It’s a very popular question that many of you are asking when moving down from your mid length boards, to longer and thinner boards. But not knowing really where to start when it comes to width and how narrow you can go.
Subscribe
11 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Leigh Boxall
1 month ago
Thanks Reuben!
I’m really keen to go to a 25 or 26 inch wide isup, but I haven’t found many (any) options that also come in the thinner 4’75 or 5 inch depth that I prefer over the normal 6 inch depth boards.
Thanks so much! Yes indeed have pondered a gladiator kids board. I’m currently using a 12’6 gladiator pro light, which is 29 wide and the thinner depth. Fascinated to know what difference it would make to go narrower, but have to compromise a little on length. I’m guessing not a significant enough difference to make it worth buying another board… but would be keen to try.
Maybe a head to head of intermediate / race kids boards?!
The table suggest a relation between rider weight and board width. I don’t think that idea is valid. The width of a board is important for speed and stability. But most paddlers tend to chose a board that is too narrow. The result is that you don’t feel safe and stable and that results in wrong paddling technique. The end result is that you are learning a cramped way of paddling, that is almost impossible to unlearn. Better start with a board that feels very stable.Take your time, paddle a lot and then move up one or two inches a… Read more »
Thanks for your comment. Very good points. The table is a guide for paddlers of an intermediate level and up. But you are right , using loads of boards is the best way like you have suggested but the problem we get is many of the paddlers who contact us don’t have access to any boards to try. So this will give them a place to start look at. What board are you paddling now and are you happy with it for your weight? thanks Reuben
Mon Jef Peeters
1 month ago
Thanks for the video. I’m curious if you have a sense of the relative speed differences for changes in width. Assuming the narrower board doesn’t result in falls or significant instability to hamper paddle technique/ability (E.g., a 14′ Allstar in 26″ vs. 24.5″ vs. 23″, if you had a ride that could handle the 23″, how much slower would they be on the wider models?). I am contemplating a new/narrower board and curious how much faster it could be.
This is a very good question and TBH a hard one to answer. The narrow boards will be faster but, by how much. I think we will have to try do a video on this and share our findings. Thanks for the good idea, sorry I cant be specific with an answer. Thanks Reuben
Thanks. I appreciate the response and looking forward to any future findings!
John French
1 month ago
I was interested in your thoughts about width and length. I know a 14′ board has a higher hull speed but wondered, for a typical paddler, how more or less or more efficient a narrower 12’6″ could be compared to a wider 14′. e.g. 12’6×28 vs 14×30. When touring you may be doing 4mph so efficiency may be of more importance than potential maximum hull speed differences. May be you have tested speed for a given power or heart rate, instead of just a max speed.
Hey John I have just got back to a verry similar question from Mon Jef also. I think we will need to do some more tests to work this one out. I think I will have to get Harry our SUPboarder naval architect to help with this also.
– to access more content and expert support, check out 
.
Thanks Reuben!
I’m really keen to go to a 25 or 26 inch wide isup, but I haven’t found many (any) options that also come in the thinner 4’75 or 5 inch depth that I prefer over the normal 6 inch depth boards.
Are you aware of any?
Hey Leigh, What length? 12’6? But I do agree there really isn’t that many boards out there. Have you seen this ? https://gladiatorpaddleboards.com/en/paddleboards/elite-116-r-kids
Thanks so much! Yes indeed have pondered a gladiator kids board. I’m currently using a 12’6 gladiator pro light, which is 29 wide and the thinner depth. Fascinated to know what difference it would make to go narrower, but have to compromise a little on length. I’m guessing not a significant enough difference to make it worth buying another board… but would be keen to try.
Maybe a head to head of intermediate / race kids boards?!
Yes maybe we should let you do a mini test?
The table suggest a relation between rider weight and board width. I don’t think that idea is valid. The width of a board is important for speed and stability. But most paddlers tend to chose a board that is too narrow. The result is that you don’t feel safe and stable and that results in wrong paddling technique. The end result is that you are learning a cramped way of paddling, that is almost impossible to unlearn. Better start with a board that feels very stable.Take your time, paddle a lot and then move up one or two inches a… Read more »
Thanks for your comment. Very good points. The table is a guide for paddlers of an intermediate level and up. But you are right , using loads of boards is the best way like you have suggested but the problem we get is many of the paddlers who contact us don’t have access to any boards to try. So this will give them a place to start look at. What board are you paddling now and are you happy with it for your weight? thanks Reuben
Thanks for the video. I’m curious if you have a sense of the relative speed differences for changes in width. Assuming the narrower board doesn’t result in falls or significant instability to hamper paddle technique/ability (E.g., a 14′ Allstar in 26″ vs. 24.5″ vs. 23″, if you had a ride that could handle the 23″, how much slower would they be on the wider models?). I am contemplating a new/narrower board and curious how much faster it could be.
Thanks.
This is a very good question and TBH a hard one to answer. The narrow boards will be faster but, by how much. I think we will have to try do a video on this and share our findings. Thanks for the good idea, sorry I cant be specific with an answer. Thanks Reuben
Thanks. I appreciate the response and looking forward to any future findings!
I was interested in your thoughts about width and length. I know a 14′ board has a higher hull speed but wondered, for a typical paddler, how more or less or more efficient a narrower 12’6″ could be compared to a wider 14′. e.g. 12’6×28 vs 14×30. When touring you may be doing 4mph so efficiency may be of more importance than potential maximum hull speed differences. May be you have tested speed for a given power or heart rate, instead of just a max speed.
Hey John I have just got back to a verry similar question from Mon Jef also. I think we will need to do some more tests to work this one out. I think I will have to get Harry our SUPboarder naval architect to help with this also.