SUP Touring and Exploring - Water sports you should try

Table of contents

1.How long should a SUP tour be.
2.How good do I need to be to go on a SUP tour.
3.Where can I go on a SUP trip.
4.Who should I bring along to the SUP tour.
5.What board should I use for SUP touring.
6.Should I do any planning.
7.Where should I start with SUP touring.
8.Do I have to camp during the trip.
9.How challenging is SUP touring.

Go for SUP Touring and Exploring

SUP touring is one of the most common SUP activities paddle boarding lovers do. Think of it as an adventure. You can explore new places, go on a trip or an expedition, by yourself or with friends and family.

You may have successfully learned how to paddle board on the sea or a lake. But if you want to try something new, you can also go on a SUP trip to explore the local area or even somewhere further afield on your paddle board. It’s one of the best ways to explore a place.

If you are intrigued, check out the content below and see what SUP touring actually is and if it’s the right activity for you. Below you will find some frequently asked questions about SUP touring and exploring. And remember to wear a SUP life jacket whenever you are out on the water.

1. How long should a SUP tour be

There are no standards or written rules that specify how long a SUP tour should be. It depends on your preference. If you don’t have much time, even a one-hour trip on the water can be a SUP tour. Also, if you do have the time, spending a night or a week or even more time is okay.

Don’t let anything stop you from enjoying a potentially amazing adventure. But if you are going on a longer trip than usual, extra preparation is needed. Consider bringing more food, water, change of clothes if you are staying the night or maybe your wallet. Note that an overnight trip will require more things for you to keep self-sufficient.

2. How good do I need to be to go on a SUP tour

There’s no saying how good you need to be to go on a SUP trip. Actually, people of all skill-levels can do SUP touring and exploring. But make sure your paddling skills are good enough for the SUP touring.

For example, if part of the trip includes paddling on whitewater and you are not good enough to handle it, then this trip is probably too hard for you and you might need to reconsider it.

Generally, the longer and further your trip is, the better your touring paddle board and SUP skills need to be to make sure you have an enjoyable cruising experience. Also, you need to fully understand the risks involved in all the SUP touring you are going to take.

No matter how good you are at paddle boarding and where you are paddling, there will be risks during the trip. So always take relevant safety precautions when taking a SUP touring and exploring trip. It's important to know some safety tips for paddling alone if you are going by yourself.

If you can, study the types of water that you might paddle on during the trip in advance to make sure you fully understand the potential risks and be prepared to take responsibility for your safety and perhaps other paddlers with less experience you might be paddling with.

3. Where can I go on a SUP trip?

Being incredibly accessible is one of the reasons why stand up paddle boarding can become so popular within such a short time. Possible paddle boarding spots include the ocean, a lake, a river, or canal.

And they can all be great places for SUP touring and exploring. While trying to decide where to go SUP touring and exploring, you need to make sure that you know how to properly keep yourself and your companions safe when cruising on different types of water.

When going on a long touring trip, there are more things you need to take into consideration. There are a few factors that could have a negative effect on your SUP touring experience, like winds, tides and currents, etc. People think inland waterways and lakes are much less risky than the ocean, which leads them into being less cautious.

It could be a dangerous thought which is not necessarily true. The fact is different types of water present its own risks and you need to understand them thoroughly for your own safety and the safety of your companion.

4. Who should I bring along to the SUP tour

There aren’t written rules that tell you who you can or can not go SUP touring with. It depends on what kind of SUP trip experience you are expecting to have.

Going by yourself is a great choice if you want to push your limits. Also, paddling and touring in groups are a lot of fun as well. It’s a great way to socialize with other people and really bond with your friends and family. Both paddling alone and in groups are very fulfilling in their own ways.

5. What board should I use for SUP touring

Most stand up SUP boards can be used for SUP touring. Depending on the SUP trip you are going, there actually are certain types of SUP boards that can make a better choice than others. If you are just going to spend a few hours on the water touring the local river, any board would be okay.

But if you intend to go on a long touring trip with equipment, then an all-around sup would be the best choice. The increased buoyancy of inflatable paddle boards over rigid boards makes it easier for you to keep your luggage safe and dry and they usually come with straps on the board to allow you to fasten your belongings.

If you prefer to go faster, a touring paddleboard is also a great choice as it offers better glide performance, making your strokes more efficient and saving your energy.

6. Should I do any planning?

Planning ahead is almost always necessary. There are a few things you need to sort out and get straight like where you are going, things you are taking to the trip and how long you are going to tour, etc.

And if it’s a trip to a place you are not familiar with, make sure you do all the necessary research on the place and can keep yourself and your companions safe the whole time.

One of the most important things to research before touring a new place is the weather, especially when you are planning on a long trip that lasts for more than one day.

7. Where should I start with SUP touring

If you haven’t done any SUP trips, it’s suggested you start taking small trips and then move on to longer, more adventurous ones as you get more comfortable doing it.

As is mentioned previously, there are a lot of different places for you to go SUP touring and exploring, just research online and you should be able to find a decent place to start your very first SUP tour. If you are stuck with inspiration, do check out Goosehill’s Blog for wonderful places for SUP touring.

8. Do I have to camp during the trip

Camping is not a must in SUP touring. You don’t have to bring a tent and camp during the trip if you don’t like or plan on doing it. It’s more of a personal preference.

Some people do find camping on a SUP trip adventurous but some people don’t like to camp. But camping while SUP touring could be an exciting, challenging and unforgettable experience. So if you really want to push your limits, do try camping.

9. How challenging is SUP touring?

Depending on what kind of SUP touring and exploring experience you want, you can make it as challenging as you need. Part of the enjoyment of SUP touring exploring comes from pushing your mental and physical boundaries. You also get to explore new places and enjoy the outdoors.

A long trip could be a real challenge to your fitness level and endurance. But a high quality paddle board and the right techniques could help make things better. Also, planning ahead could make things much easier and predictable and significantly lower the overall safety risk.

Best Touring Paddle Boards 2022

1. Thurso Expedition 150
The Thurso Surf Expedition 150 is more performance-oriented. It's a bit narrower than the average touring boards but still able to haul a decent load of gear. Its high performance comes from the narrow width and the single-fin setup, which allow the board to pick up and maintain speed. Its rigid construction allows even heavier paddlers to maneuver the board on the water with ease.

It also comes with some useful features like the 6-point cargo area at the front and the 4-point cargo area at the tail. The board has 3 handles, one center handle and two on the nose and tail of the board.

The board comes with all the accessories you'll need to get out on the water. You will find a coiled leash, a large center fin for the US fin box, a dual-chamber triple-action pump, and a 3-piece adjustable carbon shaft paddle.

It's a wonderful touring paddle board for midsize beginners or more advanced and larger paddlers. It balances speed with maneuverability and doesn't cost a fortune.

2. RedPaddleCo 12'6'' Sport
The RedPaddleCo 12'6'' Sport is one of the best-performing touring boards in its price range. It stands out in many aspects. It's light, fast and has great tracking capabilities. But its lightweight comes at a price. Being lighter means its weight capacity would be lower than heavier boards，thus making it less capable of taking multiple passengers. But if you paddle mostly by yourself, this wouldn't be a problem and you are going to love the convenience that comes with the light weight.

Another feature that's worth mentioning is the deck pad. It was deviced into two parts. The part in the center area has a smoother surface and the rear has diamond groove pattern to provide more traction for turning.

If you paddle by yourself most of the time and would prefer a faster board, this is the one for you.

3. Goosehill Sailor Touring
Compared to other products on the list, this is probably the cheapest one. But that doesn't mean it's of poor quality. The utilization of Goosehill's SCE technology makes the board strong and durable.

It has two size options, 12'6''*32''*6'' and 11'6''*31''*6'', both are wider than 30'', which means it's very stable on the water. And at the same time the board has a rather pointy nose which gives it the ability to slice through the water. The wider width might slow down the board a bit but its stability is above average.

And at around $700, you get an elctric pump instead of of a manual pump, which is fortuitous in this price range.

If you want a decent touring paddle board but have limited budget, the Goosehill Sailor Touring is one of the best options to go with.