Paddle Board vs Kayak: Getting the Best Experience
Growing up in Northern Michigan surrounded by lakes helped me develop a love for anything water related. Naturally, I wanted to find an active water based activity that I could turn into a new hobby. One of the first things that popped into my mind in this decision process was paddle board vs. kayak, and which would create the most enjoyable experience? I wasn’t too interested in the specs or measurement comparisons, but what allowed me to get the most excitement out of being on the water.
In general, I recommend paddle boarding over kayaking because you can do everything that you could do with a kayak, along with even more additional activities. If you dislike standing or aren’t physically able too, then kayaking is the better way to go.
I knew that both provided some similar experiences. So, I’ve decided to explore the topic further and share with you what I’ve learned and why I’ve ultimately decided to purchase a paddle board.
I’m hoping to share my journey into my new found passion of paddle boarding with you, in order to help provide insight into the hobby, help answer other beginner’s questions, and provide insight on products that may work best for you.
For what I was looking for, SUP had everything to offer and then some
I’m not at all trying to bash kayaking, as I love kayaking as well, but just to highlight some of the differences and similarities if you had to choose just one or the other. Let’s take a look at what I was looking for and discovered while comparing kayaks and stand up paddle boards.
Fitness with a Kayak
Kayak is great for working your upper body strength. If you have issues with your knees or hips, like we tend to get as we age, then kayaking may provide you the workout routine you’re looking for.
Exercises like basketball, running, or jumping can be hard on your body from the impact it exudes on your knees and such.
Kayaking can also be a great pairing with some of those lower body activities to provide a well-balanced workout.
If I was just strictly looking for something to race in, than a kayak would be the better option. A kayak is just set-up better for moving faster along the water.
Fitness with a Paddle Board
SUP allows you to get the same benefits of what a kayak can provide and then some. SUP allows a platform for you to perform other types of exercises standing up.
Yoga on SUP has become very popular and is something that you aren’t able to achieve on a kayak. You may be interested in my post, Is SUP Yoga Worth It.
I’ve heard of boxing, jousting, and other extreme fitness exercises being done on a paddle board, which the same can’t be said for kayaking.
Another cool thing I discovered with SUP is the ability to change your body position, so it isn’t totally a stand up experience.
For example, you can add a seat, kneel, or lay on your board to provide a unique workout to different areas of your body.
Fishing with a Kayak
Depending on the Kayak, a kayak can feel a little more cramped for fishing. There are a lot of different Kayak options and many that are catered to fishing.
Some even allow for standing, but I’d still think SUP would offer a better experience when it comes to standing, since that’s what it was designed to do.
Kayaks allow for more comfortable seating options and more storage areas in the kayak for fishing gear. I like that Kayaks allow for a place to position the pole where you want it and don’t necessarily need to be holding the pole the whole time.
Fishing with a Paddle Board
SUP has that open feel, which is something that I appreciate. One of my concerns with fishing on SUP is the possibility of knocking your gear into the water.
I’ve lost a fishing pole before on a row boat by turning and bumping it over the side of the boat. It seems that it may be an issue on a SUP with no side rails.
Like kayaks, there are various SUP options more geared towards fishing and racks to utilize to hold poles and gear. My Ultimate Guide to SUP Fishing gives you everything you’d want to know about getting started with SUP fishing.
Sup does have the ability to provide seating options which can make it more comfortable for fisherman. I also think that SUP has an advantage for fly fishing, which relies more on standing up to utilize proper fly fishing casting techniques.
I wrote a post on using an anchor for your SUP that you may find beneficial. Check it out here.
Family Activity
I have four kids of my own and like to do activities that I can incorporate them into. Having something that can be enjoyed both as a family and on my own time is a huge plus.
Kayaking with Kids
Kayaks are definitely great for kids. My kids have had a blast riding in kayaks on the lake. I feel secure with my younger kids kayaking when they double up with me.
My older kids haven’t has any issues using a kayak on their own and it seems that kayak’s tend to be fairly stable.
Paddle Boarding with Kids
SUP has more room for kids to roam and seems a little more challenging with kids. I don’t think you necessarily get the security or feeling of comfort you get being tucked into a kayak or boat.
The experience can be just as exciting for kids as any other water vehicle. I also think it may be a little more of a challenge for a younger child to master riding on their own, but defiantly doable.
Bring your Dog
Although, I don’t have a dog, I know many people consider their dog to be part of the family. Many dogs love swimming and being in the water.
SUP offers a unique dog owner experience that a kayak isn’t able to provide. Having your dog chill out with you on your SUP can be awesome companionship and a rewarding experience with your pet.
If you’d like to learn more about riding with your pup, here is my post Can I Paddle Board with a Dog.
Cost
After doing some research, I’ve discovered that SUPs and Kayaks are pretty similar in cost. You can find a cheap kayak for around $199 or pay a few thousand dollars depending on what you want.
The same can be said for SUP. The inflatables tend to be on the lower end of the pay range and getting a solid board can be thousands of dollars.
So, really cost isn’t much of a factor in determining the best option for a beginner. Adding the cost of storage apparatuses and vehicle carriers are additional expenses that can be avoided with SUP, but not so much for kayaking.
Photography
A great thing about being on the water is just enjoying nature and its surroundings. One great way to do this is taking photos of the majestic landscapes or beautiful animals that you may see on your water expeditions.
Both kayaks and SUP allow for photographic moments and the ability to be one with the water and its surroundings, but if you are looking to do a little more advanced photography using things like a tripod, a SUP gives you that platform.
I write an in-depth post called “Taking Photos on a Paddle Board”, about taking photos on your paddle board and what you need to get started.
Playing in the water
One of the best things about being out on the water, is being in the water. Kayaks are a little more difficult to get back into once you get out, unless it is on shore.
If you are like me and like to swim while out in the middle of the lake, a paddle board creates your own little diving board, and is a lot easier to get back up on.
Transporting a Kayak vs SUP
This was a major factor for me in determining whether to go with a kayak or SUP. I don’t have a truck or the capacity to tow a trailer.
We are currently driving a Camry and Sienna which makes it a challenge to transport a kayak down to the water.
SUPs have the option of an inflatable, which can be packed up in a bag for easy storage and transport. I eventually want to get a non-inflatable board, but for a beginner this option works best for me.
There are some great options for carriers and racks for storage that can be utilized for non-inflatables.
Final Thoughts
I’m very excited about my SUP purchase and beginning a new hobby on the water. Both kayaking and SUP riding is a ton of fun and bring many exciting options for on the water enjoyment.
It doesn’t have to be an either or option if you have the ability to store both or pay for both, then go for it. For my needs, going the SUP route was the way to go.
Please comment below on anything you enjoyed about this post.
photo credit: Leonard J Matthews margate beach via photopin (license)
photo credit: Lazy_Artist Grass is always greener… via photopin (license)