[Closed] SUP experts - is there an active STW equivalent?

sea breeze.com.au has a SUP forum,or you could try direct messaging people like Cal Major for their SUP choices as they’ve done touring? We tour on Red Inflatables which have the benefit of transporting easily.

Thanks - that looks pretty active so probably my question in there to search for. Or ask a new one.

I actually already have a Red (Voyager 12'6") - this is in addition so we have one each. Having tried a rigid sup there is definitely a benefit on the water. It's just choosing the right model. There will still be times when the Red will sill be the go to model because as you say the trans portability is such a plus.

i Think particularly for sea paddles a rigid is the way to go- I’ve got an 11.3 sport with the batons, and it feels perfectly rigid on Lakes and rivers, but sea swell seems to make it flex a bit more.

I know this is singletrack so I’ll get a very diverse range of answers but what are th3 Aldi special sups like? Fancied one for messing around on with the kids on holiday. Can go on the back rack of the campervan once deflated.

There’s one for a couple of hundred quid with a clip on seat that looks good value but with a rubbish paddle. Anyone got one, considering one?

Apologies for hijack.

Others will give much better answers. Am afraid I've only owned higher end inflatables but friend has a decathlon one which is mid range I guess.

First question - what do you weight? The biggest issue with isups is flex. The more you weigh the more this becomes an issue. I am currently near the 100kg mark so this is an issue for me. The cheaper ones are not made in such a complex manner and also can't hold the same air pressure so flex becomes a bigger issue.

Next, when you say mess around with them, is that you and them on the board together? If so, and especially if you are a bigger unit go for the biggest one you can in terms of volume. A 9.8 with a 180L of volume and a 6 year on on the front would be horrible.

85 kg and a five yr old so over 100 kg I guess.

Aldi? SUPs?

Yeah, er no.

Inflatable SUPs should be robust and have separate chambers for the air, to act as baffles.. the more the better and more rigid the SUP.

I am being overly critical here, but you’ll be buying a LILO at best that will fold in the middle.

As a watersports fanatic, I’d say consider the consequences of buying a device that has the potential to let you down when you least expect it... and then need the volunteers that provide emergency services because of said device has let you down (literally)

Buy a decent SUP branded inflatable SUP... one that’s been properly designed and tested.

IMO, obvz.

I assume that the Aldi one has been tested to some kind of standard?

Was that not worth dignifying with a response....?

Your money, do some research ..

Plenty online about cheap inflatable SUPs.

I am being overly critical here, but you’ll be buying a LILO at best that will fold in the middle.

As a watersports fanatic, I’d say consider the consequences of buying a device that has the potential to let you down when you least expect it… and then need the volunteers that provide emergency services because of said device has let you down (literally)

Buy a decent SUP branded inflatable SUP… one that’s been properly designed and tested.

IMO, obvz.

Utter bollocks, if I may make so bold. The cheapo SUPs like Decathlon are unlikely to be the best, but they will not be "lilos at best". They'll have copied the top brands anyway.

I see so many people on SUPs and most are just punting around on very flat water. You'll pay two and a half times the amount for a name brand but the casual user will barely notice the difference in paddling. Of course you could argue that you will get hooked and end up wanting the better type (buy cheap, buy twice) but then again you might find you lose interest or decide you want a solid board or the technology has got better anyway when you come to buy your next board.

I bought one from Lidl a month or so ago £200 i think, it's this one https://www.f2.com/sup/boards.php? made by  a German company that makes loads of SUPs, wakeboards, kite boarding stuff and snowboard stuff as well. Not sure on the Aldi one though. I haven't actually used it yet but once i'd got it out of the box and inflated it looked great, bloody massive solid thing. Rated for up to 150kgs.

I've also seen one in tesco that looked awful in comparison....

Like anything else though, there will always be people that look down on you because you haven't spent thousands and become a pro in a weekend, even though your having loads of fun. If you like doing it you can look to spend a bit more in the future....

Not me, but these guys seem to think it's ok for the money.

We have a Red inflatable and more than does for what we use it for, sea and in the Lakes. Does have noticeable flex, which I guess is what you're after a rigid for. Sian Sykes (did round the UK on a SUP) has a website and also instructs I believe. Worth a look at what she uses, Starboard I think.

https://www.supboardermag.com is probably the best UK resource, but no forum I’m afraid. GeoSUP is a good app for looking for paddle locations. Hard board advantage is really for racing and surfing, but the race advantage is small (SUPboarder did a comparison and I think the time difference over 1km was a couple of seconds for a hard board which was 2 grand more than the same brands inflatable) also recent pro races have been won on isups. For surfing I think a hard board is better but again the difference is less the smaller the surf for hard compared to a “proper” brand iSUP. The board shape, size and fin pattern make more of a difference to your ride (long, thin, single fin = fast, unstable and slower to turn; short, wide, multi fin = slower, more manouverable, more stable). The cheap iSUPs (Lidl/Decathlon) ride really well, the are less stiff but really you won’t notice it, they will probably tolerate fewer inflate-deflate cycles so if you can just store them inflated at 5psi if you’re not going to ride for a while. Cheap and expensive are just as easy to break on the rocks! If cost is an issue buy 2nd hand - loads of people buy a 10’6” as a first board, get the hang of it, want to surf/race and so sell it to buy a less all round board. Red, Starboard, McConkys, Fanatic, Naish are all great. Don’t get an alloy paddle as they’re heavy and hard work, go glass fibre for lighter and more spring, or carbon fibre if you have the cash! The cheap brand deals often have crap paddles (they save cash here), some sellers let you upgrade in the same way that you can with “proper” brands. If you want to buy new try thesupco and wetsuitoutlet for package deals. Go to BSUPA to find a local club if that’s your thing, also loads of FB groups, if you ride alone use a leash and a PFD.
Hope that helps!

Oops pressed submit before answering your actual query - longer = faster, wider = more stable. So 14 faster than 12’6, 28” wide more stable than 24”. Square tails seem to be more stable than pointy tails. Long fins provide more stability than short ones, fin width/profile will affect drag, profile will affect stability/drag/weed clearance (basically try a few and see - Red paddle glass fibre race fin is great value all rounder) - US fin box best as it gives you most options. Volume really determines floatiness in relation to rider size. Lower vol means more paddling if you’re heavy to stop you sinking! Check manufacturers websites for weight ranges. I used to be a red paddle fan (still am for white water), but for race or touring I think starboard are better as just as quick but much more stable so more effort goes into going forward, less into staying upright. I would go 14’ over 12’6, but had a 12’6 first (but only for 1 summer). If you have the money and can store it and transport it then go hard, but beware they don’t like being banged around so tape the rails and keep it in a bag. If storage or transport is an issue then go inflatable, also cheaper so can go n+1, and strangely more tolerant of being banged around. Try loads - Bray lake and thesupco do good demo days if you’re S of the M4. Supboardermag reviews are really great and worth the sub! (No involvement at all!)

Dickyhepburn- that’s really helpful. I do love this forum. Cheers.

Bikebouy- “Your money, do some research ..” that’s not quite the forum spirit surely? If everyone on here provided that as an answer this place would have shut down yrs ago....

Not specifically UK but this was the closest I found to STW when researching what SUP to get a couple of years ago:

href="https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php"> https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php

Hang on, why does a sup have a clip on seat?

Holy convertible canoe Batman, looks bloody uncomfy to me

lapierrelady

Hang on, why does a sup have a clip on seat?

Which one does that? I would like that feature.

The F2 SUP from Lidl does

Try loads – Bray lake and thesupco do good demo days if you’re S of the M4.

Thanks for that pointer. I've been looking for somewhere local to try SUP and that's not too far from us.

Me and the other half are going to get ourselves booked in for a beginners lesson there 👍

UK Rivers Guidebook now has an SUP Forum.