Sometimes, just going to the beach isn’t quite enough fun all on its own. Yes, you can take a dip in the sea and sunbathe on your towel, but for the more active beach traveller, that could be a little boring. However, throw in stand up paddle boarding, and you’ve got an activity that’s not only a great activity for your core, but a lot of fun too.
In this post, we’ll take a look at ten essentials you’ll need for a SUP beach adventure. Hopefully, it’ll make it easier to plan and make the most of your beach trip.
Board
Might seem like an obvious one, but if you don’t have a SUP board then you won’t get very far! If you’re new to paddle boarding, you might want to go for an inflatable paddle board. However, if you want to enjoy surf SUP, you’ll need a board equipped for that. When choosing your first board, it’s important to pick something stable - therefore you’ll want to go as wide as possible. While many beaches have rental facilities, not all do, so check out some paddle boards for sale. That way, you’ll be ready for whichever beach you travel to!
Paddle
Of course, you can’t just get a board and hope for the best. You’ll need a paddle too - and that should be about 25cm longer than your height. If you don’t mind splashing out, lightweight paddles are the best for increasing grip and traction. For those who are buying their boards, you should expect to pay around 1/5th of what your board cost.
PFD
A PFD stands for personal flotation device and it’s an essential safety device for SUPpers. The buoyancy aid means that your survival time will be prolonged should anything bad happen. However, that hopefully won’t happen!
As well as a PFD, it’s important to have a leash. That will keep you tethered to your board should you be knocked off in the waves. Therefore, you won’t lose your board and you’ll be able to cling on to it if the weather and waves are rough!
First Aid Kit
First Aid Kits are especially important if you’re SUPping in remote locations such as mountain lakes and backwater rivers. However, it doesn’t hurt to have one at the beach too. Should you need to look after injuries, you will have a much better chance of doing so with one of these. As well as having essentials such as aspirin, bandages, and plasters, emergency blankets, signalling devices, and radios are also handy to have.
Dry Bag
A dry bag is the perfect way to transport everything you need without it getting wet. If you’re planning on paddling a long way from shore, you can fit a picnic, snacks, and drinks in your dry bag. If you’re planning just short SUP sessions offshore, it can store your mobile phone and other valuables to keep you safe.
The Right Clothing
This will depend on the beach that you’re choosing. The further you are from the equator, the more likely the water is to be cold - especially outside of summer. If that’s the case, you’ll need a wetsuit. For those paddling in hotter climates, it’s important to also have a swim suit, of course. It’s a good idea to have an old t-shirt that you don’t get wet - as this will offer protection from the sun!
Something to Eat
It’s always a good idea to have some snacks in your bag. Remember, for all that’s it’s relaxing and enjoyable, paddle boarding can still be a strenuous activity (especially if you’re new to it). Therefore, it’s a good idea to have high energy snacks, such as nuts, fruits, and chocolate.
Water
As well as high energy snacks, you’ll need to have water to keep hydrated. Remember that you will be spending the day in the sun, so you should bring at least two litres of water with you. It’s best if you can keep it in an insulated flask, which will keep your water at a cool temperature for the whole day.
Sunscreen
No trip to the beach is complete without sunscreen. Make sure to get one that is appropriate for your skin and to regularly reapply it. You shouldn’t wait more than two hours between applications.
Even with regular application, sunscreen is not always enough to protect you from the sun. So if you’re going somewhere particularly hot, make sure to have a hat and sunglasses too. Wearing a t-shirt or a wetsuit in the water is an excellent block on UV rays too!
Microfibre Towel
Something that’s always good to have in a beach bag is a microfibre towel. It has so many purposes! Lay it down on the sand as a base to sunbathe, drive yourself off after swimming or SUPping, or use it to lay out your picnic. And the best thing about a microfibre towel? They’re super lightweight and can fold up really small, so they’ll take up no space in your bag!
Final Thoughts on what to bring on your beach adventure
Now that you know what to take on your next beach adventure, you’ll want to find a beach to go to. For some incredible travel inspiration, head to some of the blogs here in TravelFeed.io. There are also ideas on how to start your own travel blog if you fancy doing the job that’s everyone’s dream!
