You’ve been out on a stand up paddle board (SUP) a few times and have really enjoyed the experience. You’ve watched other paddlers cruise by with SUPs on the roof of their vehicles and couldn’t help but feel a little envious. Is it time to buy, or should you keep renting? To help you make a more informed decision we have listed key decision-making criteria below. Let’s get to it!

5 Questions To Ask Yourself When Deciding if You Should Buy a Stand Up Paddle Board, or Keep On Renting 

1. Do You Live Near Water?

There’s nothing better to get you off your chair than having easy access to a place that makes an outdoor activity a seamless task. For instance, if you live near one of these prime paddle boarding spots in Greater Vancouver or those found throughout BC, then you have a major motivation to buy (vs rent) a SUP. Proximity is a key precursor to a paddle board purchase. Of course, you may simply not realize that there are great SUPing spots in your area. It’s hard to miss a big ol’ ocean, but you may have driven by a hidden estuary, stream, or small lake on your daily commute and never even realized it. As a part of the decision-making process, do some online research to find out of there is a great paddling place in your neck of the woods.

2. Does Storage Space Matter?

One of the things that may be holding you back from this investment in your health, fitness, and happiness is storage space. Or should we say a lack thereof? We kind of jumped into the answer by questioning if storage space even matters. When considering a solid foam-core SUP it absolutely does matter. In that case, renting a SUP may make more sense. However, with inflatable stand up paddle boards (ISUP), the need for excess square footage in your home becomes a concern of the past. If storage space has been holding you back, it doesn’t need to any longer with these options.

3. Will You Actually Use It?

Is your attic, basement, or garage full of outdoor recreational gear that has been collecting dust along with old Christmas decor from three years ago? Then you need to be honest with yourself - will you actually use the SUP if you buy it? If the mirror answers in the negative, you may want to keep renting until you’re ready to commit. That said, we encourage you to dive deeper into your inner-person investigation. What are your reasons for not pulling those outdoor adventure toys (bikes, snowboards, waterskis, etc.) from the annals of your storage spaces? Perhaps you bought the wrong fit for your shape, size, or level of fitness. If so, dedicating more time to research (which you’re doing now!) before making your next purchase will help you find more suitable equipment. Maybe work and day-to-day responsibilities get in the way. That’s a fair issue, but while you may not use recreational toys often in your city/town, you may rent them when travelling. In this case, an ISUP (which can be easy to travel with) makes sense. Those out-of-town or country rental fees (especially when paying USD or EUR) can really break the bank over time.

4. Will Others In Your Household Use It Too?

Any doubt that you may have about how often you will use the SUP can ebb with the tide if there are others in your home that want to take a ride. There are paddle boards suitable for all ages, body shapes, weights, and skill levels. For example, Sea Gods Elemental Wave Ten6 can be used by every single person in your household. Simply put - if you and others in your home will use the SUP, buying (vs renting) is a very wise choice.

5. Can You Afford Not To Buy a SUP?

On the surface, renting may appear to suit your lifestyle. But over time those rental and security deposit costs add up and can exceed what you would have paid if you made a purchase years ago. Renting every time can also be inconvenient, as you need to keep cash or credit cards on hand when approaching the beach, harbour, or marina rental service kiosk. And anyone who rents can also attest to the fact that rental services (during busy season) are often “sold out”, which means you have to hop back in the car (gas money!) and hunt down a convenient place that has the type of SUP you prefer. 

We admit that buying a premium SUP can seem costly, but we encourage you to look at it as an investment. When you consider all of the factors, you may realize that you’ll spend less by buying a SUP.

Rent, Then Buy!

Still not sure? If you live in (or are visiting) the Greater Vancouver area we encourage you to take advantage of our ISUP rental service. There’s no better way to test the literal and proverbial waters when making your decision. You can try a variety of boards until you find the one best suited to you. 

If you have any further questions about Sea Gods ISUPs feel free to contact us at your convenience.