In this blog we will cover everything you need to know about SUP camping- from how to pack, how to start and where to go.
Choosing the Right Board for SUP Camping
For a successful SUP camping trip I would recommend our Rogue Board, it is a board that has been crafted for long distance paddling in mind whilst having room for adventure. With the generous cargo space with two bungee areas it ensures that your gear is secure, and you can adapt your board configuration to meet your needs. This board can carry a maximum weight of 170kg and with the touring fin set up it allows you to have maximum paddling efficiency, stability, and tracking.
Packing Smart: What to consider
A good thing to remember is when you are doing a sup camping adventure you need to be able to pack comfortably as well as being prepared for all situations while not weighing down your sup. So, consider things like sleeping in a bivvy bag or sleeping in a tent if you have more space, bringing a collapsible set of pots and pans or ones that stack inside one another to save space. A useful tip is to pack your things into separate designated dry bags to help organise your gear whilst keeping them dry, having separate bags for your clothing, sleeping gear and food will allow you to find what you need quickly.
Ensure that you are fully planning out your route before you head on your adventure and make sure that your friends or family know this route and your expected arrival date back home. Making sure that you are wearing a leash and a PDF for your safety. When doing a long trip that might take a full day you might want to invest in a floatation device with pockets so that you are able to store quick access items like snacks a flashlight a whistle or even your phone these things can make your journey a little bit easier and in a time sensitive situation you are able to access them.
Make sure to do your research before setting off on your journey to ensure that you are respecting private land and gaining permissions when you are required to do so. For example, if you are in Scotland they have the Right to Rome and so you might find that it is easier to do a stand-up paddle boarding tour in Scotland as opposed to in other areas of the UK. In addition to researching where you'll be staying make sure to research what waterways you will be paddling on so you know whether or not you need a license in order to complete your journey as there are certain restrictions in place regarding where you can and cannot paddle board without a license in the UK.
On your journey you need to ensure that you are fuelled up so that you are ready for paddling the distances that you plan to and in order to do that you need to make sure that you are eating good food that has rich in energy. Personally, when I need to pack light, I will have dehydrated food so all I need to do is add the boiling water, these are really protein rich and will help keep my energy levels high if I'm doing anything strenuous. However, if you don't like de-hydrated food, you can also go for meals like pasta, eggs and soups, things that are easy to cook on a camping stove. In terms of water supply I would recommend bringing purification tablets or even a water filter to ensure that you are drinking safe water whilst on your trip.
Essential Gear Checklist:
Dry Bag
Sleeping Bag / Bivvy
Cooking Equipment
First Aid Kit
PFD
Navigation Tools (map, GPS, compass)
Repair kit for your SUP
Beginner- Friendly SUP Camping Spots
If you wanted to start off small you could head down to a campsite that sits on the edge of a lake or river and that way you can practice paddling with your kit and setting up for the night and paddling again the next day. This will be a safe way to assess your endurance without having the risk of planning and paddling from place to place. Below are some suggestions of campsites that you can launch a SUP from.
Llyn Gwaynat Campsite, Snowdonia- Based in Eryri National Park where you can launch your SUPs and Kayaks from the campsite into the lake.
Byecross Farm Campsite, Herefordshire- A riverfront campsite along the River Wye that welcomes campers to launch their own SUPs on the River
Three Rivers Pitch and Paddle, Norfolk - A campsite based on the edge of the River Waveney. They have a floating pontoon for easy access launching and they are a 20–40-minute paddle from The Locks Inn, a community pub.
Pool Bridge Farm- York- A campsite with its own lake for self-launching your SUP, they have 2-hour slots that you can book onto, half the lake is for SUPs and Kayaks and the other half is for swimming.
Final Tips for a Smooth Trip:
Test your set up beforehand- Pack your gear onto your paddle board and do a short paddle close to shore to check stability and your ability to paddle with the extra kit on board.
Check the weather forecast- Avoid heading out if there’s forecast uncertainty, strong winds or choppy waters.
Leave no trace- Respect nature, dispose of your waste properly and keep campsites clean.
