Sunday, April 28, 2013

Why Purchase and Inflatable Paddleboard?

By Andrea Edwards


If you are looking to learn the sport of paddleboarding, you have most likely explored buying gear. Having your very own gear can be expensive to buy, but will wind up costing less over time due to the fact that you can avoid high gear rental fees.

There are a variety of various paddleboard types you can get, one of which is inflatable. Inflatable boards provide a number of perks, but there are a few drawbacks also. These kinds of boards are created with a specific person in mind who will appreciate the benefits and not mind the disadvantages. Let's have a look at their differences.

Ease in Transporting Them

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and delivered in a compact bag. This means that people don't have to load a large board on the top of their vehicles. They can also be transported on planes without requiring a large fee generally charged for oversized baggage.

Because they can be packed into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be easily locked in a vehicle, transported on one's back and stored without taking up much area. Typical fiberglass boards do not provide these benefits. Individuals who have a board rack on their SUV, sufficient storage area and no need to lock their boards while transporting them, this may not cause a problem.

Effort Required to Pump up the Board

Inflatable SUPs normally need a manual hand pump to be inflated. This can take from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the power of the person doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes effort, and for some petite ladies, it can be a workout. Fiberglass boards naturally do not require this added work, and some people like the benefit of not having to constantly pump up and deflate their boards.

Maneuverability

The firmness of inflatable boards varies. In general, the less expensive boards have a lower psi inflation, and as a result are less firm. This means that they tend to bounce more in rough water or surf. For newbies, this can feel more unsteady. For individuals paddling on lakes or various other flat water locations, they might not be able to notice a distinction and as a result not care.

Standard boards can offer a more smooth ride and greater maneuverability. Paddlers desiring a fast board that is simpler to turn and move around (ie those who want to race or do regular workouts) are more likely to choose a fiberglass board rather than the inflatable type, which are more designed towards the recreational paddler or someone interested in yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable SUPs do not leak air very often. Even so, many models come with a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a hard board to individuals not familiar with the different styles of boards, and a lot of novice purchasers are impressed at how they carry out.

When shopping, it is wise to compare the features of different options as well as prices, so you can get a board that you will be happy with.




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