Inflatable paddle boards

[Middo]

I’m after one these for the local canal. Any advice on models for a beginner?

[dustybottoms]

I purchased the Bluefin Cruise 10.8 last year as a beginner and I am extremely pleased with it. Very stable, has a kick tail, camera mount, bungee cords for on board storage, kayak seat and plenty of grab handles. It seems well constructed and easily carries myself and my 4 year old daughter whilst tracking well and keeping us both dry on the deck. It comes with all items you could require and a 5 year warranty. I would recommend a board that is 16cm deep and 80+cm wide as these are very novice friendly and somewhere in the region of 10.5 - 11 feet long. Whichever boards you look at, pay attention to weight limits of user as this should be a deciding factor in choice. They are very good fun!

[number2]

Maybe worth a punt - I'll get mi coat...

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/p/summer-f...e-board/p42108

[Middo]

Thanks Dusty. Good info

[chrisparker]

Bought one last year from Decathalon. Great board, and tons of fun when we used it in Cornwall. Looking forward to using it soon on Ullswater.

There was a big shortage last year and struggled to get one in time for the holiday. Just managed and pleased with the one I bought. It was well rated for the price. The most popular brand seems to be Red - but quite expensive for a holiday toy.

[lewie]

My daughter and I bought one of these last year I thought it was pretty good and great fun - harder than I imagined
https://www.ospreyactionsports.co.uk...ceana-sup.html

[Middo]

Maybe worth a punt - I'll get mi coat...

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/p/summer-f...e-board/p42108

That could be worth a punt

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Maybe worth a punt - I'll get mi coat...

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/p/summer-f...e-board/p42108

Mistral are decent quality.

[Meesterbond]

We bought some during the first lockdown to use on the local navigation and lakes... lots of fun and we got loads of use out of them. As mentioned there was a bit of a shortage so we ended up getting whatever was available. Mine's a Fanatic Fly Air and the wife has a Fanatic Diamond Air. They're both excellent, really stable and the fin layout keeps you going in the right direction as you paddle.

To be honest though, we probably wouldn't have spent as much on them if there had been any other choice though. All the box-shifters were out of stock we were left shopping at the specialists. We were looking at Two Bare Feet as well as their boards got a really good rep and they're very keenly priced. Definitely worth a look if they have any stock in.

[DiXoN]

I purchased the Bluefin Cruise 10.8 last year as a beginner and I am extremely pleased with it. Very stable, has a kick tail, camera mount, bungee cords for on board storage, kayak seat and plenty of grab handles. It seems well constructed and easily carries myself and my 4 year old daughter whilst tracking well and keeping us both dry on the deck. It comes with all items you could require and a 5 year warranty. I would recommend a board that is 16cm deep and 80+cm wide as these are very novice friendly and somewhere in the region of 10.5 - 11 feet long. Whichever boards you look at, pay attention to weight limits of user as this should be a deciding factor in choice. They are very good fun!

I agree that the Bluefin Cruise are spot on, I was out on my Kayak and my mate was using his Cruise 12. They are a cracking bit of kit, I managed to get on it straight away with no issues.

[Middo]

Looks like supply is short everywhere , going to try Lidl on Thursday and then go from there.

Thanks for the info all.

Blue fin and another UK brand are both out of stock

https://poseidonpaddleboards.com

[yumma]

I have heard lots of good things about HIKS boards, they are a UK company and do great boards but also have great after sales support.

https://hiks.co.uk/collections/stand-up-paddle-boards

I am a member of the East of England Paddlesports group on FB, some good info on their page.

Plus well worth downloading the Go Paddling App on your phone as this offers portage points and helpful maps etc.

Enjoy!


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[Middo]

Thanks, downloaded the app. I’m quite lucky as I am 5 mins walk to the nearest slipway on the canal.

[wigdog]

We bought this one:
https://www.qurocpaddleboards.co.uk/...-paddle-board/
Looks as though it is also out of stock but can recommend it if you can find it elsewhere.

[Middo]

Picked up a Lidl one today. Thanks for heads up and info all.

[number2]

Picked up a Lidl one today. Thanks for heads up and info all.

Let us know how things go...

[Rodder]

Picked up a Lidl one today. Thanks for heads up and info all.

Well done. Did you go into the store or online?

[Middo]

Well done. Did you go into the store or online?

They wouldn’t do online, in store and sold out in mins, I got there at 0655 and waited with others till they opened at 0700. They only had a pallet of them.

Will post up what’s it’s like, bear in mind I’m a novice.

[Middo]

Let us know how things go...

From some one who knows more than me

https://www.paddleup.co.uk/blog/lidl...e-board-review

[number2]

FWIW,
Today (Friday) I went to my local lidl enquiring about the £199. paddle boards, I was told that 7 arrived prior to close of business Wednesday, and all were sold before 10am Thursday I see that ebay now has plenty...

[stoneyloon]

I thought about trying paddleboarding but these swam past here last night so might just stay out of the water....

Cheers,

Adam.

[Rodder]

I thought about trying paddleboarding but these swam past here last night so might just stay out of the water....

Cheers,

Adam.

Wow, that looks amazing. Where did you see these?


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[stoneyloon]

Wow, that looks amazing. Where did you see these?


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They were heading north just off Stonehaven, NE Scotland...

Cheers,

Adam.

[watchstudent]

I thought about trying paddleboarding but these swam past here last night so might just stay out of the water....

Cheers,

Adam.

Wow, what a special sight that must have been. Would certainly be maybe unnerving to be near them on a paddle board! But I don’t think there is actually any known human casualties from wild orcas.


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[number2]

Wow, what a special sight that must have been. Would certainly be maybe unnerving to be near them on a paddle board! But I don’t think there is actually any known human casualties from wild orcas.


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Providing you don't look like a seal you're probably going to be okay.

[AlphaOmega]

Fantastic pics.

Orcas are dolphins.

Well, dolphins that eat great white sharks.

I've just downloaded the app mentioned above. There are canals near me which for years I've been wondering about kayaking on. Perhaps this would be easier.

[Saint-Just]

You may look like a human when you’re swimming but you look like a giant cuttlefish when on a SUP…

[stoneyloon]

You may look like a human when you’re swimming but you look like a giant cuttlefish when on a SUP…

Cheers,

Adam.

[CaptainVlak]

Just bumping this up to top in case anyone had any new for July 21 recommendations.

Is a paddle board under £250 available? Seem like so much for just summer use.

[chrisparker]

Here was my view on the last Bank Holiday Monday on Ullswater...



Decathlon Itiwit Board.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/beginn...8511826&c=BLUE

[thenikjones]

I've just downloaded the app mentioned above. There are canals near me which for years I've been wondering about kayaking on. Perhaps this would be easier.

I found using a Sit-on kayak much easier than using a paddleboard

[ernestrome]

A silly fad. Let me know when it's over.

[brendano]

Check out fat stick

Hard to beat !

[lewie]

A silly fad. Let me know when it's over.

Curious why you think it’s a silly fad- people getting outdoors in the fresh air for excersise

[ernestrome]

Just get a kayak ffs.

[lewie]

Just get a kayak ffs.

I have a couple - they are not always that easy to transport around for some people

Untitled by biglewie, on Flickr

[brendano]

5km yesterday and another 5km today in the ocean!

Amazing sport. Finished school and we took 5 teenagers, 2 adults, 2 dogs and a tonne of fun !

[lewie]

Think I sort of nailed it today - well I didn’t get wet
IMG_3588 by biglewie, on Flickr

[thegoat]

I see a few of them in Sale on the Bridgewater Canal .
You really wouldn’t want to fall in there .

[brendano]

Another 6km sea paddling today. New paddle - might be too much for me !

Loving it !

[Middo]

My mistral Lidl board seems really good, I am going to invest in decent paddle though I think. Great fun

[number2]

My mistral Lidl board seems really good, I am going to invest in decent paddle though I think. Great fun

Was disappointed to miss out on one of these, according to our local lidl their allocation of 6 had all gone before 9:45 the day they appeared in store

[mikeveal]

Just get a kayak ffs.

Paddle boards offer a very different experience to kayaks. They give a better view, use & different muscle groups. A single person SUP can easily take a pet or another person as a passenger, paddler weigh ranges are far woder than those for kayaks. Re-entry after a (often intentional) swim is much easier than even a SOT kayak. Inflatable SUPs roll away for storage and can be transported in a car boot (yes you can get inflatable kayaks, but they are crap to paddle). SUPs are less intimidating to novices and offer an easy route to gentle touring or mucking about in placid water.

If you want to travel serious distances, paddle in rougher water, or learn more advanced skills, then the kayak wins hands down. But many people don't want any of that.

It's horses for courses ffs. SUPs have been around for a fair few years & are steadily growing in popularity. They are likely to be a very long lived fad.

[Possu]

I just bought an inflatable SOT kayak and couldn’t be happier with it. For sure it’s not close to the comfort of a proper kayak, but good enough for my intended use, which is lake paddling for an hour or two in decent weather. I’ve tried SUP boards a couple of times but I just don’t like it. Horses for courses indeed, but I think an inflatable kayak is a good alternative for a SUP board.

[mikeveal]

Inflatable kayaks have a massive amount of buoyancy above the waterline, making them very susceptible to windage. Like most SOTs they don't respond to paddler trim. When edging, leaning or putting in a support stroke they tend to skid away from the active blade, making any kind of body off centre stroke harder than it should be. Rolling an inflatable kayak is extremely difficult because of this.
They also tend to have a very poorly defined hull shape, giving more drag and less control than a (modern) rigid kayak.

But they do open up kayaking for those unwilling or unable to store or transport a rigid boat.

Personally I don't like 'em. I think the downsides outweigh the benefits. Your mileage probably varies. I've been paddling for 40 years now and I like a boat that does exactly what I tell it to.

If you just want something to get you out on the water and you don't care about any of that stuff, then go for it. Any boat that puts a smile on your face - for whatever reason - is a good boat for you.

Edit, for disclosure my current fleet has three creek boats, a playboat, a squirt boat, a old glass slalom boat and a racer that I suspect is older than I am.

[Middo]

A quick bump in on this. My Lidl board has been great. For those interested they are back in again.