In this Daily: Inflatable vs Rigid Paddle Boards, a Starter Guide on How to Pick a Paddle Board
Paddle boards fall into two major categories, inflatable and rigid boards, which each provide a different experience from transport to time on the water. From portability and storage to stability and speed, choosing between rigid body and inflatable boards is one of the first choices when picking a board for stand up paddle boarding.
Off the Water | Transport, Storage, and Flexibility
The major benefits of the inflatable board come in its superior convenience to the rigid body board. An inflatable board can break down into a small, light package capable of being easily carried, stored, transported, packed up, and moved around. On the other hand, the rigid body requires a bit more consideration, requiring adequate storage space, more thought given to transport, and can be less convenient to move around.
Ultimately, the inflatable board edges out the rigid body in terms of transport, storage, and flexibility.
The inflatable paddle board's ability to inflate and deflate into a small package gives it the edge in transport, storage, and flexibility | PC: Commons
On the Water | Speed and Maneuverability
One common misconception about inflatable vs rigid body paddle boards is about their variance on the water. For a given length and width, a rigid body paddle board and an inflatable paddle board at the proper pressure both have very similar weight capacity, stability, top speeds, and paddling efficiency over a long distance. However, an inflatable paddle board that hasn’t been inflated to the correct PSI will certainly perform far worse than a rigid body paddle board, giving a rigid body paddle board a slight edge in consistency.
Another factor separating rigid body and inflatable boards is their maneuverability, which the rigid body board also has a slight edge in. Especially for paddle surfing, the harder edge of the rigid body board makes a distinct difference over an inflatable board for carving along a wave, giving the overall edge for on the water performance to the rigid body board.
The extra consistency of a rigid body paddle board, as well as the increased maneuverability, give it an edge in terms of on-water performance
The Long Term | Longevity and Repairs
The final factor to consider when choosing between rigid body and inflatable paddle boards is the long term longevity and repairs. For inflatable boards, very little ride-to-ride maintenance is required, as inflatable boards’ plastic coating tends to resist scratching, peeling, and other mild damage. On the other hand, rigid body boards should be monitored for scratches in paint and coating, as these mild chips, dents, and scratches can affect the board’s performance in the water and cause more damage if left untreated.
However, over the long run, rigid body boards have been shown to last much longer than inflatable paddle boards. They are able to hold up and continue operating smoothly even after multiple rounds of maintenance, whereas an inflatable board that has worn down can be very difficult to repair.
Both forms of boards have their own benefits, coming down to personal preference between a board that lasts for a very long time, and a board requiring very little maintenance.
Both inflatable and rigid body paddle boards have different benefits. Inflatable boards require very little maintenance, while rigid body boards last for a very long time
Picking a Paddle Board from Pura Vida Ride
The calm, clear, and warm waters around Las Catalinas are ideal for stand up paddle boarding surrounded by the natural beauty of the Guanacaste coast. Right on Playa Danta, steps away from the water is Pura Vida Ride Outdoor Outfitter, which has a number of options of both inflatable and rigid body boards to choose from for rental or purchase, including other variations like racing boards (narrower boards for competitive SUP). They can also provide lessons, guided tours around the nearby waters, and even organize experiences like SUP Yoga.
[maxbutton id="1" url="https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4917861/12262539-65e4-4417-b2d9-9db1a739ae2a" text="Paddle in Las Catalinas" ]