Which paddleboard is best for use on a lake?
Stand-up paddleboarding is one of the most accessible watersports. Easy and compact, it allows you to get around, discover nature, have fun with the family, or simply go for a paddle alone, with friends, or with family. Widely practiced at sea, it's also gaining popularity on lakes, and in my opinion, it's best suited to lakes, as this type of calm water is easier for beginners. It also allows you to enjoy a variety of activities such as yoga, fitness, fishing, hiking, running, or even go camping or picnicking.
In this article, we will give you tips and recommendations to help you choose the most suitable paddleboard for practicing on a lake.
What type of paddleboards are suitable for use on a lake?
There are two main types of paddleboards: rigid and inflatable. An inflatable paddleboard is the best choice for lakes. A rigid paddleboard is preferred, especially for surfing waves in the sea or for racing. (And yet, more and more racers are using inflatable paddleboards for their simplicity.) An inflatable paddleboard is the ideal option if you're looking for a versatile SUP (for leisure, touring, fishing, yoga, etc.).
A good quality inflatable paddleboard will guarantee excellent gliding performance, better impact resistance, and a more affordable price compared to a rigid board. Not to mention the ease of transport and storage. In other words, an inflatable paddleboard is the best option for paddleboarding on a lake.
The inflatable paddleboard
1. What are the advantages of inflatable paddleboards?
- Ease of transport
- Versatility
- Ideal for starting out alone or with family
- Excellent value for money and performance.
2. The disadvantages of an inflatable paddleboard
- The rigidity of an inflatable paddleboard is determined by the amount of material it contains. The more layers of PVC an inflatable paddleboard has, the more rigid, strong, and durable it will be. This also determines the board's stability. In other words, a budget-friendly inflatable paddleboard will be less stable and less durable.
- The stability of an inflatable paddleboard depends on its width; the wider the board, the more stable it is. However, a very stable, and therefore wide, paddleboard will be slower. Paddleboarding on a lake is relatively easy because there are rarely waves, so you can use a more streamlined and gliding board to maximize the feeling of speed.
The rigid paddle
1. What are the advantages of a rigid paddleboard?
- Stability
- Performance
- Sustainability.
2. The disadvantages of a rigid paddleboard
- More cumbersome and therefore less practical to transport and handle.
- More fragile upon impact with pebbles
- More expensive
Which paddleboard is best for you to use on a lake?
The shape of a paddleboard influences its stability, glide, and maneuverability. There are several paddleboard shapes available. A compromise must be found between glide and stability. A thinner paddleboard will have better water penetration and glide. It will push less water, but will be less stable. The advantage of calm water, like on a lake, is that it allows you to choose a slightly narrower paddleboard than one used in the sea, thus maximizing glide.
For lake use, we recommend choosing a quality paddleboard. Depending on the water and the shoreline, a budget-friendly paddleboard can wear out quickly. By opting for a more reinforced board, you'll get better durability.
Adapt your paddleboard to your size and needs
Here are some tips to help you choose your paddleboard:
If you are a beginner
If you're a beginner or looking for a versatile board, you can opt for an all-round paddleboard , which has a wide, rounded nose (between 30 and 34 inches), offering excellent stability and maneuverability. This type of board is suitable for paddling on the lake.
If you are experienced
Si vous êtes plus expérimenté , que vous cherchez à faire des courses ou parcourir de longues distances, vous pouvez opter pour un paddle race, qui est une longue planche (supérieure à 12 pieds), fine (inférieure à 28 pouces), un nez pointu à l'avant, vous offrant une excellente glisse. Les paddles race sont moins stables et moins maniables mais plus rapides et ont une bonne capacité à maintenir le cap. Les modèles alpha fusion inférieurs à 28” de large sont adaptés; plus votre poids est important, plus il vous faudra choisir une longueur importante pour avoir un volume adapté.
If you are an intermediate paddler
If you're an intermediate paddler, you can also opt for a touring paddleboard, which is a long (between 11'6" and 14') tapered board of intermediate width (between 28" and 32"), with a pointed nose and a slightly wider tail. This type of paddleboard is optimized for glide, speed, and stability.
Choosing the paddleboard depends on the activity on the lake.
Paddleboarding for fishing
If you are a fishing enthusiast, you can opt for a fishing paddleboard , which is a wide (>32 inches) and voluminous board, offering good buoyancy and plenty of space to carry your equipment with an elastic net to secure your belongings.
Paddleboarding for yoga
If you're a fan of yoga, fitness, or simply looking for a relaxing board, you can opt for a very wide (over 32") and very stable paddleboard , offering ample surface area for practicing poses without falling into the water. This type of board is suitable for yoga on calm lake waters. Our giant XL or XXL paddleboards allow several people to paddle together, perfect for paddling competitions or enjoying drinks on the water. However, these larger boards are not designed for solo use.
To go paddleboarding with several people
If you want to practice paddleboarding with several people on the same paddleboard (with family or in competition mode), opt for our 2-person duo paddleboards for practicing as a pair, or our XL paddleboards (up to 6 people) or XXL paddleboards (up to 8 people) for practicing with family or friends.
The Best Lakes for Paddleboarding
Attached is a non-exhaustive list of fabulous places to discover by paddleboard. As for weather conditions, no precise meteorological knowledge is required. Just check that there are no storms or strong winds.
- Lake of Sainte Croix (Var/Alpes de Haute-Provence)
- Lake Bourget (Savoie)
- Lake Pavin,
- Lake Castillon,
- Lake Annecy
- Lake Geneva
Practical tips for paddleboarding on a lake
Security
In terms of safety, remember that even if you are on a lake, you need to know at least the basic safety rules.
- Don't leave alone at nightfall
- You'll be using a board leash. In case a storm develops, you'll still be connected to your paddleboard.
- If you're not a swimming champion, opt for a buoyancy aid or a life jacket.
- Wear a thermal suit if the water is not warm.
- Always let someone know when you're leaving.
- Avoid going into the paths of motorboats.
Paddleboard maintenance
You don't need to do much maintenance on your paddleboard. You just need to pay attention to a few things to prolong the life of your equipment.
- Due to the heat, slightly deflate your paddleboard to prevent it from bursting.
- Do not leave your paddleboard in a car in direct sunlight. The temperature inside a car rises very quickly to 80 degrees Celsius. This will weaken the adhesives and may cause leaks in your paddleboard.
- Be careful of the riverbanks where there may be objects that could puncture your paddleboard.
In conclusion
Choose a longer, thinner paddleboard if you want to maximize glide and enjoy long trips on a lake. A wider paddleboard will offer more stability but will be slower.
If you opt for a budget paddleboard, be wary. To reduce the price, manufacturers often use less material and lower the quality. This results in a loss of stability, making the board prone to wobbling. It's better to rent a paddleboard if you're on a tight budget than to buy a low-end product that won't provide stability or performance.