WHICH BOARD?

All-Round, Touring or Activity SUP?

The first thing to consider when buying a paddleboard is what the primary purpose of your new SUP will be? This is especially true if this is your first board.

Paddleboards come in all shapes & sizes, but there’s always a reason why. Most all-round boards are round or oval in shape & wider than a touring board, which is narrower & has a pointier nose. This makes balancing and manoeuvrability easier for an oval-shape, especially if you’re new to the sport.

For speed & tracking, then the sharper touring profile is preferred – although balancing can be tricky for beginners. If you’re a confident paddler & are seeking a board that can glide through the water & cover longer distances much quicker, then the SPRINT range of touring SUPs is for you. 

The general all-round shape is true of the AURA FIT activity SUP, which is ideal for all-round paddling besides being the perfect platform for yoga, Pilates & water-based fitness. The wide oval shape provides perfect balance & is particularly popular with beginners looking for versatile use.

The CRUISE & CRUISE CARBON ranges are our best-selling all-round SUPs by far. They differ from most multi-use boards in that we have combined the benefits of a rounder all-round nose with that of a pointy touring nose, therefore blending balance with speed. We believe this truly makes the perfect all-round paddleboard that you can grow with as your ability improves.

The CRUISE & SPRINT all-round & touring boards also benefit from a hybrid rounded-square tail, allowing you to make quick & sharp turns & for overall speed & performance. The AURA FIT activity SUP has a round tail, giving the board more balance when speed isn’t the main priority.

WHICH BOARD?

Does Size Matter?

We try not to overcomplicate the sizing of our SUPs, which is why we offer size brackets of 10′ 8″, 10′ 10″, 12′, 14′, 15′ & the extra large 18′ MAMMOTH.

For our more specialist touring & activity SUPs, then we only offer one-size for each board making things much simpler for you.

In our all-round CRUISE & CRUISE CARBON ranges, however, then there are 4 sizes to select from. For junior paddles, or if you’re under 5′ 3″, then there’s the option of the 8′ CRUISE JR. If you’re buying this for the kids, then you can also try it out for size on the waves as an adult (it’s not going to suit you for all-round use if you’re over 5′ 3″ however).

There’s no exact science to matching a board to your size & weight & there are many exceptions to the rule, but as a rule of thumb – then if you’re under 6′ & below 85kg then you should go for a 10’8″ board. If you’re over 6′ & 85kg – then a 12′ is usually ideal. If you want even more length & width, then the 15′ TANDEM works perfectly as a solo option, as well as taking other passengers or paddlers on board.

If you regularly want to take your pups or kids along for the ride, then you may want to go for a slightly bigger board than you normally would. Refer to the maximum weights for each board & you’ll be fine.

Naturally, some performance & sturdiness will be compromised with extra bodies on board, but our ultra-rigid SUPs will still take the weight, especially the extra sturdy CRUISE CARBON & SPRINT CARBON boards featuring duo air chambers & the carbon rail Flex Reduction System.

If you want to go all out & get the full-squad on board – then the MAMMOTH is obviously the paddleboard for you & your buddies.

WHICH BOARD?

Need Extra Cargo Space?

All of our Bluefin Stand Up Paddleboards come loaded come loaded with ample cargo space, but if long-distance paddling is your thing, then you’ll likely require even more space to store your essential kit. The ‘advanced all-round user’ CRUISE CARBON range benefits from generous bungee deck nets at the front & rear of the board, as does the SPRINT range of touring boards, including the new SPRINT CARBON.

When it comes to touring, then the SPRINT & SPRINT CARBON are your go-to SUPs – although inexperienced paddlers may find them difficult to balance on at first. If your skill level isn’t quite there yet, then a CRUISE CARBON will be ideal. Consider upgrading to a 12′ or 15′ for even better touring performance.

WHICH BOARD?

Is the Carbon Range Worth the Upgrade?

Let’s start off by talking up the standard CRUISE & SPRINT boards, which are of a higher grade than many more expensive boards on the market – especially when you’re starting out in the sport & are conscious about parting with a hefty wad of cash.

Somewhere down the line, though, time after time, paddlers who have caught the bug keep coming back to us to upgrade to a Carbon model, which is great – there’s always room for two SUPs in your life & two boards are definitely better than one, right?

So what makes the Carbon upgrades so special? SUPBoarder Magazine was left stunned by the extra stiffness when they reviewed the first drop of CRUISE CARBONS in 2019. Rated 9.5/10 & extremely good value for the money, they were among the stiffest inflatable boards they’d ever tested.

The added construction details featuring FRS (Flex Reduction System) carbon-rails & the AIR|DUO inflation system really does make that extra difference when it comes to sturdiness. All Carbon boards are finished with a vibrant carbon trim, a US Box Fin System – so you can interchange & upgrade your fins, plus a carbon-fibre shaft paddle, which is even lighter than the fibreglass version.

We really can’t talk up the stiffness of the boards enough, though – it’s the closest you’ll come to a hardboard SUP giving you even more confidence on the water & the perfect platform to take your paddle boarding skills to the next level, especially if you want to get into some serious touring with the new SPRINT CARBON model.