If you are looking to learn paddleboarding, you have probably explored purchasing a board and paddle. Having your very own board can be pricey to purchase, but will end up costing less in the long run since you can avoid high equipment rental fees.

There are a variety of various paddleboard designs you can get, one of which is inflatable. Boards that are inflated have a number of perks, however there are a couple of disadvantages. These types of boards are made with a certain person in mind who will value the benefits and not care about the drawbacks. Let's take a look at their differences.

Portability

Inflatable SUPs can be deflated and transported in a medium sized bag. This means that people do not need to load a large board on the top of their vehicles. They can also be carried on airplanes without requiring a substantial fee usually charged for extra-large baggage.

Since they can be rolled up into a smaller, more compact size, these boards can be conveniently locked in a car, carried on one's back and stored without taking up much space. Typical fiberglass boards do not offer these advantages. People who have a roof rack on their SUV, ample storage space and no need to lock their boards while carrying them, this might not cause a problem.

Effort Needed to Pump up the Board

Inflatable boards typically need a manual hand pump to be pumped up. This can take between 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the power of the person doing the inflating. Pumping air into a paddleboard takes work, and for some petite ladies, it can be a workout. Regular boards obviously do not require this extra work, and some people prefer the benefit of not having to continually pump up and deflate their equipment.

Ability to Maneuver Them

The firmness of inflatable boards differs. In general, the less expensive boards have a lower psi inflation, and therefore are less firm. This means that they tend to bounce more in rough water or waves. For novices, this can feel more unstable. For people paddling on lakes or various other flat water places, they may not be able to notice a distinction and as a result not care.

Traditional boards can provide a more easy trip and increased maneuverability. Paddlers desiring a fast board that is easier to turn and move around (ie those who wish to race or do regular workouts) are more likely to prefer a fiberglass board instead of the inflatable kind, which are more tailored towards the leisure paddler or someone thinking about yoga paddleboard classes.

From my experience and research, inflatable SUPs do not leak air very often. Even so, most models come with a patch kit just in case. These boards appear and feel like a hard board to people not familiar with the different styles of boards, and the majority of novice buyers are thrilled at their performance.

When shopping, it is smart to compare the attributes of different equipment in addition to prices, so you can get a board that you like.