Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is probably my favorite summer activity in Austin, Texas. It’s a workout AND it’s fun! Plus, you can bring along your furry best friend! What more can you ask for? Not only that, it’s also a great way to get out and have some fun while maintaining social distancing. 

For the past several years, I have rented SUPs at local paddle board shops and let me tell you, it’s NOT cheap. A day rental for one paddle board will cost you about $40. That might not be too expensive if you do it once a year, but if you’re like me and like to get out there every weekend, it can get pricey. 

Because of that, I had been wanting to buy a paddle board for the longest time but there were always things holding me back. First, I didn’t have the space to store it in my small 1 bedroom apartment. Secondly, I didn’t have a way to transport it to the water. And lastly, paddle boards were a big investment running anywhere from $700-$1,000 for entry level boards. 

Thankfully, recent advances in the paddle boarding industry have allowed for the development of inflatable paddle boards. This new “technology” basically eliminated all of the troubles that came with stand up paddle board ownership AND lowered the price of buying one as well. 

I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant when I first started seeing these in advertisements and on social media. What is an inflatable paddle board? What if it punctures in the middle of a lake? Is it stable? Can my dog get on it? Will her nails puncture it? Is it hard to inflate? 

I researched and read countless reviews, spoke to friends who had one, and ultimately decided to purchase one. I can now tell you from experience that:

• An inflatable stand up paddle board (iSUP) is a paddle board that you can inflate and deflate with a hand pump. This makes it super easy to transport and store when not in use. 
• It does not easily puncture. It is made of military grade PVC material.  
• It’s just as stable as a regular SUP.
• Your dog can get on it. 
• His or her nails won’t puncture it. 
• It’s not hard to inflate, but it will get your heart pumping that’s for sure! It takes me about 10 minutes to inflate.  

I looked at plenty of iSUPs and found one that I liked and had good reviews. The brand I went with is Zupapa and I bought it for $320 on Amazon. The advertisement said that it’s perfect for dogs, includes extra padding on the deck that helps prevent slipping, and supports up to 350 pounds. You can see photos of it in the gallery below. 

Photos in action!

 conclusion

I am extremely happy with my purchase and I will definitely be going stand up paddle boarding all summer long! I think this might even be great to travel with! Stay tuned for a future post on that. I must warn you though, it is a damn good full body workout! I always wake up super sore the day after going paddle boarding. I am going to leave a few of my must have items when going paddle boarding in the gallery below. I never leave home without them. They will give you peace of mind and make your trip more enjoyable when you have these items with you. 

Hope this post has been helpful if you are in the market for an iSUP! And if you weren’t, then I hope this has encouraged you to get one! There are a TON out there at different price points. My final tips are read the reviews before buying and read the manual when you get it! 

xoxo – Marce