Hi Im Reuben from SUPboarderAnd in this video Im going to explain what things you should consider when deciding whether to buy & paddle an inflatable or hard/composite SUP.Talking in relation to a general/allround board.INTROThankyou to Fatstick for sponsoring this video.Fatstick are a small UK brand based on the south coast, whove been offering a range of inflatable and hard SUPs since 2012, . blah blah blah?good quality ?good price ?good rangeWhen it comes to buying a SUP in todays market there is so much choice! But the biggest decision is definitely whether to go inflatable or hard?Its not as simple as, just whether you can be bothered to pump it up or not!Theres so much more you need to consider to ensure you make the right paddling choice.Looking at the MAIN OFF THE WATER points that ypiu are suing to consider STORAGE a big one and pretty obvious TRANSPORT/getting to your paddle location roof rack boot with ISUP maybe you want to flying with your SUP that going too way easier with a iSUP of of course but this is still doable with a composite board. CARRYING both have carry handles to help carry your board but carrying an iSUP definitely easier whether in a back pack or inflated as easier to put down for a rest & less dings (walking into wall!) WEIGHT depends on composite board construction some can be super light (carbon) but others very heavy which makes getting it to the waters edge tricky, but in general iSUPs are lighter SET UP composite board just attach fins and leash and off you go isup need to pump up and time it takes depends on the size of your board and your technique! Also need to find somewhere to leave pump/bag etc unless you plan to take them with you on your boardON THE WATER FEEL youll definitely be able to feel the difference even with you eyes shut! STABILITY youll notice a difference in initial stability even before you get paddling. isup board more stable and more forgiving especially for beginners due to thicker rails throughout the thinner rails and narrower tail of the composite board benefits it in other ways which Ill speak about later, but definitely makes it feel a little less stable overall STIFFNESS composite boards are stiffer than an iSUPs -so when moving around the board maybe when doing step back turns etc composite board quicker to react as less flex. BUT if yo do FALLING OFF/CLIMBING BACK ON iSUP thickness can make it harder to climb back on especially if its common 6 one as floats higher out of the water However a softer iSUP can make it kinder on the knees when learning and falling onto the deck If we talk about DISCIPLINES well worth considering what type of paddling you plan to do with your board as isups/composite better suited to diff uses PERFORMANCE in calm/flat water conditions isup/composite boards perform quite similar but as soon as conditions become choppier composite board performs better no flex & less windage so can paddle further and faster for less effort FAMILY FUN when more about having fun than top end performance then iSUP ideal. More robust so less chance of it getting damaged when being climbed on when on the beach aswell as in the water TOURING when conditions flat/calm both isup & composite can be good benefit of isups being they can carry more load at from & back and isups also make launching & landing & portaging with gear easier as boards less fragile SURF iSUP great for learning softer & offer more stability But the down side of iSUP in surf is theyre slower / nose dive easier due to reduced rocker / dont turn as well due to the thicker rails which can easily catch performance of composite board way higher in the surf easier to catch and ride waves due to the more refined bottom shape, rocker line, thinner rails and tail which really aids performance in the surf in the surf performance of even an basic composite board is way better than an even a surf specific iSUP!OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER OVERALL LOOK composite boards look better! However HOW HARD ARE YOU ON YOUR KIT? if very then iSUP prob a better option as a shiny hard board wont stay looking nice for long! REPAIR both can be repaired iSUPs are tough but they can still be punctured and if you put a hole in your iSUP it will deflate and you wont be able to use it until repaired a composite board however you could still paddle and use despite being damaged best to get repaired asap though to prevent too much water getting in LIFESPAN iSUP limited life due to glues/UV damage etc composite board can keep going regardless of whether small damage or snapped in two as can usually always be repaired so if youre after 1 board 4 life then you should prob consider a hard board although its unlikely to look pretty later in life! TOUCHING ON RE SALE prob a composite board will hold its value more in the current market but obviously depends what condition its in PRICE in general iSUPs cheaper but prices of iSUPs and composite boards do vary hugely depending on construction and quality, and whats included in the board package. BOARD PACKAGE iSUPs usually sold as a complete package but sometimes composite board prices are board only, so may seem good value for money but if you then need to buy a leash, paddle etc it soon adds up.-all FATSTICK boards come as a package hard boards also include a bag/leash/fins and either a standard or carbon paddle iSUP packages aswell as bag/pump/leash/repair kit/paddle also include a quick release belt (as standard not extra) Also Many I sup packages come with more like a kayak seats and attachements.Also weather you buy into a hard or iSUP wonder what the brand is doing to reduce its emvermently impact.Fatstick where example are working in partnership with Tree Nation, a tree planting campaign, planting 1 tree for every board sold, adding to the fatstick forest. And also a partnership with Ocean Co, a global movement dedicated to collecting 7 billion ocean-bound plastic bottles by 2025. in 2018 they were one of the first brands to remove single use plastic from their iSUP packages. Fatstick are cleanly an environmentally aware brand, trying to do their bit to look after our environment, this all does make a difference to the world we all love to paddle in.EXTROAs you can see there is LOTS to consider when deciding whether to go inflatable or hard.(show a list of all the bullet points youve just mentioned)And the likelihood is there will always have to be some compromise! eg opting for a faster hard touring board, but as a result more fragile and more tricky to store/transportWhich is why many SUPers have a quiver of SUPs!But as always, if you can try before you buy and talk to other paddlers about what kit theyre using and why. It will certainly help with your decision making.Wed love to hear what the main reason was for you choosing inflatable or hard. Maybe it was a totally different reason, not covered in this video, please let us know.And remember to check out Fatstick website to find out more about this well respected brand and to see what inflatable and hard boards they have to offer.If youre a SUPboarder PRO member then remember to make the most of our Ask the Experts service where you can ask us anything about SUP and one of the team will get back to you with their thoughts. So once youve decided between inflatable or hard, if youre still unsure which board size to go for, get in touch and well help you make that right decisionThe post Inflatable or hard SUP whats best for you? appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.