A Few Of My Favourite Things For Paddle Boarding

Looking to add to your paddling gear?  Or possibly need a gift for your best SUP friend?

After paddle boarding consistently for over a decade now I have really narrowed down exactly what I like to bring out to the water with me.

There’s a fine balance between loading up too much stuff yet having what you need for an awesome day on your SUP.

There are a few items that I have found to be extremely useful over the years for my SUP adventures.

Besides the obvious items like sunscreen, a water bottle and a SUP leash, these are a few of my most favourite paddling accessories that I have collected over the years.

1. BREATHABLE GEAR BAG

Staring with my trusty old gear bag! I have a gear bag that holds all of my paddling accessories. It gets thrown in my car along with my ISUP bag every time I go out. It keeps my important stuff organized and readily available for when or if I need it.

I have had this mesh duffel bag for a very long time. It must be at least 9 years old by now.

I got it from MEC in Canada and I’m sad to say that MEC no longer carries it, which is too bad because it’s been an awesome bag.

I love the mesh because often my paddling gear goes in wet and the mesh allows it to dry and not get musty or moldy.

I have looked for another similar item to replace it one day (although it shows no signs of deterioration).

The best one I have found is the NRS Purest Mesh Duffel Bag. It has a mesh top panel allowing wet gear to breathe.

It’s a really nice bag and likely the one I’ll switch to if my old duffle ever gives up on me.

Although I bring this bag out with me every single time, it doesn’t come out on the water with me.

Basically I just use it to keep my stuff organized when transporting to the water and when storing in my home.

It usually holds my PFD, my dogs PFD, my dry bags, my repair kit and a first aid kit. I also usually throw in an old towel to dry my SUP off after use.

2. BELT PACK PFD

Most places require you to use a PFD while paddle boarding. Anything can happen out there even in calm water.

I have sadly heard of several unexpected drownings that could have been prevented if the person was wearing a life jacket.

My PFD of preference for paddle boarding is a belt pack PFD. These are to be used only by those who are strong swimmers.

You have to manually pull the inflation tab in order to inflate the PFD.

I use these belt pack PFD’s for most of my paddling excursions. They are really comfortable to wear and don’t restrict your movements at all.

However when doing ocean excursions I will often wear a normal life jacket to be extra safe.

ELECTRIC PUMP

I probably should have listed this item first because it is literally my favourite SUP accessory.

It makes getting on the water much easier. Much MUCH easier. 🙂

If you’ve looked into electric SUP pump’s at all then you might already be aware that many of them have very mixed reviews.

They can really vary in quality and speed. I’ve tried most of them extensively and can say confidently that the OutdoorMaster Shark 12V Electric Pump is the best one out there.

Plus it has the advantage of being able to connect to the 12V plug in your vehicle as opposed to connecting to your car battery like many others.

This pump is easy to use and has an integrated cooling system that helps it cool off so you can inflate multiple boards without the pump burning out. – A common issue with other electric SUP pumps.

SPECIAL DEAL: We have a 10% coupon code you can use at OutdoorMaster.com. Use code ISUPWORLD10 at checkout.

3. KAYAK SEAT

Adding a kayak seat to your SUP lets you paddle your board sitting down kayak style.

The seat attaches to the side D-rings and folds down when not in use.

If your board doesn’t have side D-rings they can easily be added. You can grab a package of D-rings at amazon.com and glue them on.

Converting your ISUP to a kayak can be a great way to take a break from standing or power through windy conditions.

There are lots of options out there for comfortable seats.  I like this one at Amazon.com.   It’s comfortable, easy to attach and the straps can be pulled tight for good back support.

4. DRY BAGS

A dry bag is a must when paddle boarding. You’ll need it to hold your keys, your phone and any other personal effects you need to bring out with you.

I have several in different sizes and use one of them every time I am on the water.

There are some really nice dry bags available for a good price at Amazon.com.  They are well made, come with a handy shoulder strap and come in so many great colour options.

If you’re wondering what size to get the 10L is perfect for storing your phone, keys, a snack and camera.

A 20L dry bag (such as the one seen in the photo below) can hold a lot more such as a towel, extra layers, lunch and other essentials.

5. WATERPROOF SPEAKER

This is something that I don’t actually use that often but I have friends who do and really love it.

The JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker connects to your smart phone or tablet and sounds pretty good. It will give you 12 hours of continuous play time.

You can clip it to the bungees or D-rings on your board and listen to music while you are paddling.

6. WATERPROOF BACKPACK

I have an old yet awesome waterproof backpack that I love to use when doing paddle/hike combo’s.

My waterproof backpack is basically an older version of this one, although there’s lots of options on Amazon. https://isupworld.com/go/waterproof-backpack/

It can be used as a dry bag when paddling and then used as a backpack when hiking.

If you ever get to paddle to a hiking destination a waterproof backpack will be a great item to have.

It’s definitely one of the better purchases I have made. Mine is old and no longer available but there’s a ton of great options on Amazon.

This one is really popular and has some nice colour options. I’ve thought about upgrading to this one several times.

7. GO PRO HERO8 4K WATERPROOF CAMERA

Last but not least I have to mention my new Go Pro Action Camera.

Well if I’m honest it belongs to my boyfriend but we use it a lot.

I had an old Go Pro, I can’t even remember what model it was now. However this latest GoPro Hero 8 that we got last year is the bomb.

It’s SO much better than my old one, the video is clear and it’s easy to use.

Plus it is waterproof – My old one was definitely not!  So it’s perfect for water sports.

We have gotten some epic video and shots with this camera.

Although there is a newer model out there now the Hero 9, the Go Pro Hero 8 is a great price.  If you want to splurge and capture some epic moments, the GoPro Hero8 is on sale right now on Amazon.com.

8. CUP HOLDER

A cup holder is literally my new fave SUP accessory.  To use one of these you will need an action mount on your board.  So if your board has one then you can get this awesome cup holder sold at NIXYsports.com.

It screws on to the action mount and holds a can or smaller bottle.  I use mine to take out tea with me for morning paddles.  I absolutely love it.

Worth mentioning if you do have an action mount is you can also get a phone holder, camera holder, action cam mount, fishing rod holders or even navigation lights at NIXY as well that all easily screw onto the action mounts.

9. NIXY HAMMOCK

A hammock is one of those things that I didn’t know I was missing until I had one.  It may not be your usual SUP accessory but I highly recommend one.

We have lots of trees in my area so a hammock comes in really handy for relaxing post paddle.  If you plan to spend the day at the water or even if you are camping and hanging out with friends or family, the hammock will be super popular.  I usually have to drag my boyfriend out of it so I can get some hammock time to myself.

This NIXY hammock that I use is really comfortable, super lightweight and rolls up into a tiny little package that can be stored in your SUP bag.  It takes relaxing to a whole other level. 🙂

10. Dog PFD

Being a dog mom to 3 awesome pups I had to of course include a dog item in this list.

So this one only applies if you have a dog but I thought I’d mention it because my dogs PFD’s are a staple in my gear bag.

If you plan to bring your dog out paddling with you then a PFD is a must.

The dog PFD’s have handles on top so if your dog ends up in the water you can pick them up and help pull them back on the board with the handle.

Without the handle it’s nearly impossible to get the dog back on the board from the water.

My favourite is the RuffWear Float Coat. These dog life jackets are extremely well made and have a good fit for different body sizes.

The Ruff Wear PFD is super durable so it will likely last the life of your dog. Mine have been used a LOT over the years and they are still in excellent condition.

Do you have any other favourite items that you take paddling with you? I’d love to hear what you bring along for the ride!