Hi guys,

I am wanting to get into SUP touring, want to know what type of inflatable SUP's I should be considering. I want to go inflatable due to coming across white water rapids, rocks and storage. I would want to be able to take camping equipment and fishing rods with me swell.

I have looked at ULI and Hobie boards so far but only heard the salesman pitch, not real world experience.

Also what should I look for in a paddle?

I haven't tried any yet, not sure of any reputable shops who can help me out, I live in the liverpool area, happy to travel to anywhere in Sydney.

Dan

I've a Fanatic 14 x 30 that has been brilliant for touring.

Good stability, tough, excellent waterline length.

Very happy with it...

Im also looking at getting one for touring but not sure what they are like. I had a look at the Red Paddle mob they looked ok. But are inflatables rigid enough to be used in the surf and are they any good. I have been looking at either the Fanatic, BIC or Jimmi Lewis all around the 10'3 x32" mark. Any thoughts would be appreciated...

I have both Jimmy Lewis Inflatables (10' & 12'6"). Both are very rigid and well made. Can handle 25 psi. I would buy them again. I can paddle them for 15 - 20 km without a problem on the local waterways.

Mine came with a 3 piece paddle. They seem strong enough. However I use the Naish 3 and 2 piece paddle mostly.

I can't wait till the weather warms up again.

Very happy with naish paddle and air sup - (still pretty bulky) but fine on a plane and whilst always a compromise on the solid thing fantastic to be able to have such portability

I bought this for the same reason..

C4 Waterman do a great touring 12'6 iSup. C4 Waterman were the pioneers of inflatable stand up paddle boards and still make some great and durable designs. The iTrekker 12'6 would likely suit your needs.
www.c4waterman.com/BoardDetails.aspx?id=70

If rapids and rocks are a staple of the touring conditions you expect, just be aware that not all inflatables are made equal. Some will not be robust enough to cope with that sort of impact. Some inflatables are made as light weight as possible and others with low volume to provide the best surfing characteristics. Neither of these are likely to be any good for you.

I should acknowledge my affiliation with Starboard, but even within that context, I suggest you look at the Starboard website where you will find several boards that suit, as well as a number that do not.

http://star-board-sup.com/2015/overview-astro-inflatable/

For instance, the Astro Racers would not be right for you as they are lighter construction to make them as fast as possible - that's to say they are not built to run over rocks. The Astro Touring boards would be far batter, especially the 12'6" or the 11'6" models. You could also consider the Allround shaped Blend at 11'2" x 32" but make sure you get the Deluxe construction which is 2 layer thickness. On the other hand, the Zen construction is single layer and that is not suitable.

Best of all for rapids and rocks is the Astro Stream as it is super heavy duty and purpose made for running rapids. Unfortunately the 2014/2015 models only came in 9'6" x 36" which is not so good for general purpose touring. However if you can wait a little while, the 2016 range includes an 11' x 34" Stream and that would hands down, the absolute best board on the market for what you describe.

As far as paddles go, once again if rocks and rapids are what you expect to encounter, then you should be wary of getting an expensive full carbine blade and shaft as they will only get bashed about. Better to look at something in a carbon hybrid or even fibreglass. Starboard's fibreglass paddle is called the Tufskin, and the hybrid is called the Tikitech.

star-board-sup.com/2015/paddle-overview/

Hi Dilmah1 The Quatro Glide 12'6 is the business ....and we know just where to get one :)

Red and ULI are still the standouts for stiffness/toughness (but some of the bigger names are catching up fast). You pay a couple of kg weight penalty for sturdier construction (thicker/more skins, denser drop-stitch) from those two makers but IMO it's worth it. I have 12'6 x 6" x 30" RED with the RSS batten system. Takes well over 25psi and with the battens in as well it's remarkably stiff compared to all others in its class, especially through the standing area (note: I'm heavier on my own than most people are laden). Have had mine for a couple of years, at the time I tested just about all the 12'6 inflatables available in my locale and the RED was the standout. Have tried a couple from the big names since but IMO they're not quite there yet. I added some bungee tiedowns to mine for carrying stuff.

How did you find the Red compared to the ULI? and big fin or small fins for rivers? I would think small fins if white watering and going over rocks.

Hey Dilmah1,

I have paddled a number of inflatables. I am 95kg but have been until recently as heavy as 109kg.

I find the Starboard inflatables to be really good and currently have a 12'6" Astro tourer and a 9'6 Astro Stream which is perfect for whitewater and more extreme river paddling.

I have used the Naish N1isco and find after a while the deck pad can start to come adrift in places, particularly the corners - I haven't found that with the Starboards.

The Ulis tended to 'banana' or lose their shape a bit after a while, although they may have fixed that. Can't speak for the red.

The Astro Stream is the best for extreme rocky terrain and is virtually bullet-proof. It is amazingly stable.

The Astro Tourer is extremely well built, and has a superior glide IMHO.

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Dilmah1 said..
How did you find the Red compared to the ULI? and big fin or small fins for rivers? I would think small fins if white watering and going over rocks.

RED generally stiffer than comparable ULI, especially the models with the batten system. ULI does have the wiki rail thing that looks like a decent idea but I haven't tried one. Personally I like having a US-compatible fin box in the RED (because I am a fin pig). The REDs now come with a superb backpack-style bag with wheels and their Titan pump will be a thing to have when it makes it to OZ.

Yes definitely smaller fins for rivers - I haven't done any white water but I have been caught out in a couple of shallow streams and lakes having to trudge through river/lake mud in waters less than 'normal' fin depth. There is a mob here in OZ that sells flexible fins for US-boxes in a range of sizes - haven't tried one yet but they look like they could be a thing (see http://air-sup.com/au/index.php/fins.html)

Demo if you can and let us know what you end up with.

As you can tell by the responses the type of board can depend on the main use. I have done a reasonable amount of touring in ISUP boards so hopefully can point you in the right direction.

1. Length of board can depend on your needs. Something 11"-12'6 is good for tight spots and manoeuvrability. A 14' board will be more efficient and has more space for gear stowage.

2. You need to get a board with enough volume and stability for you AND your equipment.

3. Longer tours and expeditions generally mean you can be a long way from help. This isn't a time to skimp on quality with an inflatable board as they aren't all well made.

4. Weight vs Durability. All boards will rupture on something sharp and the only way to mitigate this a bit is by adding an extra layer. Only a few brands offer this.
Double layer boards do add some weight though and you might want to consider just the type of rocks etc you might encounter as many faster flowing river rocks don't really have sharp edges.

For me most of my previous trips have been on 12'6" boards however this year I am switching to the 14' Starboard Touring for a bit more glide and the extra storage.

Sorry forgot to mention paddles.

Guessing you would want a 3 piece paddle. I can only go by the ones we sell but here we go.
Firstly much the same as all paddles they can be a price to weight ratio thing.

Construction- Lightweight carbon for paddling many km's or glass composite for durability.
Some paddle brands (mostly from kayak backgrounds) make solid fibreglass blades that when the edge is damaged by rocks won't de-laminate or take on water. These were once useful for durability however I never liked them as the edges would become sharp and can damage you or your board. Most modern SUP blades with an ABS edge have enough edge durability these days.

Features and things to look for-
Does the paddle break down small enough to fit into your ISUP bag?
Durability and type of connections for each segment.
Weight
Flex

Some examples-Starboard Tiki Tek- Strong with a very durable blade. A little heavier than our others and one length is a bit long to fit in the bag.
Naish Makani - Light with enough flex to not destroy the shoulders. Packs down well and has a good clamp system once adjusted properly.
Fanatic Carbon 80 - Light and strong.

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HumanCartoon said..
There is a mob here in OZ that sells flexible fins for US-boxes in a range of sizes - haven't tried one yet but they look like they could be a thing (see http://air-sup.com/au/index.php/fins.html)

Looks like a good product and although the URL says local, the long delivery times suggests there is no Australian warehousing or product fulfilment, and all orders are sent from Japan.

Hey Dan, get the Red Paddle 12'6" x 28" Race.
Battens on the side, extremely rigid. US Fin Box so you can change fins, even though it comes with a great fin. Cargo net at the front. The board has speed & is very comfortable to paddle. Even catch a wave or venture into white water with a smaller fin set up.

Hi Dan,

We've had a great response from our customers on the BIC SUP Air range for all different uses, most popular have been the 10'6 X 33 & 11' X 32 but they make a 12'6 too.

Not sure if you've seen them but we have a sturdy but collapsible mesh fishing/storage basket with a rod & paddle holder, pockets, straps etc from BoardFisher.

We've actually got some of the flexible fins Human Cartoon mentioned in different sizes & flex.

Happy to help you out if we can mate