Inflatable SUP: what to think about during the acquisition phase

Stand-up paddling has been one of the most popular watersports in recent years, and it is perfect both for summers in the sea, as well as for other seasons in lakes and rivers.

To practice it, it is necessary to own the right board. There are two main types: inflatable SUPs, which are perfect for all sorts of situations and ideal for novices; and rigid SUPs, which offer better performance at a faster speed and reduced mobility, and are perfect for expert users - but much more difficult to transport.

SHOULD I GO FOR INFLATABLE OR RIGID BOARDS?

Rigid SUPs, as mentioned above, are mostly designed for expert users who want to push their board to the limit, making the most of its manoeuvrability and reactivity in directional movements.

Be careful here, though: even if you are an expert navigator and want to challenge yourself to paddle on rocky waters, it is still better to opt for an inflatable SUP, because it allows for better cushioning of small impacts, and does not risk becoming unusable in the event of chippings. Obviously, if the impact with a rock were to be quite intense, there would be a high risk of puncturing the board. At the same time however, the same impact made on a rigid board would surely result in its destruction.

A first argument in favor of inflatable SUP boards, therefore, is certainly their ductility, allowed by a double layer of PVC with polyester which is light and resistant at the same time; to this we can also add their practicality: the average weight of an inflatable SUP is around 15 kilograms – fins included - so it is possible to transport it even on short journeys on foot without excessive physical effort.

Finally, price: while it is true that for both types of boards you can find very high or very low prices depending on the quality of the SUP, we strongly advise always relying on a medium-high quality product, even if you are just starting out, so as to avoid unpleasant surprises. Within this quality range, inflatable SUP boards are certainly more accessible price-wise.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF INFLATABLE SUP BOARDS

The most relevant advantage of an inflatable SUP board is its ease of use and transport.

When the board is deflated, you have so many options for transport: you can place it in the car, or on a small boat to use it offshore; you might even put it in a backpack and transport it by motorbike, scooter or bicycle without logistical difficulties.

When it is inflated, you can easily lean it against walls, rocks or reefs, thanks to the resistance of its material. This way, you do not have to worry about it getting scratched or splintered, and can make the most of your relaxation time.

But it is actually in between these two phases that the inflatable SUP board offers its best: thanks to highly technological hand or electric pumps with top-quality performances, today, you can inflate and deflate your SUP without physically struggling. In just a few minutes, your board will be ready for use: it really has nothing to envy to its rigid counterparts!

Find out more about different inflation options here > https://www.scoprega.it/en/products/inflators/

HOW TO INFLATE AN INFLATABLE SUP

Inflatable pump markets offer more and more solutions at variable price ranges, but the products all fall within two macro-categories: mechanical or electric inflation.

Inflating your inflatable SUP board mechanically means having to use your own muscle strength. But don't worry, you won’t have to struggle too much: the hand pumps currently on offer, in fact, make it possible for your SUP to reach perfect pressure in just a few minutes, thanks to devices that can hit 2 bars of maximum pressure.

Further, you can forget about having to sit or lie on the board to make it deflate as quickly as possible: manual inflators can easily switch to "deflate" mode, allowing you to deflate your inflatable SUP board hands-free.

In this short video we explain what the best hand pumps are, based on the needs of different SUP users > https://www.scoprega.it/en/media.2/video/the-big-pump-test-2019-bravo-red-paddle-co-and-gri/

If, however, you want to fully enjoy your holiday without having to struggle (except in the water, of course), then electric inflators might be the perfect product for you – keeping in mind that there is obviously a higher financial outlay than manual inflators.

Scoprega’s electric inflators specifically boast the best performance on the market in terms of inflation times and reliability, so much so that they are chosen not only in the marine sector and for water sports, but also in the military and first aid sectors.