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Wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a half decent beginner paddle board ?
We’ve a few friends who got expensive ones (£600-£1k) and that’s out of our price range at the moment (as we also need the rest of the gear that goes with them).
It’ll be used by my kids (and me every now and then) who are 6ft & 5ft but not heavy, but I don’t want to sink it when I get on it!
Anyone know of any decent deals around at the moment, bonus points if it comes in a bundle with some of the other gear required
I assume you are looking at inflatables? Beware the really cheap boards - they have a reputation for being too flexible and/or too chunky so catch the wind badly. A good rule of thumb is if it comes with a "seat" and a "kayak paddle" option its probably not a very good SUP! I think we were just under £500 for a decathlon board, paddle and pump. Most online reviews are good, we've been happy. Small number of people I have heard of with problems have had good backup/support from decathlon.
If you are looking at the £200 ish ones I think you are in "Bike Shaped Object" territory (or I suppose SUP Shaped Object). Fine for jumping on and off at the beach in no waves - but actually not great for beginners learning to use a SUP, use in any waves or travelling anywhere. That may be unfair and it could be the crap pump, or lazy user who hasn't inflated it properly. For all that sort of board will actually get used for - you'd probably be better renting.
Don't know about the UK but in Germany Decathalon has a special offer on beginners boards for 170 eur atm.
I've got a 2nd cheaper SUP that the wife/kids use from these guys. https://www.twobarefeet.co.uk/stand-up-paddle-boards/10-6-sups.html We've had it for a year and it's been used loads and seems pretty bulletproof, just doesn't track as well as mine and is less thick so doesn't take as much weight as my main one.
We've got a sport air from two bare feet, very happy with it, I think we paid just under £300 for the board, paddle and pump from the dinghy show.
Decathlon Intuit - I have two and they are fine for beginners and have lasted a bashing.
Next you will be wanting an electronic pump......then a portable battery.
the family have discovered that a multitude of kayaks wasn't enough this year, and what they really wanted was a paddleboard, so.... https://www.aquaplanetsports.com/shop/aquaplanet-pace-sup-package-stand-up-inflatable-paddle-board/
It's good (from what I can tell). Very rigid when inflated, stays rigid enough for a good few weeks. Coupled with a https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08696TW6R/, which gets it inflated most of the way (and deflates it more efficiently as well)
There have been a few people on the river this year (as it's been the fad of the year....which obviously we've embraced with gusto) who just haven't inflated enough; the sagging in the middle is a definite give away.
Impressed with the Decathlon one I bought for 350 plus pump and paddle. First few times we went to the coast which had me thinking "well this is a bag of ****".
Much prefer going on a river and going somewhere and back again instead of doing a big circle at the beach.
We bought the Decathlon / Itiwit X100 11FT for use by a tall lad and also for kids messing. We've only used it for a week so far on calm sea but it seems really well made and pretty solid even with a big lad on. Budget for a pump (£25 Decathlon one is fine) and a paddle (I bought the £50 fibreglass one from Twobarefeet).
You can pump it up in six minutes if you want a real work out or there are two of you.
We've got the Aquaplanet board that Petec links above as a second board. It's very good for the money and in a way is better than the posh one we've got as because it's made of less material its lighter if you have to carry it any distance down to the beach etc.
These are really handy if you have to carry the boards longer than a short distance.