Pros and Cons on SUP Hard Board vs Inflatable Boards
Posted: 23 December 2020
How do you decide if you should buy a SUP hard board or an inflatable board? ASI has listed 13 key areas such as performance, cost, repairs, transport, resale and more - with pros and cons of each.
Performance
Hard Board
Greater responsiveness out on the water and user experience.
Generally faster.
Unsurpassed in wave riding performance.
Able to cope with in a wider range of conditions.
Lower water line makes a hard board less affected by wind.
Broader range of construction to balance budget and performance needs.
iSUP
iSUPs have near hard board performance in flat water – for high quality leading brands only.
Quite good performance but not the same as hard boards.
If water conditions not perfect, or become rougher- board feels sluggish.
Wind – harder to control with potential to lift up board out of water
Fins
Hard Board
Fins are removable (eg for overseas transport).
Fin box systems can be fiddly to put fins into and easy to lose fin box plates and screws.
Able to change fins for performance needs
iSUP
Can be attached or have removeable set up options.
Weight
Hard Board
Weight ranges dictated by personal performance requirements and budget. Less expensive can be heavier; lighter boards will be more expensive.
e.g. 10ft 6’ board can weigh about 10.5 kgs (or between 10 to 12 kgs) or 14ft carbon can weigh the same or less
iSUP
Lighter e.g. a 10ft 6 board can weight about 9.9 kgs
As more material tech becomes available at an affordable price, iSUP’s are becoming lighter and lighter and are often lighter than lower end composite boards.
Cost
Hard Board
Range of prices.
Lighter boards are more expensive.
iSUP
Good quality is expensive.
Poor quality and potentially unsafe boards are cheap.
Construction
Hard Board
Durable, rarely break (snap / crease).
Usually Solid foam core (EPS core being Expanded Polystryene) and coated with fibreglass, carbon fibre or epoxy resin.
The number of coatings will affect the durability and weight.
iSUP
Various construction types from poor to high quality.
Welded seam and double chamber is safest and best but potentially more expensive.
Other constructions can deflate due to tears, leaks in valves. Have been known to explode in warmer weather (burst seams).
Set Up
Hard Board
No set up time.
iSUP
Board takes time to inflate and deflate – before and after paddling session.
Pump is also needed – electronic or manual.
Transport
Hard Board
Transporting the boards, you will need to be able to get this onto a roof rack of a car. Not easy to transport overseas.
iSUP
Easy, deflate and pack up in a backpack. Can be put inside a car. Easy to travel by plane.
Storage
Hard Board
You will need storage space such as a garage at home to store it.
iSUP
Once packed up, doesnt need more space.
To save time inflatables can be stored inflated. In this case, you will also need garage or space to store the board.
Safety
Hard Board
Can hurt self if fall onto hard board.
No risk of deflation. Even if board breaks, it will still float. Can stay on board in emergency situation.
iSUP
Softer if fall onto board.
Potentially dangerous situation if deflation occurs out on the water.
Resale
Hard Board
Good re sale value if looked after.
iSUP
More wear resistant, better resale.
Second Hand Market
Hard Board
Generally unlimited.
iSUP
Good in UK & Europe. May not be in other countries.
Damage
Hard Board
Damage can occur easily and usually off the water, getting the board out of storage to the water.
Quite often composite boards have external sprays which chip over time, not great for the environment and makes the board look tired.
If left untreated damaged boards can become heavier over time and look weary and battle worn with multiple repairs.
iSUP
Damage resistant. Most kit is damaged getting it out of storage and to the water, rather than while paddling.
iSUP’s provide a significant advantage in this area when they are bumped and dragged when moving them about.
Repairs
Hard Board
Damaged boards can be repaired quickly at home with limited knowledge. Can be much easier to find a ding repair shop to get it done properly.
iSUP
Difficult to find a reputable dealer to fix.
Most cases, have to send iSUP away to be fixed.
About ASI
ASI is a professional membership organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
We set the standards for education, accreditation, professional development and ongoing support for our members, offering pathways from entry level to elite level.
International Instructor and Coach Accreditation. You can travel the world with ASI.
ASI Accredited Schools abide by the high international standards for operations, training and safety.
www.academyofsurfing.com
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