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Original poster

Someone talk me out of buying a paddleboard

33 replies

lovelilies · 05/09/2022 05:32

I've got it into my head that I need a paddleboard.
We live by the sea and loads of people do it.
I tried and enjoyed it a few years ago. I don't like being cold and wet though. And I'm not well off enough to plop £200+ on a board and wetsuit/ life jacket etc especially as I'd need to get equipment for the 2 DC as well.

Should I?
Or is it a waste of money?

OP posts:
Sunbird24 · 05/09/2022 05:37

It’s a bit much to go straight from trying it a few years ago to buying all the gear now. If you were doing it on a weekly basis and loving it then it would probably be a sound investment, but how likely is it that you’d spend all that money and then hardly use it? Especially now we’re heading towards winter when you’d definitely be cold and wet…

TwoWeeksislong · 05/09/2022 05:41

Revisit the idea in April next year?

Cantseethewindows · 05/09/2022 05:41

Assuming you're in the Northern Hemisphere: do not buy one going into winter, as you'll presumably be using it a lot less. Instead, hire boards for yourself and the DC and see if you still enjoy it. £200 does not seem enough for all the gear BTW? More importantly, if you can't afford to get it wrong I'd be inclined to think you will also feel it when energy prices go up this winter. I am limiting discretionary spending until we've got a better idea of what's happening with this. Sounds a bit like the classic spending money you don't have on things you don't need.

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General sports
custardbear · 05/09/2022 05:44

My family canoe and kayak a lot and come November it all stops til April as it's cold and not fun.
Personally I wouldn't buy it

Solosunrise · 05/09/2022 05:57

Round my way there are places that offer lessons. Perhaps sign up to a few of those first. They hire out the kit too. I'd also leave it till next summer as per pp.

Original poster
lovelilies · 05/09/2022 06:08

My thinking in buying one now would be because they're in the sale 🙈

I'll have a few lessons / hire one first though, thank you for the words of wisdom. I have ADHD so get a bit carried away 😁

OP posts:
RunWalkSwim99 · 05/09/2022 06:12

Yeah if your UK then the opportunities to use it rapidly disappear as we head into Autumn. It will mostly stay in its box taking up a lot of room until April. It cost £25 to hire one worth trying out first as we found the cheap £200 boards are often thinner wobbler so you need flat calm conditions to ride it’s a faff pumping up , washing off salt water & packing away again at home. I kept finding when the tides & conditions were good we couldn’t go as had other stuff on, then when we were free the conditions weren’t good. It’s only been out twice this summer! You need a bouyancy aid £50, a waist leash band £25, then parking min 3hrs at site £6. It’s not cheap .. put you off yet 😃

BarbaraofSeville · 05/09/2022 06:24

You don't like being cold and wet and anything to do with the sea in the UK involves a lot of being cold and wet for all but maybe 2-3 months in the summer maximum.

You'll have to find somewhere in your house to store 3 paddle boards and associated equipment.

Each trip out will involve tedious sorting of the kit and loading of the car plus even more tedious rinsing, drying off and putting away of kit on your return.

People get swept out to sea on paddle boards and if they're lucky, get rescued while they're still alive.

If you live by the sea, there's bound to be a hire place that will appreciate your support over winter and if you find you do really get into it, they might be a good place to buy ex hire boards as they replace their kit.

If you decide you want your own wetsuits, because you can get one that fits properly and anyone who says they've never peed in a wetsuit is a liar, then somewhere like Wet Suit Outlet is a good place to look.

StillMedusa · 05/09/2022 09:09

Get one!
But not til spring ...or buy second hand now, but store til spring. We recently bought ours (we do kayak too) and will be going out this month but after that I doubt I'll be on it again til spring.
The best thing is they are relatively small to store (deflated) and quick to put up..mine takes 8 mins for me to pump up..dh can do it in 5.
Make sure you also have a bouyancy aide and a lesson first! I don't wear a wetsuit but do wear water sport shoes as I hate treading on unknowns . Also... start on a lake!

You also need a license... don't be fooled by all the people out there, you can get a heavy fine. The Brititsh Canoe club cover that (not expensive) and it allows you on the UK's waterways.

I love it.. it doesn't take a huge amount of skill, and seeing the wildlife round the edges of rivers is wonderful and I am a fair weather only person.. it's very relaxing but great exercise for your core.

There are a million boards out there but basically.. 10 ft or over. Wider (33 inches) more stable but slower to turn, longer and narrower are faster but you are more likely to fall in Grin I have an 11 foot touring board, fairly slim but haven't fallen in yet! (I was going to attempt to get my large dog on with me this week but then sustained a nasty burned arm so am dry landed for a while!)

There are also plenty of SUP clubs around so worth booking a lesson near you for advice :)

Superbabe64 · 05/09/2022 09:17

We live on the Thames and bought kayaks instead. I find paddleboarding boring and only do it on holidays.
Buy a kayak instead

TheGoodEnoughWife · 05/09/2022 09:18

Get one! We have boards and love it. We will also still be paddling into the colder months but we are in the south east. We bought all the gear last year but didn't paddle in Dec/Jan/Feb so will invest in some warmer wear for this winter. Expensive all at one time obviously.

Jins · 05/09/2022 09:22

I was given a friend’s old one in April and I had plans to paddle as often as I could. So far it hasn’t even been inflated.

I agree with the advice to hire until you’re sure it’s something you want to invest in

LittleFluffyCloudz · 05/09/2022 09:24

I bought one but I bought it in May. Have used it loads this summer. It will go in the attic from Nov to April though.

As PP said, just hire one for now and revisit in spring.

Cherryflavouranything · 05/09/2022 09:28

If you have ADHD then no no no definitely not.

(as I was reading this I was thinking “sounds like the sort of thing I’d do, but then I have ADHD 😄. Then I got to the end of your post 😄)

It’s too big and expensive and you have to store it and have somewhere to hang wet wetsuits. No no no. Hire the stuff for at least A YEAR and then see if you still want one.

Choopi · 05/09/2022 09:33

I'm so tempted to buy a kayak or a paddle board. We live beside a lake(pretty much) and every time I see people out I get jelous. I just don't know if realistically I would use it enough to justify the cost. I'd be a bit more reluctant on the sea though, far more to go wrong, I'm a pretty cautious person though!

Kezzie200 · 05/09/2022 09:51

We have both a kayak and a paddleboard and live by the sea.

Paddleboards are good in that you can get a decent blow up one. Our has extra skins for durability. Makes it easier to carry but you have to blow up each time if you do. We leave ours blown up over the summer. It's a nice view paddling while standing but it's harder to do and any swell makes it easier to fall off....and UK waters are cold. We like having one but use kayak more. Our paddleboard was £350.

The kayak is more stable, and can carry more. Its not inflatable (can get inflatables but I'd not use them on the sea). It copes better with swells and waves but the design and quality makes a difference too. Ours was £500 second hand so a good one can be quite expensive. We also bought collapsible trolley wheels for it which were £50.

Luckily we had all the extra gear. We've got various wetsuits/rash vests/booties/wet shoes, dry bags and lifejackets. They can add up.

hewouldwouldnthe · 05/09/2022 10:27

Do it. It's fun. Definitely harder on the sea, but huge fun

Annonnimoouse42 · 05/09/2022 12:00

I have ADHD so get a bit carried away 😁

I feel your pain. Hard not to buy stuff for something you're suddenly SO enthusiastic about

earlybaby · 05/09/2022 14:37

Where do you live? We have 4 paddle boards and you're welcome to borrow if you're nearby!

Choqo · 05/09/2022 14:45

No, the last time you did it was a few years ago, you don't like being cold and wet.
See if you can borrow or rent to see if you actually enjoy it or just have rose tinted glasses on before you drop several hundred quid on a hobby you might not want to do more than once.

hamstersarse · 05/09/2022 14:47

It’s incredibly boring

They take up loads of room

Worldgonecrazy · 05/09/2022 14:50

I suspect there will be a lot of second hand paddle boards on the market soon. We have one but it is a faff and we only use it around our boat when moored in quiet bays.

I also want a kayak but not sure what I need to get so still looking.

DorritLittle · 05/09/2022 14:51

Don't do it OP. And I am incredibly impulsive.

Just sign up for some lessons for you all next Spring and see what happens. You might still hate it.

DorritLittle · 05/09/2022 14:52

Hate being cold and wet, I meant!

NellieJean · 05/09/2022 14:54

Watch a couple of episodes of Saving Lives at Sea, that should do it.