Hi, I am 28 and I am planning on buying an SUP so I have a couple of questions that I would like to get answered before i go shopping.
I was wondering of buying an inflatable one. If you own one:
do you inflate it at home or directly at the beach,
is it heavy to carry,
is it annoying when you need to inflate it,
do you use a special bag to carry all your stuff with you and if so,
what do you do with it when you are in the water?
Hey Windmary, Welcome to the Breeze. I have provided some quick answers to your questions below.
Q1) You can do either, but primarily people will inflate on the beach.
Q2) No they are not heavy, they all come in a backpack so carrying them is easy (the weight varies per model, more weight = thicker and more drop stitch, typically).
Q3) It takes about 5-10 minutes depending on your fitness level. I myself have bought a cheap electrical pump as I am lazy, but in all honesty it isn't a drama to pump up.
Q4) Yes, they all typically come with a backpack (which fits everything in it including the pump) and once you are done you pop the backpack in your car in the same way you would a board cover
In general, inflatables are a great option for those short on space or plan on travelling with their sup overseas or interstate. If you are looking to potentially surf your SUP however a solid SUP is preferable due to the improved shape and performance.
Cheers
Andrew - The Surfboard Warehouse
Hello windymary,
1) is is better to inflate in the beach, due the board is really light and if you take on the roof depend the distance and how windy is the air the board it may bend and can weak the new anti bend system than certain boards company used to keep the the more straigth while padding in the water.
Also if you roof rack have imperfection can pich or scratch your boar and you will not able to inflate.
I used to travel in the roof rack but was very short distance inside the city 5 to 10 min driving no problems.
2) the board are light and easy to carry
3) all come with bag but it depend the brand some have wheel for easy transportation
I used 3 part paddle so you can keep in the same bag while travel, the bags should have enough space for the basic, paddle-leash-wetsuit
4) Inflate is depend how fancy or fitness you want, the manually pump is easy but take 5 to 10 min but when you finish you already warn the upper body ..
Fancy way they sale a automatic electric pump which is portable is coming with a battery and the option to connect to your car battery using cables, for inflate, is take 2 min to fully inflate is really nice i had both system manually and automatic
the best is automatic jeje
4) normally leave in the car or you can leave on the beach
I used to travel with the INflatable board, domestic inside Mexico without problems. But once I travel to Ecuador a placed named Monta?itas and the people for security on the airport call me and retain for a 10 minutes..?
i take the automatic pump inside the travel bag, on the X ray machine, they saw a square box that the X ray machine can not see inside, due the battery body is lead they found suspicious, and was more fun when they ask what is this i .. ( in Spanish pump is Bomba in Spanish but in English is ...BOMB
And this word are forbidden in airport... and the end I had to take out the board and show how is working, lucky for me the battery was fully charge it's work and continued to travel...
My recommendation is check the bag functionality, the board is they have automatic or only manually, for sure the automatic pump is extra $$$.
i post some pictures on my board and the automatic pump
saludos
That inflatable has some decent nose kick !
Personally I like to inflate and take to beach but I am fortunate as can fit in vehicle . I often leave inflated fora few weeks but not at full pressure. I release some pressure after use and do a light re pump following day.
inlfatables can also be good in small surf for beginners because you can't yourself or anyone else as much as you would with a hard board. Plus they don't ding.
Depending on your height and weight you may also be able to get away with a shorter inflatable .
I am 63kg and my first SUP board was a 9 foot 30 wide Starboard Converse Deluxe. Still have and still use it when I go on holidays . Family also use . I surf it , flat paddle it and share it with family and friends.
uts almost bullet proof . Don't ever leave in sun or hot car for long periods.
