Anyone into SUP?

cambsno

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Have had a kayak for a few years and had great fun but thinking about an SUP for mainly using in the sea. Would be used by me and probably the kids too. Torn between the 10 and 11 ft ones. 11ft is more stable, and slightly better for me based on weight but 10 for the rest of family. In the real world is there much of a difference?
 

Anyone into SUP?​

Is that the same as in the SOUP ?
 

Anyone into SUP?​

Is that the same as in the SOUP ?
:thinking: but I think you can fall into the 'drink' ;)

PS another pastime needing its own jargon, it seems.......as if photography wasn't enough :lol:
 
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I'd visit an SUP shop and ask a few pertinent questions and see what they recommend for what you want it for. Personally, I'd buy for MY needs and let the rest of the family adapt themselves to that - something for them may not really be up to the job for you. A bigger board may allow 2 up use - depending on total weight!
 
OK now I think I know what SUP is!
 
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Been paddling a SUP for the last 4 years.

Yes length and width make a difference but size and weight of user will make a greater one - as does the construction of the board.
10ft 6 is usually 34" wide, is the general purpose size, its fine for messing about on a beach and paddling short distances but will want to go left and right a lot more than a longer narrower board. I know people that paddle 10ft boards and do a 6 sometimes 8km route though they are just slower and more effort than a longer board.

11ft and 11ft3in in either 30 or 32" is the "sport" size, tracks in a straighter line more easily, better if planning on more distance paddling, and dont want the full touring board (12ft6 and longer)

If you are too heavy for the board you will find it bends in the middle too much and its less stable and will also sit lower in the water and you will be standing in a puddle. The correct board will let you paddle without water sloshing around your feet

Dont buy dirt cheap boards, there is no British Standard so you can sell a binliner as a SUP if you can seal it and blow it up. A lot of the sub £300 boards are not designed to take an adult male despite advertising as such, and while you might hear of some fantastic customer service - they take your money and dispatch straight away! or they replace faulty boards without quibble - just every other customer has a faulty board! There are a few brands that have a better reputation - Red Paddle/Naish/Starboard/SIC are the top level, Gladiator/Fanatic middle ground. I have not heard bad things of Fatstick/Sandbanks that are at the lower end but dont know anyone that paddles them.

Im guessing you dont plan on starting till the weather warms up?
I take it you are in Cambridge given your signature, I would find somewhere that rents out boards or try before you buy and try both sizes. A quick google search shows several,
 
Been paddling a SUP for the last 4 years.

Yes length and width make a difference but size and weight of user will make a greater one - as does the construction of the board.
10ft 6 is usually 34" wide, is the general purpose size, its fine for messing about on a beach and paddling short distances but will want to go left and right a lot more than a longer narrower board. I know people that paddle 10ft boards and do a 6 sometimes 8km route though they are just slower and more effort than a longer board.

11ft and 11ft3in in either 30 or 32" is the "sport" size, tracks in a straighter line more easily, better if planning on more distance paddling, and dont want the full touring board (12ft6 and longer)

If you are too heavy for the board you will find it bends in the middle too much and its less stable and will also sit lower in the water and you will be standing in a puddle. The correct board will let you paddle without water sloshing around your feet

Dont buy dirt cheap boards, there is no British Standard so you can sell a binliner as a SUP if you can seal it and blow it up. A lot of the sub £300 boards are not designed to take an adult male despite advertising as such, and while you might hear of some fantastic customer service - they take your money and dispatch straight away! or they replace faulty boards without quibble - just every other customer has a faulty board! There are a few brands that have a better reputation - Red Paddle/Naish/Starboard/SIC are the top level, Gladiator/Fanatic middle ground. I have not heard bad things of Fatstick/Sandbanks that are at the lower end but dont know anyone that paddles them.

Im guessing you dont plan on starting till the weather warms up?
I take it you are in Cambridge given your signature, I would find somewhere that rents out boards or try before you buy and try both sizes. A quick google search shows several,

Thanks, it will be for messing around on beach mainly. I have a kayak which I have done some miles in (6-8km) but wouldn't do that on a board, would manly be for beach as kayak not suitable for that. It would probably be the 11ft one at Decathlon, impressed with kayak range and heard good things about the SUP. Think its 34"wide so great to just mess around on when warmer. It was just the smaller one is that bit more portable but feel that may have some of the issues you suggest.
 
Thanks, it will be for messing around on beach mainly. I have a kayak which I have done some miles in (6-8km) but wouldn't do that on a board, would manly be for beach as kayak not suitable for that. It would probably be the 11ft one at Decathlon, impressed with kayak range and heard good things about the SUP. Think its 34"wide so great to just mess around on when warmer. It was just the smaller one is that bit more portable but feel that may have some of the issues you suggest.
You wont notice the diference carrying it and when deflated even less so. The decathlon Itwit boards are supposed to be ok.

If using at the beach watch wind and tide, off shore winds will have you heading out to sea and in urgent need of a bright orange boat quicker than you think, its vertually impossible to paddle into a headwind over 15mph especially if you are against a flow/tide.
 
Question - when folding up, can you fold up in a different way for a short time?

The one I am looking at fold to 96x40x16 - 96 being the width of the board which is too big for my suitcase (for taking on travels). If I was to fold both sides in a little (or one side a bit more) which makes it narrower, that would just make the depth bigger, a bit squarer I guess.
 
I wouldnt. Every SUP i have seen is rolled nose to tail. Im not sure you would be able to fold in half then roll it. It should be more of a rolled up than folded, it wont sit flat light a sheet. I do know people that fly with them but they use the bags they come in as a suitcase rather than the other way round and thats people that are intending to SUP all day either SUP surfing or touring.
 
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