Quick Answer: For all-around leisure paddling, inflatable SUPs are much better overall due to advantages in durability, portability, weight, versatility, and injury prevention. However, if you are buying a board mainly for SUP surfing or racing, certain technical attributes of hardboards make them worthy of consideration.
Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards, once considered a novelty, have evolved over the years and have become the new normal and the starting point when shopping for a paddle board. Here are seven comparison points to guide your decision on whether to purchase an inflatable SUP or a hard board and then we will answer some more specific questions:
- Durability: Inflatable paddle boards have proven over time to be more durable than epoxy SUPs. Quality inflatables are made from military-grade materials that are not subject to the vulnerabilities of hard boards – dings and holes that require expensive repairs. This is why inflatables far outnumber hard boards on rivers, where impact with rocks is a factor.
- Injury Prevention: Inflatable SUPs don’t hurt as much when you fall on them. Falling onto a hard board can hurt. An inflatable paddle board is much easier on the body of the rider and anybody else the board might come in contact with.
- Comfort: A softer deck reduces fatigue. Standing on an inflatable SUP is similar to standing on one of those expensive rubber mats used in commercial settings to reduce fatigue. Your feet will be more comfortable and relaxed due to the reduced contact pressure, and the benefits travel up your body to your knees, back, and neck.
- Weight: Inflatables are lighter, and a lighter board gets used more. For a given board size, an inflatable will usually weigh less than an equivalently sized hardboard, making it much less effort to get it to the water.
- Portability: Blow-up boards can be checked in on an airplane for travel. An inflatable SUP can be rolled up to fit in a bag that can be placed in the trunk of a car or checked in on an airplane for travel. Taking your SUP board with you on vacation can save hundreds of dollars in rental costs while giving you the independence to paddle on your schedule.
- Storage: Hard boards take up a lot of storage space. An inflatable SUP can be stored on a shelf, without requiring a high ceiling or taking up an entire wall of storage space. An entire fleet of inflatable SUP boards can be stored in a small closet when deflated.
- Versatility: Advances in material technology and design have resulted in inflatable SUP boards that have rigidity rivaling a hardboard while also having distinct performance advantages over fiberglass or epoxy boards. The right inflatable board in the performance/enthusiast or all-around class board can often be paddled anywhere on flat water, or small waves, and even be used in whitewater depending on the model. If you compare an inflatable and a hard board with the same footprint, the inflatable can have up to 20% more volume, making it that much more stable, and supporting more rider and passenger weight. With performance advances, inflatables are increasingly being used in competitions and by casual SUP racers. ‘Hardboard-like performance’ is no longer something to aspire to, as inflatables have distinct advantages that have seen them come into their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Inflatable Paddle Boards Last?
The durability of an inflatable paddle board will depend on the quality of the board you buy and the type of use it endures. Many well-made inflatable boards can last several years with proper care.
Can Inflatable Paddle Boards Be Repaired?
Yes, many types of damage to inflatable SUP boards can be repaired, sometimes by the owner, but more frequently by a qualified repair shop. Most inflatable paddle boards still include a ‘patch kit’, but on a good inflatable, it is seldom needed.
What PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Should I Inflate My Paddle Board To?
For a high-end inflatable SUP board, we recommend inflating to a pressure of 15 PSI or to a maximum of 17 PSI. A performance-level SUP will achieve optimal rigidity at this level.
Are Inflatable Paddle Boards More Stable?
The stability of an inflatable paddle board depends largely on the thickness of the design. A well-made 5-inch thick inflatable paddle board will generally be more stable than a hard board because of the difference in rail construction.
Can I Keep My Inflatable SUP Inflated?
There is no need to deflate your paddle board if you don’t need to make it more compact for storage or transport. There are generally no downsides to keeping a SUP board inflated, as long as you don’t keep it in direct sunlight or a hot vehicle or storage space.
Can You Surf on an Inflatable SUP?
Inflatable paddle boards can be great for surfing. You can surf almost any SUP, but how well it will perform in the waves will depend on board design, shape, and rigidity.
Can You Race on an Inflatable SUP?
Many racers compete on inflatable SUPs. There are undeniable technical advantages to a hard board when it comes to SUP racing but the gap has closed in recent years.
Are Inflatable Paddle Boards Better?
Yes. Better is relative to what you want to do with your board and the types of water you want to ride in. For all-around and river-specific uses, inflatable boards have significant performance advantages over hard boards that benefit most paddlers. For big wave surfing and competition class SUP racing, hard stand-up paddle boards have an edge in performance.
