How much does it cost to start Paddleboarding?
The Paddleboard market over the past few years has really taken off with new brands popping up almost weekly and large corporations jumping on the Paddleboarding band wagon it is hard to know where to start when purchasing your first paddleboard. Here at WetnDry Boardsports we have been involved in the Paddleboarding industry for over 10 years and have help many people get on the water and enjoy Paddleboarding.
Is a ‘Paddleboard’ from Amazon at £200 worth it?
At WetnDry we get asked this question regularly as there is a massive range of “Paddleboard” prices out there including inflatable boards for £200 from a large corporation up to £2000 for a carbon race paddleboard, it is tricky to know where the best place to start is.
Firstly, let me explain why I say in air quotes “paddleboards” from large supermarkets or online giants. These boards are mass produced by companies looking to make a profit of the growing number of people looking to paddleboard and the quality is so low it is hard to call them a paddleboard, I prefer to call them expensive Lilos. The reason for my calling them Lilos is due to the way in which firstly they handle on the water to secondly how long they last. A board at £200 is built using the lowest quality materials, glue and technology, this results in a board that can hold barely 15psi and sits like a banana in the water making them almost impossible to use for more than just mucking around close to shore. Too my second point regarding how long these boards last. So often products are bought cheap, used once or twice, break and end in the land fill where they will sit for ever. We are about breaking that cycle here are WetnDry Boardsports.
So what’s the best Paddleboard for under £500?
For a slight step up in price to £479 you can get a paddleboard that is produced by a proper Boardsports company who have spent time and money in researching materials and technology to produce a board at low cost without cutting back to much and hindering the end result which is a board anyone can jump on a take for a river cruise or a trip along the coast. Through all our years in the Paddleboard industry this is the best quality board under £500:
Fanatic Fly AIR SUP Package 2020
£479 – Including everything you need to get on the water.
What is the best inflatable paddleboard and how much is it?
Those looking for a paddleboard that can provide excellent value for money while offering all the top technology and premium accessories look no further than Red Paddle Co. Red Paddle Co prices vary from £859 for our top selling Red Paddle Co Ride 10’6 x 32” too £1144 for the Red Paddle Co Elite 14” Race board.
Red Paddle Co are a British company who started way back in 2008 and have cemented themselves as the top inflatable paddleboard manufacturer. This recognition comes from over 10 years of research and development to build an inflatable board that not only rigid but durable and light weight. Too prove the Red Paddle Co’s durability here is a video of a board being put through its paces and run over by a 22 Ton Digger – View Here.
Red Paddle Co use only the best materials and technology, with a double skinned body and the use of drop stitching within the board. A Red Paddle Co can be inflated to 25PSI and can perform as well as their solid counterparts. This comparison can be seen at any Paddleboarding race event where you can often see an Inflatable Red Paddle Co’s amongst the top finishers alongside £2k carbon boards.
All Red Paddle Co Paddleboard packages include the highest quality accessories from a premium adjustable paddle, an industry leading duel barrel pump and a wheeled travel bag. Here is our top selling Red Paddle Co Paddle Board:
Red Paddle Co 10’6 x 32” Ride SUP Package
£859 – Including all the highest quality accessories too get you Paddleboarding.
I want to travel longer distances; how much is a touring board?
Touring Boards are perfect for anyone who is looking to go on longer river runs or coastal trips. The longer length and slightly narrower width result in a longer glide allowing for more distance to be travelled by minimising the output needed. A touring Paddleboard starts at £798 for the Fanatic Diamond Air 11’6 x 31” or at £999 for the Red Paddle Co Sport 11’x 30”. Both these boards are of premium quality and come with high quality accessories. For those looking for to travel even longer distances or are bigger riders then the 13’2 x 32” Red Paddle Co Voyager for £1059 is perfect the increased length will further improve glide over longer distances.
Red Paddle Co Sport 11’x30
£999 - Including all premium accessories
How much does a solid Paddleboard cost?
A step up from a Red Paddle Co would be moving into solid Paddleboards. Solid paddleboards tend to be more expensive due to manufacturing costs but also have a lot of benefits. A solid paddleboard from a high-quality brand such as JP costs around £1500 and is manufactured using industry leading technology and materials. See below the JP Hybrid Wood 11’6 built with a wooden top deck and a low-density EPS core, offering a beautiful design alongside superb performance in longer tours or wave riding.
JP Hybrid Wood 11’6 x 32”
£1549
To Summarize on the cost of a Paddleboard
Around the £200 mark from a Supermarket or Online Giant:
Something that is not going to perform and hold you back from paddling longer distances. Will not last and will end up on a landfill in a year or twos time.
£450+ such as the Fanatic Fly Air:
A board manufactured by Paddleboard specialists with the goal of allowing you to go on a decent paddle for the cheapest cost. The lower cost comes from research into materials and manufacturing processes. May not be as rigid as other inflatable boards but will last and is a perfect introduction into Paddleboarding.
£850+ such a Red Paddle Co Ride:
The highest quality inflatable paddleboards on the market. Years of research and development go into producing a board that is exceptionally durable, light weight, rigid and performs in all conditions from longer distance paddles to catching waves. All accessories included are of a premium quality and are built to stand the test of time. If you want a board the whole family can use and will be able to use for years to come this is the price range you want to be looking at.
£1000+ such as the JP Hybrid Wood:
When you get close to or go over the £1000 mark you start to fall into more specialist categories such as the inflatable Red Paddle 11” Sport which designed for to cover a lot longer distances. Or the inflatable Red Paddle Co 14” Race Boards designed to travel at the highest speeds for as long as possible. Also, over the £1000 mark we get into solid paddleboards which are a category of their own offering advances and some disadvantages to their inflatable counterparts. Here at WetnDry Boardsports we recommend going close to or over the £1000 price tag when you have a use for your Paddleboard in mind whether that may be racing, touring or surfing.
That is a lot of information there and hopefully you are now clearer on the price differences between paddleboards and why there is such a large range. If you are still unsure of what paddleboard is best for you, look at our other blog posts or contact us for a chat via Email or call 01268 569988.
Happy Paddling.
