boards. If you’re here already, the chances are you know about the McConks legendary price to quality ratio and our customer service. But hopefully this article will help you choose the right type of board for you. And of course, we hope that board will be a McConks!
So whether you’re teaching whitewater paddleboarding to the next generation of rippers, finding your feet for the first time, looking to create your Zen through yoga SUP, or looking to explore the world on a paddleboard, we have the perfect board for you.
To further help we’ve put together this inflatable SUP board selector to aid your course to SUP freedom. Even if you’re not after a McConks board (1), then this should make it easier to see what shape, size and type of board matches your ability, weight and ambition/paddling environment!
Choosing the right board depends on many, many things. Some of these things are about you – e.g. size, weight, ambition, balance. Some are about the type of paddling you want to do – exploring, surfing, cruising, racing. Some boards are more versatile, and are suitable for a range of people of different sizes and abilities, and cope with a range of different types of paddling. Some boards however are much more specific – either to the paddler weight and ability, or to the arena that they’re designed for.
THE most important factor when choosing your board is the type of paddling you expect to spend most of your time doing. There’s no point setting yourself up with an all round board if you’re going to be spending 99% of your time on the water surfing. Or on the flipside spending your money on a lovely surf SUP if you’re going to be spending 90% of your time on flat water.
The selector/wizard will help guide you through the process, but before you start you might want to first think about the following questions:
What weight do you need your board to carry?
This is not just your weight, but the total weight that you will expect to carry most of the time. So if you expect to regularly paddle with children on board, don’t forget to add their weight. Of if you are intending to be overnight adventures, don’t forget the weight of the kit of you will carry.
How much SUP experience do you have?
There’s little point getting an inflatable paddleboard board that’s designed for elite whitewater paddlers if you’ve never been on whitewater before. Be realistic about your ability to get the most out of your board. And we can say this from bitter experience. For years we over-estimated our windsurfing and surfing ability and struggled with inappropriate kit. Development is much swifter if you get the right kit for your ability.
What type of paddling do you want to do?
Many people choose an all round board because they aren’t sure about what type of paddling they want to do, and because the wonderful world of SUP marketing has told them that all round board inflatable SUP boards, like the Red Paddle Ride 10’6 are the best boards for beginners in all environments. It’s true that all round boards are great beginners boards and great if you want to practice a mixture of SUP surfing and SUP touring. But that isn’t most paddlers. Most paddlers spend more time touring, exploring and having fun, than surfing. And if this is the case, a board that is designed for touring, but that is fun in surf, might be a better option. Likewise, if you want a board that you use occasionally for SUP yoga, but most of the time for cruising/exploring, then you might find that a Yoga specific board is too slow and cumbersome for general paddles, and that a touring board is good enough for SUP yoga.
So choose your based on the 90% of the paddling you will actually do, not the 10% of paddling that you might do!
To add further to your SUP knowledge bank we’ve broken down some of stand up paddle boarding’s more general avenues below.
SUP cruising/all round paddling
SUP cruising is how most people start out paddleboarding, and is accessible to people of all ages. It’s great exercise, but you don’t have to set your heartbeat racing, or push yourself too hard. And there’s no shame in sitting or kneeling if tired, or if the chop is beating your balance.
McConks Go Anywhere 10’6 inflatable SUP | The all round paddleboard
If you want a robust but lightweight inflatable paddleboard board that gives you the flexibility and confidence to use anywhere, this is the SUP for you. A multipurpose iSUP board designed for families and beginners to intermediates, this is the perfect one inflatable paddleboard fits all.
The price includes bag, belt and leash, fins, repair kit, but doesn’t include paddle or pump – because we want to give you options to choose the right one for you. If you don’t choose a paddle or pump from the options, then it will be delivered without a pump or paddle!
p.s. if you’re not sure you want to pay out all the money now, you can pay later with Klarna or Paypal in 3.
Many people enjoy the social side of SUP, and like to have gentle paddles over moderate distances with friends and families. Maybe taking in lunch at a riverside pub, maybe stopping for a swim at a beach, maybe stopping off for a little surf on a river wave or a break. But mostly enjoying being outdoors, enjoying the company, making the most of the weather and being at one with nature.
McConks Go Anywhere 10’8 inflatable SUP | The all round SUP package
McConks ultimate all round paddleboard board for families and paddlers of all sizes.
If you want a robust but lightweight inflatable paddleboard board that gives you the flexibility and confidence to use anywhere, this is the SUP for you. A multipurpose iSUP board designed for families and beginners to intermediates, this is the perfect one inflatable paddleboard fits all.
What this includes:
The price includes bag, belt and leash, fins, repair kit, but doesn’t include paddle or pump – because we want to give you options to choose the right one for you. If you don’t choose a paddle or pump from the options, then it will be delivered without a pump or paddle!
p.s. if you’re not sure you want to pay out all the money now, you can split it over four months with PayPal credit, if you qualify.
Adventure/touring SUP
Touring is simply cruising, but for longer, or a little faster, or in more challenging conditions. If you like to seek out those quiet beaches, breaks and bays, like exploring with your board both on and off the water, or simply just getting away from the crowds, then you want a touring paddleboard. A full size touring board will be around 12′, between 28″ and 33″ wide, 6″ deep, and have a good waterline without a hockey nose!
McConks Go Explore 11’4i – the compact exploring SUP
The Go Explore 11’4 is the perfect entry touring paddleboard for those who want more than an all-round board. Designed as the ultimate balance for paddlers who want a bit more speed and performance in choppy waters, but who want to retain some of the manoeuvrability of an all round board. It’s the transition between water and air where a mundane iSUP Board becomes a great board, and this board has a long waterline for its length, and a rocker that cuts you through the water, and without creating too much wind resistance.
The price includes bag, belt and leash, fins, repair kit, but doesn’t include paddle or pump – because we want to give you options to choose the right one for you. If you don’t choose a paddle or pump from the options, then it will be delivered without a pump or paddle!
Total rider weight
Beginner – up to 90kg
Experienced – up to 120kg,
total carrying capacity – 150kg.
McConks Go Explore 10’8i – the mini exploring paddle board
The ultimate exploring board for kids and lighter riders!
Also a great whitewater board for smaller riders.
If you have got intrepid explorers in your family, or just children to want to keep up with you, then this is the perfect board.
Note 1 – listed price doesn’t include paddle or pump. The price will update when you choose pump and paddle.
SUP surfing
If you’re a coastal SUP surfer, or even a river surfer (riding standing waves) then you need to be looking at McConks’ specialist line of boards. We supply the Freedom 10’6 crossover wind/surf SUP hard board, that’s available as pre-order only, that’s a great choice for longboard style wave sliding. If rivers are your bag then McConks’ white water platforms (such as the Go Skate) will be be where you need to look.
SUP racing
SUP racing seems to have decided that long course endurance races are the future, for better or for worse. Either way, longer, narrower boards are the way forward here, they are faster and have better glide. With races becoming (hopefully) more common again we may see additional classes catering solely for iSUPs. This did happen at some events in the past. The McConks Go Explore will work as an entry level race board whereas the more dedicated Go Race 14′ is best in class for an inflatable.
McConks also does a pre-order, custom made hard race SUP to cater for anyone looking to step up competitively or get hold of a super efficient (fast) flat water stand up paddle board that’s pretty awesome, even if we do say so ourselves!
White water/river SUP
Whitewater SUP and river surf SUP are specialist disciplines and require specialist kit. You shouldn’t try either of these disciplines with all round SUP boards unless you are with experienced whitewater riders who’ve got your back. Simple mistakes can cost you your life, and there have been deaths in whitewater SUP in recent years.
Whitewater boards need to be robust and be able to withstand knocks and bangs from ledges and rocks. They also need a retractable or flexible fin, or be able to be ridden without fins. There’s nothing more likely to buck you off your ride than a fin getting stuck on a rock!
Over the past few seasons McConks has developed a range of different whitewater/river SUPs from touring to river surfing machines. Having input from high level riders has been invaluable. All our WW iSUPs can be found in the McConks webshop, with a few listed here.
McConks Go X Wild 11i | Whitewater SUP race and touring board
The ultimate river running board? We think so, but now it’s your turn to prove it!
That’s the board decided. Now you need to decide on your accessories, package price quoted doesn’t include paddle or pump, so make sure you choose one if you need one:
Downwind SUP
Downwind paddling is at the more extreme end of the SUP scale. Paddling downwind on open water in large swell requires skill and experience. The aim is to effectively surf wind driven swell downwind, and glides of over 100metres are heard of. You need a fast, long board for downwind paddling, and the board needs a planing hull to stay on the wave. You can learn to downwind SUP on a long iSUP, but if you want to get the best out of downwind, you’ll need a rigid stand up paddle board. Mellower downwind runs are possible on your standard inflatable. But your logistics (getting in and getting out and having transport back to point A) need to be considered. The below article tells you a little more about downwind paddling.
WindSUP and wing surfing
When the breeze ramps up the paddles are tsashed and it’s time to rig up – a windsurf sail or wingsurfing wing that is. WindSUP is pretty much windsurfing as it was back in the day for most. Attach your sail to a stand up paddle board with relevant attachment and away you go for some cruisy windsurfing. This can be done aboard either rigid or inflatable boards. Some riders take windSUP to the next level and venture out in waves. When there’s breeze, but not enough for full power windsurf, a big floaty SUP with a sail attached allows the catching and riding of waves. To make windSUP suitably easy McConks supplies the Go Sail inflatable windsurf sail. This is super light and much easier to uphaul than your usual windy rig.
Go Sail inflatable windsurf sail
Go Sail inflatable windsurf sail – all you need for funand easy wind driven sailing.
Have you tried windsurfing with a traditional high performance, heavy rig and totally failed? Did that put you off for life? That’s the story of so many people. Trying to learn with high performance or old heavy kit must have put millions of peo…
With breeze in mind the new kid on the breezy block is wingsurfing (and wing foiling – see below). Utilising a blow up, hand held wing (such as the McConks Go Fly) gives another way to harness the power of breeze. The benefit over a windsurf sail is the complete freedom of movement riders get with a wing.
For more info on windsurfing/windSUP/wingsurfing check out the McConks Ultimate Guide here.
Wing/SUP foiling
Flying above water, with a hydrofoil lifting riders to an elevated position, is the newest craze in watersports. Your power source can be anything from a windsurf sail, wing surfing wing, a wave or even just a paddle with some foiler able to lift from just blade power alone (a very hard, physical skill to master). McConk doesn’t do a specific wing/SUP foil board (yet) but we do potentially have something in the pipeline. watch this space! In the meantime check out our Foiling Ultimate Guide as we do know a thing or two about flying above water.
eFoiling (electric hydrofoiling)
As with all foiling disciplines eFoils fly above the water. The difference here is riders use a handheld, wireless Bluetooth trigger throttle to control a propeller attached to the hydrofoil itself. This then allows flights regardless of weather conditions and water states. It’s possibly the easiest form of foiling there is but does require initial outlay for the gear. EFoil boards, as with all foiling platforms, are just hybrid SUP designs> if you want to check out more about eFoiling then hit up our sister site Fly McConks.
Notes
(1). Why would you not want a McConks board? We were number one SUP Manufacturer according to the SUPhubUK survey of over 1200 paddlers and SUP instructors! We’re trusted by users who put their kit through the most rigorous of use, such as the National Trust and Prince’s Trust! And we think we are about the most ethical and sustainable paddleboard brand there is.
Hi, looking to upgrade, researching for a while now and quite fancy one if your boards. I know you have said you have demo centres across the UK.Any up North Liverpool way? Obviously willing to travel a bit.
Big thanks