Determining what length of board you need isn’t always easy. There are three main sizes: Small, Medium, and Long. Small consists of boards that are 10 feet and shorter. Medium boards range from 10 feet to 12 feet. Longboards are in a staggering range of 12 feet to 14 feet. If you want a stable ride, then the longer board is your best choice.
There’s a lot of other variables you have to consider before you purchase a paddleboard, however. There are variables like volume, weight capacity, and even what kind of hull type you want on your board.
The two main types of the hull are planing and displacement. Planing features a flattened tip. This is a great choice for those who just want to cruise along rivers or lakes. Displacement features a sharpened tip. This is the preferred hull for those who intend to use their board to surf, race, or simply go fast on the river.
Are Longer Paddle Boards More Stable?
One reason many stand up paddleboarders choose longer boards is that they offer a more stable foundation. With more volume underneath you, your weight can be distributed a bit more evenly across the board. This makes standing up and paddling along stronger rivers and lakes a more feasible activity.
It also makes surfing easier even with all the haters (related article – why do surfers hate SUP?)
Balance has to do with how the board is able to support your weight. Shorter boards have less volume. As a result, your weight can only be focused in the dead-center of the board. Any wiggling may upset the board and toss you into the water.
Longer boards offer more room to move around. While you should still try to focus most of your weight in the center of the board, it’s a bit more forgiving if you decide to move up a little or down a little on the board. (related article – can you use a longboard as a paddleboard?)
You’ll also find that longer boards also primarily use a displacement hull. This can also help make a board more stable because it cuts through the water easier. If you plan on touring through some rivers or rough waves, then a displacement hull and longboard are your best choice.
What Is the Best Size Paddle Board For Beginners?
Those who are just beginning to paddleboard will likely benefit from a longboard the most. This is because the longboard offers greater stability. Yet the person’s weight and strength should also play a factor.
Children, for example, may find that it’s difficult to steer or control a long paddleboard. They’ll be responsible for trying to turn a board that’s several feet taller than themselves. In this instance, kids may be better suited for a small board when learning how to paddle.
There are paddleboards made specifically for children. If your child just learning how to paddleboard, then starting them out with a kid-friendly board may be their best option.
For adults, sticking with a longboard will offer a greater chance of learning to stay upright while paddling.
A longboard is also a preferred choice for a few specific activities as well. Many paddleboard surfers like to use a longboard because it gives them greater stability when riding down a wave. However, the length may actually be more cumbersome for surfing. It can also prove more dangerous for both the paddler and any surfers or swimmers nearby.
Long paddleboards should only be used for long-distance touring or fast paddling. The displacement hull allows the paddler to drift swiftly across the surface of a river or lake. It may also make you less exhausted at the end of a paddling session because it moves easier in the water.
Long-distance touring is popular among chains of rivers and lakes. You can spend hours looking at the beautiful scenery as you pass from river to river. To ensure you don’t wind up falling into the river, you’ll enjoy the stability that a longboard offers.
If you compete in long-distance paddling, then a longboard is also the preferred choice. Unlike small and medium boards, the longboard tends to track straighter. That means it requires less paddling to stay on target. Racers involved in long-distance competitions prefer the stability and speed that a longboard can offer.
What Size Paddle Board Should I Get For My Height and Weight?
Your size and weight will largely determine what kind of paddleboard you should use. This is due to a few different reasons. The first is that the volume of the board determines its stability. That volume is also tied to your weight. If you happen to weigh a lot, then the volume-to-weight ratio is going to decrease dramatically.
You may notice that the board sinks a little when you step on it. This is because there isn’t enough surface area to counteract the weight capacity. You may also find that balancing on a small board is more difficult.
The second reason that your size and weight affect what kind of board you need is the ability to easily paddle. If you’re a shorter person, then you may find it difficult to paddle with the length of paddles required for a longboard. Inefficient paddle strokes can make paddling harder and more exhausting.
To ensure you start out buying the right board based on your weight and height, you’ll want to follow these general rules of thumb. Shorter and lighter individuals should aim for small boards or medium-sized boards.
Taller and heavier individuals should aim for medium-sized boards and long-sized boards.
Those who are extremely tall or heavy will likely want to stick with just a longboard.
There are also other factors that you will need to consider when buying a paddleboard that can also either make the size of the board work better or worse for you. This includes the different types of fins, the kind of paddles you choose, the thickness of the board, the hull type, and whether it’s a solid board or an inflatable one.
At the end of the day, your best bet is to experiment.