What Size and Shape Paddle Board Do I Need? SUP Pro Explains Paddle Board Shapes and Sizes.

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The paddleboard market can seem very confusing, a veritable jungle of numbers, measurements, parameters, shapes and sizes. Information overload - what do they all mean and which ones actually matter? In this video, we’ll go through the various factors one by one and help you understand and make sense of them all.
The video utilizes a wide array of boards from our test locker, to help illustrate the parameters, and allow you to see what the differences actually look like. The boards are all inflatables, because they’re much easier to compare and contrast as they all have the same underwater and rail shape.
Length [0’50”] determines what the board does. When you hear the length number, you can instantly tell what sort of board it is. The shorter the board, the more maneuverable it is, the longer the board, the more directional and speedy it is. Anything much shorter than 10’ is primarily about surfing, and anything much longer than 12’ is primarily about racing or expedition paddling. The zone in between, from 10-12’, are the all round boards.
However, length is NOT a reliable indicator of stability. (Indeed, think of trying to stand on a telegraph pole floating in the water - super tippy, right? Now double the length of the pole, would it be any less tippy? No.). A point that the video didn’t mention is that longer boards also have a lot more ‘steerage’ and are harder to paddle in windier conditions if you are trying to paddle across the wind. Indeed, a smaller person who doesn’t have a well developed paddle technique, may not be able to maintain course at all if trying to paddle across the wind on a board that is too long. So it’s wise not to go for a longer board than you actually need.
Width [3’55”] is the important parameter when it comes to stability. The maximum width of a SUP board defines its stability, and weight-carrying ability. If you have two boards of the same plan shape, the wider one will always be more stable and able to carry more weight. As we explain in the video, an inch or two difference in maximum width can make an astonishingly large difference in stability. A 33-34” wide board can probably handle twice as heavy a rider as the 30-31” board!
However, width is very much a ‘goldilocks parameter’. It needs to be just right; not too much, nor too little. If your board is too narrow, it’ll feel unstable. But if it’s too wide, it’ll just feel draggy; slow and heavy to paddle.
Thickness [8’05”] makes a lot of difference to how a board feels. Manufacturers use thickness to build rigidity into their designs; the thicker the board the less likely it is to bend at the middle. However, from a performance point of view, thickness is not a particularly desirable quantity. Thicker boards have more windage, grip less, require more raw materials, more inflation time and are harder to clamber back onto. Brands with a more sophisticated construction technique can get away with making thinner boards, and the general consensus is that these are undoubtedly nicer to ride, feeling more connected to the water.
Volume [12’05”] is not actually a parameter that you need to concern yourself with at all in the realms of all round recreational SUP boards, unless you’re extremely heavy AND looking to carry a whole lot of cargo. There’s a lot of stuff online about how to calculate how much volume you need, but it’s largely nonsense or simply irrelevant, as we explain in the video. Choose the right length, width, and plan shape for your requirements, and the volume will almost certainly be fine.
The maximum weight capacity [14’15”] figure that many brands give is actually an even more meaningless number. There is no standard definition of what it actually means, so therefore there is no value in comparing the numbers for different boards. Look at the width and plan shape instead, if you want to assess how much weight a board can carry.
Plan Shape [15’39”] plays a major role in determining the role and stability of the board, so in the video we will look at a variety of different plan shapes and explain how they will differ in feel and performance on the water.
Rocker line [25’25”] is the final important parameter to understand. You won’t find out about this from the manufacturer’s specifications, you’ll need to look at the board to understand what’s going on in the rocker department. The rocker line determines how the board moves through the water, so it’s important to get the rocker line right for your requirements.
We really hope that you find the video informative and useful. For a whole lot more information on this topic we’d also recommend reading our blog post about understanding board shapes and styles, which develops some of the points discussed here in greater detail. Please don't hesitate to reach out in the comments with any questions.

[@reesep5396]

Thanks!

[@hfamilytravels]

Great video, very informative and easy to understand when you have no clue!

[@toddbloxham6041]

Mahalo!